Yesterday, I just took my first ride wearing genuine bike shorts. I knew a long time ago how much better it’d be, but said “no, never, not for me!”

Just as I’d promised myself before regarding going clipless, abandoning for lycra the all cotton shirts that would lay on my body like a wet rag once I really got going … wearing a helmet wasn’t my thing either.

There were intermediate steps. I began to wear incrementally tighter cargo pants and padded cycling undershorts became an obvious necessity. The worst was when I got my first roadbike in a long, long time and I duct-taped some T-shirts to my saddle for comforts sake. I didn’t fully get how stupid looking and impractical that was – the whole cringe-worthy picture, riding along, doing a lot of miles –centuries- in cargo shorts, sopping wet t-shirt, no helmet, sneakers on look pedals all to avoid being the guy I would’ve wanted to beat up when I was a 'bad ass,' macho kid. (Bike shorts = gay) In doing so I became the rider every roadie wanted to beat up (if they would and could!)

I do not shave my legs. I just trim the hairs really, really close. I’m never going to shave my legs!