Originally Posted by
ianbrettcooper
Between 1984 and 1986 I cycled 10,000 miles with only three pairs of 100% cotton jeans, a few T-shirts and a coat for cold weather. I cycled in driving rain, hot, cold, and blizzards where I couldn't see 10ft in front of me. I rarely felt uncomfortable (only when I got thoroughly soaked and a change of clothes fixed that) - never had any cause to replace the jeans with spandex trousers. I think the idea that jeans are uncomfortable for cycling is a myth pushed by spandex manufacturers. Sure, if the jeans are too tight, they'll be uncomfortable, but other than that, jeans are fine for cycling.
In my experience, synthetic clothing makes me sweat. Then it feels nasty and clingy and it stinks. Cotton breathes a lot better than any plastic material I've ever worn.
I think comfort is mainly in the mind - if you're convinced a material is going to be uncomfortable, it will be.
I still believe that cotton is a bad choice for any physically demanding outdoor activity in wet or snowy or icy weather conditions. In the winter of 2008 I fell through the ice when riding my bike.. it wasn' t too deep, up to about my thighs, it was -15 C , and I am very glad that I wasn't wearing jeans or any other cotton clothing, I was about 8 km from my home.
Wool, merrino wool, and synthetic clothing has been proven to work much better in extreme weather conditions. Many years ago when I was involved in teaching wilderness survival skills, we would Forbid the students to wear anything made from cotton when we took them out into the bush for an overnight trip with no camping gear in the middle of winter. Canadian winters can be very unforgiving. Proper clothing makes all the difference.