Originally Posted by
SlimRider
Neither Grant nor myself are ordering the average cyclist to do anything whatsoever. What we are doing, is trying to get people to strive to be more practical. You don't necessarily have to associate full kit with a road bike. Especially, since you're just commuting a few miles to work in October. Many cyclists live only several miles from their work place. Grant is merely suggesting that cyclists take a moment to reassess the fact that their cycling clothing may be a result of marketing, more so than being environmently appropriate. At no time is Grant nor myself ordering anyone to do anything. That's probably, just your wayward mind taking its usual trips again, Cyccommute!
You should really be more careful as to where you might blow your smoke! I'm personally adversed to second hand smoke of any kind!
Did you ever stop to consider that for those of us who where technical clothing, it
is practical? That, perhaps, we have
some experience with bicycle commuting and kind of know what works and what doesn't?
As for 'marketing', show me any kind of marketing for bicycle products outside of enthusiast magazines. There is
no national mass media advertising for
bicycles let alone bicycle clothing. Bicycle clothing, as well as bicycles, are almost entirely word of mouth. Further those of us who do wear technical fabric bicycle specific clothing don't usually do it because of fashion. I don't. Not a whole lot of the population looks all that good in lycra but we wear it for many of the reasons listed in the 4 pages (so far) of posts. We wear it because it does a job that polyester/cotton blends really can't.
Originally Posted by
tjspiel
Yeah, all that stuff. Maybe even more importantly would be to survey potential commuters and people that used to commute but quit. I've heard that there exists a group of people who might commute but don't because they don't want to wear spandex. Somewhere along the line they came to the conclusion that spandex is part of the deal. Personally I suspect that this group is pretty small. Further I believe that if you convinced them that wearing spandex is completely optional, they'd find some other reason for not commuting.
As the great Pee Wee Herman said "Everybody's got a big "but", Simone. Let's talk about your big but." Having to wear bicycle clothes, not having a shower, it's hot, it's cold, it's too far, it's too close, it's too dangerous, you can't wear lycra, etc. is all a giant "but" that people use as an excuse. That's all it is too. Grant Petersen...and Slimrider...are just giving people another 'but' so that they don't have to put their butt on a bike.