Fly2High

YEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!! Totally awesome socks but you need a photo rock'in a pair of clipless shoes!

KevinF

Agreed... I was focusing on the jersey aspect; i.e., the aerodynamic benefits of skin-tight vs. relaxed fit jerseys. I should have been clearer in my first post. I agree that cycling shorts are required for anything longer than a casual ride. I stand by my initial statement that the aerodynamic benefits of skin-tight vs. "relaxed fit" jerseys is rather small.

I have precisely one "skin tight" jersey; the rest of my collection is of the "relaxed fit" variety. I find the skin-tight jersey to be more uncomfortable for whatever reason.

I can't say that I've ever noticed any flapping noise my jersey makes, and -- for the record -- I live on top of a hill, so either way I leave from my driveway immediately earns me a 35, 40mph descent. Perhaps the wind in my ears is too loud to hear the flapping noise?

superdex

As I graduated from Clyde status, I found myself wanting the tighter-fitting upper garments. Partially because they fit better (just overall fit --with items in the pockets the tighter jerseys don't sag), and also partially because it feels good that I can wear it.

So for me it's about fit and some aesthetic. If I'm wearing a vest/jacket that flaps in the wind, chances are it's some inclement weather and I'm not counting watts but counting miles till I get home...

dr_lha

Socks must be wool.

DrIsotope

I don't care how flappy the clothes are. Any aerodynamic advantage I might take is counter-intuitive to what I'm trying to do, which is improve fitness and lose weight. I don't care about bike weight or rolling resistance, much less how much drag my shirt might be generating. Fit/comfort of the garment is my only real concern. Well, and nothing neon. It's 2015, not 1988.

silkey

I time everything including everything I have worn.for me going from loose to tight fitting clothes has been about 10% improvement in speed.even the socks make a difference!(about ten seconds on a 10 mile ride.

Haff

I'm still a big fan of neon, not for the fashion sense, but to improve, even if only a little, the chances that a car or truck driver will see me.

I am also doing it for the purpose of exercise, but I also want to go fast, which is why I started the thread. Most responses seem to say its worth it above 14 mph (a strange number for everyone to agree on), but there are a few who think the improvement is inconsequential from a drag perspective.

It does seem universal that bunched up shorts are the devils doing, and flapping noise can distract from the ride.

dr_lha

For the record, I really think the comfort aspect trumps any "aero" benefits. I just find shirts and shorts flapping around me when I ride to be annoying and/or chafing. To be honest though, as a 250lb guy with most of that weight "up top", I don't find that many cycling jerseys that aren't a tight fit.

indyfabz

Heh. At least you didn't tuck your t-shirt inside the waistband of your shorts like I did. Or did you? My fav was a yellow t-shirt with black vertical stripes. Total New Wave look. I must have been a sight. Wish I had photos so I could laugh at myself today.

ColaJacket

I agree on the Neon colors being used for visibility. I just got a neon green UA loose fit top at TJ Maxx. Part of my consideration was asking my wife how hideous the color was, and how far across the store she could see me. She even told me to put one top back, because it wasn't bright/hideous enough. The only bad thing was that the neon orange Asics shirt was a bit too small for me. I'll probably go back in a couple of weeks, and see if the orange one is still there, and if it fits me. My bike has orange accents on it, so I was really hoping it would fit.

And on the shorts, I think most cyclists would agree that bad shorts might keep you off your bike with chafing or your butt being too sore to ride. A shirt that is a little too large may be annoying, but it shouldn't keep you off your bike.

GH

Fly2High

OP,
in reading your thread, I took a relaxed fit to be non cycling clothing. To me, whatever relaxed fit cycling clothes I have do not flap in the wind and this may be because I still have weight to lose. If you are comparing fit, semi fit and relaxed fit jerseys, I do not think there is much of a difference if you fit it in a cyclist manner (reasonably close). If you have it fit lose and it can flap then I maintain the comments I posted earlier.

For me, relaxed or semi fit is still closer fitting that a Ralph Loren Polo shirt and wouldn't flap in the wind nor offer much drag or at least enough for it to matter to me.

My Canari jacket example was not fitting in a cyclist fashion and was looser than a relaxed fit would be. Now, all of my cycling clothing are cyclist fitting within the fit to relaxed range but not casual loose.

I do have some fit and semi-fit stuff and do like the way they fit my body but I also like the couple of relaxed stuff I have to ride in. All depends on the mood I am in but I do not think they differ in sweat performance nor drag enough for me to care.

Frank