Originally Posted by
McBTC
You mean, I may be mischaracterizing déclassé locals as bike bums? Could be... you sure you wouldn't even be wearing clean bike shorts?

I don't wear a single piece of cycling specific clothing unless it is raining. I do wear Lake sandals. I frankly think cycle clothing is for wankers. Years of watching people on very fancy bikes dressed like tour professionals, cycling with their arches on the pedals has made me jaundiced. Of course if you are a racer or whatever, that is somewhat different, though all the advertising on jerseys worn by people who have never met a sponsor does show the walter mitty aspect.
If I wear a pair of running or hiking shoes I don't need to wear a track suit. If I drive my car, I don't wear a helmet (probably a good idea) and nomex overalls, and driving gloves. But somehow if one drives a bike one needs to carry on as though one is an elite athlete or an elite consumer.