nun

I'm a slightly overweight, 50 something, blue collar guy and have no fashion sense. However, my lightweight approach to bike touring has forced me to think carefully about the clothes I pack. I now find myself buying base layers and hi-tech Gortex shells to make "ensembles" that will take me form day to evening.....that's hot days riding to the possibility of a cold night in a sleeping bag, and from sun to wind and rain. I've bought "pieces" like a great Marmot ultralight jacket that I accessorize with gloves and hats (well wool beanies).

I'VE BECOME A BIKE TOURING MALE FASHIONISTA

texas2wheel

IBEX dude!

https://www.ibexwear.com/shop/index.php

zeppinger

This thread is in dire need of pictures. I'll start. This was on a cold fall tour of Kangwah Island in South Korea. Very close to the island that was shelled by North Korea recently.

positron

OMGZ!!! YOU WARE PRACTICAL CLOTEHS!!11

so what?

djb

well Zepp gets points for the matching tones of his pants with that of his BLT, LTD, LHT? bike, and the earthy tones of the, well, earth in the background.
not to mention the sublime palettes of blue on the rear rack, the water bottle and the fleece.

(this thread makes me think of that goofy song from a long time back, "On the catwalk, Im too sexy for your love")

I however am much too dorkish to appear in photos on my bike, and purchase new outdoor gear once every decade or so, whether I need it or not. My old Specialized Rockhopper commuter is black and orange, so if I have a jar of orange Gatoraid powder, my water bottles are quite fashionably matched to my frame, which adds to my dorky middle aged fashion panache.

dengidog

I must just scream fashion with my daily ensemble of baggy t-shirt, neon windreaker (to give the locals a brighter target), and exercise pants with a rubber band around the right ankle. Oh well, the price is right.

acantor

I used to tour sporting a T-shirt, short pants, and Birkenstock sandals, but gradually, I have replaced each item with something "techie:" polyester jerseys, padded cycle pants, and cycling shoes with clips. Experience has taught me to give high value to all-day riding comfort.

nun

I'll take your Ibex and raise you a Rapha, I wear a pair of their knickers, they're OMG expensive, but really nice.
For general wear I'm a Smartwool and Marmot *hore.

texas2wheel

Rapha is way too expensive......I like these for knickers.

https://www.rivbike.com/products/show...nickers/22-642

zeppinger

All my clothes are earth tones. I hate loud colors on me or my bike. I do sometimes wear a hi-viz vest when conditions outside warrant but otherwise I am pretty neutral.

nun

Like I said I've become a "fashionisto". I'm a big Riv bike fan, but their clothes and bags are too ugly

Frida1

Please consider always wearing something reflective or bright (neon orange, neon pink, neon green) for safety reasons. Yeah, it's ugly, but it works. I cringe when I see cyclists on busy roads in black or dark blue jackets and shorts.

texas2wheel

In your case then, Ibex is fashionable, yet it's considerably less in price than Rapha. I'm the guy riding in shorts a long sleeve wool t-shirt and mid height natural colored wool socks. I'm sure I'm not the coolest looking guy, but I bet I'm comfortable, and spent less $$.

acantor

This is worth reiterating: when cyclists wear dark clothing, and ride on the streets at night without reflective clothing or lights, they may be invisible, or almost invisible, to drivers of motorized vehicles.

I go further: cyclists who wear dark clothing can be hard to spot DURING THE DAY under certain circumstances, including riding on the shady side of the street, riding on heavy overcast day, and riding at dusk.

No doubt about it: Florescent vests are unattractive. But they make cyclists much more visible, which is a good thing. We want cars and trucks to be able to see us from as far away as possible. For city riding, I almost always wear one. For touring, I always wear one.

SurlyLaika

I agree. I can't wear rivendell's knickers all day on and off the bike. They're just too ugly. I don't care how functional they are. So I went with Bicycle Fixation, a small L.A. company. They might be twice the price of Riv's but I'd rather have one nice item, than two crappy ones.

valygrl

OMG, do you get a $5000 WNtW Credit Card, a week shopping in New York City following Stacey and Clinton's rules, hair by Ted, makeup by Camindy? But first we have to watch the secret footage of your current style fiasco and throw away a couple of decades worth of accumulated ugliness.

LOVE your post.

Is there an actual question?

zeppinger

Are you going for that "Road Cone on Wheels" look? When I am touring the most important thing I can do to keep me safe is choose low traffic rural roads, not wear hot pink and yellow outfit. What clothes you wear does have an impact on safety but its much lower on the totem of importance than most people like to think. Riding style, route choice, weather, and other things are all much more important, IMO.

That being said, I prefer to wear normal colored clothes when touring but also carry a hi-viz vests for cloudy days, or when I am no a road that I don't like and have NO other option but to ride it. This keeps the amount of clothing I need to carry with me way down because I don't have to bring a super hero costume and street clothes.

I cringe every time I see a touring cyclist on his rest day in a big city walking around in cleats and neon orange jump suit, trying to blend in and rub shoulders with the locals.

djb

handy for biking in Switzerland or anywhere the DMZ.

as I ride a lot in the city, my windbreaker is a brightish yellowish greenishy thing, which is handy in spring and fall dark, and being a dad I am wont to want to be seen (and as a car driver, I know how invisible some cyclists can be with dark clothes, no reflectors and/or blinky LED lights)

I was mostly kidding about buying stuff every decade or two, but it aint that far off. Good quality outdoor clothes are usually worth it in the long run for durability, and other than padded bike shorts and some old bike shirts (short sleeve and a long sleeve) most of my outdoor gear gets used for all kinds of activities--biking in cool conditions, hiking, cross-country skiing, even downhill. I tend to go with neutralish stuff that still looks reasonable in many years to come, and my outdoor stuff does tend to last and last, so I dont have patterned or screaming out brand stuff.

skilsaw

My fashion budget is broke right now, but I am in need of a long sleeved wool jersey.
I'm considering a Canadian west coast staple... the grey wool Stanfield longjohns worn by loggers and fishermen for generations.

NoReg

Zepp, the perfect package. Except that mess on the top of the rear rack. There always seems to be one.

In daylight it is pretty impossible not to see a cyclist, under normal conditions. It is really a question of what the driver is focused on, and how comfortable you make them feel. If you are visible and helmeted, they are more comfortable and pass closer.

marmot

Er, no, it's not. On a bike you're small enough to completely disappear behind a rear-view mirror (or some decorative item hung from it), or behind an A-pillar. Drivers also tend to "edit" you out of their perception if they're looking out for much larger, faster cars and trucks. I've had a couple of near misses -- on foot and on a bike -- when I was clearly in the sight lines of drivers who obviously looked right "through" me, judging by their startled reactions when they suddenly realized what was happening. I wear subdued colors most of the time, but if I'm riding in traffic or on a highway, a neon-colored vest, jacket or shirt gives me some chance of standing out from the visual clutter. You can't really think being visible and wearing a helmet makes you more vulnerable. That makes no sense at all. The real key is to assume drivers don't see you, act accordingly, and don't surprise them with unorthodox, illegal or ill-considered moves.

marmot

Tres chic ensemble, zeppinger. Do you always paint your frame to match the terrain? Or are you blending in to make yourself a tricker target for the Dear Leader's artillery?

djb

peter, I invite you to come ride through Montreal with me sometime to test out your theory.

I dont fret too much about wondering if or if not they can see me, going back to my motorcycle days starting at 17, on two wheels I basically ride as if they dont see me--in my opinion this is the only way to ride, you always have to assume a totally defensive outlook as if you are invisible and always have an "out", either a bit of road or a bit of time to react when "unexpected" things happen. Just part of the game.

touch wood touch wood touch wood touch wood

oh, and so far, Zepp is the only one with the gumption to put a photo of himself up....I shall try to dig around for one of myself.

zeppinger

That mess on the top of the rack is not mine. I was carrying extra mess for a friend who's bike could not carry it. Here is my rig solo on a cross Korea trip over the summer.

I also still want to see other peoples fashion.

zeppinger

Standard color LHT I am afraid. Just removed the garish graphics is all.