gerv 

When I started commuting, I read how I should buy sweat wicking polyester and never wear cotton shirts or jeans.

Today I was out for a 16 miles Sunday ride. I was wearing a cotton tee shirt and a pair of jeans. As it was quite windy, I didn't notice any wetness at the end of the ride.

Last night, I went out to a party and wore jeans and a long cotton shirt as I didn't want to look like Lance Armstrong.

I frankly wonder how some of these well known cycling "facts" have adversely impacted the spread of cycling. You have to wear a helmet, a padded chamois is helpful for your commute, steel is real, wool socks are a requirement for winter, a fast bike is required to get to work... all these are partly true, but may not be true at all in your particular circumstance and may actually hinder you from using your bike... whatever bike you happen to have.

Do you know of any common cycling myths?

wolfchild

People who say that gears are neccessary for long distance rides. It's a myth that's been busted many times over...And don't even get me started on carbon fibre, leg shaving and fancy spandex costumes with million different advertisments and colours printed all over them.

bragi

I agree that you don't have to look like a professional racer or need to have a carbon frame, but I disagree with you about gears. In some circumstances, such as a very hilly city, gears may not be necessary for young or very strong riders, but for other, older, weaker or fatter riders, or riders who just like to buy 12 packs of beer on the way home on Sundays, they're pretty useful, even necessary. Gears were invented for good reason.

bragi

I know of a few:
1. You have to be in shape to start cycling regularly. You'll probably end up that way if you do it often enough, but there's no reason you can't just get on a bike and ride, albeit slowly, even if you're old and/or out of shape. Not all of the millions of Dutch riders are endurance athletes.
2. You need special shoes and pedals. A lot of people like clip-in pedals, and they have advantages, but they're not actually necessary for utility riding, and may actually be an intimidating barrier to entry into cycling for some people. (I've been using platforms for years for almost all of my riding, even for touring, and find them to work just fine if you're not racing or mountain biking in rough terrain.)
3. Steel or carbon, or whatever, is the best/only thing a bike frame should be made from. I prefer steel myself, and have a profound distrust of carbon, but by now it's obvious that almost anything, even bamboo, can be used to make a perfectly functional frame. It just depends on what you want to do on your bike and how much money you're willing or able to spend.

DX-MAN

I get one from thousands of customers, EVERY year:

"If I'm payin' $100 for this bike, it better be PERFECT!" Like it COULD be.... After all, #2:

"It's JUST A BIKE -- the only difference between the bike shop and HERE is the price!"

Too bad management won't let me post SIGNS saying otherwise.

cooker

On warm, humid days jeans are awful. However you certainly don't need cycling specific clothes to commute.

lasauge 

Maybe not if you live in Florida or New Mexico...

The only myth I regularly encounter (and debunk every winter) is the belief that a bicycle cannot be ridden on an icy surface, even in a straight line on a flat surface, because the wheels would instantly slip sideways from under the rider.

Kai Winters

There is usually always some hint of truth/reality in myths.
Don't need a helmet? OK, fine with me but if/when you bounce your noggin off the pavement and have a significant head injury don't expect my tax money to bail you or anyone out...it is all ear marked for illegal aliens err um meant undocumented whatevers.

If you like to wear jeans and a tshirt have at is son...I don't care.

I prefer to be comfortable when riding and for me that means a decent pair of quality padded shorts with a comfortable jersey with pockets on the back for my iphone.
I like my feet secured to the pedals...etc. etc. etc.
I like to shave my legs because I don't like hairy legs and lycra but I don't shave my balls...call me crazy.

I just had to respond to this silly thread for no good reason...carry on...

gerv 

This is good. Thanks for sharing.

zeppinger

Ladies and gentlemen, please don't feed the troll.

Roody

Silly is as silly does. Do you go into restaurants, doctor's office, your workplace and other places dressed in Lycra, holding your helmet, with smooth legs and tap shoes? I'm not criticizing, just wondering how you make cycling a part of your everyday life while dressed like a racer.

Ekdog

Please, stop the hate.

I-Like-To-Bike

Cotton kills!

Hydrate or die!

Helmet!

Always buy a bike with LBS provenance!

bikemig 

I agree; there's a lot to be said for just getting on a bike and riding. Cotton is a problem if you are on a long ride and become exposed to water but there is no good reason not to commute in it. That said, I used blue jeans on my first bike tour on a Peugeot UO-10 because I didn't have money for anything else. I bought the bike and panniers, borrowed a tent, and rode in the clothes I owned. I had great time. I wear street clothes when I commute. I've even started to use platform pedals so that I can wear any shoes I want. I hate having to wear just bike shoes with my bike when commuting.

cruiserhead

cycling myths

1. cycling forums contain actual information
2. deep carbon wheels will make you faster
3. More expensive helmets are safer
4. A&S is about advocacy and safety
5. love to tell "dropped a roadie" stories on the internet because you are secure and happy.
6. old stuff is better than new stuff
7. new stuff is better than old stuff

Artkansas 

You're supposed to ride facing on coming traffic, just as pedestrians should when they walk on the road. That way you can see oncoming traffic.

Roody

No, you're supposed to ride on the sidewalk.

And you should never ride in the winter because you'll freeze, and you'll melt if you ride in the rain.

Artkansas 

The reason people commute to work on a bicycle is because they lost their license due to too many DUI's.

wolfchild

Most people who commute on a bicycle are doing it because they are extremly poor and can't afford a car, or they are socially maladjusted.

Another very common myth is that, only hipsters ride fixed gear bikes.

Juha

Except for #1 in your list, I think you're onto something.

--J

cooker

That's all about what you prefer, not about what you need.

Bekologist

one of the myths i hear, and even put up myself when i don't want to ride, is

'it will take too long by bike'. and sometimes, thats' true.


On average for the average merican though, probably not really.

40 percent of our trips outside the home are two miles or less. Essentially, in my thinking a lot of trips to the store for six packs, baby formula, tampons, smokes, chips, milk, and diapers.

A safety bike in every garage, a folder in every foyer. With carriers!

Booger1

There are no hills.......
It's flat all the way there.....
The store in the middle of Podunk is open for sure....
Riding is great fun.....until you actually run out of water and HAVE to keep riding.....
I should wear a helmet.....even though I can run faster than I ride most of the time.....
Racing bikes are faster than mountain bikes.....Maybe with Lance on them.....
You need fancy clothes to ride long distance.....How did people manage without Lycra?
The latest and greatest is better.....better for who? Us or the makers.....
I must keep up with the Jones'.....otherwise I will be shunned on the streets....
11 speeds are a Godsend.....most people I know need to adjust cadence just right.....
Electronic shifting is here to stay.....
Town is just a couple miles up this road.....
This frame is better than that frame.....Most people it doesn't matter.
More power with clipless...above 20 MPH or below?
Brooks saddles are the best/most comfortable....depends on YOUR hiney.
This or that torque wrench is the best....there ALL educated guesses.

And my personal favorite.....There's going to be a tailwind on the way home.....

This could go on forever......

Ferrous Bueller

Cycling is necessarily sport.

rumrunn6

blondes have more fun
but brunettes are more fun
wait, what was the question?