Originally Posted by
nivekdodge
I've read a bunch of these threads and don't understand them. So I have to don the dress of a professional whenever I chose to do something? Need a chef's hat to cookout, a UPS uniform to bring home a package, Driving gloves, shoes and helmet for the trip to the grocery store in a car... If you saw the Lance on a fixie thread it's obvious that the pros don't dress like that when they are out havng a good time...
I think those are poor examples. There are some sports for which the sport specific clothing makes a very big difference in performance. Bowling comes to mind. I can better execute the proper approach, release, and delivery with bowling shoes than without them. Tennis also comes to mind. Yes, I can play tennis in running shoes, but the shoes designed specifically for tennis will allow me to perform better, with more comfort, and safety. Come to think of it, your cooking example isn't completely off. No, you don't have to wear a chef's hat, but if you might choose to wear an apron to keep your clothing clean and/or pull your hair back to keep it out of the food. There are some legitimate functional reasons for wearing cycling specific clothing. Using Lance as an example is a bit misleading. When he wants his best performance, I'd venture a guess that he wears clothing that will help him achieve this. If I want my best performance, I'll pick clothing that will contribute to it. Conversely, If I'm riding to the local market with my niece to pick up a few things, I'll wear clothing appropriate for that task.
Now in terms of the UPS uniform... thanks for the idea! I think I'll talk with my wife about doing a bit of fantasy play if I can get my hands on a UPS uniform....