Cyccommute says:
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?
Yes, I have given it much thought, Cyccommute. I have concluded that most of us who are serious cyclists have already determined for ourselves just what we'd like to wear when we're cycling whatever we're cycling upon. Of course, some of us are very serious cyclists and will always wear lycra and spandex, because it's what we've always worn when cycling on our road bikes, because that's just a part of the road bike culture. Then there are that portion of us who wear lycra and spandex, because we feel as though it suits our attempt at adapting to our immediate environmental conditions, while cycling. Then of course, there are those of us who don't really know the difference between lycra, spandex, and polyester, because they are hopelessly addicted to jeans and cotton.
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.
Have you ever heard of REI, Dick's, or Nashbar.com? You mean to tell me you've never seen them advertise sportswear. As for word of mouth, that's true, as well. However, it's more like a fringe culture of sorts. Like when you join your first road club and begin to socialize with other road cyclists. You get schooled fairly quickly! We all learn to associate things and events with other groups of things and events.
It's sorta like joining the Boy Scouts. There's no TV, Radio, hard copy print, or INTERNET advertising for the Boy Scouts, but it's a part of our culture. Once you're in, you become an integral part of the subculture and you learn all of the fundamental requirements for becoming an official genuine Boy Scout, which includes a uniform, a moto, an oath, a law, and a code. There's no great big advertising campaign exposing our American male children to the Boy Scouts. However, our male children continue to join the Boy Scouts and they wear the uniform and learn the required laws, oath, code, and motto. It's just a part of our culture. It's a subculture, of which I was proud to be a member for a portion of my childhood. No TV, radio, or newspaper announced it. However, the information was there as a part of our culture. With that information came an image of which, I yearned to become a part. The same is true of many roadies and commuters, alike.
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.
Where do you think the term "Fred" came from in the first place? What goes on within our subconscious minds that conjures such an image, as "Fred"?
What is the converse of a "Fred"? ...To make a long story short, you'd better believe that a large portion of the road bike culture includes image. Image means much to many people. It tends to be the banner of our own personal egos. You ought to know all about that, Cyccommute. As I imagine you to have a huge banner waving 24/7, to represent everything Cyccommute....And there's nothing wrong with that!
Those leaders voted most likely to succeed will also most likely, have gigantic egos, as well, in order to confirm those votes!