Windyrum

Hi folks,

Starting a daily bike commute next week. I'm genuinely puzzled what to wear for bottoms for this 4km/2 mile ride.

What do most people here wear? Bib-pants? Weather/water-proof over-pants?

It's not a long ride. Weather would be mostly 0-15C/40-60F and only as bad as steady rain and wind.

Thanks in advance.

jimmie65

For 2 miles, I'd wear what you wear to work. Maybe get some thin waterproof athletic wind pants to wear over them in rainy weather.

old's'cool

I like mine to resemble a grand hotel, i.e., large ballroom.

canklecat

Two miles is such a short ride I'd be inclined to wear whatever I usually wore for work, unless the job made that impractical. Get a set of quick on/off rain duds to wear over your work clothes. That's what I did for my motorcycle commutes, although the motorcycle rainsuit was too tight and didn't breathe well enough to be practical for bicycling.

Alternatively, Levis and a couple other manufacturers make jeans and casual pants for cyclists. I might try those.

A there are lightweight poly blend slacks that dry quickly and can be wiped clean quickly if needed. Cotton wouldn't be practical for that. There are some great poly blend fabrics now that are better suited to cyclists. Depends on whether you job has a dress code.

Hub Spanner

+1

I been doing this for a three-mile commute in coastal California for over 10 years. I don't need the light rain pants as often as you will, though.

Darth Lefty 

I wear jeans in winter and bike shorts in summer. I have one pair of the Levi's 511 Commuter and I like them fine, but I have other jeans that also seem fine. The Commuters might last longer due to the reinforced crotch.

I am a fair-weather commuter in a dry climate and don't worry about wearing cotton. If I were in the PNW, it might be different.

joeyduck

Get one of these:

MEC Flyer Tights (Men's) - Mountain Equipment Co-op. Free Shipping Available

MEC Adanac Tights (Men's) - Mountain Equipment Co-op. Free Shipping Available

MEC Drencher Pants (Men's) - Mountain Equipment Co-op. Free Shipping Available

Likely the Drencher or just some other waterproof pant over your work pants to keep the rain and grit off. Your commute is short. You'll likely be fine at a leisurely pace with fenders.

I have only had longer commutes and I found that I preferred running tights under most circumstances. They kept me warm enough in the rain and the sun off in the summer. When it was in the 2°C-4°C and soaking range I wore an older version of the Adanac tights. Kept me dryer therefore not hypothermic.

Eds0123

I'd just wear shorts for that short distance and for that temp, but I might change into my long pants
if wearing shorts are not allowed at work. Welcome to bike commuting and Good Luck.

Rollfast

They aren't a big deal except I'm almost shrunken out of them a year after I got them at the thrift store. And for two pairs of denim jeans, a pair of Farah slacks and pant shorts for $11, I'll have fun finding new ones.

BobbyG

I wear black synthetic blend coaches shorts. I like having the side pockets to put my gloves in, or my headlight and speedometer when I walk away from the bike. Also, I wear it with a belt and have my phone in a belt-clip holster on the side. I also carry my keys on a springy cable clipped to a belt loop on the left and carried in my left front pocket. I realize this is may not be the norm, or even attractive, but it's what has worked for me for 25 years. When it get's colder I wear light breathable training pants over them, and in the extreme cold, snow or rain I wear nylon water-resistant training pants.

caloso

4km, just wear what you are already wearing to work.

Leebo

Mt. bike shorts and /or bike tights.

locolobo13 

I commute ~5 mi each way. I wear the same thing I wear at work. Tho I do change pants when I get to work as my clothes get pretty sweaty here.

rumrunn6

my 2 cents & I freely admit it may be completely useless so I apologize in advance, but I think it's easier to plan for a longer commute such 13 miles/50 minutes than it is for a shorter ride like this one. because ... with a longer commute, the decision to suggest cycling specific garments & store office clothes, shoes & food at your destination is easier to make.

megalowmatt

For my 5.5 mile ride I just wear what I wear at work. Lightweight shorts and a shirt.

rhm

I commute in my regular work clothes. But that's how I normally ride whether I'm on a weekend century or on my 5.5 mile ride to the train station. Cycling-specific clothes, especially the pants, don't work for me, so it's a no-brainer for me. If you have a strong preference for bib tights or whatever, you really don't want my advice.

RubeRad

I just wanted to say I enjoyed this joke.

For me, cycling pants are just regular athletic shorts, kinda like basketball shorts, I have a rotation of 3 or 4 pairs. I have a locker and shower at work, so I shower at work instead of home and change into my casual work clothes (jeans&polo) after I'm showered. Jeans and sneakers stay at work (jeans come home to get washed occasionally), so most days I only have to bring fresh underwear, shirt, and socks.

For underwear usually just yesterday's tightie-whities, but I'm starting to switch over to boxer briefs, because the hem of the whities is just in the wrong place compared to the relatively sharp leather edges of my Selle Anatomico Titanico X. For long recreational rides, I have padded liners from nashbar that go under the same shorts.

fietsbob

my fave black tracksuit bottom (i found compound jersey knit poly fleece d back smooth surface)

it's gives as you ride, because its not woven like denim.

[NB a Skiving tool can take off the sharp corners that the S-A saddle makers Left]

lower edges of the nicer Brooks, someone tapers that edge by hand,

RubeRad

Yes, I'm pretty sure I will eventually do that, it's just I paid so much for it (even used off eBay) that I'm hesitant to deface it. It is the most expensive component of my bike, behind frame, wheelset, and shifters. I did recently take a boxcutter to the center channel though, at my weight the two sides were forced together at the narrow part, so I widened it (this on the advice of S-A customer service)

fietsbob

they make many styles the right one will do a quarter round of just the edge.

skiving is the leather working technique https://www.tandyleather.com/en/product/craftool-french-edge-skiving-tool

Standalone 

Anything that's not cotton does the trick for my cool and sometimes rainy Connecticut commute, which uses a train for part of the ride in, and sometimes the full 16-17 mile ride home. I have a place to shower and change at work.

I have a pair of Twin 6 three quarter pants that I love to ride in. https://www.twinsix.com/collections/mens-bottoms
But mostly I just commute in $10 clearance rack track pants.

DiabloScott

My commute is 5k and I always change at work... I don't get TOO sweaty, I just like to do it.

So in the winter, tights or knickers. In the summer, baggy MTB shorts.

kickstart

2 miles definitely falls into the wear anything category.

noglider 

That's a rather personal question!

wilfried

Lately, blue jeans (I can wear jeans at work), or else chinos. In warmer weather (over 60 or 70), cargo shorts, and I change into long pants at work.