Commuting questions :)
Commuting questions :)
Author
Discussion

camgear

Original Poster:

6,941 posts

217 months

Tuesday 14th April 2009
quotequote all
What do you guys wear for commuting in these sort of temps? Trackie bottoms and a Tshirt ok? Not into the lyrca look (Going to have another go at commuting after 2 rides in a miserable winter!)

Are padded shorts worth getting?

mk1fan

10,847 posts

248 months

Tuesday 14th April 2009
quotequote all
Padded shorts are worth it.

I'm wearing 3/4 length padded shorts and a short sleeved top. I would recommend getting proper riding gear that wicks moisture away. Cotton is terrible and still be wet when you come to ride home.

HOGEPH

5,249 posts

209 months

Tuesday 14th April 2009
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Put yourself on the Lidl and Aldi emailing lists. They have occasional bike gear sales, and you can pick up cycling shirts/shorts/socks at very reasonable prices. I doubt anyone will care what you look like as you ride past them!

camgear

Original Poster:

6,941 posts

217 months

Tuesday 14th April 2009
quotequote all
Cool, can you get padded undershorts?

HOGEPH

5,249 posts

209 months

Tuesday 14th April 2009
quotequote all
Last time around, I bought some gloves £3, shirt £7 and shorts £3. Cheap enough to use for one season and then throw away.

Tesco also do cheap lycra shorts. I know it's not your look, wasn't mine either, but far more comfortable to cycle in.

anonymous-user

77 months

Tuesday 14th April 2009
quotequote all
value for money wise, you are probably better off getting some DHB kit from wiggle. its good quality and i would trust their padding to be better quality and better designed into the shorts than cheaper kit from budget supermarkets. Altura stuff can be picked up cheap too from various sources. also have a look for some old team wear from Geoffrey Butler, they normally have 07/08 stuff cheap.

sjg

7,645 posts

288 months

Tuesday 14th April 2009
quotequote all
Depends on how smart you have to be at work - I used to wear cycle shorts under work trousers, then a merino base layer under a jacket. Leave shoes at work, carry shirt/polo and underwear in bag. Have a quick wash and change when I got to work (disabled toilets have more space!). If you've got drawer space, it's worth keeping some spare clothes in case you get soaked, muddy or whatever.

Those I know who commute and need to be suit+tie smart tend to keep work clothes in their office and either have shirts laundered once a week or bring them in each day. Then just commute in cycle gear - this is a better option too if your commute is long or when it gets hotter in summer.

camgear

Original Poster:

6,941 posts

217 months

Tuesday 14th April 2009
quotequote all
Tis casual at our place (Jeans/TShirt), and we have showers!

sjg

7,645 posts

288 months

Tuesday 14th April 2009
quotequote all
Even better - roll out of bed, have morning shower and breakfast at work.

I'm not a big fan of the lycra look for commuting, but if it pours down it's handy to just take your trousers off and ride in shorts you have on underneath - one fabric gets soaked it just sticks to you and it's really annoying to ride like that.

JeepJunkie

88 posts

210 months

Tuesday 14th April 2009
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Same all year round...

Lycra shorts
Smelly Hansen
Altura Night Vision jacket
Shimano MTB shoes
Fingerless gloves summer/long gloved winter
Usually a beanie but sometime the helmet when the wife starts nagging irked

If it's really cold I'll throw on a fleece top under the jacket...

mchammer89

3,127 posts

236 months

Tuesday 14th April 2009
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+1 for Wiggle's DHB range.

Sarkmeister

1,690 posts

241 months

Tuesday 14th April 2009
quotequote all
In this weather I generally wear padded cycling shorts under normal shorts, a tshirt and a thin rain coat/jacket. I can take the jacket off and out in my bag if I get warm. Padded shorts are definitely worth it, but there is no way im wearing them withuot normal shorts on top....

camgear

Original Poster:

6,941 posts

217 months

Tuesday 14th April 2009
quotequote all
Sarkmeister said:
In this weather I generally wear padded cycling shorts under normal shorts, a tshirt and a thin rain coat/jacket. I can take the jacket off and out in my bag if I get warm. Padded shorts are definitely worth it, but there is no way im wearing them withuot normal shorts on top....
Haha! That's why I was asking if there was any to specifically wear as undershorts, I'd wear tracksuit pants over the top, I'm not a shorts person, whatever the heat biggrin

jonmac73

201 posts

214 months

Friday 24th April 2009
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camgear said:
Sarkmeister said:
In this weather I generally wear padded cycling shorts under normal shorts, a tshirt and a thin rain coat/jacket. I can take the jacket off and out in my bag if I get warm. Padded shorts are definitely worth it, but there is no way im wearing them withuot normal shorts on top....
Haha! That's why I was asking if there was any to specifically wear as undershorts, I'd wear tracksuit pants over the top, I'm not a shorts person, whatever the heat biggrin
Dedicated larger bike shops may stock them - somewhere like evans maybe ....

Or if you have a decathlon store near you (or shop online) I have some from there that are fine. Just like normal hipster underwear but with a proper pad. I wear them under normal casual trousers and shorts - works fine.

option click

1,178 posts

249 months

Friday 24th April 2009
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mchammer89 said:
+1 for Wiggle's DHB range.
And another here - 1st outing in them today. Very comfortable

Chris71

21,548 posts

265 months

Friday 24th April 2009
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Do you reckon cycling shorts, how can I put this, absorb well enough to be kept on under work clothes (jeans/smart T-shirt type stuff)?

a11y_m

1,861 posts

245 months

Friday 24th April 2009
quotequote all
DHB stuff on wiggle is excellent. As is some of the Aldi/Lidl stuff - best winter gloves ever for about £4 three years ago and still going strong.

I commute in 3/4 Endura Hummvee shorts (baggy with a clip-in padded liner - I don't "suit" lycra), a long- or short-sleeved merino wool top, with a Gore windstopped top which the arms can be zipped off.

I've also got leg warmers and arm warmer for the colder mornings, and I carry a Gortex Paclite jacket too for very wet commutes.

But I can't recommend merino wool tops enough - best base/mid layer ever. You're colleagues will love you for them. Can wear the same top for weeks of sweaty commuting and they still don't stink, absolutely amazing fabric. I've been using the same top daily for about 4 weeks now, as well as wearing it on MTB rides in evenings and at weekends. Things like the Endura Baa Baa merino tops (in short- or long-sleeved) are ideal and aren't that expensive. I've also got a couple of Howies ones but they're not worth it unless you get them discounted (I was lucky and get 'em half-price).

pdV6

16,442 posts

284 months

Friday 24th April 2009
quotequote all
Chris71 said:
Do you reckon cycling shorts, how can I put this, absorb well enough to be kept on under work clothes (jeans/smart T-shirt type stuff)?
You can but that doesn't mean you shouldwink

Taking 30sec to change into a pair of normal grundies will probably make for a more pleasant working environment.

mk1fan

10,847 posts

248 months

Friday 24th April 2009
quotequote all
Chris71 said:
Do you reckon cycling shorts, how can I put this, absorb well enough to be kept on under work clothes
Absorb what? Surely some peice of medical eqiupment would be better?

alphadog

2,049 posts

256 months

Saturday 25th April 2009
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HOGEPH said:
Last time around, I bought some gloves £3, shirt £7 and shorts £3. Cheap enough to use for one season and then throw away.

Tesco also do cheap lycra shorts. I know it's not your look, wasn't mine either, but far more comfortable to cycle in.
Can alway wear 'em under baggy overs