chuyim

I wear comfortable office-friendly casual clothe when I commute 4-5 miles to work and I don't even need to shower. I wear t-shirt and comfortable sports pants for longer weekend ride. I do wear a bright yellow Pearl Izumi vest on top just to be visible. I am not against cycling-specific clothing and believe such equipment will enhance performance with no doubt, only they are generally a bit on the expensive side. I definitely buy them when they are on sale. I think my "casual" attitude toward cycling clothing came from growing up in China where bikes were the way if not the only way to go anywhere. It was like what you saw in those really older movies, women even rode wearing dresses or skirts with sandals. I think I am just being lazy.

lima_bean

Here in Chicago, spandex is pretty rare...

You only see it in the Summer. 0% otherwise.
On the street in the summer, I would say around 5% of cyclists have spandex on..
On the lakefront multi-use path, that number shoots up dramatically... maybe as high as 15%.

charles vail

I like your tag line since its what I see here in America and its kind of my perspective on the whole issue.

charles vail

I thought I made it clear that I know bike shops are trying to sell stuff, in my last post. I think I even underlined it!
Regardless, it isn't as dramatic of a problem as it seems you are trying to indicate I am portraying. I mean, I am not jumping up and down with a mega phone. I do believe though it is a perception in a general way. Not so much the specifics of Lycra shorts but the whole industry focus on racing, racing outfits, racing bicycles etc. instead of a mindset that suits the needs of the commuter and practical user of a bicycle. This is were the market is heading anyway so it is a welcome change to me. I think we will see more practical commuter oriented bike designs and accessories and we will see more people using bicycles to get around because of it. That can't be a bad thing can it?

jrockway

The Internet didn't exist in the 1970s either. Why don't you do us all a favor and trade in your computer for some toe clips and wool jerseys and smash your helmetless head into the pavement?

jrockway

Yeah, Chicago is weird. I think because it touts itself as being "bike friendly", nobody bothers to educate themselves about cycling. They just get on their bike and ride. That's good, I guess, but it would be better if people realized that cycling could be even more enjoyable with some added accessories. (I swear, I'm going to stab the next person I see at night with no lights.)

jrockway

You do know that your use of formatting makes you look like the canonical Internet looney, right? Emphasizing the occasional word with italics is fine, but using every emphasizer available for every other word just makes you look like a raving lunatic. Glad I could share that with you.

This is false. The market seems to be all about buying and selling mountain bikes. I live in a building with a bike room, and I keep one of my bikes there. There is only one other bike with non-mountain tires, and this is downtown chicago. There is no mountain for 1000 miles. Hell, there isn't even any dirt unless you look really really hard.

At my local bike shop, which I consider rather competent, most of the people I see in there are buying mountain bikes. So really, people don't know what they want, and they buy mountain bikes.

Road bikes are only purchased by people with a clue (since they're too expensive to buy and forget about). It's depressing, I'll agree with you there. Go to Tokyo some time and you'll see that every bicycle has a front basket, dynamo hub (for lights), a chain guard, and racks in the back. Those bikes are horrible looking, but very very useful. That's what Americans need to start buying, but unfortunately that's not what's available.

But I digress.

charles vail

I hardly think anyone believes I use every emphasizer available for every other word. Thats a simple tactic of exaggeration used to discredit a writers statements.

I won't disagree about the mountain bike thing, that is true, as is ( I believe) the race bike emphasis in other parts of the country. Mountain bikes at least are practical, in that they are sturdy, although I am not sure how many are set up for racks or fenders these days.

Those generator hubbed, basketed bikes are becoming more available and I think we'll see more if it in the next decade.

tjspiel

I do think it's possible that we put greater emphasis on competition in this country than other places do. For example, kids' swim lessons at our local YWCA teach the front crawl, a competition stroke, very early on while in the Netherlands kids' swim lessons focus more on being able to survive in the water for an extended period.

It's also safe to say that cycling in this country is far more likely to be seen as a form of recreation rather than as transportation, - and the products we tend to see reflect that.

In this part of the country it's rare to see a new bike with drop bars for sale anywhere outside of a bike shop. The 'Marts and sporting goods stores sell mountain bikes and hybrids. I got my first pair of cycling shorts for riding my MTB on trails. I wanted something padded, easy to move in, and something that wouldn't get snagged on the stuff I was riding through. It wasn't about racing or wanting to race at all.

I understand the motivation behind wanting to stress to people that they can commute in "everyday clothes" but by belittling other options you run the risk of limiting folks to being fair weather commuters. Of course, all the clothing options in the world may not make a difference but if people knew they could be comfortable in all kinds of weather with the right clothes, I think they'd be more likely to stick to riding when the weather isn't perfect.

We have about 10 people in our office that commute regularly by bike. There's only one other guy that I know of that wears cycling gear. In my case cycling gear is limited to shorts but I have other outdoor gear that I wear.
When it rains or gets below about 50 degrees for a high, the 10 commuters goes down to maybe 2, -but often it's just me.

Why is that? Partly because their "everyday clothes" are fine in good weather or when folks are going to spend less than 5 minutes outside of a climate controlled building or (car) but suck for anything other than that. People by and large don't dress to be outside for any length of time in less than perfect weather. In the climate I live in "perfect weather" makes only limited appearances.

Since I know I'm going to change when I get to work, I'm free to wear whatever it is that will make my ride comfortable. I don't have to worry about not going too fast so that I don't get sweaty or not commuting when it's raining so I can stay dry.

So yes, people should know it's perfectly fine to dress in everyday clothes, but they should also know that depending on conditions they might be more comfortable in something else or be able to extend their riding season by being open to wearing things they get specifically for being outdoors and exerting themselves to some degree.

jo8243

lol, those are girl's capri pants!

get lyrcra and be a real man.

Hot Potato

Had to chuckle at this one. Just try and FIND some cycle clothes if you are large! Oh, you can find them, but not at the LBS. It requires some internet time, honest sizing charts, and an excellent return policy to be sucessful!

huhenio

This am I am commuting in my work clothes

Then I change to spandex for my 1600 feet climb fest

Later!

josephjhaney

This morning I went for a swim in Business Casual. All those people in the pool with swimsuits on are posers.

e0richt

well, lets temper that "within certain limits of decency". I wouldnt want to draft some guy wearing a thong...

JeffS

Board shorts vs speedo vs cutoff jeans is more like it.

Of course, you've still got the shaving vs not debate.

lil brown bat

You're talking about two different things here: "perception" and "industry focus". You need to learn to differentiate between what "the bicycle industry" (not exactly a monolithic thing, btw, and not exactly "focused on racing', you're dead wrong about that) is putting out as marketing material to sell product, and what people's perception of cycling is. Because, see, you keep talking about other people's perception. If you want to make a statement about your own perception, like "When I see an ad with Alberto Contador in spandex on a race bike, it makes me feel like I must wear those shorts and ride that bicycle in order to cycle," then that's fine. It's what's called an "I statement". But when you start talking about general perceptions, the perceptions of other people, then I have to ask you where you get that from. And every time I ask you, you come back to...what? Marketing! Clearly you've got a low opinion of your fellow human being, since you evidently believe that an ad of Alberto Contador in spandex on a race bike will cause everyone else who sees it to believe that they must wear those shorts in order to ride a bicycle.

josephjhaney

I disagree. Board shorts, provided they are ones designed for swimming, are for that purpose, with the mesh, etc. Cutoff jeans might work for wading, but they are not designed for swimming. People are coming here and trashing individuals for having the audacity to suggest using cycling specific clothing for cycling. Now, I only ride 8 miles to work, but I'd say that's just about like swimming what, 1/2 a mile, or so. If you were making a commitment to swim 1/2 a mile every morning, and then again every night, and you wanted to be as comfortable as possible, do you really think cutoff jeans would accomplish that? If so, then that's fine. I would tend to think that if one were going to make that kind of commitment to something, they might want to make the same commitment to the clothing as well.

I've had many people come to me and say "I rode my bike x miles yesterday, but my butt is so sore today, what can I do?" My answer is "Get bike shorts, don't worry about what people say or think, you're riding for you, so be comfortable" I point them to performancebike so they don't go to a local shop and get sticker shock. I've had those same people come back and tell me how much more they enjoyed the ride with the right clothing.

Joe

chuyim

Fashion is in, Spandex is out

nick burns

Those Chrome Shins are very comfortable and just about perfect for commuting. Length keeps the pants out of the chainring and the pockets are perfect for keys, cell phone, etc. They're made in the USA, and extremely well made at that.

jpdesjar

/\
+1


i am really digging those pants, the price seems right too considering the quality

JNSunSports

Here along the coast, just north of San Diego, I'd say 95% of all commuters, if not more wear bicycle specific clothing - if not at least cycling shorts.

DataJunkie

Now that I have shortened my route to use the light rail halfway I see all of 0 commuters in lycra. Mind you each train is overflowing with bike commuters. While I could ride 14 miles in whatever I see fit I am sticking to lycra. It is comfy and with it being windy half the time I find it easier to go as fast as possible. Plus it is comfy. Did I forget to mention that it is comfy? Oh and I am feeling stingy and do not want to purchase anything at the moment. Plus, I abhor looking like a hipster so that is out.

I will continue sticking out like a sore thumb on the light rail forcing everyone else to give up cycling since they must wear lycra to be like me. Too bad it does not seem to be working.

UmneyDurak

You also must ignore when they wave at you. Thats another big one that will force them to give up cycling.

DataJunkie

Yes!
Not to mention that I should stop talking to other cyclists on the train. I may scare them away with my friendliness. I met a nice gentleman who originally hailed from Australia today. Must stop....

tjspiel

You don't get it. I'm sure the last time you were on the light rail there was some guy sittin' there looking at all the bikes and thinking: "I could do that. I'm going dust off the old Raleigh and ride to the train station tomorrow instead of driving to the park and ride.".

Then he sees you and thinks: "Christ! What was I thinking? I can't ride, I'd have to wear those tight shorts! Even though there's half a dozen bikes on this train and only one guy in lycra, I guess I'd have to wear it too. F**k it. I'm sticking to my car".

It only takes one.

On Halloween when I got on the train in tight leather pants and cape (Zorro) I must have scared off a hundred potential bicycle commuters 'cause who'd want to dress like that every day?