I am glad to hear Grant's perspective. Their is always something to learn from such an experienced cyclist. The problem, as I see it, is that Grant is very bitter towards anything associated with "racing." He seems to be almost unable to talk about things based on their merits. Instead if it's associated with racing, it's bad.

Here is my summary of the point he is making in the NPR piece posted by the OP:

You are not a racer. Racers wear lycra. Since you are not a racer, it would be ridiculous to wear lycra.

Am I a racer? No, but I think there certainly are benefits to racing type apparel. Are bibs with a chamois necessary? No. Do they have features that increase my comfort when I ride? Yes, I think so. Same with jerseys. I think jersey's are very practical. I love their wicking ability, the rear pockets, and a full front zip to help regulate temperature. And what about arm warmers? I think they are a brilliant little accessory for cycling.

The point is, if we are trying to educate folks about cycling let's be honest about the pros and cons of the different options out there. Don't just categorically write off anything associated with racing.

I also would have to disagree with the comments quoted above. So, a roadie kit is "unnecessary" but rack and fenders are "necessary." Well, I could flip that around and argue the exact opposite. If I ride to work in dedicated cycling gear then perhaps a rack and fenders are "unnecessary". I don't care about road debris and back sweat as much if I have dedicated cycling clothing. On the other hand, if I bike in my work clothes I am more concerned about keeping them clean and minimizing sweat.

I think SlimRider's comments are a little misleading in terms of educating new commuters. Again, let's be honest here. We're talking about trade-offs, not right/wrong or necessary/unnecessary. While we could come up with a list of bare minimum necessities,I think most of us are interested in making our commute as enjoyable as possible and just having fun riding our bikes.