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D.C. Cyclists Turn Out In Tweed

by Shereen Marisol Meraji

  • Mustaches were extremely popular among the D.C. tweed riders who gathered Sunday for a dandy ride through the city.
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    Mustaches were extremely popular among the D.C. tweed riders who gathered Sunday for a dandy ride through the city.
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    Heather Murphy/NPR
  • Hats were also key to the bonnie quaintrelles' (the female counterpart to dandy) look.
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    Hats were also key to the bonnie quaintrelles' (the female counterpart to dandy) look.
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    Heather Murphy/NPR
  • Plaid had never looked so artsy.
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    Plaid had never looked so artsy.
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    Kyle Samperton/Dandies & Quaintrelles
  • Event photographer Kyle Samperton insisted on documenting the event in style.
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    Event photographer Kyle Samperton insisted on documenting the event in style.
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    Heather Murphy/NPR
  • It was an opportunity for people to bring out big wheels.
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    It was an opportunity for people to bring out big wheels.
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    Heather Murphy/NPR
  • Drivers stopped and gawked as tweed took over the road.
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    Drivers stopped and gawked as tweed took over the road.
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    Heather Murphy/NPR
  • This fellow had no trouble keeping up with the riders in his special jumping gizmo.
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    This fellow had no trouble keeping up with the riders in his special jumping gizmo.
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    Heather Murphy/NPR
  • Who knew men in D.C could look this dandy?
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    Who knew men in D.C could look this dandy?
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    Heather Murphy/NPR
  • D.C. residents paid their homage to plaid.
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    D.C. residents paid their homage to plaid.
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    Courtesy Kyle Samperton/Dandies & Quaintrelles
  • Several men confessed they'd had to shop in the women's section just to find the right shade of argyle.
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    Several men confessed they'd had to shop in the women's section just to find the right shade of argyle.
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    Heather Murphy/NPR
  • Carley Lester managed to match her bike to her socks.
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    Carley Lester managed to match her bike to her socks.
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    Heather Murphy/NPR
  • At the end of the ride, people gathered at Marvin, a bistro on 14th St., to smoke their pipes and congratulate themselves for being so tweederific.
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    At the end of the ride, people gathered at Marvin, a bistro on 14th St., to smoke their pipes and congratulate themselves for being so tweederific.
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    Shereen Meraji/NPR
  • Ronald Soltes handed out flowers to the "most clever quaintrelles."
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    Ronald Soltes handed out flowers to the "most clever quaintrelles."
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    Heather Murphy/NPR
  • Max Richman, pictured with associate Ray Nealon, said for once he felt his last name was befitting.
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    Max Richman, pictured with associate Ray Nealon, said for once he felt his last name was befitting.
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    Heather Murphy/NPR
  • The evening came to a dapper conclusion after old-fashioned cocktails.
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    The evening came to a dapper conclusion after old-fashioned cocktails.
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    Heather Murphy/NPR
  • And just when everyone though they would faint from exhaustion, the not-so-vintage cuisine emerged; sausage and eggs.
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    And just when everyone though they would faint from exhaustion, the not-so-vintage cuisine emerged; sausage and eggs.
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    Shereen Meraji/NPR
  • Organizers Kristin Guiter and Eric Brewer said they were happy how their event had gone. And that was even before they heard that First Lady Michelle Obama had come out to shake some riders' hands.
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    Organizers Kristin Guiter and Eric Brewer said they were happy how their event had gone. And that was even before they heard that First Lady Michelle Obama had come out to shake some riders' hands.
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    Heather Murphy/NPR

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Cyclists in Washington took part in the city's first "Tweed Ride," an event in which bicyclists put on their most dapper attire and toured the city. Participants were encouraged to wear Victorian-era fineries and ride vintage bicycles. The practice began earlier this year in London and since there have been rides in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston.

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