Yesterday I was asked to join a small(14-20 rider)group ride. Its led by some of the local guys who are fast dedicated riders, but was told that its a no drop ride with some folks who never rode more than three miles before. They are trying to drum up local interest in the sport and acording to the guy who asked me, EVERYONE in town has seen me and knows I am a utility biker, so I was asked to represent a regular guy on a bike. ITs a 14 mile round trip ride on some decent rolling hills.

So I was wondering if I should ride a fast bike that looks like a racer(the 85 team fuji is running smooth right now, so its the one) or something that will look less racer and show people that riding can be done on regular looking bikes. Thing is, if I show up on a fendered rando looking rig is that any better? What the he11 is a "regular guy on a bike"? Should I wear a bowling shirt and surfing shorts, or go for the low key no sponser jersey with shorts? Should I take my Ute bike with several bags of grocerys? Ugh.

By the way, I do tend to overthink things. Thats what no tv will do to a guy.

I think you're overthinking this. It's a bike ride...have fun. It sounds like no one really cares about trying to outdo the Joneses, and from an advocasy perspective, non-cyclists don't know the differences between bikes anyway.

fendered Rando
comfortable baggy shorts
a cool max tshirt or plain colored, non-'branded' zippered jersey (both keep you cooler than cotton)
toe clips but clipless would be okay

I have a 14 mile round trip commute and always wear civvies.
We do a 20 + mile 'loop' on the weekend for an easy ride and about half the time I just wear the above and often with Power Grips on the pedals. It is good to show riders that you DON'T have to wear that nerdy Tour de France kit on short club rides.

For some additional inspiration:

https://youtu.be/wICtHz7r8JY

I suspect the organizers are expecting that you always look like a utility cyclist. (whatever that looks like)

So you should probably show up in full Lycra with SPD's and a CAAD9, wearing a TT helmet.

roflmao2:

Thanks zaphod, your a hoopy frood. I really don't think that the guy who asked me knows that I do a very hilly 23 miler every third morning year round in lycra with clips and 23mm tires. The only time he sees me is struggling up a hill on a seventy pound basket with wheels and a drivetrain, wearing a sombrero, bdu cutoffs and flipflops.

Whatever you're wearing now, wear that.

No drop ride? Nuts to that, drop anyone who turns up in lycra.

Sounds like they're expecting someone to haul coffee for the group

thanks man, don't forget yer towel

bdu cutoffs and flipflops on the rando, swap out the water bottle for a Sam Adams summer ale. At the end of the ride relax under a tree and enjoy your beverage. Stay thirsty my friend.

Who needs a tree when you have a sombrero?

I think I'd go with the fenders.

Well, its over, and as I got all this great advice that I mostly paid attention to thought I would give a report of a vintage type rider representing and keeping it real

What I rode or wore was a lot less important than what I learned on an all inclusive everyone welcome ride.
I learned that running sweep lets you ride in the back while the testosteroned out guys play with themselves way up ahead doing strength exercises, heart rate exercises, and general team kit alfa male stuff, while the other guys destroy themselves trying to look like they are better than packfill keeping up.
I rode in the back, where all the girls were. I put several chains back on the small ring, coached several on shifting and the magic of gears, adjusted one seatpost and aired one tire, and got two email addresses and three facebook invites.
Sweep rocks.

Bravo - Looks like you better do it again - Just don't wear your TT helmet backwards anymore...