From catcalls to lurid comments, should you shout back, or just ignore them? Any tips for those who will not give up their skirts?

Forget modesty: it's about catcalling. Unlike Gwladys, I quickly gave up on the idea of biking with a skirt on. A pity really, because the thought of commuting to work wearing light and fluttering fabrics is especially appealing during summer time. But from now on, I'm all about ugly lycra capri pants.

My admission of defeat isn't about wanting to keep my poise: looking silly isn't too much of a problem if I am in the midst of a strenuous physical exercise. What made me give up dresses was the never-ending catcalls hurled my way day in, day out. No matter that I was just commuting to work at 8.30am looking dishevelled, or biking through the park on a Sunday afternoon looking nice: if biking on my own, unwelcome remarks were de circonstance. I have heard it all: from builders demanding that I "flash my boobs, love" and older men asking if I had panties on, to teenagers making furtive kissing sounds supposed to suggest appreciation. I even once encountered a pedestrian who, having spotted me cycling from afar in a deserted street, stopped in the middle of a crossroad only to bend down with a huge grin, trying to catch a glimpse of my knickers.

At first, politely ignoring lurid comments while avoiding eye contact with the offenders seemed like a good solution. But such unwanted attention quickly became tiring, if not unsettling. After a few months of weekly (if not daily, during summer months) street harassment, I decided to resort to a more aggressive tactic and ditched my much-loved dutch bike, bought myself a hybrid, and started dressing head-to-toe in black lycra. And wouldn't you know? The catcalling ceased immediately, except for that recent time when I had the incredible audacity to go on a bike ride wearing shorts. But really, does it really have to come to that? Should women have to police their own clothes, rather than men watch their behaviour?

I would love to hear about how female cyclists deal with catcalling. Do you say something back, or do you just shrug and keep on going? Any tips for those who will not bow down and give up their skirts?