Road Cycling - What's so embarassing about road warrior gear?

Just wondering, why is it that I get feeling that going out in road warrior style is, i'm just going to say: gay, to some people's eyes?

I always thought it just looks so damn freakin cool. Chicks dig it too. The comfort is a bonus.

I used to get that feeling, that is, until I stopped worrying about what people thought of me (both on and off the bike). Why would they want to worry about my sexual orientation anyway? Are they after a date or something?

I agree, I think it looks stylish, but then I like cycling so it's a style comfort thing.

I was called a poof by a cab driver last week :)

I used to feel kind of silly in the whole lycra get up. I'd usually wear baggies over my bike shorts (granted, I was riding a mountain bike in those days, so I could say it was the style, but I won't).

I've come to realize, like Chris, I really don't give a damn about what others think of me. If someone is willing to pass judgement base solely on my clothing, than they're just a dumb-a**. When I was a kid I got laughed at for wearing a helmet, but that didn't stop me. I feel the same way about my riding kit now.

Besides, I like to look the part. When I'm riding in full team gear, and I get to tell people that it's my team, that's really cool. Others usually think it's pretty neat too.

Besides, I have great legs. Might as well show them off.

Above all, to thine ownself be true.

-Bill Shakespeare

I used to get that feeling, that is, until I stopped worrying about what people thought of me

Besides, I have great legs. Might as well show them off.
My sentiments exactly!!

I look at it this way... what ELSE am I going to wear?

When I run, I wear running stuff [tights, shell, etc.].

When I go XC skiing, I wear ski clothes [tights, anorak, etc.].

When I ride my bike, I wear bike kit.

I live by some rules, though... no roadie jerseys on the MTB, and no MTB jerseys on the road bike. How can I tell the difference? I just can.;)

I'm in the full cyclist uniform every time I get on the bike. It's just comfortable and looks a heck of a lot better than a T-shirt acting as a parachute, and baggies doing the same!

velo

Originally posted by LightBoy
When I was a kid I got laughed at for wearing a helmet, but that didn't stop me.

It's funny, you know. When I was a kid, I was the only one who wore a helmet... until the start of the magpie season! :D

the bike get up works well keeps me cool in the summer
and warm in the winter..
It looks good as long as you are near a bike.


K

Originally posted by ahuman
It looks good as long as you are near a bike.
K

You bring up a good point here. The attractiveness of bike gear is inversely proportionate to your distance from the bike.

In other words, the farther from the bike you get, the sillier you're going to look.

If you like it, wear it. And if it has chick-magnet potential, so much the better! ;)

I think the reason some people, um, look down on it is because they think you're wannabe / poseur / jersey pro. If you're gonna dress like a pro, you should put in your miles, too.

Form follows function. Wear what works.

The only gear that strikes me as a bit pretentious is when I see someone wearing the Yellow jersey, World Champion jersey, KOM jersey, green jersey etc. I mean, you better be able to live up to that! I personally wouldn't have the nerve.

However, I'm all for wearing a national team or national champ jersey. Like if you're italian and you want to wear the italian champ jersey, or whatever- as a homage! If I see someone wearing a national team jersey or national champ jersey, I'm guessing they're probably italian or whatever. I'd wear a Polish champ jersey if I could get one!

Originally posted by wabbit
The only gear that strikes me as a bit pretentious is when I see someone wearing the Yellow jersey, World Champion jersey, KOM jersey, green jersey etc. I mean, you better be able to live up to that! I personally wouldn't have the nerve.


I've been trying to get a KOM jersey for ages, but I can't find any around here, and I can't afford to order over the WWW using the Australian Peso. My biggest worry in a polka-dot jersey would be living long enough to "live up to that" with all the rednecks around here. :eek:

Originally posted by wabbit
If I see someone wearing a national team jersey or national champ jersey, I'm guessing they're probably italian or whatever.

I hope no one thinks I'm Italian...I earned that jersey! :D :D

velo
- wearer of the U.S. national champion's jersey

I often see some overweight guy riding his Diamondback Hybrid (slowly) down the local Multi-Use path, wearing a Credit Lyonnaise yellow jersey.

There's actually a long and honourable Euro tradition of wearing your favourite team's jersey. It's one of the ways that trade teams made enough money to [under-]pay their riders. [BTW, Velo, I'd wear your team's jersey, HONEST!;)] It's not like anyone actually pays to watch a road race, so jerseys and kit have long been one more revenue stream for the teams.

The same goes for national team jerseys. The maglia azzura was a common site among the Italian tifosi in the 1960s.

I guess things are a little more dicey with championship jerseys, though. After all, those are earned. It would be a little like walking around with an olympic gold medal around your neck. On the other hand, they are nice jerseys...

Context has a lot to do with it, too, of course. Frankly, I think that if someone wants to wear the Jello Yersey [that will make sense to anyone who watched coverage of la Boucle Feminine] or even the maglia iridata when he's out on a solo training ride, go right ahead. It's like playing shinny in a Canadiens or Team Canada sweater. Just don't wear it to a race or even a group ride and expect to survive.

The first bike tour I did of France in 1999, had to wear Cofidis gear. It was a great conversation starter with the French women. One couple in a Norman town, even accussed me of being a member of the Cofidis team.
I had to have Cofidis gear to do my Loire tour, because Bobby Julich was the great American hope before Lance came along. Julich always seemed to be a rock solid all American cyclists. He should have gotten further.
But to wear the pro gear when you are doing the same roads that the French tour uses, makes you really feel great as a wanna bee. As to embarassing. Go to Europe and don't wear regular cycling gear, they look at you like you are nuts. Like you failed at your sport and have something to hide. Of course, helmets there used to be looked down upon too.
But then I am told in Germany, you use a swim suit you are considered a wacko. Won't go swimming in Germany. guess that is true? So in some countries, most wear nothing to the beach, Americans should get used to road warrior gear. I certainly would hate to cover up what cycling has down for my lower half, by wearing baggies.

Listen, if you've got it, flaunt it!

I wouldn't mind getting a Team Gas jersey or shorts (not both).It's a great design and I doubt anyone will confuse me with anyone from Team Gas (which includes the current women's world champ).

I know some don't like logo's. But it is reassuring to know, if you wear pro-team gear, some of the proceeds go to the pro-cyclists. Some of the corporate sponsors of some of the teams, I do not approve of, just won't buy that teams gear.
Seems to watch the pro's and wear their gear is no different than wearing an NFL jersey of your favorite team. Just lets them know you are serious about your sport !

In cool or cold weather, my top upper layer is always my "screaming yellow" cycling windbreaker, because it keeps me warm and makes me visible. I wear cycling shorts to prevent saddle sores; I can always cover them with sweatpants in cold weather or regular walking shorts for shopping. I wear cycle touring shoes, stiff enough to protect my feet from the pedals, but quite decent for walking. When cycling on an errand, I carry my helmet at my destination. I am proud to be recognized as a bicyclist wherever I go.

My helmet is expensive enough, I do not leave it with the chained up bike. Since in a store, I often am carrying something, think I leave the helmet on my head, most of the time. heah, doesn't one of the characters in Doonsbury wear a helmet all the time. Not a cyclist either. Do carry a set of gym shorts when within a store. Don't want to show off my sport that much.

Wabbit... actually, Zinaida Stahurskaia was last year's world champion. This year's is Rasa Polikeviciute, and she rides for Acca Due.

Yeah,that's right- it was LAST year's champ. Well, I dont think anyone will confuse me with Rasa Polikeviciute either, since she has long red hair.

Has anyone ever seen a photo of her? SHe kind of looks like Sissy Spacek.