General Cycling Discussion - Clothes questions

I am fairly new to the whole road biking thing, and am using my bike to commute to work and school, as well as just to go and ride. When just out riding, what do you wear? I've been going with some athletic type shorts and a cotton tee-shirt, but I don't see anyone else out there is this type of stuff. What are the advantages/differences of specialty cycling shorts/socks/jerseys? Finally (kinda off topic) anyone know places with good prices on thin long-sleeved shirts such as Helly Hansen "Lifa" or the light synthetic breathable type stuff for cold mornings?

cycling shorts and jerseys are generally quite tight fitting - this means less drag.
also because it fits against your skin, there's less chaffing then if you were wearing looser clothes.

well, i wear what i like to wear... I don't have to wear my jersey everytime i go out riding. I just wear regular cotton shirts. Sometimes I wear regular shorts over my cycling shorts, sometimes I just wear cycling shorts, and sometimes only regular shorts... I wear cloths to fit the activity, if i'm going on a long ride that is the time i take out the full battle gear..

I always wear appropraite footwear on all rides though..

My experience is I can not imagine efficient pedaling without clipless pedals..... You get used to them.. Some I can think of used to be petrefied at the thought of clipless. One riding buddy just switched to eggbeaters. He will never go back, after all these years. And is his speed really up.. Competing with the best of the pack know, if that is important.
Yes, you should wear what you like.. reason traditional cycling clothes makes sense... They move with you instead of restricting your movement... the benefits of water wicking materials is unbelievable.. Try it you wont' believe it.. Cotton. It would be torture. retaining all that moisture. I'd feel miserable. Doubt I could stand it.. Lycra wicking material, hardly realize you are sweating, unless your eyes get salty. Don't like the look of lycra shorts when you get off the bike, pull on a pair of soccer shorts.

If you are travelling short distances around town, there is no need to get up in cycling garb, esp if you want to do something else at the end of your journey like go to a class, shop etc.
Dress according to the weather and distance. Most cyclists would say that at 5-10 miles, they would consider using specialist cycling clothes.
You dont always have to ride in shorts. In cooler weather,its OK to cover your legs, and wear a windproof top. Today I rode into the library about 2 miles, on a cool day with very light rain . I didnt sweat or do anything athletic. Im wearing a cotton T short, some polycotton pants, a light jersey and gortex rainproof, with some cheap but good running shoes.
You can get synthetic T shirts which are good for everyday wear. They do handle sweat better, are cooler in sumer and warmer in winter. Personally I find them more useful in winter, since we dont have unpleasant heat over in the UK.

when I started on this bike adventure a decade or so ago I said I wasn't going to be one of those geeks who wears bike clothes now there are people in my life that have never seen me in anything but. I found, especially here in the winter time bike clothes serve a much better purpose to the average rider than less drag (I don't care if I save a .0008 of a second) it has more to do with comfort bike clothes are designed to wick away moister and keep you dry. the pads in your shorts offer little cushioning but do keep you dry and prevent chaffing as mentioned above. Another use for the really bright and loud jerseys is the need to be seen in traffic. The pockets in the back give you easy access to things you may need but wear what you want stick to synthetics they are lighter and better at dealing with moister and stay away from cotton and jeans jeans get heavy and don't allow your legs to breath and cotton does not keep you warm if it gets wet. for summertime I found shorts with lycra bike shorts sewn in them or I just throw a pair of shorts on over a pair of bike shorts in cold weather I wear tights and polypro. You can find bike clothes on the net for relatively cheap you would pay no more than buying regular clothes one of my favorite stops is overstock.com but watch for sales at performance, supergo and some of the other sites. I have also tripped accross jersey's at the local thrift store from time to time.

And oh yeah, welcome to our humble little site I hope you enjoy your stay as much as I have!

Here is what cycling cloths do IMO. (Besides get you funny looks while leaving the office)

First of all, if you are just cruising around the neighborhood, I wouldn't worry about it too much. If you are riding hard or long distance, I would highly recommend bike clothing. If you are in a really hot area (like me) a jersey is just about a piece of safety equipment. The cooling effect is amazing.

The tightness of the clothing does four things. It lowers wind resistance. It helps keep your muscles from shaking excessively on rough trails, which causes fatigue, it reduces chaffing, and it keeps you from getting your clothing caught on things like the nose of your saddle. Bright colors are of course a safety thing.

Shoes / clipless pedals - I can't imagine riding without them. When I first started mountain biking I was jumping ofer a log. When the rear wheel hit the log my feet came off the platform pedals and my rear came off the seat. After introducing my private parts to the stiffness of an aluminum top bar I was convinced to go clipless.

Gloves are just about like putting a front shock on the first time you wear them. Plus palm savers when you fall.