Wow! We went from trying to talk the OP out of being bashful and try riding in cycling shorts to a recumbent vs. upright war. My wife rides a bent and she wears anything that is made of fast wicking material for shirts and pants. She only has one riding jersey but no riding shorts. This really works well for her. She is comfortable and keeps cooler than if she was in regular street clothes or cotton shorts and shirts.

I, on the other hand, wear cycling jerseys or stay-dry shirts and cycling shorts. I don't wear them because they are fashionable or because I race, I wear them because they really do help when riding long rides. At 64 and after being married for 42 years, I don't really care if they are impressive to other women, dogs, cats or whatever, they are more comfortable and they don't get me fatigued. The better the cycling shorts, the more comfortable I feel in the saddle. The shorts do get a bit expensive depending on which ones you get, but the jerseys, I get at Dick's Sporting Goods. They start at $35.00, about what some people pay for a fancy tee-shirt.

Can't we all just get along?