General Cycling Discussion - Do you wear socks when riding?

Just wondering if people where socks when they are riding or not.

I wear them when I am mountain biking but not usually when I am road riding.

This question pertains to when the weather is nice and not like it is these days. Right now I wear boots and wool socks just to get to the garage for all the snow.:)

That question should read WEAR socks and not "where" socks.

Just a little bit of a brain fart to start the New Year off!:D

Always.

I wear them because my feet will get blisters if I don't :( .

I always WEAR socks when I ride. WHERE do I put them? On my feet, of course! Why? Because I am WARY of getting blisters. Besides, DeFeet's WARES are so cool, I can't bear not to WEAR them!

:D

I believe my mother drilled into me at a tender age the conviction that not wearing socks is a good way to get a fungus infection on the feet, so I've been a lifelong sock adherent, and that includes when cycling. In three months, I will start receiving my monthly Social Security payments, and I will be able to afford more of those cycling socks, which are infinitely (well, maybe not infinitely, but a lot) better than cotton ones. Maybe that will be the impetus I need to start riding more. I'm not making any New Year's resolution along those lines--I don't make resolutions.

But I wear socks.

:)

I guess I got into the habit of not wearing them from training for triathlons where I don't wear them after exiting the water and doing the bike section.

I have never had a problem with foot infections and it certainly is cooler on the feet without them.

Our nephew used to live in Spain. While visiting he drew our attention to the fact many European- males, I guess- do not wear socks in street clothes, unless dressed for work. It appeared he was correct. Is this common in the world outside Europe. They said that is how Europeans tell- in part- if you are American.
Maybe this pertains to European cyclists as well? I thought socks helped in delaying smelly feet/shoes and blisters. I have cycling socks that fit my cycling gear. Hate to not wear them. My favorite socks are my french flag and California Republic socks. Would not ride without them. My French flag socks, while touring in Burgundy- were a real hit. If only my French was better.

I own 14 pairs of defeet socks, never ride without.

My socks are my favorite part of my outfit.

I have a pair that say Girls Love Dirt, and a pair I got for free from SmartWool from the MTB Championships @ Mt Snow.....

:)

It's not how well you ride, it's how COOL you look!

But what colour socks do you where?
Is it a crime against fashion to where coloured or black sock on a bike?

I ride on the road most of the time and almost all of my socks are black, dark grey or dark blue. Most of the them are Perl Izumi or DeFeet and have either a logo or design on the cuff. I started wearing the dark socks after years of white socks simply because the white is so darn hard to keep looking clean and bright. I figured if black is good enough for mountain bikers then I'll do the same. Doesn't bother me at all and most of my riding buddies wear dark colors too.

I think it makes you look cooler and the designs often illicit comments from friends and other riders. One of my faves is a black DeFeet pair with the shape of the barking dog on them that says "Bite Me!" below it. Since I've have my fair share of dog chases I thought it appropriate. They were a special pair that I picked up at a national MTB event a couple of years ago. Limited editions are cool!:)

I live in Iowa and it is 10 degrees. Yes, I wear socks. Lots of them.

I always wear socks. Usually smartwool but sometimes defeet.

Grey Smartwool most of the time, with the occasional special event socks like the California Republic ones (^5 cyclezealot)

Wear socks, all the time.

My favorite are the Hula Girls Socks by DeFeet. My wife's favs are her Day-Glo Pink Flamingo socks.

My second fav are my Saeco Lightning Socks. Black socks with Lightning bolts all over!

Don't your feet get all jammy if you don't wear socks?

i wear waterproof socks ie porells drys
when im out splashing in the mud [sorry mountain biking]

when im touring with the tandem i use shimano spd sandals
take waterproof soks just in case...this solves problem of
wet shoes...wet feet dry out lol....
this is for summer tours only...

winter time thin socks under porelle drys toasty

also when you wear spd sandals no socks to wash :)

I don't find that my feet get very sweaty at all without socks. The vents in the bottom of my shoes are quite nice.

The funny thing is I used to wear socks all the time but then I started riding with a group that didn't so I thought I would try it out. It was great. I don't wear them now unless the weather is cooler.

I have a pair that say Girls Love Dirt

Gee! Why am I not surprised?;)

Anyway, yes I do. They are black Defeet socks to match my shoes (sometimes I wear white). I'm going out on a limb here and this is just my opinion but here goes. I think riders who don't wear socks look tacky. I mean they are part of the ensemble. Whether you wear your club garb, some pro-team replica or plain jersey you want to look good. I used to ride with some guys who wear some old almost see-thru shorts, tank tops and no socks. I mean come-on! They looked like homeless people just riding a bike to get from point A to point B.

I'm a rebel against all of my trackie friends. I always wear socks. I just don't like going without them, that's all. Sometimes when they're even going for a road ride, they won't go with socks in order to be identified as a trackie...yes well, I guess it's all just in my endurance riding roots... ;)

velo

Socks ? Yes, hiking wool ones from REI, they are
cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The thickness also serves to give my foot a good snug
fit in the biking shoe. And when wet they still keep
my feet warm.

I got a Mavic Bike shock,from the wifey

Yes unless I'm wearing sandals...

Richard

I have only been riding for a little over 2 years, but I always did wear socks...until I saw several people NOT wearing them this last year. I figured I would try it for myself. I liked it alot, so in the summer months I don't wear socks anymore. My opinion is it keeps your feet cooler and dryer than wearing them. I just recently bought a road bike so I will have to experiment with my road shoes this summer to see what works best, but I know I will be sock-less once again for the upcoming summer mountain biking season.(Not that I ever quit riding MTB's)

Mid West,

Not sure if you have tried cycling socks vs. running or some other athletic socks but cycling socks make all the difference in the world. I know they're usually 2 to 3 times more expensive but trust me on this one.

Bobsled,

oh yes I have about 15-20 pairs of cycling socks, all different brands and materials. They are great and I will continue to wear them when it is cold. When the temp rises back to above frozen tundra however, :p I will once again go sockless. When I do wear socks it is always a good quality pair of cycling socks. Thanks for the tip though I appreciate it.

Just checking.

Yes, I wear cycling socks, the One I like most is the Mavic socks I have 4 pairs of that kind the other three pairs I bought it

I went for years without wearing socks anywhere, in my boots runners etc. I have however found my feet stay more comfortable with socks and lo and behold no blisters. So I now wear socks.But as with anything else you should get good quality ones that are specific to the sport.:D

Wear socks? Like, on my feet? (Is this a trick question?)

Don't some people wear socks on their ears or something, like, to keep out the cold? Anyway, I am a conventional sock-wearer. But now that I know there is an alternative, I have more options!

:D

Of course I wear socks.

After hundreds of rides and never being washed, I try not to let my skin come in contact with my Sidi "Biohazards." Small pets and children have had to go to the hospital just because they caught a whiff of them.

The upside? Dogs don't chase me anymore.

:roflmao:

Captn' it looks like your all alone on this one :)

I guess none of my triathlete partners are on this forum. I will have to do something about that and get things a little more evened out.

I have to admit that since I have been riding my rollers indoors this winter I have been wearing socks in my new shoes. I guess I just didn't want to get them to dirty to fast. I will have to see how they feel once I start riding outdoors again come spring and summer.

Yes! Long or short. Which ever is on top of my sock pile.

Originally posted by alan
Yes! Long or short. Which ever is on top of my sock pile.

Here's a thought.... In order to spot Bike Forum members when we're out on the road, how about we all start wearing one long and one short sock?

{I can't wait to see how many people fall for this**

Trekaholic:p

cmon guys:
I DONT WEAR SOCKS!
i really like that kinda "direct" feeling, and it gives me the impression of more control over my bike ... street AND mtb (sidi rules! tight and nice)
i even go sockless when i ride my bmx - i wear my vans sk8 hi. they have a thin sole which is awesome, and they have this smooth synthetic lining in the heel area like some oldschool adidas - perfect without socks. and you still got ankle protection cos they re hi-tops.

Originally posted by bomba
cmon guys:
I DONT WEAR SOCKS!
i really like that kinda "direct" feeling, and it gives me the impression of more control over my bike ... street AND mtb (sidi rules! tight and nice)
i even go sockless when i ride my bmx - i wear my vans sk8 hi. they have a thin sole which is awesome, and they have this smooth synthetic lining in the heel area like some oldschool adidas - perfect without socks. and you still got ankle protection cos they re hi-tops.

If you really like that 'direct feeling', try riding without gloves and shorts as well.

I wear ONLY socks when cycling. :D

(Only kidding. I also wear a helmet.)

Socks? Oh, yeah. I'm queer for socks. I have lots of DeFeet socks, a few pairs of Sock Guy socks, and a couple of oddball pairs...like my Bellwether argyles. Ankle height only. I wear dark socks for mountain biking and just about any color and pattern for the road. The only time I don't wear socks is when I'm riding the wind trainer. Since I ride the trainer alone in the house, and not for more than an hour at a stretch, I don't bother with a shirt or socks. Just pull on the shorts and shoes and go nowhere fast.

I don't guess I've added much to this conversation, but at least I got another post toward the 50 I need to become a senior member and get a cool self-description under my name.

I suppose I could have tried universe-people's tactic and made multiple posts of the same weird stuff in a bunch of different forums, but why antagonize people? :rolleyes:

Originally posted by RegularGuy
I don't guess I've added much to this conversation, but at least I got another post toward the 50 I need to become a senior member and get a cool self-description under my name.

I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you actually need 100 posts for the "self description".


Originally posted by RegularGuy
I suppose I could have tried universe-people's tactic and made multiple posts of the same weird stuff in a bunch of different forums, but why antagonize people? :rolleyes:

Surely you don't mean to tell me I missed another troll? :cry:

Oh well, I will make my 100 posts soon!

And he wasn't so much a troll as a lunatic.

A.troll was here? :eek:

Of the 6 major brands of logo cycling socks (DeFeet, Gizmo, Lin, Pearl Izumi, SockGuy, and SOS (SaveOurSoles)) I have to say that SOCKGUY RULES!!!!!!!! Don't just wear Defeet because everybody else does, try a couple of these others, you may decide you like some brand else like Pearl Izumi better. But make sure you at least try SockGuy too, those socks are the best!

SOCKGUY RULES!!!!!!!!

How long have you worked for Sockguy?

I work for a running store in Charlotte North Carolina. We get a lot of cyclist in our store buying Sockguy because most of the cycling shops around here carry Defeet. They get everything else cycling related at their favorite cycling shop but go to the trouble to NOT get socks there, but rather come to our running store to get their cycling socks. What does THAT tell you.
If I worked for SockGuy, why would I mention 5 other competitors in my post?
I was merely suggesting that people try different brands. If you don't like Logo socks, Smartwool is a good one too. But I think DeFeet and Sockguy have that covered with wool socks also. I think Defeets are called "woolie boolie's" enstead of "air-E-ators", although they may also be called "Wool-E-ators"

I work for a running store in Charlotte North Carolina. We get a lot of cyclist in our store buying Sockguy because most of the cycling shops around here carry Defeet. They get everything else cycling related at their favorite cycling shop but go to the trouble to NOT get socks there, but rather come to our running store to get their cycling socks. What does THAT tell you.
If I worked for SockGuy, why would I mention 5 other competitors in my post?
I was merely suggesting that people try different brands. If you don't like Logo socks, Smartwool is a good one too. But I think DeFeet and Sockguy have that covered with wool socks also. I think Defeets are called "woolie boolie's" enstead of "air-E-ators", although they may also be called "Wool-E-ators"

Which store? I may drop in so that I can look at the socks! :)

Wow this thread was started before I was a member..congrats on the oldest post brought back this week award :D

Wow this thread was started before I was a member..congrats on the oldest post brought back this week award :D

Nope, sorry, there was one over in Commuting, or possibly Advocacy and Safety, that was brought back earlier in the week. The previous post there had been sometime in 2000.