Why Togs?

[comradehoser]

Hey all,

Pardon my ignorance. I'm getting myself a new city/trail commuter bike--the surly cross-check---and thought, hey, I think I'll try a bit of cyclocross while I'm at it, since the LBS guy who is helping me with the bike (props to Proteus in college park, md.) is setting up a 'cross loop in Silver Spring.

Coming from a commuter who wears T-shirts and shorts, the question I have, is--why the spandex togs? With road bikes, I can see the need for aerodynamics, but what advantage do they give in 'cross?

[greybeard87]

--why the spandex togs? With road bikes, I can see the need for aerodynamics, but what advantage do they give in 'cross?

Mounting and dismounting, nothing to snag on the saddle, ect.

[B10Cycle]

Proteus is a great shop isn't it? I'm gonna build up a SS/fixed commuter/cross rig in the spring and they're going to be the first people I go to. It's always a great experience b/c of the great people they have.

[deathintransit]

Jeans/slacks etc don't come with a chamois.

[comradehoser]

actually, there are plenty of non-spandex shorts with "chamois" (technically not chamois leather). I don't wear jeans/slacks. I don't really have a need for padding (yet), but I do wear compression shorts or commando because of chafing.

Hells yes on the proteus. Gary and Jill (and everybody else there) rock. What's not to like about an LBS with a show up and hang out potluck every week? Not to mention their bike mechanic apprenticeship program for local kids, etc.

[jpearl]

Lycra is indeed the only standard for true CX riding and racing, but I'm finding that an 'ol skool pair of Levis 501 (folded up to just below the knees bike messenger stylee) and a tough-ass thermal shirt is a good outfit for urban cyclocross here in NYC.

[giantxc]

More importantly, where is this cross loop in Silver Spring going to be?

[comradehoser]

That, I cannot tell you--uh, some park?

I'm still waiting on the surly, so I haven't actually gone out and done this. If it's true to form, it'll be informal as all heck, perhaps involving beers. Last time I talked to the guy setting it up, it sounded like he'd kind of done it as a regular thing for a while, but for all I know it could be purely hypothetical.

I'll try to find out and post up later. I have to call and ask what the heck is taking so long with the bike. The 5-year-old derailleurs on my present commuter (diamondback mtn bike) are about to explode.

[jfmckenna]

They do make baggies with a chamois in it but the reasons of catching things has already been pointed out. It's annoying enough catching tight spandex on the nose of your saddle. I raced a race in jeans last year because I forgot my cloths bag. LOL I was a big hit and even made the local papers especially because I pulled off second place in the Mens B. It was pretty tough mounting and my jeans were trashed :D

[SpongeDad]

When the guy said setting up a loop, did he mean a race series or just some place where one could go practice. Either would be great (and an excuse to finally get a real cross bike).

[comradehoser]

I think it was like a regularly scheduled practise place, probably degenerating into race-ish behavior.