Gave up my car, need bike atire advise

[3rdschulz]

So I am car free now, pretty wild! commuting up to 80 miles per week sometimes and recreational riding ontop of that 5-50 miles.
I just got a new trek Portland, some ortlieb panniers for when I have loads, and a helmet/lighting. I gotta get some proper attire now, and I got a few noob questions.

Jerseys: Anything I should know about buying bike jerseys? Are all jerseys and atire the same or do cuts and fit change dramatically, I am pretty light, 5'11 pushing 160 on a good day. I figure I am prob a Medium, I was going to order online to save a lot of money.
Will I catch a lot of crap for wearing logo jerseys and gear from hardcore roadies?

Rain Gear: Anything I should know about rain gear or will any gortex stuff do that's made for cycling?

Bike Shorts: not a big fan of the skin tight shorts.. are there alternatives that aren't so skin tight? How does that work if I am going to work do you guys keep them on underneath as underwear or change them completely?

[bragi]

It depends on how you ride, and, more to the point, why you ride. I'm pretty much a utility rider on most days; I have a hybrid with road tires, a rack, and waterproof panniers, which are sometimes loaded with beer. (Ortliebs are very good, by the way). I ride pretty upright, and always ride in street clothes, jeans and a ratty sweater, because, hey, I'm on a hybrid with panniers, for God's sake, and rarely go faster than 25 mph; I'd look pretty silly all decked out in spandex. If you have a fast, light road bike, racing-type attire might be more in order. If you're into the cool, laid-back fixie thing, then you'll need to go without a helmet and dress like you just got done having coffee with Jean-Paul Satre. My advice, if you're totally carfree, is this:

1. Invest in the best panniers or messenger bag that you can afford, depending on your preference;
2. If you live in a rainy environment, figure out a way to carry full rain gear and a decent light wherever you go;
3. Have at least one bike with fenders;
4. Don't worry too much about attire. There is no dress code; wear what is comfortable for you. In hot weather, wear shorts. In cold weather, wear layers, with a waterproof outer layer. If others sneer at your biking fashions, treat those spandex-clad superficial bourgeois pigs with the contempt they so richly deserve.
5. Those lime-green jerseys, though they might not look that great, are really visible; think about getting one of those.

[wahoonc]

I agree with what bragi says. About the only things I might do different...for rain I normally use a rain cape. And I keep a bright lime reflective safety vest in my saddle bag, that way no matter what I end up wearing I am visible when I put the vest on. (pet peeve of mine) Invisible Cyclists.

Aaron:)

[Alekhine]

Ya, what bragi said. There is no need for bicycle-specific lycra clothing unless you're really into wearing uniforms. The lycra crowd will go on and on about how those clothes improve the ride, but it just doesnt bear any weight in reality as far as I've ever seen. It's pretty much fashion for people who are in it for fitness more than lifestyle; it's anathema in so many ways for the utility rider to wear racing gear. I do think it's smart to get cycling gloves though, for what it's worth, and if you wear chinos or other long-legged pants the little velcro-fastenable bands are good for keeping your pant cuffs from getting all greasy and gruesome from hitting the chain, but you can always roll them up too.

You'll be made fun of by someone from the racing crowd at some point or other no matter what you wear, so forget the lycra even if you're worried about looking good. These riders are competitive almost by definition, and a good many of them are all about talking about who's a "real cyclist" and who isn't, and this extends into the look. (Do a search on this term in the Road forum for validation of this point. There are whole threads about it.)

I would also highly recommend a good handlebar bag for easy and quick access to things you might need, in addition to your Ortliebs.

Anyway, the more people dress like normal everyday Joes out there, the more it lends legitimacy to this as a form of transportation. The more people treat bikes like they're toys or instruments of sporty aerobic fitness, the less people will see their remarkable daily usefulness in other ways. It's good for "advocacy" to dress like you normally would and laugh off any jerk who calls you a "Fred."

[gwd]

I agree with bragi. Lets talk about rainpants. My previous pair from REI worked great but had double layer near the foot that made them hard to get on and off. My current pair works but the zipper near the ankle is on the inside. This means the metal zipper hits the chain case with each pedal stroke. What is worse is the zipper sucks up the liner and gets stuck. So check the rainpants for bikeability first instead of blindly buying online. My rainpants do double duty as an extra layer when it is cold. When it is hot I ditch the gortex and go with a cheap poncho and shorts for comfort in the rain.

[Cassiel]

Well, I'm a spandex pants wearer myself. Jeans make me feel like I can't move properly and I always sweat while I'm cycling, so the spandex keeps me cooler and I can take it off at the destination anyway. I also wear a wicking shirt. Over top of that I may wear a second, long-sleeved wicking shirt and then almost always a rain-proof dayglo yellow jacket. I own a pair of rainpants I haven't yet used, for the same reason I don't wear jeans: they just feel like an encumbrance. I'd rather get wet and change at my destination. So, like gwd said, do your best to try things on before you buy.
The only thing I've found inconvenient so far is restaurants. If it rains on me on the way there, I have to go into the restroom and change. It just feels like a big hassle. But in Portland, we can get some serious rain, especially at this time of year.

[scottyk]

Advice on what clothes to wear when riding? ANY!!!

[wheel]

I suggest going with second hand with clothes.

[3rdschulz]

Cool thanks for the great tips guys.

And yes it does rain a lot this time of year in P-town Cass lol, makes the ride a little more interesting thats for sure.

ya I have also been looking at some second hand things on ebay and craigslist wheel.

[hairlessbill]

Jerseys: Like merino wool tops from Patagonia, Arcteryx, Icebreaker, Smartwool, etc. You can wear them multiple times and they won't stink like synthetics. They dry fast and insulate even when wet. I have a few jerseys but I like not looking like a cyclist when off the bike.

Shorts: I keep mine on when I get to work and wear them under my pants/shorts. Use them like underwear, change everday. In cold weather I layer them under tights and pants. In warm weather I wear them alone or under some hiking shorts.

Rain Gear: Current favorite is the very affordable J&G jacket (http://www.bicycleclothing.com/Waterproof-Rain-Jackets.html). It doesn't rain much here though so I don't have need for a super deluxe one. I have a pair of Pearl Izumi rain pants that work well enough. Not waterproof but you are going to get wet from your own sweat anyways so it's just to keep the chill off.

My favorite piece of gear right now is a windproof shirt for cold mornings and chilly evenings. It's just a shell so I can layer it with anything and ride down to 30 degrees with it. Also bought a cheap cashmere sweater for really cold days. Thrift shops are good sources of these things.

I really like climbing knickers (http://www.rei.com/product/746920) for 'overpants' too. Cheaper than the cycling-specific knickers (http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/reviews/knickers/) by Chrome, Endura, Rapha, etc. but probably not as cool either.

[Roody]

Personally I wear regular clothes. But I do wear spandex padded bike shorts under my shorts or pants for comfort. I wear pants over them in cool weather and loose shorts in warm weather. I usually wear wicking t-shirts in the summer and 1,000 different combinations of layers in the winter. When I get to work I change into my work clothes that i carry in my backpack.

I wear rainpants and a waterproof jacket in cool rains. When it's warm, I wear quick drying stuff and just get wet. Fenders are a big help, as was mentioned. If you local bike shop says they can't put fenders on your bike, go to a different shop that can.

3rdschulz, you're discovering some of the diversity in the wacky bike world. Most of us on this forum wear street clothes when riding because we're utility cyclists or transit riders. We get off our bikes frequently and go into stores, movie theatres, restaurants, etc. Recreational riders and road riders have their own uniforms that serve their own purposes. Just wear what seems right to you, and try not to worry about what other riders think. We tend to be a rather snobby group of people, and who needs that? :)

[Artkansas]

Advice on what clothes to wear when riding? ANY!!!

I can't tell you what to commute in, I wear a t-shirt, beige khakis a size to big for looseness and tennis shoes. If it gets colder I add a sweater or flannel shirt. I have those velcro straps to keep my pants out of the chain. If its warm and raining, I get wet, if its cold and raining I wear a rain coat.

To me there is a reason to not wear cycling clothes. When drivers see you dressed like they are, they relate to you better, you are more human to them. When you dress in cycling clothes you are the "other".

[Cassiel]

I can't figure out how people, especially here in Portland, make riding in street clothes work. Don't you get wet? When I got home from school today (an 8 mile ride from the community college where I tutor) my legs were filthy and wet with road spray from the calves down. If I hadn't changed, my khakis would've been toasted!

[Roody]

I can't figure out how people, especially here in Portland, make riding in street clothes work. Don't you get wet? When I got home from school today (an 8 mile ride from the community college where I tutor) my legs were filthy and wet with road spray from the calves down. If I hadn't changed, my khakis would've been toasted!
Do you have fenders?

[Sir Lunch-a-lot]

I have found for myself that Jeans make poor riding pants. Maybe mine are just too tight (well, they are right now, seeing as the only jeans I have are these double layered, insulated pants). My favorite pants for riding (heck, everyday wearing for that matter) are a loose, light pair of green pants I got at the military surplus (I'd check what they are made of... but I'm in a library right now... wouldn't go over too well). I love these pants! They pockets all button up so that I can ride with my wallet and not worry that it's going to fall out, or anything! And they allow a great deal of freedom of movement. I'm totally going to have to buy another couple pairs of this sort of pants before I go home at the end of this school year.

I could certainly see these fancy spandex shorts being rather comfortable (even if worn under pants), although I have not tried it. Just from what I've heard, there is less seam to sit on, and they don't ride up. Something for me to consider anyway.

[Artkansas]

I can't figure out how people, especially here in Portland, make riding in street clothes work. Don't you get wet? When I got home from school today (an 8 mile ride from the community college where I tutor) my legs were filthy and wet with road spray from the calves down. If I hadn't changed, my khakis would've been toasted!

My khakis are specifically for riding, Target's finest. And I love my Freddy Fenders.

[gerv]

5. Those lime-green jerseys, though they might not look that great, are really visible; think about getting one of those.
I always wear an alert shirt, which is just a polyester tee-shirt, but they come in very high-visibility lime-green. In the winter, I have a lime-green vest that I wear over a wind breaker.

You also need a helmet IMHO.

Other than that, whatever feels comfortable. I like to wear bike shorts under shorts in the summer. Mountain bike shorts also work. When it's colder I have a couple of wind breaking running pants. Unfortunately, I have to put elastic bands on to keep them from becoming chain fodder.

[pedex]

goretex rain jacket from LL Bean
el cheapo rain pants from Nashbar, worn over either long johns or pants depending on temp outside
wool socks
below 35 degrees and raining or snowing add plastic bags tween layers of socks(no im not kidding)

pant leg hitting chain, roll it up

other than that I dont use anything special, cotton t-shirts and cargo shorts in summer, sweatshirts and either jeans or army bdu pants in winter

bdu pants definitely rock, double bottoms and knees so they last awhile pus the secure pockets are good

as far as catching crap from roadies, just ride away from them, it tends to get the point across :)

[Cassiel]

Sure, I've got freddy fenders. Saves me from butt stripe and getting anything on my knees/shins, but it comes up from the road, too. :-p

[JR97]

Advice on what clothes to wear when riding? ANY!!!

Or NONE. Which ever floats yer boat. :eek:

[pj7]

I don't see the point in a utility rider wearing a jersey, that's just my take on it. They provide nothing *extra* for their cost that a Russell Athletic moisture control shirt doesn't besides a pocket. A pocket?? For $50 extra? Give me a break.
Kolls usually has Russell Athletic shirts on sale around here for $9.99 and they are great at keeping the sweat off. I have quite a few of them. I'm also a big fan of mesh reflective safety vests, though I do not wear one all the time, only when I feel the need.
As for the lower half, I get by with wearing any type of shorts. Sometimes, when the chafe deamon strikes, I'll wear the only pair of cycling shorts I have underneath them. But almost all the time I just havbe on my boxer-briefs under the shorts. I also wear track pants (semi-baggy running pants) and in the winter I have a pair or tights.
For raingear I picked up some J&G raingear, it seems to hold up just fine for me.

[bragi]

Sure, I've got freddy fenders. Saves me from butt stripe and getting anything on my knees/shins, but it comes up from the road, too. :-p
I live in Seattle, which is about as rainy as where you live, and with fenders, I still get wet, of course, because there's water falling from the sky, but it's not disgusting. My rims get gritty, and sometimes my shoes get a bit damp, but other than that, when I show up at the pub during a deluge, I'm ready to go. Do you have full fenders on both wheels, or one of those snap-on things that attach to the seat post?

[krazygluon]

Ya, what bragi said. There is no need for bicycle-specific lycra clothing unless you're really into wearing uniforms. The lycra crowd will go on and on about how those clothes improve the ride, but it just doesnt bear any weight in reality as far as I've ever seen. It's pretty much fashion for people who are in it for fitness more than lifestyle; it's anathema in so many ways for the utility rider to wear racing gear. I do think it's smart to get cycling gloves though, for what it's worth, and if you wear chinos or other long-legged pants the little velcro-fastenable bands are good for keeping your pant cuffs from getting all greasy and gruesome from hitting the chain, but you can always roll them up too.

You'll be made fun of by someone from the racing crowd at some point or other no matter what you wear, so forget the lycra even if you're worried about looking good. These riders are competitive almost by definition, and a good many of them are all about talking about who's a "real cyclist" and who isn't, and this extends into the look. (Do a search on this term in the Road forum for validation of this point. There are whole threads about it.)

I would also highly recommend a good handlebar bag for easy and quick access to things you might need, in addition to your Ortliebs.

Anyway, the more people dress like normal everyday Joes out there, the more it lends legitimacy to this as a form of transportation. The more people treat bikes like they're toys or instruments of sporty aerobic fitness, the less people will see their remarkable daily usefulness in other ways. It's good for "advocacy" to dress like you normally would and laugh off any jerk who calls you a "Fred."

Up until this past monday I'd have agreed with Alek, then I tried doing my daily commute in a pair of jeans a tshirt and a polar fleece in 40F weather. My average dropped a mile and a half per hour, I came in to work sweaty and miserable.

Any self-respecting motorcyclist commutes with an armored jacket, serious boots and chaps or some kind of armored pants. Any cycle commuter should seriously consider lycra pants and breathable jerseys for many of the same reasons. My bike clothes get all the sweat and stink and road grime so my work clothes don't have to, and I'm much more comfortable in the process.

As for feeling funny wearing lycra...if you get any funny looks from drivers, give them a funnier look back because they think they need 2000lbs of metal to get them to work.

[Roody]

I don't like riding in jeans. Too tight and stiff. Lycra bike shorts with chamois, worn like underwear, are ideal for me.

[Alekhine]

Up until this past monday I'd have agreed with Alek, then I tried doing my daily commute in a pair of jeans a tshirt and a polar fleece in 40F weather. My average dropped a mile and a half per hour, I came in to work sweaty and miserable.

:)

I agree, honestly. I actually draw the line at jeans myself; awful riding pants. I do plenty of bike-camping tours in regular old shorts in the summer though, sometimes at distances of 100+ miles on any given day, and I've never had any problems with them and never found lycra or other cycling shorts to be superior in any way for that, but YMMV, as always. Chinos are good for me in the colder months, but again, I was just trying to say that there's no reason why bicycle-specific clothing is necessary, although if that's what keeps you riding, by all means do it. All that said, I do have some capilene wickable shirts from REI for hot summer riding, but they're generalized "action" clothes rather than anything bike-specific.

The only bike-specific gear I own is a helmet, an old-style cycling cap that I rarely wear, my gloves, and my Specialized Taho MTB shoes (but only because I use clipless on all my bikes), but the rest of what I ride in is appropriate for doing things off the bike too.

[bragi]

Up until this past monday I'd have agreed with Alek, then I tried doing my daily commute in a pair of jeans a tshirt and a polar fleece in 40F weather. My average dropped a mile and a half per hour, I came in to work sweaty and miserable.

Any self-respecting motorcyclist commutes with an armored jacket, serious boots and chaps or some kind of armored pants. Any cycle commuter should seriously consider lycra pants and breathable jerseys for many of the same reasons. My bike clothes get all the sweat and stink and road grime so my work clothes don't have to, and I'm much more comfortable in the process.

As for feeling funny wearing lycra...if you get any funny looks from drivers, give them a funnier look back because they think they need 2000lbs of metal to get them to work.

I wear jeans when I ride all winter, and sometimes fleece if it's approaching freezing, and it works for me. I like looking like a "normal" person when I get to my destination (store, restaurant, friend's house, etc.) and I'm usually comfortable riding that way. However, as I said, bicyclists should dress any way that is comfortable for them, without worrying about what others are wearing. If you want to wear lycra, or a helmet with bunny ears for that matter, God bless you. You'll get no sneers from me. I'll just be glad you're not in a Hummer H3, talking on a cell phone and ignoring your surroundings...

[Wogsterca]

I don't like riding in jeans. Too tight and stiff. Lycra bike shorts with chamois, worn like underwear, are ideal for me.

Jeans are good for mine workers, and others that need really tough pants, personally I am learning to hate the darn things, they have no wind stopping ability, they get wet and stay wet. If you really want cotton pants, there are some nice ones around. One thing that is popular with the hiking crowd are the zip off cargo pants, since you get two garments in one, which saves weight.

For cycling, I like bike shorts (worn as underwear), then regular shorts or pants over top, in colder weather, I have a pair of polartech long johns, and they are nice for when it's cold out, and a pair of fleece inner pants, for when it's really cold out. On top, a Wicking jersay, then a fleece top and a wind shell on top of that. Other then the bike shorts and gloves, nothing I wear is bike specific....

[wahoonc]

I don't wear jeans except for shorter rides, cotton or poly/cotton khakis are more like it. Wool is better yet especially in cooler weather. I have seen Rainlegs (http://www.wallbike.com/oddsnends/rainlegs.html) but have no clue if they would help or hinder. I have also used gaiters (http://www.rei.com/product/712866) that I also used for hiking. I mainly used the gaiters in really foul riding conditions like rain/snow/sleet slop. Other than one pair of MTB shorts and a rain cape I really don't have any cycling specific clothing.

Aaron:)

[hockeyteeth]

For relatively short distances I wear cutoff Dickie's and a t-shirt. They allow for good range of motion and don't look too goofy. The t-shirt makes me a bit sweaty but I sweat REALLY easily and Florida is pretty hot, so you may not have much to worry about.

[Cosmoline]

I don't wear bike clothing. IMHO most of it is designed to make money for the people who sell it, and nothing else. If you're doing a commute greater than ten miles a day or are seriously into touring or racing, then I'm sure it serves some useful purposes. But for most in-town commutes and utility riding there's no point to it. I wear comfortable clothes and shoes with velcro snaps so there are no laces to get caught in the chain. For winter I wear my usual poly outer garments. For rain I wear a pancho and as little else as possible. It's far easier to clean mud and wet off bare skin than it is to constantly have to wash pants.

[recursive]

I don't wear bike clothing. IMHO most of it is designed to make money for the people who sell it, and nothing else. If you're doing a commute greater than ten miles a day or are seriously into touring or racing, then I'm sure it serves some useful purposes. But for most in-town commutes and utility riding there's no point to it. I wear comfortable clothes and shoes with velcro snaps so there are no laces to get caught in the chain. For winter I wear my usual poly outer garments. For rain I wear a pancho and as little else as possible. It's far easier to clean mud and wet off bare skin than it is to constantly have to wash pants.

The clothes you wear are designed to make money for the people who sell them also.

[Cosmoline]

Yeah, but not nearly as much. I find bare skin is better than any lycra ever made. Though I go around in shorts at anything over 40 f., so I may not be normal.

[recursive]

Yeah, but not nearly as much. I find bare skin is better than any lycra ever made. Though I go around in shorts at anything over 40 f., so I may not be normal.


So do I.

At -10 though, best believe I pull out some bike weenie gear. Speaking of weenies, I also race on weekends. Yes, I'm a bike racer with shaved legs and drawers full of lycra and a carbon bike.

I'm also car-free. I commute to work on my steel fixie all year. Above 45 degrees, I wear basketball shorts and tshirts. I rode my first winter without any specialized clothing, and learned my lesson. When it gets really cold, I pull out some tights and high tech space aged softshell jacket.

Perhaps I'm the one who's not normal.

[fat_bike_nut]

I wear swimming trunks whenever I go riding. I've found them to be the perfect types of shorts for me :D

Other than that, I will try to stick to the trunks until it gets too cold for me to ride with shorts...so uh, something like recursive and Cosmoline...I'll ride at 40F if my legs would take it.

I'd get moisture wicking shirts too...I sweat easily myself.

[ekitel]

Dickes are great, seams don't bother and they look really sharp with the permanent crease, I always get compliments, they dry pretty quickly and you can find them for $15 each. For next to skin layer I prefer smartwool over cotton. Never tried lycra or any spage age stuff, never will!

I would like to wear to light weight nylon hikng pants but it seems really difficult to keep them away from the chain even with a strap or whatever above the ankle, they just don't like to stay put, whereas the dickies are made of much stiffer fabric. I don't like shorts because they make you look like a dork or a frat boy or a tourist

[Cosmoline]

I don't like shorts because they make you look like a dork or a frat boy or a tourist

This from someone who wears DICKIES ;-)

[elbows]

I usually wear bike shorts (and tights in the winter), and just change at work.

For the times when I need to look like a normal person, I'll wear some khaki or jean shorts, or BDUs in the winter. I find that bike shorts aren't comfortable to wear for long periods of time off the bike, so sometime I'll wear regular underwear (comfortable off the bike, but chafes when riding), or some padded cycling briefs, which are sort of a compromise between the two.

I also recently bought some touring shorts from J&G cyclewear, which are basically athletic shorts with a light pad built in. They're fairly normal-looking, and have zip pockets.

[Roody]

That kinda brings up another point. One thing that's important to me is to have pockets with zippers, buttons or velcro. I also have an assortment of clips, carabiners, pouches and so forth to hold my essentials. It's no fun going back along miles of road and trail looking for your keys.

[Jyard]

Don't forget the safty glasses in with the hail. *shudders* had to ride a bike threw a blizzard wich turned into hail and then eventually rain, either way.. as rarly as it hails.. the hail felt like i was being shot in the eye with a bb gun every half second.. =/ couldn't open my eyes to see where i was going. it was alot of fun tho!

[Roody]

Don't forget the safty glasses in with the hail. *shudders* had to ride a bike threw a blizzard wich turned into hail and then eventually rain, either way.. as rarly as it hails.. the hail felt like i was being shot in the eye with a bb gun every half second.. =/ couldn't open my eyes to see where i was going. it was alot of fun tho!
Hail? :eek:

I'm a big chicken. I probably would have pulled under a bridge (or inside a local pub) and waited it out.

[Jyard]

Hail? :eek:

I'm a big chicken. I probably would have pulled under a bridge (or inside a local pub) and waited it out.

Work doesn't see it that way :(

[Roody]

Work doesn't see it that way :(
True, but generally I get to work in conditions that really tax my car-using co-workers. I'm always telling them, "Gee, I'd hate to be driving in weather like this!" :D

[torps]

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-74229103603232_1949_816202118
2 words..soccer jerseys. Can't think of anything more suitable and functional for everyday riding, while still being somewhat stylish.

[ekitel]

2 words..soccer jerseys. Can't think of anything more suitable and functional for everyday riding, while still being somewhat stylish.

stylish? maybe if you're Argentinian...