General Cycling Discussion - Those who see no need for bike shorts.

Let alone wicking properties of jersey/shorts and need of a chamois. I am doing more urban biking about my new town. So, i wear regular street clothes often. Just no more than one mile one way, usually. So. I am lousy at sewing torn seams in street clothes. My wife won't do it for me.
Very short distances and seams unravel. TO some of my favorite clothes. I imagine jeans' seams last longer, but I find jeans uncomfortable to ride in. About town, yes- I wear street clothes. But, I find cycling very stressful in street clothes.

I ride in street clothes all the time. I tend to go for very loose jeans where I can grab at least a couple of inches of fabric around the thighs and never have problem with them. I've managed 80+ mile rides in jeans and didn't suffer even the slightest amount of chaffing. I guess you just ahve to accept that you're going to be riding slower than you would in cycling gear, at least until the fabric has broken in for the day.

My real only consideration would be if it is likely to be humid, in which case go for something along the lines of a cargo pant style of thing. Other than that you might need to be careful about the cut of the cloth. When trying on the clothes, make sure you can get a good, unrestricted upstroke on the leg.

"About town, yes- I wear street clothes. But, I find cycling very stressful in street clothes."

My guess is that it's your riding position more than your clothes, mate. I find that the more
upright I ride the more comfortable I am. I can't imagine riding "street's" on a set of drops!
Everything from my crotch to my toes would be all bound up!! Then there are the all to
common , and dumb, MTB bar's........yeeck!!

Try sitting upright to see if your "street's" are easier to ride in,mate. ;)

What street clothes?
Polycotton hiking pants have very thin, tough material with flat seams. I can get a couple of years of daily use before wear holes appear.

There are jeans, and then there are jeans. Look for the stretch jeans, they are light weight and move with you unlike normal jeans. You have may to endure a boot cut, but that's better than the non-stretch jeans.

I wear street clothes all the time, usually jeans.

I wear loose street clothes with jockey shorts on my 8 km commute, cycling shorts on longer rides. I find jeans too hot in summer weather and the only time I've had saddle sores is when I start wearing them in the fall and have inadvertently had some sweaty rides. If they're tight they can also restrict leg movement. I try to wear lighter, looser pants or shorts.

There are jeans, and then there are jeans. Look for the stretch jeans, they are light weight and move with you unlike normal jeans. You have may to endure a boot cut, but that's better than the non-stretch jeans.

Walker Texas Ranger, old school:
http://buzz.bazooka.se/pics/?file=ChuckNorrisKarateJeans.jpg

There are many, many nylon, poly, cotton, and blends of tough outdoor sports pants that look normal enough to wear everyday. Gramicci makes very comfortable pants that are pretty tough.

Let alone wicking properties of jersey/shorts and need of a chamois. I am doing more urban biking about my new town. So, i wear regular street clothes often. Just no more than one mile one way, usually. So. I am lousy at sewing torn seams in street clothes. My wife won't do it for me.
Very short distances and seams unravel. TO some of my favorite clothes. I imagine jeans' seams last longer, but I find jeans uncomfortable to ride in. About town, yes- I wear street clothes. But, I find cycling very stressful in street clothes.
I put holes on the bottom of allof my jeans and pants when I rode my mountain bike.

My Levis hold up well to cycling, both on an upright and on a recumbent. Just make sure they're loose enough.

Rides that are only a couple blocks long, would be crazy to use cycling atire.
But, 1- I prefer drops, 2- usually wear Dockers or 501 Levis, 3- ride long distances for at least four hours minimum, 4- sweat very readily. Also wearing my favorite cargo shorts, not made for cycling.) biking tears the heck out of seams. Hate that.
Today rode on my wife's new upright bike. Today, A little more than local errands. Well, my rear hurt far more on that six mile ride, than my usual five hour ride.
I just find. Even on somewhat short rides.. My arse's fatigue is far more noticeable in street clothes, than on long rides in cycling gear and cycling gear sure takes the wear and tear that Dockers can't .
My hand's palms sort of throb tonight as a result of riding up right. I would have thought an up right position would lessen the pressure placed on the hands.

I have the choice of using loosly fitting clothes or a skirt for cycling (depending on dress code for the day). Just remember to make sure anything in between your thigh and the saddle has no potential irriating seams (enclosed double stitched ones) pressing in. And the fabric choice allows for wicking and breathing of the skin.

I can't freakin' get on my bike in jeans. I have to tilt my bike at a 45 degree angle and hop on. That and dress clothes look rather odd since the bottom of the pant legs usually ride up above my socks. Black dress socks and pasty white legs. Yummy. All I need is a sock garter. :p

But I ride a fair distance each day. Thus, it is cycling shorts for me. Short recreational rides are in regular shorts. As for short rides in the winter, I usually throw my cycling gear on.

I put holes on the bottom of allof my jeans and pants when I rode my mountain bike.


Is that for ventilation, or what?

Love the avatar, by the way.

I put holes on the bottom of allof my jeans and pants when I rode my mountain bike.

I use reflective ankle bands. Not only are they practical but they're also very sexy.

Let alone wicking properties of jersey/shorts and need of a chamois. I am doing more urban biking about my new town. So, i wear regular street clothes often. Just no more than one mile one way, usually. So. I am lousy at sewing torn seams in street clothes. My wife won't do it for me.
Very short distances and seams unravel. TO some of my favorite clothes. I imagine jeans' seams last longer, but I find jeans uncomfortable to ride in. About town, yes- I wear street clothes. But, I find cycling very stressful in street clothes.

Trip down the shops- Whatever I am wearing- Out for a ride- Proper cycling clobber.

I see lots of locals ride about in Addidas Windpants. I did once. Happy that time my wife repaired the seams. Those are not cheap. Mabye that is why she sewed them up for me.I do a real botch job of sewing.

I commute in street cloths, but I try to wear older clothing because any time I pedal I get grease on something!

Tip: get at least one pair of cycling shorts with a thinner chamois that has good inner thigh coverage....use this in place of underwear on days you will put down some serious miles.

I just ripped my best pair of cargo shorts today. :(

I do lots of utility biking around here. anxious when some of my baggie, cargo shorts arrive.
At present in shipment to our new home. These shorts are made specially for cycling. but, still don't like them as well as lycra shorts. Baggies do not work nearly as well at eliminating chaffing . Especially about the waist. but, for about town or 3 mile errands, they have their place and don't rip apart like street clothes.

I commute in wool dress pants all the time when it's cool and dry. But it's just four miles and no big deal.