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This is in regard to the bike shorts issue on another post. Some riders think shorts are over sold, and prefer to ride in whatever is most comfortable to them.
Other riders thing that bike shorts are the next best thing to sliced bread.
Yet other riders are quite content to ride in whatever suits the moment.
Still other riders would never be caught dead in those silly shorts.
I think a lot of it has to do with how and where you ride.
For instance if you ride a short distance on flat ground, chances are you are quite happy wearing whatever you have on. On the other hand if you ride long distances over varied terrain, you might opt for bike shorts to prevent chafing that Levis etc might cause.
So I am posting a poll... hopfully I can post this, and I get the right choices in there.
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When I was a teen, I had butt caluses after riding only 20-35 miles a day. Now my weight is 40 pounds more (180), I wear bike shorts, ride more and have no BCs!
Funny that the rear tatooing, 20 somethings poo poo the idea of bike shorts. I figure that it fits into the idea of anti capitolism, which makes some sense because of the outrageously high prices of any decent bike short. I've been "busted" at CMs, wearing bike shorts under baggy shorts!:eek:
Not that the BCs really bothered me, but my GFs would occasionally comment.
I really struggled to find a category as I do a mix or distances and purposes.
For my 8.5mi commute (each way) I wear bike shorts. Gotta change at the destination anyway.
For weekend club rides I do too.
For running errands which often involves a RT of >10mi I wear them, but may carry lightweight shorts to put on over at the destination (such as the denstist or grocery store). Or put the shorts on over during the ride.
Then I get to the sub 5mi 'fun' rides I do. I often used to just jump on the bike with regular shorts and boxers. I often found that one of my boys would be in pain after the ride. For a while I blamed the seat (as the pain would persist into week) on my fixed gear.
Then I learned that on those 'joy' rides I'd end up bashing a loose boy - as fixed gear results in much more standing/unstanding than a casual ride on a many geared bike would. So now even for the short fun rides I put on bike shorts under my regular ones. Never had a bashed boy since.
Al
I wear street cloths and ride about 100 + a week.
Im glad I believe in "to each thier own"....I dont worry
what other people wear and I hope they dont of me, either.
I probably would wear more bike stuff If I wasnt so lazy
or had a better place to change than I do (or dont, as it were).
I think it also has something to do with bike type. Team kit, bike shorts, or even warmups are unnecessary (and would look very funny) when riding my European-type upright bike. Additionally, the narrow saddles and forward-leaning riding positions of my hybrid and wife's road bike call for something a bit more specific to cycling.
Paul
I voted "I wear bike shorts and often ride over 20 miles." But then, most mornings I'll take my short, flat, cool commute in office clothes, including a tie. But you're right, if you're going to sweat, wear bike shorts. (Unless you like crotch rot, I guess.)
Honestly, I don't see what the big deal resistance to bike shorts is.
I ride to work, about a mile, in office dress clothes, when I ride my road bike for longer rides, I wear cycling shorts and a baggy t-shirt.
I wear MTB shorts and ride 10-25 miles a day.
Haven't made teh switch to lycra yet...
I commute an embarrassing 6-mile round trip (but I often come home at lunch - 2 trips!) in work clothes.
Otherwise when I'm out for a 30 - 100 mile ride I'm in bike shorts.
I wore regular shorts/underwear until my rides started to approach an hour. Then I discovered some rather severe, uh, limitations of what I was wearing. At that point I switched to cycling shorts and jerseys. I could probably do without the jerseys except for the pockets, and there are some coole jerseys out there.
What would apply to me. I rarely ride Under 25 miles and almost always wear bike shorts.
If a ride is under 10 miles I might either wear street clothes or Mtn. bike shorts.
another uncomfortable thing about street clothes. On the times I wear them for just a couple miles. I just find myself sitting on my soft tissue and other 'stuff' far more often. Sit just right that can hurt.
I voted "I wear bike shorts and often ride over 20 miles." But then, most mornings I'll take my short, flat, cool commute in office clothes, including a tie. But you're right, if you're going to sweat, wear bike shorts. (Unless you like crotch rot, I guess.)
Honestly, I don't see what the big deal resistance to bike shorts is.
Caloso. Careful with that tie. You have heard about Isadora Duncan? Stay out of the drops, please.
I sometimes wear a T-shirt or jersey with my work pants on my 8.5 mile commute and bring a change of shirt. I only wear bike shorts on recreational rides, and then only if it's warm and I forget that I hate the tan lines they give me.
Polo shirt, Dockers slacks, pantclips, and leather shoes.
Brooks B.72 or Brooks Team Pro.
20+ miles.
Wouldn't use bike shorts if my life depended on it.
-Kurt
Hmm, you don't have my choice there:
I ride a very short distance (just under two miles) and wear work clothes to work (all downhill) and wear bike shorts/clothing home (all uphill).
Polo shirt, Dockers slacks, pantclips, and leather shoes.
Brooks B.72 or Brooks Team Pro.
20+ miles.
Wouldn't use bike shorts if my life depended on it.
-Kurt
OK, interesting response. And doing 20+miles. Are you cycling hard? Are any hills involved? Do you arive at your destination all hot and sweaty or calm and cool?
And now the key question... why, if say certain body parts depended on it, would you not ever wear bike shorts?
Wow, all of your choices are pretty black and white...how does someone who wears biking shorts sometimes, street clothes other times and a combination of both other times, vote? I never fit into peoples little boxes :(
This is in regard to the bike shorts issue on another post. Some riders think shorts are over sold, and prefer to ride in whatever is most comfortable to them.
.............
Still other riders would never be caught dead in those silly shorts.
....................
I usually ride over 20 miles and wear cycling shorts because they are the most comfortable. I don't care how they look or who doesn't like them.
Dogbait
I still wear lycra shorts for fast club rides or long road rides like centuries, but with a well broken in brooks saddle on the touring bike and the MTB, most of the time I am quite comfortable wearing cargo shorts.
OK, interesting response. And doing 20+miles. Are you cycling hard? Are any hills involved? Do you arive at your destination all hot and sweaty or calm and cool?
And now the key question... why, if say certain body parts depended on it, would you not ever wear bike shorts?
Medium to high pace on 3 speeds, high pace on all my road machines. Hills are minimal, if any.
Not too sweaty during the winter months, unless I push myself to my limits for an extended time. Summer, however, is the season for constant sweat, whether I'm cycling, or walking out the door to pick up the morning newspaper. Mind you, Miami summers are around 85-95 degrees.
Why I don't bother with bike shorts: They can't do anything more then one of my nicely broken-in Brooks saddles can do. I've yet to get saddle sore (when riding with slacks) from a broken-in Brooks.
Furthermore, my two encounters with the lyrca material have irritated my skin more then otherwise. These unplesant encounters were with a pair of lycra-covered foam saddles.
Both of these saddles effectively absorbed the sweat around my crotch area, and as a result, I returned from my rides with a burning rash on the side of each leg. Turns out sweat works as a very efficent lubricant against my pantlegs and saddle - using the lyrca to absorb it was a disaster in this case.
Take care,
-Kurt
Medium to high pace on 3 speeds, high pace on all my road machines. Hills are minimal, if any.
Not too sweaty during the winter months, unless I push myself to my limits for an extended time. Summer, however, is the season for constant sweat, whether I'm cycling, or walking out the door to pick up the morning newspaper. Mind you, Miami summers are around 85-95 degrees.
Why I don't bother with bike shorts: They can't do anything more then one of my nicely broken-in Brooks saddles can do. I've yet to get saddle sore (when riding with slacks) from a broken-in Brooks.
Furthermore, my two encounters with the lyrca material have irritated my skin more then otherwise. These unplesant encounters were with a pair of lycra-covered foam saddles.
Both of these saddles effectively absorbed the sweat around my crotch area, and as a result, I returned from my rides with a burning rash on the side of each leg. Turns out sweat works as a very efficent lubricant against my pantlegs and saddle - using the lyrca to absorb it was a disaster in this case.
Take care,
-Kurt
Oh man a lycra saddle... was one of those gel things? Yeah, huge difference with the Brooks.
Wow, all of your choices are pretty black and white...how does someone who wears biking shorts sometimes, street clothes other times and a combination of both other times, vote? I never fit into peoples little boxes :(
Yeah that discribes me too... and I made the poll. Just put down what feels right.
I regularly put in 100 miles a week. But last week I put in 200. Sometimes I wear bike shorts. Sometimes I wear street clothes. Often, I wear bike shorts under my street clothes.
My rides range form 3 to 70 miles.
I seriously don't know which box to check.
Oh man a lycra saddle... was one of those gel things? Yeah, huge difference with the Brooks.
No, it wasn't gel/lycra, but foam/lycra. Same thing minus the gel. One hell of a POS saddle - the Univega below was one of the two with this saddle:
http://www.jaysmarine.com/BDC_biketype_MTB_pic_2.jpg
Take care,
-Kurt
Bike bibs (or shorts, but preferably bibs) for any distance - city, suburb or country. The thing is, it's over 10 km to anything at all, so it's the best option for me.
Agree with Kurt on the saddle. I prefer Brooks B66 as my own ride and with jeans or dockers (the dockers a bit better as they're a little softer) I can ride good distances without trouble. For my road machine (old 70s vinyl saddle) I use the same street clothes except I usually try to wear my best broken in set of dockers or jeans because the saddle isn't as good. I like being able to hop on/off my bike at the beginning and end of the ride without having to worry about changing any clothes.
So my outfit is usually a t-shirt or flannel shirt (colder weather) jeans/dockers, PF Flyers (yes they still make them) or Chuck Taylors.
You want a comfy seat? I think the mesh seat is best. Everywhere I go I'm relaxing in my lawn chair...What could be more comfortable than that?
SB makes a point. THose mesh seats could possibly make lycra unneeded? Bet all the friction with cotton cloth against the mesh would cause the material to go thread bare for those who cycle more than 5000 miles a year. I sat on one once, very comfortable.
Still an incentive for bike shorts, I hate the cuffs of shorts wrapping about the saddle horn and lycra supports muscles.
You want a comfy seat? I think the mesh seat is best. Everywhere I go I'm relaxing in my lawn chair...What could be more comfortable than that?
Getting out of the seat and attacking a hill. Sorry but that is one thing I really enjoy that 'bents cannot do. As comfy as your mesh seat is, the low position on the road and the lack of ability to really get up on the pedals to attack, are key items that keep me away from 'bents.
No, it wasn't gel/lycra, but foam/lycra. Same thing minus the gel. One hell of a POS saddle - the Univega below was one of the two with this saddle:
http://www.jaysmarine.com/BDC_biketype_MTB_pic_2.jpg
Take care,
-Kurt
Those saddles (or the gel ones) plus foam cushion grips were the bicycle industry approach to "comfort" for the non rider. I think they actually turned off more potential riders than almost any other "innovation."
Getting out of the seat and attacking a hill. Sorry but that is one thing I really enjoy that 'bents cannot do. As comfy as your mesh seat is, the low position on the road and the lack of ability to really get up on the pedals to attack, are key items that keep me away from 'bents.
:beer:
Anyway, none of these poll options really suit me. I ride at least 150 miles/week, sometimes >200. When I'm doing city riding <10 miles, I wear basketball shorts. Road riding on country roads requires lycra.
Nobody has to like bents if they don't want to. But a lot of people have great difficulty with regular bike saddles. They get sores or numb or they have enlarged prostates and find it worth it to go bent. (And a lot of us find it worth it just because it's fun.) To not offer the option would not be fair to those would benefit and may really be interested.
Sometimes attacking hills is less important than simply getting back the pure joy of riding.
200+ miles a week and always wear cycling specific clothing. The exception is when the temps are low and the ride is around 15 miles. Lately I have been wearing shorts and a jersey for every ride. 90+ temps annoy the crap out of me in regular cotton clothing.
Who are you most like?
Good... I probably should have just made a poll for that. In my case, it depends on the ride. Three different bikes and at least 4 different riding modes... but 2 of those modes involve riding shorts.
Here are my various modes:
1) Cruiser Huffy curved top tube beach bike. Cargo shorts and shirt... even classy Hawaiian shirt. No helmet. Riding either quiet local residential streets or beach boardwalk, also good for local errands. Less than 10 miles. Any shoes. No sweat.
2) Commuter bike, and 20 mile ride with wife... at her pace. Cargo shorts and polo shirt. No helmet; hat. Riding bike paths and quiet streets. Visit shops. MTB/spd walking shoes. No sweat.
3) Commuter bike and fast ride to work. Bike shorts, bright T shirt and dayglo vest. Helmet. Riding multlaned high speed streets, with lots of traffic; also used for local errands. 10+ miles, with hills either way. MTB/spd walking shoes. Hot and sticky. (this is also the tour mode)
4) Road bike... exercise or fun ride, very fast paced, alone or small group, in excess of 20 miles. Bike shorts, jersey, helmet. Look road shoes. So fast that I go beyond hot and sticky and dry off, the microfiber jersey really helps in this regard.
So for you folks that mentioned that I did not give enough choices... well, as I fit into several modes too... it just would have been difficult to do a poll to cover it all. Pick what you tend to do most often. I am in modes 3 and 4 most often.
Nobody has to like bents if they don't want to. But a lot of people have great difficulty with regular bike saddles. They get sores or numb or they have enlarged prostates and find it worth it to go bent. (And a lot of us find it worth it just because it's fun.) To not offer the option would not be fair to those would benefit and may really be interested.
Sometimes attacking hills is less important than simply getting back the pure joy of riding.
I'm not a bent hater. I've toyed with the idea of getting one, but they just don't suit my riding style.
I'm the only loser who said "full kit for a short ride". But street clothes are no more comfortable on a short ride than a long ride. It's just the time spent in discomfort that varies, IMO.
Plus, my short commute can rapidly change into an epic after-work ride without prior notice.
Plus, my short commute can rapidly change into an epic after-work ride without prior notice.
Similary, my short 8.5mi commute each way can quickly add up to a 35mi day if I run any errands after work, for example go to the LBS or optomitrist. So I may have four short 8.5mi rides, but am happy that the sum of them was in comfortable shorts.
Al
Yeah, this is why I usually have a pair of shorts and a jersey in my pack.
Poll doesn't prove anything, except perhaps that most bike forums members are lycra geeks and that your average utility cyclist isn't a bike forums member or doesn't frequent this subforum.
Poll doesn't prove anything, except perhaps that most bike forums members are lycra geeks and that your average utility cyclist isn't a bike forums member or doesn't frequent this subforum.
Agreed... poll doesn't mean squat.
I would however be willing to bet cash money on the "average utility cyclist" that you cite, not riding more than 10 miles a day and doing it with not much effort.
I see those folks on the sidewalks, and the students going to school... certainly they have little need for shorts, or special saddles and hardly even for more than 3 speeds. Yup, they too are cyclists... with their own particular needs.
On the other hand I am predicting that high milage cyclists do wear cycle specific clothing for the comfort that clothing provides over those long miles.
By the same token, if I lived in a place where it only rains 9 inches a year, I would probably not own an umbrella... which is indeed the case.
I would however be willing to bet cash money on the "average utility cyclist" that you cite, not riding more than 10 miles a day and doing it with not much effort.
I see those folks on the sidewalks, and the students going to school... certainly they have little need for shorts, or special saddles and hardly even for more than 3 speeds. Yup, they too are cyclists... with their own particular needs.
On the other hand I am predicting that high milage cyclists do wear cycle specific clothing for the comfort that clothing provides over those long miles.
Clearly, your definition of a 'utility cyclist' is different than mine. IMO, you are defining what I would call 'casual cyclists'. Most 'utility cyclists' I know put plenty of miles in, and are just as street saavy as anyone in a full lycra kit, if not more so. Further, IMO, most lycra kit cyclists are recreational cyclists first, and commuters second, if at all.
Clearly, your definition of a 'utility cyclist' is different than mine. IMO, you are defining what I would call 'casual cyclists'. Most 'utility cyclists' I know put plenty of miles in, and are just as street saavy as anyone in a full lycra kit, if not more so. Further, IMO, most lycra kit cyclists are recreational cyclists first, and commuters second, if at all.
OK, what is your definition of utility cyclist?
As far as "kit" cyclists I take it you mean the folks that wear the full matching jersey and shorts.
As an example, I have been wearing shorts since the days of wool, but I typically wear T shirts vice jersey.
My choice: street clothes for shorter rides, bike shorts for longer rides. These days most of my rides are short, so I wear street clothes mostly.
Clearly, your definition of a 'utility cyclist' is different than mine. IMO, you are defining what I would call 'casual cyclists'. Most 'utility cyclists' I know put plenty of miles in, and are just as street saavy as anyone in a full lycra kit, if not more so. Further, IMO, most lycra kit cyclists are recreational cyclists first, and commuters second, if at all.The poll is about cycling shorts, not about fully kitted cyclists. In terms of comfort (and sweat) the seat makes more of a difference than the top. No cyclist would mistake an alert shirt on top as part of a racing kit (though some non-cyclists may, sadly enough)
The poll doesn't mention speed, except through the implication that those going longer distances will also be going faster ... which may not be true. In any event, if you're not using a bike computer to check your speed, then you're also probably not getting reliable estimates of distance. I found I had way overestimated my distances previous to obtaining a bike computer.
I didn't think I'd ever get into cycling shorts, but I found that if I biked more than 5 miles at more than, say, 13 mph, that I'd be soaked. Jeans and even sweat pants were too hot and too clammy. It wasn't about seat comfort, per se, though that entered into it. I suspect anyone who cares about speed and distance will eventually gravitate to cycling shorts. Of course, maybe things are different in parts of the country where the humidity stays below 50% or maybe there are people who are genetically endowed to turn off their sweat glands.
Since nearly all of my rides are intended as a recreational workout of indeterminant length, I almost always wear all cycling specific gear. My rides are one hour minimum. On very rare occasions, usually after I have already done my daily ride, the wife will want to ride for a little but on her cruiser and I will accompany her wearing a regular T-shirt. Shoes, socks, shorts and helmet are still all cycling specific though.
I didn't think I'd ever get into cycling shorts, but I found that if I biked more than 5 miles at more than, say, 13 mph, that I'd be soaked. Jeans and even sweat pants were too hot and too clammy. It wasn't about seat comfort, per se, though that entered into it. I suspect anyone who cares about speed and distance will eventually gravitate to cycling shorts. Of course, maybe things are different in parts of the country where the humidity stays below 50% or maybe there are people who are genetically endowed to turn off their sweat glands.
No, its called getting into good shape, that one factor alone cuts sweat down by a huge amount, and it takes thousands of miles and regular riding. Been there, done that. I used to sweat so much it was hard to even bring enough water, nowadays Im like a camel, only thing changed is I got into much much better physical shape from riding what many would consider excessive amounts of miles. I used to struggle to do 20 mph and max my HR doing it, now a few years and more than 50,000 miles later I cruise at about 24-25mph and my HR isnt even close to max, 20mph and my HR is about 115 or so. Thats what fitness does. If your in bad shape, which I used to be, just a hot day of 90 or so was enough to cause enough stress to start sweating, mild exercise meant profuse sweating, this goes away with decent fitness.
Another thing is, I would venture a guess most that refuse to ride in anything but bike shorts probably ride seasonally, cause in winter, they are completely useless. Im not a freak of nature either, every other guy or gal out there day in and day out making a living riding like I do wears regular street clothes for the most part, and you wont hear them having problems either.
No, its called getting into good shape, that one factor alone cuts sweat down by a huge amount, and it takes thousands of miles and regular riding. Been there, done that.
Really? I've understood that when you get in better shape one will get better at sweating and most notably will sweat sooner at the start of physical exersion than if out of shape. But 'better' at sweating may also mean sweating less in total.
edit: this article hints toward what I understood: http://www.alive.com/3229a6a2.php?subject_bread_cramb=94
and just found this: http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/conditioning/a/aa052001a.htm
"Fitness Myth 2:
Excessive Sweating While Exercising Means You’re Not Fit
In fact, it's just the opposite. Sweating during exercise is a sign of an efficient cooler. An athlete who has adapted to keep the body core cool during exercise will shunt blood to the skin’s surface more quickly and release heat from the body. At the same time, the sweat glands increase their output and thus cool the body during sweat evaporation. While fit people produce more sweat than sedentary folks, they lose less sodium, because more of it is reabsorbed by the body. The result is a more efficient cooler. "
Al
quicker to sweat sure, but much much less volume of sweat, your body gets better at a whole range of things:appetite regulation, more efficient as in more range on less food, quicker to recover from hard efforts, less colds, etc etc etc .........it makes a really big difference
all I can say is get in good shape and find out, havent met a person in my line of work that hasnt noticed all of this if theyve stayed with it long enough to get into decent shape and find out, but of course there is a limit, you get out onto the razor and some of this changes
Well I know I sweat more now than I used to when out of shape.
Al
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