Riding through the back patio of Carver Brewing Co., local community members modeled what to wear, and maybe what not to wear, when commuting to and from work, the grocery store or Durango Farmers Market on two wheels rather than four.
As part of Clean Commute Week 2013, the city of Durango and Velorution Cycles came up with a new idea: a first-ever bicycle fashion show, held Tuesday.
Riders donned all different outfits, from a woman cyclist in a skirt and wedges ready for the office after a bike commute to typical tourist couple on a tandem bicycle, adorned with thigh-high socks and a map of the city.
Joey Ernst, owner of Velorution Cycles, and his wife, Sandhya Tillotson, came up with the idea for the fashion show this year. Both ride their bikes to work whenever possible.
Tillotson was ready for the Farmers Market on her bike with saddle bags to hold sunflowers, peppers and other goodies.
“I love my bike. It’s healthy, fuel-free and I hate riding in cars,” Tillotson said.
This seems to be the agreement around all of the supporters of Clean Commute Week who attended the event.
Fashion-show attendee Mary Oswald, owner of San Juan Hand Therapy, rides to work at least once a week. “Cycling is almost a metaphor for what we can do to make the Earth cleaner,” she said.
The show featured an all-terrain rider with ski goggles, a “metal” commuter with cut-off jeans and an Iron Maiden T-shirt, and a mountain biker – the only rider who wore a helmet.
Topping off the show was Sarah Zoey Sturm who was decorated in her medals from years past as a Fort Lewis College cycling team member and alumna.
“I ride because it is part of my profession as a cyclist, and it is so important and so easy to do,” she said.
Attendees were greeted with a raffle ticket for an Osprey backpack, appetizers, a pint glass and a wooden token for a free drink of choice.
Velorution Cycles also held a vintage bicycle show at its shop yesterday, and hopes to have a fashion show again next year.
egriffin@durangoherald.com. Emily Griffin, a summer intern at The Durango Herald, is a Fort Lewis College student.
