Allen55

OK, this is going to sound kind of like a stupid question but here goes...Before I bought this bike, I would see people riding and they would have the jerseys with the cool colors and the shorts with the padded butts (NOT that I was looking) and it often made me think "what is up with these guys? They aren't pro racing, they are just out riding..." What is the purpose of the jerseys and the shorts and all of the other equipment that riders wear? I used to think they were wearing that stuff to show off, but that CANT be the reason.

I know from running that shoes are important, and tech shorts and shirts are important...even the type of socks are important and I had to learn that stuff as well. And I asked on runners world.com forums and they schooled me there.

Now, please help me learn the biking thing. Teach me. I am like a sponge and WANT to learn. Sorry for the dumb question, but I just dont know.

green427

Bike shorts make a world of difference in comfort. Ride around in a pair of regular shorts and then try out bike shorts. You will be amazed at the difference. Less rubbing, less flapping, much more flexibility, and more aerodynamic.

Bike jerseys are usually made of wicking material that is a must for sweat, and have pockets in the rear to carry stuff. The fancy colors & graphics are just a fashion statement. We usually select bright colors so we can be noticed better on roads.

To me, the shorts take priority over the shirts.

c_m_shooter

Just ride your bike and enjoy the ignorance as long as possible. Once your rides start to get longer than an hour at a time, bike shorts will be much appriciated. they wick away moisture, prevent chaffing and are just comfortable. Your Tech clothing from running will take care of the wicking part for awhile. Once you start wearing bike shorts, jerseys almost become mandatory because they have pockets. The cool colors are just a bonus. If they are bright yellow or orange they also help with safety.

jimxyz

+1 - I tend to buy the plain jerseys over the team jerseys so as to try to minimize the "Who is that fat dude in the tight outfit" looks - but after riding with bib shorts and a decent jersey I wouldn't go back to normal shorts and a t-shirt. Some people start off with MTB shorts because they look more like normal shorts but have the pads. My advice is, buy the best bib shorts you can afford - they quality ones make a big difference.

chefisaac

allen: Bib shorts with pads rock. I know we look fat in them but who the hell cares??!! Comfort is key! I used to wear just regular shorts and it wasent good.... lets leave it at that!

Jerseys are great. I tend to leave it a solid color but this is usually do to the fact that they seem to only make large jerseys in solid colors. At least in my experiance (I am tall and fat).

When you are ready, look at areotech design bike clothes. They are solid, great material, and good customer service. Their house brand is very nice.

cyclokitty 

I like jerseys in ridiculous colours and patterns. My favourite is a leopard print jersey by Sheebeest. I also wear bike shorts under MTN bike shorts or tights under MTN bike shorts. One reason is the chafe free rides from the smoother, stretchy, seamless fabrics bike clothes are made. A bonus to that is how sturdy nylon, Lycra and polyester is compared to cotton tshirts or shorts. My bike clothes are worn and washed as frequently (or even more frequently) than my cotton jeans and polo shirts but the difference in wear and tear is incredible. I don't think I have a pair of jeans that are more than a couple of years old but my MTN bike shorts are 4 years old and look brand new. The jeans need replacing.

All of my bike clothes were bought on sale or with some kind of discount. If I recall, my fav leopard print jersey only cost $25 and it's comfortable and looks ridiculously great (to me).

mkadam68

Also add...

• Tight-fitting shorts act as a muscle massager, helping your legs work harder.
• Shirts that are loose fitting tend to sag, annoying legs, catching on saddle tips, flapping against your butt (who's there???). They flap in the wind, also annoying. Anything in your pockets will slide all over your back, making things hard to reach
• Tight-fitting jerseys don't do that and help keep anything in your pockets in the same place so you can find it fast.

I never show off on a bike 'cause there is always somebody better than me.

I wear jerseys & matching shorts 'cause I ride for a team and that's our obligation: to get our sponsor's names out there. It works really well: people are always calling me "Pistachio Man" or say, "Get crackin'" (I ride for Wonderful Pistachios).

Jonah19

When you decide to get some shorts, consider mountain bike shorts as well as traditional road bike shorts. The inside of the mnt. bike short is like a roady, but you've got pockets on the outside that are really handy (I keep the short's pockets empty when riding/moving). My typical ride is 30-60 mi. and when I stop for a snack or whatever i just feel more comfortable. I do have the traditional shorts and a bib (if its a serious training ride I like the bib) but for general purpose riding, adventuring and just being on the road I like the mnt. bike shorts. I always wear bright jerseys to be seen and for the back pockets.

Neil_B

Allen55, I got a great piece of advice when I was a novice rider. Someone at my bike club explained that cycling clothing looks very affected to outsiders, but everything about it is designed to be functional. You've had other posters explain the reasons they ride dressed as they do, so I wont.

I will give you this piece of advice.... if what you are doing is working, keep doing it. If you get dissatisfied, then try something new. I know some good riders who regularly ride in cotton. I can't, and I won't, but I won't criticize those folks who do. So keep riding in the meantime.

Neil_B

There's also a tie to racing silks in horse racing.

McCallum

Allen; I wear the Jersey for the three pockets on the back; water bottles in one or two and keys, id/money holder in the other. I wear the shorts cause the padded butt keeps my butt from hurting; Ok it takes longer for it to start hurting!!

cleon

If you understand why runners wear technical shirts....

Allen55

But runners dont wear huge logos on their tech shirts when they are just out for a run. That is what I was wondering about. Oh, and I JUST learned about the running stuff. Only been doing that now for a month. I haven't exercised on purpose in 25 years before I started running.

marmot

Go ahead and get racing garb if you want it, Allen, but please don't think you NEED it. You don't. I have a couple of cycle jerseys and they're nice enough, but no cooler, drier or more comfortable than $8 workout shirts from Wal-Mart. Yeah, jerseys have pockets, which is handy if your shorts don't, I guess. I wear unpadded MTB shorts that have huge, secure pockets. They pretty well make jersey pockets redundant. My water bottles ride in a pair of $2 frame-mounted cages. And if I did opt for pocketless plum-smugglers, I'd be able to carry my wallet, phone and camera in my frame pack, along with the spare tube, tools, patch kit and inflator that ride there all the time. I have two pairs of liner briefs, which I sometimes wear, but not always. One is very lightly padded, and I prefer it to the diaper-like feeling of the thicker, stiffer pad. Unfortunately, most padded MTB shorts seem to have excessive padding, at least for my purposes.

vuduchyld5

I had to gradually coerce myself into acquiring the right cycling attire...The first time I rode my road bike in normal shorts I thought I had no problems or pain- That is, until I got back on the bike the next day! That is when I realized I needed padded shorts...I thought 90 bucks was a little crazy- but my LBS brought up a good point..You get what you pay for, and how much is comfort really worth? Loads. Not to mention I never thought I would be caught dead in biker shorts...what a trip! So, the jersey came next- only because I could not help but think that the flapping of a t-shirt was causing drag that I didn't want. And I didn't want the bright colors to look cool..I wanted them to BE SEEN by commuters. Then with the changing weather I realized real quick that I needed full length bibs and a jacket...and of course full fingered gloves because it seems no matter how warm my body is...if those fingers are cold I am screwed. Now I think I need to order one of those hoodie/facemask deals to fully get all the sand outta my giney..hehe.

Rock31

I wear bib shorts for comfort and the jerseys for convenience.

3 pockets on the jersey are invaluable to me, 2 water bottles and cell phone/wallet slide right in.

chefisaac

I love the pockets in my jerseys.

zencalm

I have found great deals on aerotech designs and campmor.com. I've been very happy with the prices (a Columbia rain jacket and pants for 55 total on sale, yes please! ) Aerotech has great bibs and shorts for reasonable amounts. My bib pants (men's) were 59.99, padded, and oh so warm. Plus, they have reflective piping on the ankle zippers.

I do honestly love to shop, as long as I am getting a good deal (and I have the money saved up!)

Check out underarmour for a decent balaclava. I was thinking about a buff bandana, but the underarmour balaclavas seemed yummy to me. 25 and free shipping. I did search google, but I loved UA the best.

https://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/e...0#BVRRWidgetID (mine is sand colored...just ordered Friday)

StephenH

The need for that stuff is highly variable. I have worn whitey tighties and cotton shorts or jeans and T-shirt on 200k rides without any problem.

If you see one cyclist out wearing stuff like that, he may look odd. If you go do some bike rally with 3,000 people, and you're the only one withOUT that gear, then YOU look odd. It's all in perspective.

The main two jerseys I wear are plain fluorescent greenish-yellow that is very visible. I have several decorative jerseys, but they're not team jerseys. I've got a couple from a bike ride I did. I've got one commemorating a lady that died last winter.

nkfrench 

My jerseys have back pockets so I can carry stuff without having to stop/dismount to retrieve from a bike bag. This includes a 3rd water bottle, park pass, clear safety glasses (put on at sundown), employee badge, cellphone (i run a GPS program, it gets better reception in a pocket), flask of energy gel. When I make a stop, I put my wallet and keys etc in the pocket. The material is wicking. I've been using the same shirts for 3 years and they are holding up great. The material slides across pavement and doesn't stain with bike grease or coffee. It dries quickly, a plus for commuting. It's visible. The front zipper gives more thermal adjustment abilities. Its snug enough that it doesn't flap or make noise.

I thought the bike jerseys were a waste of money over a $10 generic wicking shirt; but once I got used to the pockets and zipper and color, I don't wear the old simple shirts while riding. Besides, the jerseys I wear are usually on sale about $30.

My daily training jerseys are just plain Hi-Vis. I wear a club or team logo jersey when I am representing them on an advocacy ride or on a large event ride -- it's easier to spot teammates that way too. I do have some jerseys made for special rides, but I don't wear them much.

About pro team kit -- same reason I don't wear shirts advertising the local pro football or baseball team. If they want to sponsor me, it would be different. On the other hand, I don't see why anybody's gets in a snit about amateur cyclists wearing pro team kit for their favorite team.

dhender02

For a Christmas present I was going to ask wife/kids to get me a college cycling jersey... is that frown upon in the cycling community, an amateur wearing a college cycling jersey?

TrojanHorse

Who cares what's frowned upon!!!

Dress like a parrot, live the life. The only thing I don't like to do is wear some team kit if I'm not on the team because... well... I'm not on the team.

Anything else goes, and the brighter and more visible it is, the better, IMO.

Mr. Beanz

I don't really care for jerseys. During my first 1 years of riding, I wore a jersey maybe 5 times on rides where I had to carry powerbar types.

I've only started using them about 4 years ago to haul the cameras.

RichardGlover

I think there's a big difference between wearing a jersey/kit that shows that you're a fan your favorite team/college/branch of service and one that is a 'pro team kit'.

Besides manufacturer branding, your 'fan' kit probably just has graphics for what you're supporting. A team kit is going to have all of the logos of every company that sponsors the team - much more of a moving billboard effect.

Neil_B

First, there is no "cycling community", thank God. As for people who ride bikes frowning on something, that's normal. I recall an argument between two roadies about the color of socks. One insisted a cyclist should only wear white because that's what Eddy Merckx wore. The other affirmed that black was the only acceptable sock color since it matched the shorts. Ever since then I've realized its best to be yourself and not bother paying attention to what other people tell you is 'proper.' So get the college jersey.