Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - What's wrong with racks and fenders and t-shirt?!

Hello!

I went on a 40 mile ride today a few friends who are supposedly much more bike-experienced than I am. I have been riding bikes as a primary mode of transportation all of my life, but only recently became interested enough to sign up for a century and train for it. We are all in college, some of us are in grad school, so we are basically all broke.

Anyway, so my Surly cross check was set up with fenders and rear rack, because that's what I ride to get groceries and that's what I usually commute on (except for when it's raining or when I have to leave it locked outside for a long time). I'm doing the century on the Surly rather than my super beat-up Lotus road bike, because it's the nicer of the two bikes I own.

I showed up basically in street clothes that i don't mind sweating in (no jeans), because I don't own any bike specific clothing. And I have toe clips, not clip less shoes.

It wasn't like I couldn't tell how I looked differently from the rest of the group, but I didn't care. But then my friends started telling me how inappropriate my bike set up and attire are and started giving me lessons on what to buy. So by the end of the ride I felt like I'd have to sell a kidney to upgrade if I ever want to ride with them again (luckily I don't). It was precisely because I didn't want to be that one person ruining the uniformed carbon bike/ Pearl Izumi look that I'd rather not ride with local clubs.

But here's the thing: I finished the ride with no butt sores, and I was not slower (<-- this is an understatement) than any of them riding their uber road bikes. AND I will admit that I obsessively studied the "post your century bike" thread so I know there are other people who's riding centuries with fenders and racks. I am not sure if I'm crazy or if I'm just around a lot of semi-posers.

Here's another thing. I have another friend who became interested in cycling around the same time I did, but she felt that she couldn't afford all these gears so she quit.

So I guess I am just really confused. What's wrong with racks and fenders for training for a century? I couldn't think of any, but my knowledge about cycling is very limited, so maybe I am just missing something?

And it would probably be more practical if I go on a diet and lose 5 pounds of fat as far as light-weight goes.

I saw you. You looked ok to me.
Ride What you got.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/Fred%20Tipps/Aug0409VanHornTX.jpg

CrossCheck--check
Fenders--check
Rear rack--check

Next time strap a rack trunk on so they know your serious.

You don't really need all the fancy bike gear..
I rode my first 1,500 miles in basketball shorts and tee shirts on $15 road bike.
I now have 27,000 miles with Toe Clips, No Straps.

The guy (Fred Tipps) in the pic, rode from NM to FL 2100 miles with that set up.

Run what ya brung.

I started riding a year ago and have been on several rides with my boss who's been riding for 30 plus years. I get tickled with him because when I talk of cycling specific items he is clueless swears he will never ride clipless or wear spandex and is just starting to look at a new bike to replace his 25 plus year old schwin. When we rode tour de cure last year it was the first time either of us had ridden with a group. He showed up wearing cotton gym shorts and a polo shirt. Even dressed funny riding an old beater he can ride centuries every weekend and waits on me at the top of the hills.

One time when I was racing a very tan guy rode into the start area. He was wearing bike shorts but the rest of his kit was not the usual. His touring bike had front and rear racks. He was not at all self conscious about appearing to be out of place.
The rest of the riders were on serious racing gear. Most were on very expensive bike.
The guy with the racks proceeded to kick ass. He had no support and no team.
The rest of us were left in the dust, humbled.
No one spoke to him. He never acknowledged the rest of us. He simply smiled when he took his trophy.
That was one of the coolest things I ever saw.

A 40 mile ride should be no problem as long as the bike is comfortable and working properly.

Your friends are suffering from the perception that there is only one way to dress and one type of bike to ride for a given event.

You mention training for a century. I don't hang out much here (long distance cycling) so I'm not sure what the focus is, but to me a century is merely a 100 mile ride. Who cares what you're riding, is it a competitive event? Are you doing it for fun? Is there money involved?

Those touring guys go on long distance rides, they have panniers and racks on their bikes. I fail to understand your friends reasoning. (yes, I did a little reading on the Sticky for this forum).

Especially if you had no troubles maintaining the pace of the group, who cares what you rode?

Sounds like bike snobbery to me. Put a kickstand on that bike:D

My Cross-Check has fenders, saddlebag, dynamo hub, lights... it's my favorite bike for > 100mi rides.

For a ride only 40mi long, unless you are having discomfort issues (chafing, saddle sores, etc.) with your attire (which it sounds like you're not), you have nothing to worry about. In fact, regardless of distance ridden, if you are able to ride without discomfort, then you are doing it right.

When I first started riding distance, I rode a mountain bike with clip pedals and I wore cut off sweats, a tshirt and sandals (Tevas) all of the time... I still routinely passed road riders going up the local hills and I did my first century equipped that way. Ride what you've got! Upgrade if you choose to and ignore what other people say about you...

Tell your friends that until they are all significantly faster than you, or you start to have more comfort problems than them, then they should not give you any advice. In addition, training with fenders and rack installed can only be considered a more intense training session than they had (although not by very much).

I would just flip things on them since you were quite a bit faster. Start lecturing them about how they are spending too much time obsessing over what to wear and what to ride that if they really want to become faster they should just wear whatever they have. Clearly they have forgot that cycling is about the ride and not the gear.

Bicycling is no different that the rest of life. Many people 'want to belong' so they adopt a similar set of values and prejudices. To make themselves feel more confident and build up their self esteem they must clearly define the line between 'us' and 'them.' Some people are comfortable conforming and others are secure enough to do their own thing. I kinda fell in between. I found that the way most cyclists dressed was actually more comfortable for me on long rides. However i still take crap for my steel bike, Brooks saddle, Caradice bag, three bottle cages and (in rainy season) my fenders. Screw 'em. I'm not and never will be fast and that isn't what I equip myself for. But I can literally go days without stopping for more than a few hours and my guess is absolutely none of them can.

But then my friends started telling me how inappropriate my bike set up and attire are and started giving me lessons on what to buy.

Tell your friends to
http://growabrain.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/22/elvis_brain.jpg

People were riding bikes long distances long before all this fancy crap was invented...and still do. ;)

I only started wearing a jersey 3 years ago when I started carrying my camera on rides. Before that it was a tye dye t-shirt. I can't count the times I passed a serious roadie with comments like, "dude, I like your jersey!". I might have thought twice about it if they could have kept up in their TDF kits.

Few years ago, some duope posted on the forums that I wasn't a serious rider cause I rode in tanktops rather than a jersey. But many of my 7300 miles that year were done in the mtns, 100+ temps and that person did a large amount of their miles in the comfort of their living room on a trainer!:roflmao2:...Too many stupid people in the world!;)

Clearly, the solution is to purchase some intentionally mismatched and ugly non-cycling attire to wear when you ride with these guys. Tie-dye Jams, a t-shirt with a unicorn and a rainbow in sparkly iron-on, and mid-calf tube socks with the 70s double stripe around the top.
And then drop 'em all like a hot potato.

Gotta say, cycling-specific clothes work better than anything else for the kind of riding I do - the technical fabrics handle sweat well, and they're cut for comfort in the riding position.

Fenders and racks (and lights)? I think bikes look funny WITHOUT 'em! But then I'm a rando, not some wussy racerboy who thinks a hundred miles is a long way. ;-)

SP
Bend, OR

I've done six centuries wearing button-down shirts and nylon shorts on my crosscheck with fenders, rear rack, and single pannier. In fact, it's even got a front rack with basket, a gearhub, and dynamo lighting. oh yeah, flat pedals, too.

I like that dorky bike, and if you like yours, ride it. It doesn't matter what you wear as long as you're comfortable and safe. You know this.
Special cycling clothes can sometimes be extra comfy and handy if you're exerting yourself and putting out lots of sweat, but there's no rule that you've gotta wear special clothes.

It sounds like they care more about gee-whiz bike stuff than riding. Just ride and show them what really matters.

Let me see if I've got the picture right.

Your buddies couldn't keep up with you. And they were telling you that you were on the wrong equipment!? And wearing the wrong clothes!?

Seems like they've got it backwards.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I "lead" an informal group on what used to be my Saturday solo ride. Last January, Paul#2 showed up to ride with two of us for the first time: he was on a Specialized Sequoia, with mud-guards (him being English, he has "mud-guards" instead of "fenders"), clips with old sneakers, I think he was set up for panniers in the rear (but I don't really pay attention to anyone's bike -- I look at them -- and how they ride), and his under-the-helmet head-gear-for-warmth was a tobaggan he'd borrowed from his six-year-old daughter. Paul#2 told us he originally got the bike to ride on the greenways with his kids.

Later, Dave told me that during that ride Dave was thinking to himself "who does this guy think he is? Trying to stay with me on these steep climbs?" Within a few weeks, we knew that Dave should have been asking himself "who do I think I am, trying to stay with Paul#2 on these steep climbs?"

In mid-June, we did an informal century for the solstice. Early in the ride, I got Paul#1 into contesting the county lines against Paul#2. After the second line in a five-mile stretch, I told Paul#1 (who had never Paul#2 until that day) that I had set him up and that he would not be taking any CL's from Paul#2. Paul#1 said that he had a plan and besides "had I seen the equipment that Paul#2 was on?" I told him that Paul#1 could lead the group the entire 100-miles at an appropriate pace, take every CL on offer, and still be the freshest rider in the group at the end.

Paul#1 didn't believe me then (at around 15 miles into the ride). However, at around 70 miles, at a convenience store stop, Paul#1 came up to me and told me he was not going to try riding with the 25 mph sub-group any more -- Paul#1 looked like he had been ridden hard, and put up wet. Paul#2 - the guy on the heavy bike with the mud-guards, etc. - looked pretty fresh.

Paul#2 rode that bike on every group ride we did, including a mountain excursion and a 200k ride, and he topped off the year by riding that bike 160 miles, much of it through the rolliers around and through the Uwhuarrie Natl Forest, from Raleigh to near Charlotte. He bailed 10 miles early not because he was worn out, but because it was getting dark and the Charlotte rush hour was on him.

Also, ever try to outride a randonneur over a long distance? Just because they have packs and fenders and what-not, does not mean they are slow. Some may be. But some, who carry a LOT more equipment than Homeyba appears to, are not slow, and they will eventually wear you down.

So . . . I don't see that your buddies have any room to talk, or complain, or whine, or whatever. Especially if you are the fastest / strongest in the group.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
edit:

So why does Paul#2 ride with us slow guys?

Because we are fun, reasonable people who do not wear our egos on our sleeves. And we are SAFE !!!

you might remove the fenders for long fair weather rides. keep the rack to carry food ~ tools ~ clothes for the long rides. you can get inexpensive padded bike shorts that you can wear under regular clothes, and you might like the feeling. slowly look at what you have and slowly experiment with fashion that is comfortable; useful and nice looking

While i have NO problem with people not fitting "the mold"... some of the stuff really is more comfy. Maybe they weren't being condescending (sp?)... just giving you some tips for comfort.

Slick tires just ride better on pavement IMO. That doesn't even take into account less rolling resistance (I mean, you are already keeping up)

Clipless shoes - I LOVE them, even though I rode with tennis shoes and straps from a LONG time. The shoes breath more as well as better power transfer.

Jerseys - I really do find them more comfy. Wick sweat, don't show my crack, have nifty pockets.... I'd wear them even if others weren't. Ignore the "more aero tight fitting" aspect of them.


There is a guy who does the fast roadie rides out of a LBS on a BIG mountain bike with monster knobby tires.... I simply admire him for carrying a faster pace than I. And wonder... what does he ride like when in a more aero position and on a roadbike?

haha oh my god you guys are awesome. I feel less like an idiot now. And Chevy42083 you have a really good point about how maybe they're just trying to help. Nonetheless, if they keep obsessing on shopping rather than riding, i think I'll tell them to tuck their jerseys into their bike shorts or to wear bibs over jerseys for a more streamlined aerodynamics.


p.s. I didn't know what a Sequoia is, so I google-imaged it and look at some specs on the website. Judging from context I'm guessing that it's an entry level road bike?

Just remember another anecdote from racing last winter...

I showed up with my custom steel cross bike decked out in reflective tape (setup for a RAAM qualifier I'd done a month prior) for the prologue for the SJBC's winter series races. While in line for registration, I heard a few guys snickering about someone having brought their commute bike to race on. I finished faster than more than half of the people there... ;)

Wonder if they'd say the same thing about my Look 595 with reflective tape on it?

I don't own any bike specific clothes, and my bike is an early 90's hybrid that I converted to drop bars (it's probably a lot like your CC in setup, with the exception of a quill stem. The group I ride with all own wonder bikes with their handlebars situated far below the saddle, no lights, no bags (a seat wedge is not a bag), no real spare parts, and clipless pedals. I'm riding 30 year old Campy toe clips, and have spare EVERYTHING on this bike. Once a guy broke a spoke and couldn't continue because his wheel wouldn't turn (clearances were THAT close). I gave him one of my spare spokes and 20 minutes later we were up and at 'em.

I've got fenders, lights, bags, canti brakes and 28c tires with a MTB triple and a seven speed freewheel, yet I"m always near the front of the pack. Don't worry about it. Honestly I'd rather have your bike than theirs. Bet at the end of 100 miles, you'd be fine and their backs would be spasming so bad they wouldn't be able to sit up straight.

hanging with them didn't shut them up?

if not, next time beat there asses and see if they shut up then... :p

p.s. I didn't know what a Sequoia is, so I google-imaged it and look at some specs on the website. Judging from context I'm guessing that it's an entry level road bike?

just like the trek 720, the specialized sequoia didn't keep the same lineage. here's the type that guy was probably riding:http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2114/2481885996_9af697e0c4_b.jpg

The only image I have of Paul#2's bike is this -- he is the one in the rear -- we had just regrouped. (By the time of this photo - Nov-29-09 - he had clipless shoes.)

Btw, the photo was taken by Paul#3. Yeah, three Paul's in a group of 23. Also two Dave's, two Bob's, two John's.

Also, you may notice that the guy in SR jersey is riding a (I think) 1970's Raleigh something, set up as a fixie with fenders, etc. for randonneuring. His name is Mike. If you are a RUSA member, you get a newsletter from him each month. Mike is not a "member" of "my informal group", but he is welcome to join us any time he would care to.

And Mike could have ridden all of us off his wheel that day, although it may have taken a long time to ride Paul#2 off his wheel.

I love this post. "or if I'm just around a lot of semi-posers" probably sums it up.

I got my new touring bike and went on a 100k charity ride. At about the 40 mile mark, I was at a rest area, and this guy says "How can you stand riding in blue jeans? Doesn't the saddle kill you? You should get cycling shorts. I'm wearing 2 pairs and my butt is still killing me." Then when I got back to my bike, "You should take the fenders off that to get the speed up."

So the guy whose butt hurts is telling me what kind of pants to wear, and the guy who is at the same rest stop I am is telling me how to go faster. Yep.

By the way, Dec. 19 of last year, I rode 131 miles in blue jeans and whitey tighties, no problem, so don't feel like you just have to have biking shorts if you don't feel the need.

The first time I went out with this club I was wearing boxer-briefs and khaki cargo shorts. They looked at me like I was insane. I explained that with a Brooks, I've never seen the need to have a padded seat. They asked me if my B17 just came on the market...a 50 year old man asked me if Brooks B17s were new...

p.s. I didn't know what a Sequoia is, so I google-imaged it and look at some specs on the website. Judging from context I'm guessing that it's an entry level road bike?
It's not that "entry level" but it isn't a "racing" bike. Looks like Paul#2's is a relatively modern one. A friend of mine has one. It's a good, comfortable, versatile bike.

===============

Anyway, I ride the heaviest bike in my group, with fenders, with a rack (it's a touring bike). I'm not the slowest (there are some good riders in the group). I've used it on centuries. I like bike shorts and clipless shoes. I wear jerseys (but it's not that big a deal). As long as you keep up, the people I ride with don't care what you ride.


Here's another thing. I have another friend who became interested in cycling around the same time I did, but she felt that she couldn't afford all these gears so she quit.
If she has a decent bike, the other stuff that she "needs" isn't that much money. She could do shorts, shoes, pedals for $200 (decent stuff but not the most expensive).


So I guess I am just really confused. What's wrong with racks and fenders for training for a century? I couldn't think of any, but my knowledge about cycling is very limited, so maybe I am just missing something?
I wonder if their comments was related to there being too many "red flags". That is, it's possible that they would have said nothing (or said less) if you were riding in bike shorts.

Hello!

...

Here's another thing. I have another friend who became interested in cycling around the same time I did, but she felt that she couldn't afford all these gears so she quit.

So I guess I am just really confused. What's wrong with racks and fenders for training for a century? I couldn't think of any, but my knowledge about cycling is very limited, so maybe I am just missing something?

And it would probably be more practical if I go on a diet and lose 5 pounds of fat as far as light-weight goes.

Forget the poseurs. Find that friend, convince her you'll ride with her, do that, and have a great time. It's terrible that such an attitude turned her off to cycling. You're already doing the real part of cycling - stay with it.

Tell your friends to
http://growabrain.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/03/22/elvis_brain.jpg

People were riding bikes long distances long before all this fancy crap was invented...and still do. ;)

+1! But isn't it spelled brane?

Proper cycling kit is incredibly comfortable and better than regular cotton sportswear. As a result, all serious roadies, who are used to this comfort simply can't imagine cycling any other way. For my daily rides I usually wear cotton shorts, a t shirt, with padless cycling shorts underneath(regular underwear pisses me off when cycling). Most serious roadies freak out when they find out I have no Chamois. They all think it must seriously hurt me.
I ride everyday.
I'm actually riding a 200k this weekend and this will be the first time I wear real kit.
The only reason I will be wearing real kit is because of the elevation gain and temperature extremes on the ride. I don't want to be sweaty and wet at high altitude and freezing temperatures. While most roadies are ridiculous with the cycling gear there is a subset of cyclists who are stuck on the other extreme, they feel like only tour de france pros should wear lycra. I'd say that's equally foolish. If you are on ride with long fast descents and varying temperatures, you might want to consider actual cycling gear. You sound like the stuff you're wearing works well for you though.
Also, I'm gonna be doing my 200 K on a crosscheck. I do think for the 200 k I will take off my rack. I've done 165ks while touring with 45 pounds of gear but for the 200k ride I figure I might as well get rid of any excess weight. I really wont need a rack and so I think I'll take the 2 minutes to remove it.
Keep in mind, people have completed centuries and more on folding bikes wearing regular clothing. IT would just be a bit easier on a real road bike with cycling specific clothing.

Oh while we're on the topic, how funny are people on carbon road bikes, fullkit, and running shoes on platform pedals?
I usually ride in cotton shorts and a tshirt but I always ride clipless.

AND If you have a full carbon bike it is my opinion that you should wear fullkit, or at least somewhat cycling specific clothes. And you should be able to make the lycra look good. If you cant make lycra look good you havent been cycling enough to need a full carbon bike.(Im a ****** who makes Lycra look terrible. I ride a steel frame..) anyone else agree?

Keep in mind, people have completed centuries and more on folding bikes wearing regular clothing. IT would just be a bit easier on a real road bike with cycling specific clothing.

Then there's Drew Buck, who completed Paris-Brest-Paris (1200km) dressed as a traditional "Onion Johnny" riding a vintage 1920's "retro-directe" bike that weighed around 50 pounds. It's a two speed bike, geared in a clever way so that you got the low gear by pedaling backwards.

http://www.randonneurs.bc.ca/Resources/2007/pbp/karen/karen597.JPG
As someone once said "it's not about the bike."

If you take off extra weight it will be easier to do a long ride. But there's no reason you have to. It's up to you.

Oh while we're on the topic, how funny are people on carbon road bikes, fullkit, and running shoes on platform pedals?
I usually ride in cotton shorts and a tshirt but I always ride clipless.

AND If you have a full carbon bike it is my opinion that you should wear fullkit, or at least somewhat cycling specific clothes. And you should be able to make the lycra look good. If you cant make lycra look good you havent been cycling enough to need a full carbon bike.(Im a ****** who makes Lycra look terrible. I ride a steel frame..) anyone else agree?

Don't agree. To me, the only thing that looks terrible out on the road is someone who is off their bike because they're having "issues" and can't keep riding. I've seen people beside the road on every kind of bike wearing every kind of clothes!

What looks good is people riding the bike that they think works best for them, wearing the clothes that they think work the best for them, coming in to the finish before the time limit (on a brevet). Tired and happy.

With respect to the original poster -- everything sounds fine with your bike setup. But for me, a T-shirt wouldn't work, because I like to have pockets in my shirt, so I wear bike shirts. And I like to wear bike shorts because underwear tends to bunch up and chafe on long rides. I guess I found that out when I was twelve or thirteen in the early 70's and would go for long rides out in the Ohio countryside. Hot, humid weather, cotton underwear and shorts, and the hard plastic seats that were supplied on most bikes in those days were not a happy combination. It wasn't long before my riding buddy and I saved up our paper route money to buy bike shorts with leather chamois. Back to the present ... MTB shorts with pockets work well for short rides, but I found they tend to bunch up a bit and feel restrictive on long rides, so I switched to just wearing lycra, regardless of whether it looks good on me or not.

But if it's working for you ... then you're good.

Oh while we're on the topic, how funny are people on carbon road bikes, fullkit, and running shoes on platform pedals?

I just assume they've got some sort of knee problem which keeps them from using a clipless pedal.

The funny ones, (funny sad, not funny haha) are the people on really expensive bikes, rocking some very expensive gear, tear-assing past me with their chain squeaking like a puppy with a chew-toy.

I rode for 1.5 years in tracksuit bottoms and t-shirt and sneakers on my rb before I switched to bike-specific stuff. I rememebr the days when all I had to do was get on my bike and ride, no matter what I was wearing. These days I have to conform.... (I dont really, but the bike specific stuff sure is nicer to wear on a bike).

It isn't what you ride... it's how you ride.

Don't feel pressured to "wear the uniform" just to fit in with the crowd. That's not a club you want to join (not worth the high admission cost, both in $ and looking silly).

I'll usually wear a wicking shirt or something for big long days of riding, but a T-shirt and comfortable shorts are plenty good for a nice little jaunt of 40 miles or so.

I've never used toe clips but I am somewhat interested in trying them out to get a little extra pedalling power without shelling out for clipless and cycling shoes.

Pete

We try to keep the posts positive, inclusive and helpful. No problem with encouraging someone to do what they feel comfortable with, but there's no need to put others down.

Thanks,

Z


Don't feel pressured to "wear the uniform" just to fit in with the crowd. That's not a club you want to join (not worth the high admission cost, both in $ and looking silly).

I'll usually wear a wicking shirt or something for big long days of riding, but a T-shirt and comfortable shorts are plenty good for a nice little jaunt of 40 miles or so.

I've never used toe clips but I am somewhat interested in trying them out to get a little extra pedalling power without shelling out for clipless and cycling shoes.

Pete

<sniff> I smell socks.

<sniff> I smell socks.

Blame it all on the cat...

I thought I did too. Appears to be empty though.


<sniff> I smell socks.

We try to keep the posts positive, inclusive and helpful. No problem with encouraging someone to do what they feel comfortable with, but there's no need to put others down.

Thanks,

Z

I thought it was a fairly innocuous comment that matched the tone of the OP.

Do you smell moisture-wicking socks?

i've been riding my touring bike since '73 and (long ago) did a yearly century in northern cal. maybe 5 or six times, cut-off jeans, t-shirt, sneakers, kickstand included. fenders were sometimes on but sometimes off. and my gearing certainly helped on a section called "the wall", where you'd find people waking their bikes up. usually finished in top 15%. until, that is, not taking things seriously enough, i started stopping off at a bar or two along the way in a small town the course ran through some miles before the finish, and let people buy me some beer before continuing on. still managed to finish in top 20% or thereabouts.

lots of fun.

always figured i ought to go on a big tour just before the century and then strip my bike down, but never got around to doing it, though.

enjoying yourself is what it's all about, right? ;)

atetrachordof3, The people of whom you speak do not seem very experienced.

I'll usually wear a wicking shirt or something for big long days of riding, but a T-shirt and comfortable shorts are plenty good for a nice little jaunt of 40 miles or so.
Since this is the long distance forum, I'll just point out that 40 miles is not a long distance ride. In this forum a century or 200k is a short ride. It has been my experience that I can get away with almost anything on a ride of under 80 miles. Most cyclists don't think spandex looks funny, and everyone else thinks that all cyclists look funny, spandex or not. If the OP gets into long distance riding, clothing is very important. There are experienced riders that ride long distance in street clothes, but if you ride for 10-20 hours in a day it's all too easy to end up with abrasions from clothing. Cycling specific clothing exists for a very good reason. If there is anyone that needs it, it's long distance cyclists.

I grew up on a racing bike and even made a living racing track for a couple of winter seasons in Europe. Which gives me the luxury of not having to give the slightest **** when the local cat. 3 "elites" turn up their noses at my bike and kit -- fenders, racks, lights, toe clips with leather touring shoes, hiking shorts with padded liners, and a light hiking shirt. All of it carefully selected for maximum comfort, practicality, and function -- both on the bike and at rest stops, controls, etc.

I don't have any problem with cycling specific clothing, having spent decades of my life in it (although my black shorts and wool jerseys were a far cry from today's color matched outfits and white "guess my religion" shorts) but I disagree with any suggestion that it is the only option for speed and/or comfort.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2358/2227977332_30719a5aa9.jpg

I had taken this on a couple of 40 mile rides before it got stolen. I used it regularly for a 30 mile (round trip) ride from my house to down town too, in regular clothes.

I'd considered taking it on longer rides, but trust me the last thing you (probably) want to do is finish the last 20 miles of a century ride on an over-geared 40lbs. bike. Not that you couldn't, just I don't know that I'd want to.