I don't know about you guys, but I've always hated bicycle clothing. I bike to a lot of rural flea markets and festivals here in Ohio, and when I get off the bike to walk around and do a little shopping, I get stares like I just debarked from the Enterprise. And I don't blame them, I look truly geeky. Bright shirts that hang way down in the back, weird shoes, funny tight pants (and NO POCKETS in either shirts or pants - this is just as irritating off the bike as it is on).

With my new recumbentcy I've taken a new look at dressing for the road, and I'm making some changes. My newest discovery is the safety vest! There are dozens to choose from. They can come in safety orange or green, in polyester or mesh, and the options in pockets are from zero to 10! I just pop this vest over any old shirt I feel is comfortable for flea marketing, then, when I arrive, pack the vest in the bag and I look like a regular human. Mesh is cool and light for summer, and there are hunting vests in fleece and other warm fabrics for cold weather, also loaded with pockets. Is this country great, or what?

Unless I am out for a high speed performance ride I wear regular street clothes on my bents and DF bikes. I don't really see any need for specialized bike clothing for most of my riding and I like being able to get off the bike and blend into normal human society!....:eek::thumb:

I dunno what recumbent you're riding, but with a really laid back seat angle, I don't think a safety vest makes you more visible than a good set of effective blinkies.

Grasshopper...

I ride a Stratus, which has a fairly upright position. I assume you mean forward-facing white blinkies. My rear visibility is OK with a safety orange banner. Are these really that visible in the daylight? I've never thought about that and have never tested them. And how about battery life? When I tour I'm on the bike most of the day. Blinkies front and back that worked would be a nice idea, but I also don't want to have to buy batteries daily. Thanks for the idea.

When I rode my DF, I had special bike shorts and I wore the shirts and had a reflective vest on top of all that. With the bent, however, I wear sweats, shorts, or whatever I feel like. I still wear the shirts when its warm outside because they wick away the sweat, but otherwise its just street wear.

I am high-vis, even on the bent, however. I have a bright green aero trunk with a PB Super Blinkie on the back, a DiNotte headlight on the front, and both front and rear blinking lights on my helmet. My wife bought me some spoke lights that I'll probably try this winter when I'm riding in the dark. I stopped using the vest because I found it uncomfortable on the bent and I figured that it wasn't helping that much anyway.

... My newest discovery is the safety vest! There are dozens to choose from. They can come in safety orange or green, in polyester or mesh, and the options in pockets are from zero to 10!...
The lime green-yellow is a better choice than the more traditional blaze orange. Apparently in low light when color is less evident, the orange is seen as gray and blends into the background while the lime-yellow will still contrast with the background.

You think safety vests don't look geeky?

You think safety vests don't look geeky?

Heh! I was waiting for someone else to say it first! Freds everywhere have been wearing safety vests for as long as I can remember. Anything to avoid using cycling clothes, I guess... Personally, I find dedicated cycling clothes to be functional and comfortable - even if they're not recumbent-specific.

They don't look nearly so geeky when they're stowed in the pack.

Feel free to wear whatever works for you. I lean towards relaxed-fit cycling or running tights in winter and mountain-bike style or similar shorts (no pad) in summer with cheapish wicking poly shirts. Never been accused of looking like a wannabe racer.

I just put my Safety Vest on the seat back and drape the back over my rack
trunk. Works fine for me. I'm on a Sun EZ Sport.

I found that I have had to consider sun exposure to my legs and face since I began riding my bent. I live in the tropics and so now i always wear long sleeves and cargo pants. It is good not to have padded pants. I have a couple of cheap lime green hi vis LS work shirts that come wiith a pocket. They are comfortable.

According to wikipedia: "Fred" is a derisive term used by cyclists to describe other cyclists, usually male, that appear amateurish and oblivious to cycling culture. (Okay, ride a recumbent and you're 1/2 way there as oblivious to culture)

The exact qualities that define one as a "Fred" vary widely among regions and cyclists, but recently, particularly in the US, a Fred is somebody with higher quality and more expensive gear than his or her talent would warrant. For example:

A person watches the highlights of a few Tour de France stages, goes to a bike store and buys a Trek carbon fiber Madone in Team Discovery colors, along with Team Discovery shorts and jersey, and then rides it on a cycling path at 15 mph (25 km/h).

Such a person would be a prototypical Fred, especially if the jersey is yellow, which is typically worn by the leader in a multi-stage race.

POINT: I'd rather look dorky and live than be cool and hit by a car. In addition to my Dinnotte helmet light, reflective strips on the helmet, two blinkys on the back; I do wear a safety vest.

Jack in Columbia, SC - Whetstone High School class of 1972

yeah I don't see me toting that out to the next time trial. Sorry, Fred!

I picked up some Canari mountain bike jerseys from Nashbar when they were on sale for $20 each. They look good, have mesh under the armpits, cool-dry fabric, and the colors are nice blues and browns. Very comfy and help me to stay dry.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=6000137&subcategory=60001207&brand=&sku=24555&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Short%20Sleeve%20%2F%20Sleeveless%20Jerseys

For shorts I usually wear REI cargo shorts. Also a cooler fabric and with lots of pockets. I also have some Wrangler & other name brand long'ish shorts that I picked up at Target last fall during their summer clothes clearance.

These work well for staying cool while riding, and looking pretty normal when off the bike.

I used to be like Vik and used mostly regular clothes when riding. But as I aged and gained weight I found that I strongly prefer at least riding pants/shorts coupled with a pretty normal synthetic outdoor top (ala REI hiking stuff). I normally have a small pocket or two in the top, and I use a seat bag on the bike that I can carry when off of it.

I will probably go back to synthetic outdoor pants for riding once I lose the aero belly again. But at this point in my life, I relish looking different, my identity is firmly fixed and any attention is just an excuse to talk. I interrupt a lot of my rides to chat with dog walkers about their dogs and my dogs and my bike. The social aspect of this is good for my soul.

POINT: I'd rather look dorky and live than be cool and hit by a car. In addition to my Dinnotte helmet light, reflective strips on the helmet, two blinkys on the back; I do wear a safety vest.



It's too bad that "dorky" or "hit by a car" are the only choices. Neither choice sounds good to me.

unless i am out for a high speed performance ride i wear regular street clothes on my bents and df bikes. I don't really see any need for specialized bike clothing for most of my riding and i like being able to get off the bike and blend into normal human society!....:eek::thumb:

+1

I like to be seen and if wearing bright colors or saftey vests help my visablity I am all for it. For long trips I have stretch the saftey vest over my seat bag. I often wear a bright white tee shirt especially in low light or cloudy days. (Doesn't work on snowy days) The same holds true when buying a car. Studies show certain colors are more visible and your chances of avoiding crashes are greatly increased. BTW white is the best car color.

According to wikipedia: "Fred" is a derisive term used by cyclists to describe other cyclists, usually male, that appear amateurish and oblivious to cycling culture.... For example:

A person watches the highlights of a few Tour de France stages, goes to a bike store and buys a Trek carbon fiber Madone in Team Discovery colors, along with Team Discovery shorts and jersey, and then rides it on a cycling path at 15 mph (25 km/h).

Such a person would be a prototypical Fred, especially if the jersey is yellow, which is typically worn by the leader in a multi-stage race....

I think this guy is more a "poser" than Fred. I think Fred must be a noteworthy component of paceline or pack.

My bike is very visible...I'm just the engine. So regular shorts and a comfortable (yet stylish) t-shirt is what I wear. That way, when I'm off the bike, I blend in with the masses.

I've always ridden in my street clothes, even before the bent. If it's hot, I wear shorts. If it's cold, I wear pants. If it's rainy, I wear a raincoat. If it's super cold, I wear my parka.

On the bent, what I'm wearing is pretty much irrelevent to the driver behind me. They can't see what I'm wearing since the seat covers my back. I work for visibility with a LED blinky in the back and orange stickers on my duffel bag that hangs on the seat bag.

I like cargo pants because of the pockets. I like to carry a wallet,camera, glasses, scroggin etc when I ride. On the bent, stuff falls out of my pockets because of my elevated feet. I solved the problem by sewing some velcro inside the pocket to keep it closed. It worked.

I wear Mt. Borah shorts on my trike. Since they have zippered pockets nothing falls out. Plus I can tighten up the cords on the bottom of them so they don't balloon. As far as my top goes, it's something that will wick moisture away. Motorists see me. I'd don't anything special except in failing light I use my taillight.