Recreational & Family - Which shorts and shirts?

I hope this is the right place to post this. I finally got my retired mom and dad into doing a little bit of biking. We got my dad a nice Raleigh hybrid and my mom an Electra Townie. I want them to stay interested, so I want them to stay comfortable. Does anyone have a
suggestion about shorts and shirts for them to wear in warmer climates. They live in a motor home and snow bird in Arizona. I just can't imagine them in spandex!!! :twitchy:Thanks!

Read through the clothing threads in the General Cycling forum.

If they don't want to wear lycra (I don't know why - I do and I'll be 65 in a few weeks) they can try mountain bike shorts. They're baggy.
http://media.rei.com/media/mm/9c83f2ef-93e2-4efd-949e-55a51eb8be18.jpg
Or they can wear padded cycling underwear under regular street shorts.
If they wear mtn bike short or padded cycling underwear, tell them to NOT wear underwear. Underwear defeats the purpose of the padding. The only thing that should be between them and the cycling apparel is a little sweat. :)
For visibility they should wear bright cycling jerseys.
http://www.nashbar.com/images/nashbar/products/medium/AS-TRJ-YL-FRONT.jpg
The jersey material wicks away the sweat to keep them dry. Cotton DOES NOT WORK!!!! It stays wet and they stay wet.
Tell them to look through the cycling clothes at a local bike shop (LBS) or two to see what styles and colors are available.

How many miles a day do you think they will ride? I would say let them wear what they want if their rides are 10-15 miles or less. Having the right saddle that's comfy 'for them', to me, will be more important and encourage longer excursions and more frequent biking.

You can always simply pull a pair of regular shorts over bike shorts. It really isn't hard to do.

Walmart and similar stores have comfortable sports jerseys with 0% cotton for good prices. Get shorts made with stretch fabric.

Second the mountain bike shorts. I've worn them for years. They're just as comfortable as Lycra, and you don't look like Sausageman when you walk into 7-Eleven. And I rarely wear jerseys, even on long rides. I have half a dozen in the drawer, but T-shirts work fine, even on centuries.
For what it's worth, I think I get more courteous treatment from drivers when I dress like a normal person instead of a cyclist. That could be a regional issue, though. We have a pretty large group of Arrogant Roadie Pr!x around here who've pretty well spoiled the atmosphere for the rest of us.
You can also get padded cycling underwear (Andiamo is one brand) for about $25 that can be worn under any shorts. That's half to one-third the price of decent MB shorts, and might work for them.

Check this site out - lots of good information for new riders.
www.biketoledo.net (http://www.biketoledo.net)

I wear street clothes/sweats over my bike shorts. I never really have cared for the "spiffy guy in his nifty spandex" thing. Not ever had a problem with a good t-shirt either aside from the lack of cool factor with other bikers.
As a returning cyclist from a 10 year hiatus, I was STUNNED at the cost of biking apparel. $350 for a set of shoes? REALLY?!? $80 Shorts?
Wow.

/hijack

You think $80 is high for shorts, the top of the line Assos and Campagnolo are around $300 depending on the exchange rate.

I hope this is the right place to post this. I finally got my retired mom and dad into doing a little bit of biking. We got my dad a nice Raleigh hybrid and my mom an Electra Townie. I want them to stay interested, so I want them to stay comfortable. Does anyone have a
suggestion about shorts and shirts for them to wear in warmer climates. They live in a motor home and snow bird in Arizona. I just can't imagine them in spandex!!! :twitchy:Thanks!

Actually they may do just fine in Arizona in cotton. The humidity in many places is so low that anything stays dry.

How far do they plan on riding? If you are talking 5 mile rides I do not see the need for cycling specific clothes at all, just something to make sure pants legs and show laces do not get in the chainring.

Thinking more about Arizona, what might be the most useful is a decent windbreaker and some way to pack it when things are warm.

You think $80 is high for shorts, the top of the line Assos and Campagnolo are around $300 depending on the exchange rate.

Yes, and it is rediculous. Paintball is the same way. You have a bit of clothing, or paintball "specific" item and it cost a buttload more than it should.
I just really can see no reason at all for a pair of lycra shorts to cost $300 aside from being able to say you had them.

Hey, I'm retired, live in AZ, bike as much as possible during the warm months. I ride year round but less when the weather is too cold (teens to thirty degrees). I just wear regular clothes. Arizona is so dry that during the summer (except for July/Aug), cotton and blends work fine. Have your parents worry more about sun protection and carrying water. Hope they love their bikes. You are a good child for thinking of them and their comfort.

I am hoping for them to get in 3-5 miles a day. They are not fitness buffs by any stretch of the imagination. I did gdet them into the bikes and they are riding some. I just hope that by taking away all the excuses, especially sore crotches, that they will stick with it. Thanks for all the ideas and advice.

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