Commuting - How do you dress for your commute?

I changed my clothing style a bit. I put on the clothing, which does not look like I am going to participate in Tour D' France.

I put on now the usual ironed shirt and comfortable trousers. No shorts.

I noticed I attract less curious looks, when I look like the "normal" human. I am just on the bike and wearing the helmet.

I wear a pair of MTB shorts that look like normal shorts. I still wear a jersey though, as part of my commute involves a couple of sustained climbs.

loose cargo shorts over bike shorts, t-shirt and helmet

Originally posted by shaharidan
loose cargo shorts over bike shorts, t-shirt and helmet

I do the same, or use some old Nashbar baggies that don't fit too well.

Rarely do I use my "bike" shorts for commuting.

And I could never ride in wearing my work clothes. It's too humid around here (St. Louis, MO).

I wear MTB shorts and a coolmax T-shirt.

Mon-Thurs I have a training ride in the morning so when I arrive at the office I'm in "full kit." Fridays are business casual so I usually wear chinos and a polo or a guayabera.

One day I was riding home from work and hadn't changed into shorts so I was wearing dress slacks, button-down, and a tie. A big group ride passed me and I asked a guy at the back where they were going, how far, how fast, etc. He said, the pack usually goes about 25 with attacks up to 35. I said, "Wow. Well I doubt I could keep up." He looks at me and my work clothes and says "No, probably not today...."

Duh.

Bike shorts, usually a running shirt and the hideously yellow jacket. I've learned that bike shorts are req'd for my 20-mile-each-way commute.

I'd wear a skirt, but I think the underwear Nazi would object to me wearing underwear. So, I stick with cycling shorts.

Originally posted by Max
I noticed I attract less curious looks, when I look like the "normal" human. I am just on the bike and wearing the helmet.

the more looks the better ;)

lycra shorts and a cycling jersey (and a helmet of course) along with clipless shoes... I carry a change of clothes and shoes with me in my pannier bags :)

I wear my regular bibs and jerseys for my 15 mile each way commute. I have a respectable hill to climb and with an hour each way in the saddle I'm much more comfortable in cycling togs. Plus I sweat buckets, so a change of clothes is mandatory.

As for attracting looks, there are enough cyclists in PDX that no one looks twice at a man in spandex (at least not portly dudes such as myself), and I'm just not cool enough to affect the anarchist chic of the messenger crowd.

I'm lucky enough to have a locker and a shower at work, so I keep shoes in the office and carry a change of clothes with me. Practice from motorcycle touring has taught me that by carefully rolling business casual clothes instead of folding them, wrinkles can be minimized.

Two hours a day is enough to want to be comfortable. I wear cycling clothes when I commute.

RichC

I wear proper cycling clothes on my commute. The way I see it, I'm going to have to change for work anyway, so I might as well be comfortable on the ride.

I wear a cyling jersey overtop a cycling undershirt. And wear the typical cycling spandex shorts. I want to be comfortable and not have excess material in the way. I also find that a cycling jersey and undershirt helps with perspiration and is more comfortable. I find that wearing a regular t-shirt makes me perspire much more and I feel more uncomfortable.

How do you dress for your commute?

Pants first - then shoes.

26 miles to work. Have to treat it as any other ride. Not wearing comfortable cycling attire, it would take longer. Plus it gets hot over the other side of the mountain pass. Anything but wicking cycling material, I would not do the ride.
As I get to work or stop for errands on the way, I just put nylon soccer shorts over my bike shorts.

Well. I think I will switch to proper cycling clothing after all. The comfort is important during the ride.

I had been influenced by some commuters' clothing style in West-European cities. One can see there a man in business suit, white shirt, and tie cycling with the briefcase on the rear rack.

But since the majority is still using the proper bike clothing, I am returning to it too. Besides it is getting warmer.

full bike-f*g regalia. However, as I don't race, I don't shave my legs...and, when the weather gets so hot, I don't put on a jersey.

It's kinda silly not to wear the gear if I've got a 18.5 km commute in all weather...but I do get looks at times.

Tom

Cycling shorts and either cycling shirts or load t shirts (the less PC the better)

Business suit, white shirt and tie -- that's me. On hot summer days, I roll the jacket and put it on the rack. The rack also has my raingear and shoe covers. I cover up with Gor-Tex overcoat and pants, plus shoe covers and ski gloves for the winter. Of course, my round trip is only 10 miles/ 16 km, so I could wear almost anything.

Paul

If you are a practical person, you dress for the ocassion. It is uncomfortable not to be in biking clothes. To me looks unusual to not be in biking clothes if a serious ride. Just a couple blocks is another matter.

You can get a business suit made of hi-tec polycotton material. It is made for travelling and packing, but is fairly practical if you need to ride around town to meetings. A uk company called Rohan do all kinds of formal and travel wear.

http://www.rohan.co.uk/Category2.aspx?CurrentCategory=Home%7cMens%7cMensClothing%7cMensSuits

If it's normal out I wear socks, shoes, boxer shorts, cut-off cargo shorts, cotton t-shirt, cotton sweat-shirt, glasses, cycling cap, Pearl Izumi gloves, and my messenger bag.

If I'm going to be riding for a long time I will switch from boxers to cycling shorts and I might dump the sweatshirt (put it in my bag).

I like to wear street clothes and even have a different helmet for my commutes, a cool black Giro Torero that I love. Since I work at a tech company, dress is informal, so I wear jeans or dockers, with Adiamo cycling liners underneath to keep the seams from giving me sores. That's a must. Then I wear regular shirts or blouses, with a yellow rain jacket usually and some old Nashbar gloves, just in case I have to hit the pavement someday.

I wear cycling clothes. When I get to work, I take a shower and then change into my clothes that I leave at work.

I wear bike shorts and a jersey... I'd probably ride dressed for work if it were just a mile or two, but 12.5 miles and my cloths would be drenched, not to mention the chafing. And the more "looks", the better. I work hard to keep myself looking fit... not everyone can get away with wearing spandex :)

For thos eof you who wear regular pants on short commutes, how do you keep your cuffs from catching on your chainrings?

I wear bdu pants & t- shirt and work boots.
My pants are tuck in to socks .I allso wear helmet & gloves. Thanks ...

I think it really depends on the length of your commute...if yer going 3mi then road gear is silly. I ride 16.5 miles, plus a big hill, and wearing street clothes for this would make me revolting by the time I got to work...

So, shorts, team jersey, wicking socks, etc. is my standard.

For thos eof you who wear regular pants on short commutes, how do you keep your cuffs from catching on your chainrings?

Chainguard. Whrn I have to ride mu backup bike, I put rubber bands on my right leg.

Paul

I wear cycling clothes when the temperature allows. As the temp. drops, layers get added. By the time January arrives, I look like the Michelin Man!

For thos eof you who wear regular pants on short commutes, how do you keep your cuffs from catching on your chainrings?

I just roll up my pants to a little below the knee. If the pants are baggy or the cuff seems to be flopping around and might hit the wheel, I put a peg-leg cuff in it, 1980s style. This technique has two benefits:
(1) No need to carry rubber bands or anything;
(2) With my dress shoes on and dark socks pulled up over my calves, I look like some sort of 1880s throwback wearing knickers to work.

You can get reflective velcro'd ankle bands at your LBS. Mine has them in a jar on the counter, cost about $2. Seems like I pick up another one everytime I go in there. You can never be too reflective.

Lately it seems that my pattern is to ride to work in dress casual but I'll throw shorts and a jersey in my backpack so I can take a long detour home. The reverse works too.

[edited to correct spelling]

I only commute 4 miles 1 way so about 6 months a year I wear cargo shorts with a short sleeve shirt or t-shirt plus helmet, gloves & cycling shoes. We have lockers with a shower so I also keep a change of clothes plus shoes & socks at work. When the weather gets colder & wet, I change to slacks or dockers plus wool sweaters or a long sleeve jersey, yellow rain gear, booties, gloves and so on. If it it gets really cold, I add a winter jacket & wool cap under my helmet.

I wear riding shorts and a t-shirt, and lug my work clothes in my backpack, a pannier is on my list for one of these days.

Typical bicycling clothes - jersey and shorts, turtleneck when it's chilly. I carry my casual friday change of clothes in a backpack. We don't have a shower, but 5 or 6 baby wipes (I got the idea from Bicycling Magazine) and LOTS of antiperspirant and cologne gets me good to go.

Of course, I have gloves and a helmet.

I've heard indirectly that some people have made snide comments about how I look in spandex (5'11 1/2, 270lbs) but I really don't care. I think the comments are more a reflection of mediocre morale and the fact that I am a department head, than anything else. We have a wellness program on and neither my boss nor the head of HR has a problem with my commuting.

I need to suit up the rest of the time and so it's Friday only. I hope to make it 3 seasons, though.

In fact, I got the boss to say something leaderly the first time I commuted and get the department over to the window to watch me cruise into the parking lot. it was a great moment. :p

Back in college I had to deal with this. The bike store sold pant cuff clips. Spring steel, 1/4" wide and shaped to clip your pants around your ankle, very simple. Not sure if they're sold anymore, that was 20 years ago.

I wear my usual cycling clothes, i.e. bike shorts, gloves and shoes, synthetic t-shirt. Thicker synthetic layers for cold weather. I carry cycling wind/rain jackets and a helmet cover. I sometimes wear cotton socks but I prefer wool/synthetics. Very important are sunglasses with two lenses, smoked mirror daytime and clear for night riding.

I saw Tyler Hamilton with a backpack this morning.

I wear normal cycling attire and carry my work clothes in a backpack. We have a YMCA at work, which allows me to shave and shower at work.

I got tired of changing everything, so I ride in my business casual pants which are rolled up to just below the knee so they don't get caught. I throw on a t-shirt (usually a soccer jersey), or something that wicks and through a dress shirt/blouse into my bag. Then I just change my top at work, and roll down my pants. Oh, I keep my dress shoes at work, because I wear sneakers just about everywhere else.

For summer, I wear whatever I wear to work. It's cool enough in the AM and I don't sweat too much.

For fall, I wear whatever I wear to work, plus a wind stopper jacket, gortex gloves, a fleece headband and fleece neck gaiter.

For winter, haven't done winter yet, but I imagine the same as fall, plus my shell jacket and shell pants.

For thos eof you who wear regular pants on short commutes, how do you keep your cuffs from catching on your chainrings?

Rubber bands work pretty good. nashbar has velcro straps, and some srotes have them, too.

For longer commute days, I wear my cycling gear and stuff work clothes into the pannier. On just-around-the-block commute days, I wear my work clothes-- often including heels-- and use the velcro ankle straps if necessary.

Saxguy, it seems to me that you're the one providing a leaderly example. Good for you. I wish we had some managers here that commuted by bike. (Well, we will next summer, as soon as I'm eligible to test for the position.)