Originally Posted by
CompleteStreets
Try checking out a US city that has semi-decent bicycle infrastructure (DC, Portland, NYC, Chicago, Minneapolis). You'll see tons and tons of people who wear their normal clothes for everyday bicycle transportation, not "cycling bottoms." Hence the desire for … oh never mind, trying to talk sense into some of you bike forums people is not worth it. *Smacks head* I'm done.
Boston, MA rider here. Almost all of the commuters I see have bike specific gear. Some of the inner city/ short travel commuters wear whatever. 18 miles one way, regular clothes don't cut it. Bike shorts, tights, wool base layer, wicking tops, yup. Choices are a great thing. OP has some solutions that will work for him.