Sullalto

I don't care about anything after the cookie monster jersey. I want that.

Walter S

Chocolate is always a plus

jyl

I'm still waiting for the jersey that incorporates a girdle.

caloso

Hincapie bib knickers do a nice job holding in the gut.

roadiejorge 

I love road riding and use my commutes for training so cycling specific gear is very practical for my style of riding. I know some commuters who have a mountain or cyclocross bikes for commuting but I use my road bike and not wearing cycling gear would make the experience less than optimal (sweat soaked cotton clothing...YUCK) especially in the winter where being as comfortable and warm as possible makes sense to me. I finally caved and got Assos winter + gear and while it's absurdly expensive retail, getting it on sale through their factory store or used on e-bay makes it well worth it if you ride through the winter.

I-Like-To-Bike

Smilee when you say that; otherwise the cycling psycho-babbling would-be stud muffins might believe you were serious!

Andy_K 

no motor?

These threads wouldn't get to 6 pages without that psycho-babble, and what would we do then? Ride?

I-Like-To-Bike

"We" could spend our time watching YouTube videos to try and learn how Serious Commuters™, Real Cyclists™ and the other Big Kidz™ ride, and what equipment they use, so "we" can avoid being (or looking like the) fat, lazy cretins like the unwashed masses who populate the world outside of Our Bicycling Culture.

nkfrench 

There has been some objection to building bike paths near residences in my community in some of the expensive neighborhoods.
The homeowners think they will find discarded beer bottles and litter on their lawns, or that bike riders are just criminals casing their homes or will break in and steal.
The impression cyclists make does make a difference in homeowner comfort levels.

There are plenty of comments when a cyclist is hit by a car. For the cyclists who ride in street clothing on old bicycles without any safety gear, few care and the attitude seems to be that it was just a drunk and his life doesn't matter. When somebody is on an expensive bike in cycling attire, the comments are more critical that the rider was foolish or arrogant being on roads belonging to motorists. But really, I believe that the cyclists behavior and safety practices have the most affect on driver attitudes. Be a responsible road user, follow the law, ride with confidence and you will earn more respect. While news comments don't affect the situation, they do influence attitudes that affect future road interactions.

I've done a few experiments. On one 4-lane divided arterial with fairly light traffic but hostile traffic, I have tried riding either taking the R lane or riding FRAP. Very different results.
If I take the lane, I get a lot of honks and a few drivers will pass then tap their brakes as if they were going to brake-check. If I ride FRAP, no honks but I get passed without the 3-foot clearance local law requires. Close passes by large trucks going 50mph are frightening. I prefer the honks. Appearing timid or unsure can lead to bullying by motorists.

Do your own experiments and see what your results are.

randallovelace

I typically wear either of the following: Shorts, T-shirt, Allstars, and baseball cap (current is Sin City Diner cap) OR Jeans, work shirt (bright yellow with retro-flective stripes), steel toe boots, and previously mentioned cap. My bike is a $100 Huffy dual suspension, with custom mounted rear rack, pannier bags, and sometimes a duffle bag on top (with a work helmet on top of that). I have two lights front (one is a be seen, and the other is to see) and two rear (both to be seen), but I ride at night so those are a must have.
It's my opinion that there are really several types of cyclist: The Elite, The Commuter, and The Recreational. Some of them overlap (and from my observations, The Elite and The Recreational overlap more often than not).

john4789

RE: street clothes wearing out. Most of my commuting gear is purchased at thrift stores. My yearly budget on shorts is around $3.50. Never buy shirts, just whatever I've got. Same for coats and cold weather gear.

I believe that you get better results with high performance gear, but my 9 mile flat city commute doesn't seem to warrant it. I don't believe it would save me any appreciable time, wouldn't improve my riding experience much, it would cost more, and I would stand out for no reason running errands or going out on the way home. Honestly, who wants to be that guy standing in line at the grocery store in spandex?

wolfchild

Utter blasphemy !!... How dare you to call yourself a cyclist ??..Don't ya know that every
"real cyclist" should purchase their cycling specific gear through an LBS ??:..If you're not wearing something from Rapha, Castelli, Louis Garneou, Sugoi, Gore Wear, Shower pass or Assos then you're not a real cyclist .

RoderWrench

I don't see how you can be more serious about cycling than putting your life is at risk by riding a bicycle on the street. I don't care if you're a homeless dude on a Murray Westport or a Lance wannabe on an Emonda, you get a basic level of respect from me for taking on traffic. What you choose to wear is irrelevant.

TenSpeedV2

^ If you don't ride in the street, where do you ride? On the sidewalk? That is illegal in a lot of cities, and here, it is insane with college kids a** deep in their phones posting their latest cupcake pictures to Instagram and walking at the same time. I will take my chances in the road. A lot of it has to do with taking ownership of being in the road. If you are timid and unsure, cars will be all over you. If you ride like you are not afraid, and know what you are doing, you will get some respect and some room. There will always be the clown that thinks bikes belong on the sidewalk, and will gladly yell that to you while showing you their IQ with their middle finger as they pass you.

bigredkevbot

So I had a conversation with my roommates about something similar last night. They were asking how I and my other roommates that bike to work justify spending hundereds of dollars on brands like Patagonia, Gore-Tex, Rapha, etc. I want to be clear: I ride an All-City Space Horse with bright lights, A Patagonia shell, Ortleib panniers, and clipless shoes, but I am by no means wealthy. My first pay check every month goes to three things: Rent, Student Debt, and a Metro-Card (Or CharlieCard for the local Bostonians). I invest money in quality gear because I enjoy cycling, and when I bike to work I want to be comfortable. I could have bought a beater mountain bike and take 40 minutes to commute to work in a down jacket and come in drenched in sweat, but because I respect and enjoy cycling as a hobby and activity rather than see it as a necessity I saved up and invested in quality gear to keep me comfortable.

Now that aside, I fully unstand that despite my financial situation, I am by no means at the bottom rung of the salary ladder. There are others less fortunate than I that have families to support, or are ill and can't afford to save money the way I do, or were never taught how to manage their own financial situation. They may not be able to afford a car and may very well be the people biking on an old-school Magna or Deptartment store bike.

tjspiel

You should spend your disposable money on what you enjoy spending money on. If that's cycling gear, there is nothing wrong with that. However, there are lots of options between the gear you buy and riding a beater mountain bike while wearing a down jacket.

I would never advocate for somebody being uncomfortable if easily avoidable and fortunately there are plenty of choices that don't require spending a lot of money.

RoderWrench

I do ride in the street. I was just saying I universally respect all riders regardless of their attire. It's serious business out there.

Archwhorides 

My commuting look is completely mutt, and completely based on being comfortable and avoiding getting hit:
- hi vis (and very expensive) rain shell pants
- hi vis (and very inexpensive) mesh cop/line-worker vest (over whatever insulating/shell layers are comfortable on a given day).
- hi vis (and very inexpensive) insulating/waterproof construction worker gloves

I like the construction worker gear up top, because my theory is that guys in big-assed pickup trucks will feel small twinge of empathy/sympathy when they pass, and the suburbanites in their SUVs will avoid hitting someone who has attitude (and perhaps a crowbar in their pannier). Also, there's typically a lot of cops on work details on my route, and it's nice to chat with them at the stop lights.