Overkll. Cyclist in kit. Sorta have to disagree on this one. At least from where I have been. Some of the super race type in team gear. I have seen them repeatedly violate stop sign/red light without so much as flinching. Could not believe my eyes. Did not even look sideways.
Not saying racers any worse than the average joe, but, from what I saw certainly no better.

What kills me about this thread is that some of you live in a spot where motorists react and their reaction matters. Here, NO ONE that I have met who is in a car in over 25 years on a bike has reacted because I am in bike gear. Never, ever, not once.

I love where I live.

Is this 50% estimate based on the same slice of the French population where 90% of cyclists wear lycra all the time when cycling?

Won't dispute the fact, it's not official. Just go by what I see. Helmets far more common than I first recall over 10 years ago. In fact, I'd suspect 50% might be a little low. We all live by our impressions. Not too good at completing survey check off sheets while riding. Still, I am pretty confident of my impressions.
Yes, 'Like to bike' might disagree with sampling methods. Most of my 'surveys ?' are while on the road more than five miles away from home and not within our small village. And I usually undercount little old ladies riding four blocks with a loaf of bread under their arms. Those riders might lower my estimate to 85 %.
Kept track during our group rides last Sunday up into the Pyrenees' foothills. Had to be over 100 riders pass our group by. I saw two in Mtn. bike shorts.

You have been assimilated!

Welcome to the club.

The point is not that your poll is unofficial or that you are not reporting what you see.

The point is that your observations are SO limited in scope/provincial, so divorced from commuting, and So unrepresentative of commuter cyclists of France or anywhere else. How many people bicycle commute up into the Pyrenees' foothills as a group?

Like to bike. There is no reason to belabor a point. I don't think your goal is to dictate what gear the respective kinds of cyclist find useful.? Would you argue my point about fashion police telling cycists either way what to or not to wear. Seems you don't respond to that point.
I agree. Cycists should not be judged by gear they wear. A rider in cut off's could beat the hell out of someone in team gear. Not that racing matters to this recreational rider.
But, endurance riders should be disallowed to wear comfortable gear because some motorist might be offended. Agree or not. ? If we are respectful of our free choices, then there is no argument.
But, survey I read just today. Unfortunately just 2% of riders in the UK are bike commuters.
Might be an indication that a greater number of cyclists need gear for endurance riding; since racers and long distance riders suffer more than just a spin around the block.

I have grown quite fond of my Performance Elite shorts. I love every aspect of them. The pad, the lycra fabric, evrything is excellent for the money. I pick them up for $35 on sale every now and then.

No need for the fashion police to operate in your current cycling environment. It seems compliance with cycling fashion is well in hand.

The argument, such as it is, is your confusion with the fashion/utility requirements of endurance/ long distance cyclists and the needs of commuters. There is a list for Road and Touring Cyclists, this is not it.
Might be, but then again judging by the numbers, there is a greater need for discussion about the best buys at WalMart than there is for discussing endurance cyclists on a commuter list.

IMO, your last sentence again displays your contempt for commuter cyclists who are concerned with the issues that affect their "pansy cycling" as you previously so eloquently described cycling that does not involve long distances, group training, or mountain climbing.

I find that a pair sueded nylon climbing shorts from REI, wicking underwear , and a lightweight running shirt works the best for my commute in the Texas summer heat . I've spent so much time on my Brooks saddle that I don't really need the chamois for my 30 mile commute, and airflow through the baggy shorts (at least these) is much better than my PI cycling shorts.

As an update, I decided to ride 60 miles in my cheapie Zoics just to see if they'd start hurting. Besides the intense burning sensation in my leg muscles, I still felt fine.

On the subject of helmets, I got one with my first bike, but never wore it. Figured helmets were for sissies or hardcore people pushing their limits. On my first tour I decided to wear it just for the image (if people see you with a fully loaded rack, cycling backpack, and clothes, a helmet is the cherry on top of the "cyclist" image). Turns out I liked it, and even wear it on my trips down the block to the library now :).

I Like to Bike - what is it about arguing that you like so much? You seem willing to veer a LONG way off topic, just to find something, anything, in a persons post that you can disagree with. I've never seen such a whiner.

Who's arguing, Sammy? I'm reporting the essence of the zealot's message. Cyclezealot has repeatedly reported on the commuter list about the clothing equipment fashions and preferences of his associates devoted to long distance group rides, endurance training and climbing mountains, while simultaneously deriding/scoffing at the little old ladies, pansies (his word), and others who if not cycling up mountains or doing endurance rides are only cycling around the block.And has yet to figure out that this is the list for commuters. Do you disagree? If so post your comment/response or figure out who is doing the whining.

Do you agree or disagree that you just may be another speed boy/fixie fetishist posting on the commuter list who has no response to skepticism BUT to whine about his tender feelings.

I disagree. I can't be a fixie fetishist, I don't own a fixie, though I do have one in production. I like to ride fast, but I don't own any lycra, and I'm not part of a club. I do commute though. People do all sorts of different things on their bikes, which may affect what they have to say here. I like vintage bikes - I post on the Vintage forum. My commuter bike is a 70's Falcon - does that mean I shouldn't post here? Because it's from the 70's, does that mean if I tell people it's a really good commuter, and was cheap, you'll tell me to get back to the Classic and Vintage forum?

There are people here who commute who like to ride fast, who wear lycra, who like mountain bikes, who like alt bikes, who like fixies, but they all commute. I could quite genuinely say that I don't think some 9 ton coaster brake cruiser is suitable for commuting, and that if you like those, you probably belong on a different list somewhere, but then, that would make me an ass, wouldn't it? If that's what you ride, and that's how you commute, then you belong here.

Do you agree or disagree that you may just be another elderly conservative american who thinks that anyone who does things different from you is inherently bad?

First, I think you should put your Tarot Cards away and try your silly attempt at stereotyping elsewhere, Jack.

I'd recommend you take your messages about Vintage bikes elsewhere ONLY IF you responded to every newbie's question about suitable bikes for commuting with posts that made out that Vintage Bikes were God's gift to the commuter cycling world and are faster, simpler, more reliable than everything else ever dreamed of by mankind (just like the fetishists carry on about the blissful karma derived from fixed gear experience.)

See, there you go. I DID stereotype you. But you've done the same to me. You've called me a "fixie fetishist", despite the fact that I've never suggested to anyone here that they ride a fixie, and that when I talked about the single speed freewheel commuter I'm building, I made clear all the very good reasons why it was good for what I wanted. You generalised in another thread on the basis that I had been in a tricky braking situation in the rain that I was a dangerous rider who went fast regardless of danger. I've seen you in thread after thread pick people up for next to nothing. I don't know if some of those people have history, as you suggest, but I've been one of them at least, once, and I have no history with you.

If people are uncomfortable riding in street clothes, then lycra is probably a good idea. If they find they don't have enough braking power in the wet, maybe they DO need discs, if they find they want to get lower and go faster on their commute, PERHAPS drop handlebars are for them? Doesn't mean any of those things are for everyone, but not everyones commuting experience is the same as yours. Stop stereotyping me, and I won't go back to stereotyping you.

Well it's been a week or so & I have to say that I'm hooked on wearing cycling shorts. I now own 5 pairs and may even look into getting a pair of bibs soon. :) One thing that I've also noticed is I seem to find the "sweet spot" on my seat now. Before I was moving my arse all over the place trying to settle into the right spot, now I just kinda slide right into place. I am amazed that my sore ass & groin area are no longer sore & my basic overall comfort has been improved so much by wearing my shorts. I've been on the bike more & more at greater distances now because riding is that much more pleasurable for me. :D

Dang you! I only have two pairs. :p
Too flippin expensive with a family to pay for.

I'm single, no kids. I gotta spend the money on something, why not more bike gear? :D

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<Danger, Will Robinson, Danger> Hops on bike and speeds off. </Danger, Will Robinson, Danger>

"Stupid sexy Flanders..."

"Feels like... nothing at all! Nothing at all!"