General Cycling Discussion - Need shorts & t-shirt/polo recommendation (sweat wicking, no bike gear look)

I've been basically car free for the past year. Commuting is easy (regarding clothing) as I just shower and change when I get to work.
But on weekends, when I go for a ride, I often meet up with friends for lunch/dinner, run errands and don't want that bike rider look (sports clothes), nor do I want to have wet spots from accumulated sweat. Do they make t-shirts and shorts that wick away sweat well that also looks like casual clothing?

These people make some shorts that are reasonable and would fit the bill. Jerseys? You might have to look elsewhere but tey have good prices.


http://www.blackdogbikes.com/Shorts-p-1-c-13.html

I like merino wool for this. It handles sweat well and you can find plenty of normal-looking clothes made from it. The downside is that it tends to be pricey, but I've had good luck finding merino shirts at the local thrift stores (all long sleeved, unfortunately).

Don't ride a bike, then.

Seriously, you want to ride a bike, but have nothing to do with being thought of by strangers as riding a bike?

You done picked the wrong forums to ask how to not look like a cyclist on a cyclist's forums.

You can try Nike golf polo shirts. They are made of wicking material and look normal.

Go to Target and look at the Champion wicking T-shirts. Some styles are the same cut of regular T-shirts, just with different fabric.

Dude! You are way out of line. People are in fact answering my questions and providing clothing suggestions that I requested. Not everybody has to fit your mold for a bike rider.
SOMETIMES I want to ride a bike without walking around in cyclist clothing.
Grow up and get a life.



Don't ride a bike, then.

Seriously, you want to ride a bike, but have nothing to do with being thought of by strangers as riding a bike?

You done picked the wrong forums to ask how to not look like a cyclist on a cyclist's forums.

Don't ride a bike, then.

Seriously, you want to ride a bike, but have nothing to do with being thought of by strangers as riding a bike?

You done picked the wrong forums to ask how to not look like a cyclist on a cyclist's forums.

This might be shocking to you, but not everyone wants to wear spandex like some badge of honor when they ride to the grocery store.

Ride slower...:innocent:

FWIW I use the Columbia PFG shirts and usually wear Carhart shorts.

Here is one shirt (http://www.columbia.com/mens-long-sleeve-shirts/men-shirts-longsleeve,default,sc.html?prefn1=technologyInitiative&prefv1=03&prefn2=activity&prefv2=004&sz=1&start=1) that I have several of.

I live in the deep south and ride year round, even in the summer when it is 98* and 98%rh.:notamused: During the summer months I try to plan my trips around the cooler parts of the day. But when you walk outside at midnight and there is a 4*+ heat index there isn't much you can do.

Aaron:)

I rode for 13 years in a Speedo tank tops, IN-N-out t-shirts and regular cotton (4500 -7300 miles per year). I'm not a heavy sweater so it was never a problem. Only reason I started wearing a jersey last year was to carry my camera. But still I like plain jerseys, not into the team look.

OP might like cargo looking MTB shorts. Has the lining and padded chamois but with the cargo look.

Prana Nemesis (http://www.prana.com/002694-Nemesis-Knicker.aspx) knickers are great for cycling. They're designed for climbing, but the gussetted crotch and slight elasticity work out well on the bike.

Also seconding the recommendation of merino wool shirts. Were I made of money, I'd have a closet full of Icebreaker (http://www.icebreaker.com) t-shirts. They sell merino polo shirts as well.

Dude! You are way out of line. People are in fact answering my questions and providing clothing suggestions that I requested. Not everybody has to fit your mold for a bike rider.
SOMETIMES I want to ride a bike without walking around in cyclist clothing.
Grow up and get a life.

You asked for an opinion, he gave you his.

I can see why you might not agree with it, but if you want a range of ideas, maybe some with a little creativity, you're going to have to tolerate a few that might be uncomfortable to hear. Try not to take it personally.

Target also sells the wicking shirts in a Polo shirt style, billed as "golf" shirts. I have 3 or 4, they work well without screaming "workout gear". Work well in a business casual office.

Like these:
http://www.target.com/C9-by-Champion-Golf-Polo/dp/B0025U3YJW/ref=br_1_3?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&searchView=grid5&searchNodeID=10825231&node=10825231&sr=1-3&searchRank=salesrank&searchPage=2&searchSize=30&id=C9%20by%20Champion%20Golf%20Polo&qid=

Starter brand @ Wally World -- I have several, and they work very well. As far as shorts are concerned -- wear baggy swim trunks over lycra.

I wear regular sport shirts like Columbia, Russel and even a Northface brand. They all have moisture wicking properties plus SPF that range from 20 to 50. I don't wear those regular biking shirts due to their excessive cost and printed with all kind of advertisement. I didn't want to be a moving billboard. I do wear biking shorts but also have a touring bike short like this company that I bought it from:

http://www.bicycleclothing.com/Mens-Touring-Shorts.html

Target carries Champion sport shirts and they are priced from $10.00 when on sale and with very good moisture wicking properties and quick drying.

Ride slower...:innocent:

FWIW I use the Columbia PFG shirts and usually wear Carhart shorts.

Aaron:)

Carhart shorts? I'll have to look into that.

You asked for an opinion, he gave you his.

I can see why you might not agree with it, but if you want a range of ideas, maybe some with a little creativity, you're going to have to tolerate a few that might be uncomfortable to hear. Try not to take it personally.

Disagree. His opinion not only didn't address the question, he decided he could speak for everyone on the forum. He can't

If you have a COSTCO near where you live, you might want to try looking into getting some merino wool t-shirts there. I love merino wool, but it can be a bit expensive. At most outdoor supply shops, even at MEC the t-shirts are about $40-50CDN. At COSTCO, they were selling for $19CDN. There are different colours, short sleeve and long sleeve to choose from. Sometime they even have merino socks.

Techman-
Duluth Trading has a couple of items that address your needs-
Their No Sweat No Polo shirts are made of cotton and synthetic "performance" type material, look pretty good and work well. Also they have a Quick Dry Work Short - works equally well. I have used two sets of these for at least
three years, not the cheapest solution but have lasted and worn very well - and I go everywhere no looking like an ad or a sausage.

Carhart shorts? I'll have to look into that.

Love 'em. I have a couple of pair that are pushing 8 years old, just getting nice and soft.

Aaron :)

Check your local MEC for their Outdoor Athletic gear:
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_listing.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302873231&bmUID=1269941550045

Or Sierra Trading Post:
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/d/21998_Womens-Fitness-Shirts.html?catalog=women

I completely agree. I didn't ask for his opinion on whether I should ride my bike or not. I simply asked, "Do they make t-shirts and shorts that wick away sweat well that also looks like casual clothing?" Thanks


Disagree. His opinion not only didn't address the question, he decided he could speak for everyone on the forum. He can't

What temperatures are you riding in? I find that just wearing plaid, thin cotton shorts and a t-shirt works pretty well for me in warmer weather. I used to ride "fast" and get pretty sweaty, but now I just go medium and don't have to deal with quite as much sweat. Don't ignore the benefits of going a bit less intense on your ride.

Also, It isn't reasonable to expect not to get contrarian opinions on this forum. Read some posts and you'll find FAR FAR more scathing posts than what you just got. I'm not saying the poster mentioned above is this, but there exists a high density of idiots, jerks, and weirdos around here. I've had them respond to several of my posts in the past.

By typing in response you just give them what they want usually...

Wicking polo shirts are sold everywhere now. The Dollar Stores have them for around $10 or you can get real good ones for 3x that. Those are all I wear anymore because I sweat like a pig year-round.
MTB shorts are good for riding but not good for not riding. They smother my groin area.
If I'm not riding all day I just wear shorts/pants and regular undies.

I don't ever wear "biking" kit. Even on organized rides. Looks too dorky.

Pricey,but Swobo has merino wool polos:
http://www.swobo.com/catalog/product_info_m.php?cPath=1095&products_id=740

They won't stink,and the black ones will hardly even show sweat.

Don't ride a bike, then.

Seriously, you want to ride a bike, but have nothing to do with being thought of by strangers as riding a bike?

You done picked the wrong forums to ask how to not look like a cyclist on a cyclist's forums.

Wow. What a bike snob.

The vast majority of my riding is done in what most people would consider street clothes. Target sells a lot of wicking underwear, shirts, etc. One of the reasons I like instead of "cyclist gear" is that all that synthetic junk smells bad when it gets sweaty. Wool handles the odor well (as stated above), but wicking cotton blends do pretty good with it too.

Target sells a lot of wicking underwear, shirts, etc. One of the reasons I like instead of "cyclist gear" is that all that synthetic junk smells bad when it gets sweaty. Wool handles the odor well (as stated above), but wicking cotton blends do pretty good with it too.

Agree 100%. Only thing I'd add is that the synthetics tend to hold the funk even through a wash unless you compensate accordingly when washing. (Vinegar in the wash water every few washes works wonders) Wool doesn't have that issue. At the cost differential though I tend to buy synthetic since it's about a 3:1 difference around here unless you can find wool on clearance.

Disagree. His opinion not only didn't address the question, he decided he could speak for everyone on the forum. He can't

Well, you're right of course, but I think that you completely missed the point.

The advantage of forums like this one is you can get a lot of answers and ideas in a short amount of time. All of them aren't likely to be agreeable, accurate or even on point. Rather than getting defensive about whether a particular response happens to be insulting or rude, I think that it's more productive to just skip over the "culls" and focus on the posts that provide the answers you were looking for.

I think that it's more productive to just skip over the "culls" and focus on the posts that provide the answers you were looking for.

+1:thumb:
IOW [to the others], "Don't feed the trolls." Some of them get off on causing problems - they're not worth getting aggravated over.

Another vote for the Target line of wicking shirts, they have several different styles. Lots less money than some of the "name brand" stuff.

I wonder if you might not visit a site like Galls and check out what they have for bike cops?
http://www.galls.com/easearchresult.html?question=Bike&searchaction=1&path=All%20Products%2F%2F%2F%2FUserSearch%3DAll%20Products%20%3B%3B%20Venture_id%3D503185%2F%2F%2F%2 FApparel%20%26%20Uniforms&resultsperpage=20

Some of it doesn't scream "COP STUFF!!!" or "OMG LANCE ARMSTRONG!!!" to me, and I imagine it's made specifically for folks who are on a bike all day, inc. in hot weather, but do not either want to look like a sweaty mess or, well, Lance Armstrong wannabe.

Well, you're right of course, but I think that you completely missed the point.

The advantage of forums like this one is you can get a lot of answers and ideas in a short amount of time. All of them aren't likely to be agreeable, accurate or even on point. Rather than getting defensive about whether a particular response happens to be insulting or rude, I think that it's more productive to just skip over the "culls" and focus on the posts that provide the answers you were looking for.

:thumb:

Remember the advice you get on a internet forum is worth exactly what you paid for it.:roflmao2:

I take the good with the bad, filter it and move on.

Aaron :)

WalMart has some of those wicking undershirts too (long/short sleeve). They even have 30 spf built into it.