Originally Posted by Alekhine

Ya, what bragi said. There is no need for bicycle-specific lycra clothing unless you're really into wearing uniforms. The lycra crowd will go on and on about how those clothes improve the ride, but it just doesnt bear any weight in reality as far as I've ever seen. It's pretty much fashion for people who are in it for fitness more than lifestyle; it's anathema in so many ways for the utility rider to wear racing gear. I do think it's smart to get cycling gloves though, for what it's worth, and if you wear chinos or other long-legged pants the little velcro-fastenable bands are good for keeping your pant cuffs from getting all greasy and gruesome from hitting the chain, but you can always roll them up too.

You'll be made fun of by someone from the racing crowd at some point or other no matter what you wear, so forget the lycra even if you're worried about looking good. These riders are competitive almost by definition, and a good many of them are all about talking about who's a "real cyclist" and who isn't, and this extends into the look. (Do a search on this term in the Road forum for validation of this point. There are whole threads about it.)

I would also highly recommend a good handlebar bag for easy and quick access to things you might need, in addition to your Ortliebs.

Anyway, the more people dress like normal everyday Joes out there, the more it lends legitimacy to this as a form of transportation. The more people treat bikes like they're toys or instruments of sporty aerobic fitness, the less people will see their remarkable daily usefulness in other ways. It's good for "advocacy" to dress like you normally would and laugh off any jerk who calls you a "Fred."