Clothing

[lord trumpton]

With the every increasing numbers taking up cycling I'm just wondering why all the cycle boys wear all the lycra clothing when out on a ride?

Surely you must feel a bit silly wearing all the gear and pretending you are riding for team sky or something?

[nammynake]

What would you suggest cyclists wear when cycling? Scuba gear perhaps?

[lord trumpton]

Maybe something similar to the MTB riders? Casual clothing

[drivin_me_nuts]

In a road bike mtb stuff is uncomfortable, flappy, sweaty and gets in the way. Lycra, bibs etc are very comfortable.

As for logos, colours etc, your choice as to brands or unbranded gear. Some of us even like riding as part of team PH

[Barchettaman]

We are confusing two seperate arguments here.

Lycra and cycling-specific road garments make perfect sense for road riding, if you do any kind of serious mileage on a road bike you will swiftly realise it's the stuff to wear.

Now, lots of people *choose* to buy road garments branded with the team of their choice. You absolutely do not have to do this, but hey, people do.

I have a mix of branded stuff, Aldi stuff, second-hand and vintage stuff, it's all good. I probably look a bit of a tit as I'm not exactly svelt but hey, at least I'm trying.

[SystemParanoia]

flappy clothes can add 15mins to my commute purely from drag, and me burning myself out putting in the extra effort to overcome it.

this is over 25 miles.

I then wear the lycra when mountain biking because, well, ive already got it and paid for it, why would i then wear something else ?

[anonymous-user]

Do not feed the troll. He knows lycra is comfortable over long distances and aerodynamic etc etc etc, he's just bored and throwing out bait.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 25th July 21:06

[lord trumpton]

yeah maybe there is a touch of antagonising in my post, but I do genuinely wonder why people go to such lengths. It must be a fag to put it all on in the first place, then theres those shoes that clip to the pedals.

I'd be mortified if I had to stop to maybe buy a drink or whatever and I had to walk into a shop with my knob sticking out of my lycra shorts.

[drivin_me_nuts]

Most of us don't tend to be so insecure about what others think. Life is too short to care what some stranger thinks about what I wear when I walk into a shop. Quite simply, IDGAF.

[oceanview]

I,ve had a full carbon, Focus road bike for a couple months now and bought all the associated lycra gear as well (mostly Altura) but I do sometimes just wear fitted board shorts instead now as I find lycra padded shorts squash my bits too much ( no wonder I,ve heard high mileage cyclists can have erection probs/low testosterone, lol!)
I find the board shorts much more comfy ( they're not flappy) and as I,ve got a decent saddle now, don't need the padding- did 40 mile in them a couple weeks back with no probs.

Works for me.

[Get Karter]

Cycling differs from most other sports as it can also be used for non sporting activity.

Sport or transport?

I tend to dress accordingly.

[oceanview]

drivin_me_nuts said:

Most of us don't tend to be so insecure about what others think. Life is too short to care what some stranger thinks about what I wear when I walk into a shop. Quite simply, IDGAF.

Does that include wearing a mankini ??;)

[pembo]

lord trumpton said:

yeah maybe there is a touch of antagonising in my post, but I do genuinely wonder why people go to such lengths. It must be a fag to put it all on in the first place, then theres those shoes that clip to the pedals.

I'd be mortified if I had to stop to maybe buy a drink or whatever and I had to walk into a shop with my knob sticking out of my lycra shorts.

You're wearing them wrong mate, knob should be inside the shorts. Are you one of those weirdos that wears a T-shirt to so swimming too?

[DuncanM]

drivin_me_nuts said:

Most of us don't tend to be so insecure about what others think. Life is too short to care what some stranger thinks about what I wear when I walk into a shop. Quite simply, IDGAF.

This comment is brilliant, and not just applicable to wearing lycra for cycling.

IDGAF

[Ponk]

Interesting one this. I used to be a bit self conscious but I've recently stopped giving a f*ck. Mostly because I've realised that I'm in far better shape than most of the office commentators so it's only really an expression of their own self consciousness.

[frisbee]

lord trumpton said:

yeah maybe there is a touch of antagonising in my post, but I do genuinely wonder why people go to such lengths. It must be a fag to put it all on in the first place, then theres those shoes that clip to the pedals.

I'd be mortified if I had to stop to maybe buy a drink or whatever and I had to walk into a shop with my knob sticking out of my lycra shorts.

I hope your checking your hair and makeup before you're going into these shops!

[272BHP]

Lycra, you need to be reasonably athletic or frankly you look like a plum. To me its a bit like someone wearing racing flats for a 40min 5k run for life, or lifting straps when they are only lifting bodyweight.

The amount of pot bellied middle aged slobs toiling up the hills here in full Sky kit and carbon bike is impressive. Some of them I do not overtake as it feels embarrassing when I zip past on a fat wheeled hybrid with back pack in my shorts and t shirt.

Reduce drag? for some of them their main worry should be the friction caused by their thighs scraping their huge bellies on every rotation.

I am always impressed though when genuinely quick lycra clad cyclists zip past me on the hills.

[yellowjack]

lord trumpton said:

yeah maybe there is a touch of antagonising in my post, but I do genuinely wonder why people go to such lengths. It must be a fag to put it all on in the first place, then theres those shoes that clip to the pedals.

I'd be mortified if I had to stop to maybe buy a drink or whatever and I had to walk into a shop with my knob sticking out of my lycra shorts.

A 'fag' to put it all on in the first place? Yup! Absolutely. It can take me half an hour, from deciding to go out to actually getting out of the house. Especially if my wife has put all my bike gear away out of sight, and I spend 10 minutes just finding it all

I could simply sling a leg over the top tube dressed as I am, in jeans and a loose t-shirt. That'd work. For a schlep to the shops, maybe, or a brief lap of the local lake. But look at it from the other direction. I regularly ride in the same area as a few other PHers. If I were to meet one of them coming the other way while out on a ride (and it has happened on multiple occasions), 40 miles into a 60 miler, dressed in (by that point) soggy jeans and a dishrag of a t-shirt, I can imagine the conversation...

random PHer:-
"hello YJ! No PH lycra shirt today?"

me:-
"no. too much of a fag to get dressed specifically for a ride. I decided to wear 'normal' clothes to get out quicker, and I'm hoping to get back in a state where I can ditch having a shower, and simply get on with the rest of my day..."

random PHer:-
"how very odd. you've torn your jeans to shreds on the chainrings, you're soaking wet and look knackered, and the way you are shifting from side to side on the saddle suggests a degree of soreness"

me:-
"yes. my arse is killing me. the seams of these jeans are digging in and chafing my buttocks and thighs to the point where they are red-raw. and dragging this flappy t-shirt around has cost me dearly in terms of time on the course, and energy expended. it's ok, though. I'm a powerfully built company director type, so I have loads of money, and can afford to buy new jeans after every ride. I shall do this 'riding in normal clothes' thing far more often, now that I realise how very silly I was to buy daft-looking lycra in the first place. you should try it too, random PHer! it'll save wear and tear on your nice PH cycling jersey, too"

random PHer:- "hmmm. OK. nice to see you again YJ! have you seen your therapist lately? I've been considering contacting the community mental health team on your behalf. Have a good ride now..."


...and so I'd need to take a week's rest away from the bike to heal my sores, and lose any friends I have from turning up to the pub in damp, sweat stained, smelly clothes, looking like I'd been dragged through a hedge both ways. Seriously? I can think of absolutely no benefit whatsoever to be gained from doing the type of riding I enjoy in anything other than 'appropriate' cycle clothing.

As for your last point? I find that removing my cycle helmet before entering any shop, and therefore revealing my "helmet hair" to general ridicule and mild mocking, is more than enough to distract any innocent members of the public from looking at the "gentleman's essentials" area of my Lycra shorts. But thanks for your concern

[S10GTA]

Hey OP, you never answeredmy question in the last ridiculous anti cycling thread.

Iirc I asked if you get similarly annoyed seeing people play football in football shirts?

[ecsrobin]

S10GTA said:

Hey OP, you never answeredmy question in the last ridiculous anti cycling thread.

Iirc I asked if you get similarly annoyed seeing people play football in football shirts?

I can't stand that at all! My pet hate seeing sportsman in sports clothing. Real gents play all sport in morning suits.