Originally Posted by
Tourist in MSN
There was a thread recently on whether people prefer bike shorts or not for bikepacking. This was my posting on that thread.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Tourist in MSN View Post
Touring (as opposed to bikepacking), I wear mountain bike shorts so that I have some pockets.
Also tour with some bike pants that are convertible, zip off legs and of course a few pockets.
I can see that, but I don't find the need to carry most of the stuff I carry in my pockets when at home. I recall one guy saying, "Where do you put your wallet and keys?". The question baffled me for a minute before I said, "Wallet and keys? I don't take either of those on tour." I guess it depends on how much your life on tour resembles life at home and maybe on how much of your time is on the bike. For me a wallet is replaced with a ziplock bag with a few bucks, a few credit/debit cards, some ID, and health insurance cards. It goes in either a jersey pocket, handlebar bag, or little backpack. In any case it stays with me. Typically no keys go with me, but if there is a car at the end a valet key might be on a cord around my neck along with my little pico light and a military style dog tag. My folding knife is replaced with a smaller one that is packed somewhere and the phone is in the ziplock bag with the wallet stuff.
Originally Posted by
andrewclaus
After over five decades of cycling, the only cycling clothing I own is a pair of lined, not padded shorts. I tried padding and it didn't work for me. I tried jerseys, didn't like them. I tried cleated shoes, for almost twenty years, didn't like them in the end either. I only use the bike shorts if I'm riding over 60 miles in a day.
The reason is most of my days on the bike are not just on the bike. I ride the bike to go do other things. When I'm doing other things, I don't want to wear bike clothing and bike shoes. That's the case when I'm touring. Out of 14 to 16 waking hours, I'm seldom on the bike for more than six or seven of those.
I am typically on the bike a larger percentage of the time and my time off the bike is broken up into chunks throughout the day. In addition I prefer to instantly be recognised as "that guy on the bike who I saw 60 miles down the road this morning". It is an ice breaker and leads to lots of offers of hospitality or at least conversation with the local folks who are curious about what I am doing, which for me is a big part of what touring is about. I know some folks say they don't want to look like cyclists when off the bike, but on a bike tour I see it as a plus. I'd rather be seen as that interesting guy riding coast to coast or some other long distance than just some grungy looking out of place old stranger. I will be sweaty and grungy at stops during the day and won't blend in in any case, at least with bike clothes folks know why I am sweaty and grungy and usually cut me some slack.