Discussion
It's comfortable. A guy I work with wears normal shorts over his lycra shorts, basically because he is too embarrassed to wear lycra.
Unfortunately his level of maturity is such that he hasn't yet reached that stage in life where you stop giving a crap what other human beings think. I keep telling him that being comfortable in your own (lycra) skin is liberating and one day he'll be up here with me looking down on all of the proud, vein yet insecure young men who take themselves too seriously.
I should add that I'm not a "casual" cyclist (so own a shed load of lycra), but I am a commuter. Real men don't need an engine, they just keep one locked in the garage for social, domestic and pleasure.
Unfortunately his level of maturity is such that he hasn't yet reached that stage in life where you stop giving a crap what other human beings think. I keep telling him that being comfortable in your own (lycra) skin is liberating and one day he'll be up here with me looking down on all of the proud, vein yet insecure young men who take themselves too seriously.
I should add that I'm not a "casual" cyclist (so own a shed load of lycra), but I am a commuter. Real men don't need an engine, they just keep one locked in the garage for social, domestic and pleasure.
Edited by NatAsp on Thursday 15th September 22:28
BigLion said:
Why does everyone who cycles casually / commuting seem now wear Lycra ?
How do you know whether they are cycling casually or not? If they are commuting, how do you ascertain the distance they are travelling daily and the intensity of their riding so as to question why they are wearing lycra? Not sure why you'd really care anyway... CC07 PEU said:
How do you know whether they are cycling casually or not? If they are commuting, how do you ascertain the distance they are travelling daily and the intensity of their riding so as to question why they are wearing lycra? Not sure why you'd really care anyway...
Exactly. People probably think that about me, oblivious to the fact that I might be a triathlete or road racer! BigLion said:
Why does everyone who cycles casually / commuting seem now wear Lycra ? Honestly I'm assuming there must be some major benefit as they all look like they are in the Tour De France!
It's got to the point I feel weird for not having Lycra on when cycling !!!
Oh FFS. What a stupid post.It's got to the point I feel weird for not having Lycra on when cycling !!!
Do you wear jeans when you go swimming?
daddy cool said:
BigLion said:
Why does everyone who cycles casually / commuting seem now wear Lycra ? Honestly I'm assuming there must be some major benefit as they all look like they are in the Tour De France!
It's got to the point I feel weird for not having Lycra on when cycling !!!
Oh FFS. What a stupid post.It's got to the point I feel weird for not having Lycra on when cycling !!!
Do you wear jeans when you go swimming?
If your only doing a short trip into town do you really need to dress the same as if you were doing a 100 mile sportive?
zollburgers said:
I wear lycra if I'm going for a ride as it's practical and I have a great arse. When on the bike no 'bits' are that noticeable and so it's fine.
If I'll be stopping off somewhere and likely to be around people I'll bring along a pair of modesty shorts to wear over the lycra shorts.
Would you still wear lycra if you were just popping to the shops for a pint of milk rather than out on a proper road?If I'll be stopping off somewhere and likely to be around people I'll bring along a pair of modesty shorts to wear over the lycra shorts.
OP,
I cycle quite a lot (in the eyes of non cyclicsts). My choice of bike (racing) comes with a saddle somewhat likje a razor, because that's what you need for big cycling. These are designed to be usded with padded shorts..
Now, if I commute to work, I'm not about to muck about swapping saddles. _Not_ wearing the shorts isn't an option - my arse would be in tatters within 2 miles.
I accept that I _could_ buy MTB style shorts and look like less of a plonker. Thing is, good shorts are expensive and crap shorts are not worth having (see arse tatter issue above), so I'd rather just use the shorts I already own.
These horts don't have pockets, so my keys etc need to go somewhere - so I wear a cycling top.
All of a sudden, I look "like I think I'm in the tour de france*" Thing is, although I know loads of people at work probably think I'm odd for it, I am not prepared to put pain / significant money towards avoiding it. Most of the people that give you daft looks are fat munters anyway.
I cycle quite a lot (in the eyes of non cyclicsts). My choice of bike (racing) comes with a saddle somewhat likje a razor, because that's what you need for big cycling. These are designed to be usded with padded shorts..
Now, if I commute to work, I'm not about to muck about swapping saddles. _Not_ wearing the shorts isn't an option - my arse would be in tatters within 2 miles.
I accept that I _could_ buy MTB style shorts and look like less of a plonker. Thing is, good shorts are expensive and crap shorts are not worth having (see arse tatter issue above), so I'd rather just use the shorts I already own.
These horts don't have pockets, so my keys etc need to go somewhere - so I wear a cycling top.
All of a sudden, I look "like I think I'm in the tour de france*" Thing is, although I know loads of people at work probably think I'm odd for it, I am not prepared to put pain / significant money towards avoiding it. Most of the people that give you daft looks are fat munters anyway.
- Aldi edition
egor110 said:
daddy cool said:
BigLion said:
Why does everyone who cycles casually / commuting seem now wear Lycra ? Honestly I'm assuming there must be some major benefit as they all look like they are in the Tour De France!
It's got to the point I feel weird for not having Lycra on when cycling !!!
Oh FFS. What a stupid post.It's got to the point I feel weird for not having Lycra on when cycling !!!
Do you wear jeans when you go swimming?
If your only doing a short trip into town do you really need to dress the same as if you were doing a 100 mile sportive?
egor110 said:
daddy cool said:
BigLion said:
Why does everyone who cycles casually / commuting seem now wear Lycra ? Honestly I'm assuming there must be some major benefit as they all look like they are in the Tour De France!
It's got to the point I feel weird for not having Lycra on when cycling !!!
Oh FFS. What a stupid post.It's got to the point I feel weird for not having Lycra on when cycling !!!
Do you wear jeans when you go swimming?
If your only doing a short trip into town do you really need to dress the same as if you were doing a 100 mile sportive?
Years ago I didn't wear Lycra and couldn't face wearing it, but I didnt ride so much and wasnt as fit, now I wear it day in day out.
Im proper FPKW mode when commuting, I have team Belkin shorts and a Banesto top usually, the shorts were £190 reduced to £15 and are amazing quality and the top cost me a tenner, so £25 all in, cheaper than rubbish normal clothes from sports direct, i have a variety of other ex pro team clothing!
I do 150 miles a week and like to push myself, it would be grim and uncomfortable in anything other than lycra
I dont really care what people think, ive had some banter/abuse (not that much tbh), I just tell people "I can go home and take off this lycra, you are stuck with that face forever" or similar
I think fitness plays a part, when you get fitter , faster and stronger, you notice how normal sportswear is inadequate and drives you nuts, plus a normal Ts
tt has no pockets, my jersey pockets are always fulled to the brim
If I pop to the shops ill wear normal clothes, the other day I did a 10 mile round trip in denim shorts and they were grim and really uncomfortable by the end, even taking it easy
I dont really care what I look like, nor others. I think people that find fault with others peoples appearance , either lack social skills or feel inadequate in life so I just feel sorry for them
Having said that Im always up for friendly banter if anyone gives it over lycra, as has happened at some places Ive worked at
Im proper FPKW mode when commuting, I have team Belkin shorts and a Banesto top usually, the shorts were £190 reduced to £15 and are amazing quality and the top cost me a tenner, so £25 all in, cheaper than rubbish normal clothes from sports direct, i have a variety of other ex pro team clothing!
I do 150 miles a week and like to push myself, it would be grim and uncomfortable in anything other than lycra
I dont really care what people think, ive had some banter/abuse (not that much tbh), I just tell people "I can go home and take off this lycra, you are stuck with that face forever" or similar
I think fitness plays a part, when you get fitter , faster and stronger, you notice how normal sportswear is inadequate and drives you nuts, plus a normal Ts
tt has no pockets, my jersey pockets are always fulled to the brimIf I pop to the shops ill wear normal clothes, the other day I did a 10 mile round trip in denim shorts and they were grim and really uncomfortable by the end, even taking it easy
I dont really care what I look like, nor others. I think people that find fault with others peoples appearance , either lack social skills or feel inadequate in life so I just feel sorry for them
Having said that Im always up for friendly banter if anyone gives it over lycra, as has happened at some places Ive worked at
Edited by TwistingMyMelon on Friday 16th September 09:22
BigLion said:
Why does everyone who cycles casually / commuting seem now wear Lycra ? Honestly I'm assuming there must be some major benefit as they all look like they are in the Tour De France!
It's got to the point I feel weird for not having Lycra on when cycling !!!
Google 'MAMIL' then look away sharpish!It's got to the point I feel weird for not having Lycra on when cycling !!!
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