yamcha

Because of the colder weather I bought some long legged cycling tights and have been wearing them. I have been getting strange looks and some giggles lately but didn't think much of it. Probably because most people aren't used to seeing people wearing cycling clothing on a folding bike. Well earlier today as I was riding hone at a leisurely pace, some girls who were jogging sprinted up next to me and said, "Hey Mister, we can see how small your dick is in those pants!" I was so embarrassed I almost fell of my bike. From now on it's back to regular clothing for me.

pismocycleguy

Yamie
Or you could add some padding in the strategic area!
Ladies have been know to use this approach!
PCG

awetmore

There is cycling clothing that doesn't mean tights. I've been commuting this year in the Bicycle Fixation Hemp Knickers.

https://www.bicyclefixation.com/prod_hemp_knickers.html

If it is cold then I wear some very thin tights underneath. The thinnest ones that I have (good only to maybe 45F by themselves) are good down to at least 30F under the knickers. They aren't generally visible.

Last year I was using wool suit pants that I'd buy from Goodwill. The Bicycle Fixation knickers are better for cycling in due to the articulated knee, elastic rear waist strap, and general fit and finish.

Rivendell Bicycle Works also makes a lot of "cycling clothing" that looks pretty normal.

yamcha

Are you a man or a woman?

EvilV

Since a folding bike is essentially a utility vehicle, I am wondering why one would wear sport cycling clothing. I just wear jeans or whatever I feel like, and if it's cold, I wear a gortex jacket.

This anecdote about the girls and their remarks is another Yamcha windup.

vik 

Well you could carry a spare tube, pump and tools in your tights...

Versa2nr

Awetmore...

99.00 is a bit steep for a pair of knickers, but I guess its the materials that you are paying for.

roadfix

I'm Asian so I get a pass.....no worries for me.

folder fanatic

I am embarassed and ashamed that women would be so mean and cruel to say such personal things to a guy they do not know. Even if I knew the man or in a very close relationship with him, I feel that there are some things best left unsaid. Now for your clothing. I do wear things on or off my bike with the underlying idea of good taste. I do shop or home sew the items I use both personally and professionally. I am more and more drifting into addressing the problem of finding bags and other clothing articles that look good on anyone no matter the age or physique of the person. I discussed the professional look or attitude in my Geocities site: https://www.geocities.com/folder_fanatic/Security5.html

and even a new set on how to create these things on my Flickr site:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/world-of-folding-bicycles/sets/72157601331380862/

If you have any more ideas or needs, just let me know and I will design, construct and post them for all of you. I really did not see this need coming. I am already hard at work expanding the Creative Projects For You And Your Folding Bicycle set because of the unexpected high demand for these projects. This set already far surpassed the other two sets in number of visitors and interest-and this set is my most recent uploaded one at a couple of months old!

So Yamcha, please don't totally reject bike and related activity clothing just yet. There are options available or coming available soon.

itsahobby

That might be true for many folders, but not all.

Also, after spending a few hours in the saddle, the rider of a folder faces many of the the same issues as a sport cyclist, hence the need to wear cycle specific clothing.

To the OP: There are a number of baggy cycling shorts with chamois available, as many mtb riders would not be seen dead in lycra - just Google: 'baggy cycling chamois'.

Then all you need to add is leg warmers if the weather is cold.

invisiblehand

Go with the Derek Smalls--Spinal Tap bass player--strategy.

invisiblehand

Sweet website. Although if I see those hemp knickers, regardless of where I am in the world, I will shout your name. 50% probability you turn around.

-G

folder fanatic

I think with sporting clothing, especially bike shorts, is it looks stupid and calls way too much attention to areas of one's body where one would prefer not to. I want to look like a regular average person rather than a bike nut or an exercise nut and be shunned. I have to wear the clothing that best reflects the enviroment that I find myself in (like an office or a nice restaurant). Lugging a helmet around plus wearing padded butt shorts when not riding (no ones rides all the time-most take breaks for other activities) does not cut it in the real world unless you keep it to the weekends. My bike is hidden in it's bag when not in use and I always look the professional social scientist that I am no matter where I am or what time of day it is.

cyclezealot

On the bike I wear Bike Clothes. If in public, should I think it appropriate; I put gym shorts over my bike shorts. You are moving at 15-20 mph on the bike. No one cares about you and it's no one's business.

Fat Boy

Expensive for knickers, but to get a new set of knockers, it's actually quite cheap!

It's not really necessary to wear biking stuff on a folder. You're sitting upright. You aren't trying to save the last ounce, so you can have a reasonable seat. A normal pair of shorts seems just fine. The chamois in a pair of riding tights keeps things fairly well covered. They were probably just screwing with you.

Sorry about the penis, but I can think of at least a couple things right away that would make them think twice about coming up to me again, that's for sure.

San Rensho 

There's a Seinfeld episode about this. George goes swimmimg in a cold lake, gets seen naked by some women and has to explain the "shrinkage."

wrafl

Tights? What about wearing sweat pants instead. And how could they know you have tiny doooda when you're on the saddle of your bike unless you paraded yourself to them.

Fat Boy

OT.

OK, how freakin' boring. I'm all over the place on clothes. If I'm running errands around town, people might think I work at the local gas station or McDonalds. If I'm going out at night, I'm liable to wear something loud and obnoxious. Just about the time I get people thinking I'm going to show up in a chicken outfit, I show up in Armani. I like to keep people just a little off balance.

Don't take life too seriously, you aren't going to get out of it alive.

yamcha

I think most people will look "small" in tights.

4cmd3

Perhaps a lucrative market exists for a cycling codpiece...

Longfemur

I think way more embarrassing to you than the comment about clothing and natural equipment is the fact that some girls could sprint up beside you when you are riding a bike. I'm not a stickler for cycling rules, but one of my main personal rules is that if I'm riding so slow that joggers and inline skaters are passing me, I'm turning around and going home. I don't mind the occasional mountain bike or hybrid passing, but I kind of draw an absolute line in the sand when it comes to joggers, and if I find a skater might overtake me, I just pedal a little faster.

yamcha

Why do you need to compete with strangers?

Speedo

I wouldn't let this bother you. It was two girls being jerks.

Wear what makes you comfortable.

Speedo

yamcha

The thing is....those girls were really hot.

Speedo

Maybe they were trying to get your attention. They could have told any biker on the street that their package was not up to snuff and they picked you!

Speedo