Commuting - Are you a cuffer?

Been noticing all the silly polls lately. Thought I would get in on it for lack of better things to do. I did a quick search and didn't really see this topic addressed, so what do you do?

I cuff two pant legs because my favorite pair of riding pants are a little baggy so if I don't they get all chewed up on both sides.

Ray

I also have an ankle strap. Sometimes I cuff the one left leg. Sometimes I wear the ankle strap. Then sometimes I'm wearing tights.

Velcro is a wonderful thing. Then again most of the time I'm wearing shorts

My strict Victorian era values forbid me from showing my man ankles.

I cuff if I'm wearing street pants. Add knee socks for a spiffy knickers look.

Velcro is a wonderful thing.

So are socks. Just stuff it in your sock.

Or leave it flapping and let the bike tell you how long it should be. Had a pair of chool pants (yes, that long ago...) torn off all the way to the crotch by my first fixie. That was a bad day.

On second thoughts, stuff that cuff in your sock.

So are socks. Just stuff it in your sock.
Bike socks are too short

So are socks. Just stuff it in your sock.

Stretches the elastic too much, besides big rubber bands are free. :p

Aaron :)

I look like a dork, walking around the house with one pantleg up. My gf thinks it is funny. On days I run errands, I leave the pant cuffed.

In some inner cities in the us, your right pant leg rolled up to your calf means you have drugs to sell.. so watch out.

I'm building up my first fixed gear, so's I'll be cuffing my right pant leg shortly.

Currently I just use those reflective velcro bands.

Bike socks are too short
Guess the length of my flares go to the floor so sock height is not an issue. And even though they're wider than a guys' jeans, the cycling sock seems to spring back after a wash.

This works good for lunch-time errands. No straps ect. When I get off the bike, it's a quick tug and into the store I go. No geek factor in the store.

The pants I usually wear during cold weather have a built in velcro strap thing that works well enough. Otherwise, I roll or tie a bandanna around my leg.

I have a 4" wide wrist support from an old wrist injury that works great as a pant strap. If I am wearing my neoprene booties I will tuck my pants into them as well but that is more for warmth than keeping them out of the chain.

Does no-one else use trouser clips?

If I wear fleece trousers, I tuck the chain-side leg.

Otherwise I'm riding with full-length lycra or "regular" shorts. I hate to deprive the world of my legs. :)

And you want to talk about fashion nightmares? Those full-length tights with hiking boots. :o

In warm weather I wear shorts, and in cold weather I wear sweat pants. So its not neccesary to worry about the cuffs.

Shorts... Yup, Lycra even... with nice padding... Ahhhhh... the only way to ride. You don't have to look like a team rider, but there is nothing like a good pair of riding shorts to make the ride so much nicer.

I did a little neighborhood run about two weeks ago in Levis... Oh, the pain. Pinched in all the wrong spots. Yikes!

Wear cuffed pants, like jeans, when riding a bicycle??? You've got to be kidding.
That's like wearing a ski parka to go swimming, or a swim suit to go ice fishing, or a tuxedo to go backpacking...

With khakis cuff both to show off the calves and the ink. It's nice on somedays to putter into work, and not have to change clothes. Just roll down the cuffs, throw on the dress shoes, and tighten the tie. Plus the looks you get when you're in a button down shirt and tie while on a zoomy road bike are priceless.

Shorts... Yup, Lycra even... with nice padding... Ahhhhh... the only way to ride. You don't have to look like a team rider, but there is nothing like a good pair of riding shorts to make the ride so much nicer.

I did a little neighborhood run about two weeks ago in Levis... Oh, the pain. Pinched in all the wrong spots. Yikes!

That new Serfas saddle with the large cut-out "allows" me to do quick errands under 5 miles with ease. Saves the hassle of changing, re-changing just for a quick errand. Err..Your mileage may vary.

I don't cuff, tuck, clip or band. Two plus years of nearly daily commuting and never gotten caught in the chain. Maybe I just ride with better form than the rest of you. :D :D :D :D

Does no-one else use trouser clips?

Sure do. (http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=481507&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=669337&bmUID=1108756038540)

Of course, I have the advantage of being so cool otherwise that I can get away with wearing very nerdy velcro pants clips.

Wear cuffed pants, like jeans, when riding a bicycle??? You've got to be kidding.
That's like wearing a ski parka to go swimming, or a swim suit to go ice fishing, or a tuxedo to go backpacking...

I don't agree. As far as bike clothing goes...If it's comfortable it's rideable. I have pants that I don't ride in...but my favorite pants (volcom cargo pants) are extremely comfortable when riding my bicycle. A ski parka would be ruined swimming, and in a swim suit you die from hypothermia while ice fishing. As long as by butt dosn't hurt while riding, and the family jewels arn't scratched or harmed I think anything is rideable clothing. Now if I didn't notice the sarcasim, I do appologize.

Oh yeah, and the above dosn't count if your obsessed with speed or with status.

Ray

I will cuff, strap or stick in to a sock when not wearing lycra, but then I forget... At one point last year all of my dress pants had chain grease on them. *sigh* I have finally accepted the need to change when I get to work and have embraced the full lycra look.

Guess the length of my flares go to the floor so sock height is not an issue. And even though they're wider than a guys' jeans, the cycling sock seems to spring back after a wash.

This works good for lunch-time errands. No straps ect. When I get off the bike, it's a quick tug and into the store I go. No geek factor in the store.
It's never been a effective solution for me

I may be a cuffer. At least, that's what a lot of people call me. But they usually switch the "f" with the "c".

People actually wear long pants when they ride? Hmmmm . . .

Wear cuffed pants, like jeans, when riding a bicycle??? You've got to be kidding.
That's like wearing a ski parka to go swimming, or a swim suit to go ice fishing, or a tuxedo to go backpacking...You may not have noticed that this is a Commuting forum. Some of us must wear civvies to wherever we are commuting to. And of course black tie is optional for evening hikes in my crowd.

used to cuff and tuck my jeans all the time, right leg anyway. now i got the reflective velcro straps, i like the moving reflective stuff. got a reflective sash to match, too. yes, it's quite sexy i know.

i enjoy the debate about the right clothes to wear. i can't wait until we get it settled so we can all wear the one right thing.

i just pull mine up. they're sweat pants. i gotta show of my gams! :D even if it's freezing cold! :o

Wear cuffed pants, like jeans, when riding a bicycle??? You've got to be kidding.
That's like wearing a ski parka to go swimming, or a swim suit to go ice fishing, or a tuxedo to go backpacking...

Should I wear a nomex suit and helmet when driving my car to the airport, then?

Paul

I don't understand the question.

Who in their right minds would wear anything other than shorts or tights while cycling? Who would wear pants (trousers)??? ICK!! Can you imagine!!

It's horrifying just thinking about:
- the discomfort
- the danger of getting your clothes caught in the chain
- the filth and stench!

I certainly wouldn't want to work near anyone who had cycled to work in his/her work clothes!! YECK!!

Wear cuffed pants, like jeans, when riding a bicycle??? You've got to be kidding.
That's like wearing a ski parka to go swimming, or a swim suit to go ice fishing, or a tuxedo to go backpacking...

Who in their right minds would wear anything other than shorts or tights while cycling? Who would wear pants (trousers)??? ICK!! Can you imagine!!

It's horrifying just thinking about:
- the discomfort
- the danger of getting your clothes caught in the chain
- the filth and stench!

I certainly wouldn't want to work near anyone who had cycled to work in his/her work clothes!! YECK!!
I do hope you are both being facetious.

I ride recumbent. No chafing in my delicate areas, unless my jeans are too tight. I wear whatever I want. I don't stink when I get to work. It's still cold enough now that I don't get too sweaty. And who cares if I did? I'd rather everybody just stayed away and let me code in peace.

I have a chain guard (a plastic irrigation tube) on my chain. I get oil on the inside of my thigh without it. With my legs even with my seat, air sometimes blows into my pants, making me cold. And if the flare is big enough, I can still get oil on my cuff the traditional way. So I tuck my pants into my socks. One or both. Depends on the pants.

I like watching the messengers in their rolled up pants. Those guys and gals are like ballerinas on their fixed one-speeds, spinning around cars. I mean this as a compliment.

I'm sorry some people are critical of wearing normal clothes while bicycling. I love riding my bicycle everywhere I can. If I was stuck on wearing a ninja suit, I wouldn't be able to ride my bike much at all. I do like wearing a wool shirt that keeps from stinking. : )

I do hope you are both being facetious.



On a thread entitled, "Are you a cuffer", why shouldn't people be facetious? It's a fun break from all the "serious" polls.

Paul

I do hope you are both being facetious.

I ride recumbent. No chafing in my delicate areas, unless my jeans are too tight. I wear whatever I want. I don't stink when I get to work. It's still cold enough now that I don't get too sweaty. And who cares if I did? I'd rather everybody just stayed away and let me code in peace.

I have a chain guard (a plastic irrigation tube) on my chain. I get oil on the inside of my thigh without it. With my legs even with my seat, air sometimes blows into my pants, making me cold. And if the flare is big enough, I can still get oil on my cuff the traditional way. So I tuck my pants into my socks. One or both. Depends on the pants.


I thought this whole topic was being facetious. I mean, none of these people would really wear dress pants during their commute to work ... the very thought is laughable! :lol:


Now seriously ... I also commute to work, but I dress in cycling gear (shorts, tights, jersey, helmet, shoes with cleats, gloves, etc.), and I carry my work clothes with me in a backpack. Then I change when I get to work. That way I don't ride to work in discomfort, and when I'm there, I don't spend all day in filthy, smelly clothes. :)

Those of us with blue-collar jobs get filthy and smelly anyway, so why not start twenty minutes sooner. If you're kiddin' around, ha ha. If you're not, get your head out of your bourgoise a$$.

I never ride in anything but standard clothes... I ride in jeans, khakis, wind pants, whatever I throw on that day. I don't see any reason to dress myself up just to go cycling. I've never had problems with discomfort while riding in street clothes, so I don't see what the big deal is. As far as what I do? I either cuff or just say screw it and don't bother. Generally I go uncuffed and if I catch my khakis more than twice in the first 15 minutes, I stop and cuff. My jeans are never a problem because they don't flare enough at the bottom.

I'm sorry ... I can't even imagine entertaining the idea of cycling in non-cycling clothes. I change into full cycling gear to take my bicycle on a ride around the block to test something out!

If there are people here who really do cycle in something other than cycling gear (hard to believe, but ... ), my apologies. I took this whole post as being very tongue-in-cheek. A suggestion ... cycling shorts and tights are specially designed so that they won't get caught in the chain, and they are usually black so that if you do get grease on them, it doesn't matter ... might be something to consider looking into. :)

I mean, none of these people would really wear dress pants during their commute to work :lol:



Sometimes it's more practical to have dress clothes that breathe like the cycling clothes....This week was mostly 29F and dry. I rode at least 2X in dress pants or jeans but not the whole commute...just when nothing else is appropriate.

T-Meeting at another blg, Manager picks me up directly from Security. Dress black pants, light knit shirt - under yellow jersey (stuffed yellow jersey in the pack before walking into blg).

W-No cafeteria and only 30min's for lunch. Waste time in the restroom changing in + out of the commuter stuff? NO...just rode 2miles to the grocery for some groceries and back to my desk...No problem!

Th-At an intersection a great look'n guy pulls up on a soft tail. Dress Kaki' long shorts and dark blue tights under.

I'm sorry ... I can't even imagine entertaining the idea of cycling in non-cycling clothes. I change into full cycling gear to take my bicycle on a ride around the block to test something out!

If there are people here who really do cycle in something other than cycling gear (hard to believe, but ... ), my apologies. I took this whole post as being very tongue-in-cheek. A suggestion ... cycling shorts and tights are specially designed so that they won't get caught in the chain, and they are usually black so that if you do get grease on them, it doesn't matter ... might be something to consider looking into. :)

The whole concept of changing clothes just to take my bike to the friggin store is absolutely beyond me. I don't like to think of riding my bike somewhere as being something I have to "dress up" for or whatever. I sweat very little when I ride in the winter time, so I don't have to worry about stinking when I get to work. Also, let's say I ride my bike to the mall or somewhere similar. I don't want to have to get off the bike, lock up, open my bag, pull out something appropriate to wear over a pair of cycling shorts or tights and put it on just so I can go inside. Occasionally I even ride my bike to a nice restaurant. Hate to say it, but cycling attire is unacceptable in such a situation. What then? Carry extra clothes and make a run for the bathroom just to change? Give me a break.

I work cycling into my everyday life... not the other way around. I'm not changing clothes into cycling gear to ride my bike down to Burger King or to the local steakhouse for some food. I'm wearing what I've got on, plain and simple. Why make it more work than necessary?

Heh...OK...can you see me in spandex? Plastered with roadie logos??? If you insist I'll dress up in some and take pix...you might end up blind.

they don't make cycling gear quite that big, I don't think. But I think we share the same opinion that cycling is a part of our ordinary daily lives so why dress up and make it any different than anything else we do?

I ride into campus every day now - bike clothes are a bit cost prohibitive for anyone, let alone a student with a family. About the only thing I invested in was a decent pair of gloves with a gel palm for comfort (had a good helmet already). I just picked up a cheap pair of track pants - they breath, are water resistant, have a reflective stripe on the leg, and are super comfy - for $15 Cad. I just strap the leg (velcro straps) and away I go. They look decent with a T on campus (wouldn't care if they did or not). Besides, fits with my beater bike image - the most expensive items on the bike (by a LONG shot) are my lights (BLT Metrino 15 commuter package).

Funny thing though - one of my profs was a hard core commuter - left his pack at home one day, came in to instruct class with only bike pants (the nice tighties) and his old ratty T on. He had a habit of sticking his hands on his hips or in his back pockets when he talked - by the end of class, the seat of his pants was absolutely covered in chalk handprints (and he was very well aware of the fact). So sometimes, it's nice to just be able to get from A to B without needing the time/facilities to change.

Heh...OK...can you see me in spandex? Plastered with roadie logos??? If you insist I'll dress up in some and take pix...you might end up blind.

LOL.

It's pretty easy to get polar tech shirts, and microfiber stuff that *looks* like a regular shirt and can be worn in hot or cold weather depending on how you layer. Jeans can be uncomfortable tho and cuff'n doesn't always stay cuffed if you're pedaling all-out :o

I could understand a wicking layer as a base layer..or even by itself...the starter ones look pretty t shirt-ish. I have considered those b/c of how much I sweat....that's about it though, no tights for me.

This thread is crazy....

So for all you cuffers out there, how high is the cuff?

For me on cold days right leg goes to mid-calf, left leg only gets cuffed to about 2 inches above my ankle. On a nice day I'll cuff them equall, about mid calf, and just leaved them cuffed all day.

This summer, if I'm still to poor to buy clothing, I might steal some cuff keepers (safety pins) and keep them trousers cuffed permenitly baby...

Ray

I keep mine cuffed somewhere below mid-calf actually. Especially if it's cold, I'll just leave it down as far as possible and try to worry about the tightness as opposed to the height. I've noticed that if I cuff the bottom really tight I don't have to pull it up much (if at all).

Also, I do wear the starter Star-Fit as a base layer almost all the time as they do a wonderful job of regulating body temperature. They keep me warm when it's cold and keep me cool when it's hot by wicking sweat away from my skin.