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Quick & Easy Bicycle Skirt Guards

Quick & Easy Bicycle Skirt Guards
Skirt guards are hard to find in America and can be very expensive. Cable ties and scraps of tulle or other mesh material will keep your skirt safe without going to the Netherlands or haggling with a collectibles dealer. You can read about the inspiration for this project at www.evilmadscientist.com
 
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Step 1Gather materials

Gather materials
You'll need a bike with fenders, a handful of cable ties, and a couple of pieces of tulle or mesh slightly larger than your fender. A cruiser or touring bike will work best, but you could adapt this to a bike with a cargo rack or a seat post mounted fender with a couple of holes drilled in it. Tulle is cheap at any fabric/craft store (mine was on sale after halloween) or can be scavenged from old formal dresses. It is reasonably strong and doesn't hold dirt very well. You can spray it clean pretty easily, too.
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40 comments
Mar 2, 2012. 3:38 AMrgrimm1 says:
You can add eyelets to a fender IF the fender is stiff enough to take the slight tension of a skirt guard.
My mother also had a HEAVY bike with the full skirt guard and chain guard...it was made in the 1930's.

A chain guard could be made of choroplast, but I'm making ones of brass for our bikes...I like to Steampunk stuff up! It will go well with the Steampunked baby carriage.
The skirt guard for SWMBO will be of canvas with brass eyelets for lacing it on, and stiff wire for keeping the edges taut. Dark colours are recommended unless you like removing it often to wash...Scotchgard is also recommended.
Jul 28, 2011. 8:31 AMfiretrucks says:
This is so clever!! I have a lady bike and I love dresses and long dramatic coats, so I'll definitely be using your method. I want to hem the tulle, though, and maybe even use eyelet tape, so I have to wait til my sewing machine is fixed :( but I promise I'll be back with pictures in a few months. I love that this is so lightweight, and I'm floored that yours have held up for five years!
Sep 19, 2008. 12:26 AMmeradera says:
Great idea! I'm testing window screen material, and so far it is holding up okay. Does anyone have an idea how to construct a chain guard?
Oct 27, 2010. 4:36 PMkaiplusjosh says:
if you have the old chain guard you can take some sheet metal and cut out your shape then drill holes thro the chain guard and your sheet metal then bolt it together and that way you can paint it how ever you want
Jul 29, 2010. 1:03 PMKay Schmidt says:
Where were you 45 years ago when i had an imported embroidered skirt munched by rear wheel, arrived at high school class late, tear-stained, all discombobulated and sweaty? (Not born yet, I know.) Am looking forward to getting bike and riding again, very glad to see your intructable!! Am visiting sites pricing helmets, speedometers, lights, gloves, jerseys, and the all-important etc. Any suggestions or comments anyone has to help in this are certainly welcome. And I am so glad this site exists!! Thanks.
Jul 30, 2010. 8:48 AMKay Schmidt says:
"Reflective spats ... hhmmnn" Thanks for the more to think about and look at.
Jul 20, 2009. 4:48 PMbrittaful says:
wonderful! i used floral wire instead of cable ties, but am really happy with the results! brilliant idea, thanks! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2193772&id=16114732&l=4110a8ec4f
Aug 1, 2009. 8:26 AMkreuzberg says:
that looks really neat. i just found a website that sells skirtguards in america (www.theurbanbicycle.com) but if that doesn't work out, i'm definitely trying this.
Dec 13, 2008. 9:14 AMwolfybrie says:
My skirt only ever gets stuck in the back brake, so I don't think this one will work for me unless the fabric went over the metal guard. But once I get my new bike I'll try it out similarly.
Jan 27, 2007. 5:15 AMKnox O says:
Wow! That's so cool - and so practical. My realisation that 'I'm a lady' has coincided with my starting to cycle to work, so now I can achieve both - hopefully in style! And I agree with Caya - gorgeous bike! ;o)
Sep 8, 2008. 4:07 PMinkstainedheart says:
There's one on Amazon.com for guys. It could use a good paint job, but it otherwise looks pretty decent.
Aug 3, 2008. 6:18 PMPrimeGuy says:
Thanks 1lenore.....I have found 'skirtguards' for sale but for some reason I cant add the photo here at this time.....I can send you a photo of it via....zzprimeguy@yahoo.ca.....regards, Jack
Mar 5, 2008. 9:48 AMgeowulf says:
You could totally use coroplast sign board (there are always a million of them during an election year). Great idea!
Jul 31, 2008. 11:51 PMPrimeGuy says:
Great Idea....Have you done this on a bike yet? How would I go about installing this signboard?
Jul 17, 2008. 10:51 AMchris_too_cool_for_school says:
Aw, that is a beautiful bike, improved with a brilliant idea. Cheers!
Jan 21, 2008. 3:40 PMvrkelley says:
I'm not sure how long that would last without ripping out. Esp on fast descents. Guess it's just for going around 8-10mph.
Aug 12, 2007. 5:24 PMbedbugg2 says:
you have a tricked out ride
Sep 4, 2006. 9:09 AMKarpov says:
I don´t speak English. Sorry.
Aug 12, 2007. 5:21 PMbedbugg2 says:
you just spoke it lol
Nov 24, 2006. 6:38 PMswede d hied says:
would your contraption be of use to a young scotts laddy cause ma kilt plays havoc with ma spokes ah know it looks gie bonny but can ah change yer colours tae suit ma clans tartan or kin ye draw up one so i kin see if it passes muster ......keep on groovin as they say.swede
Nov 10, 2006. 1:27 PMHeresyOfTruth says:
Perfect! I am in the process of buying a utility/commuter bike, but could not find anywhere that sold skirt guards. Now I will just use your method, from your very excellent tutorial.
Oct 25, 2006. 10:35 AMcaptain_cardboard says:
Hey, do those christmas tree lights work?
Oct 26, 2006. 1:25 AMoskay says:
They do; I've seen it. You can see the green battery box next to the hub. They even light up in sequence, which looks pretty neat when it's rolling.
Sep 24, 2006. 11:17 AMWPee says:
Hello Ladies, Guys also like skirts (but we don't wear them - grin) I do recall a young fellow who used a piece of alumimum and POP-Rivets and BOND-DOUGH and a really excellent metal flake paint job. My guess is it's about time for that design style to make a RETURN. It may also INCLUDE such things a LEDs and GPS and up-to-date goodies.....LET THE PARADE BEGIN....
Sep 19, 2006. 2:08 AMsandma1half says:
Nice Idea! I love to wear skirts with my bicycle b/c it makes the ride feel more pleasant and less like a regular commute. I have even flirted with the idea of wearing semi-formal gowns on a bike, and now that I know how to make a skirt guard, I may just try it! Thanks!
Aug 27, 2006. 9:51 AMskautistic says:
Is this just for looks, or does it serve a purpose other than looking fabulous?
Sep 5, 2006. 8:00 AMskautistic says:
Hence the name skirt guard, sorry for the stupid question everyone.
Sep 3, 2006. 9:55 PMyitong leo says:
fairy tale dream
Jun 23, 2006. 12:04 PMaustin says:
zip ties/cable ties are dead useful
Jun 23, 2006. 8:02 AMCaya says:
That is SO awesome. Thank you!!! I'm going to be adding that one for sure. Beautiful bike, too!!
Jun 23, 2006. 2:52 AMBruceR says:
Nice. My mother used to have an ancient ladies bicycle with eyelet holes down each side of the rear mudguard to attach a skirt guard.

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Author:1lenore
I'm a Pastafarian, I sew, I'm learning electronics and I do all of my own bicycle maintenance. More about me at www.evilmadscientist.com