CliftonGK1

Dickies work pants. For just cruising around on errands, I've got Dickies double-knee work pants which I cut and hemmed just below the knee. They stay out of the chain, they're cut generously to allow unrestricted movement, and they don't bunch up on the saddle (at least not on my Brooks.)

noisebeam

I'm comfortable with Patagonia Scrambler shorts over tri-style (no padding) bike shorts with a synthetic well fitting T-shirt.

For my commute I don't bother with the over shorts.

Al

Pinyon

Anything under a 1-hour ride, and I just tuck my right pant-leg into a longer sock to keep from staining the pants. If it is over 90 degrees F (33 C), then I take an extra shirt to work and maybe an extra pair of socks to work, and switch to my backup pair of shoes that I keep behind my desk.

For any rides longer than an hour, I wear padded riding shorts, and synthetic socks and a shirt. The added comfort is worth it to me. I don't regularly swim distance, snow ski/shoe, or rock-climb in totally regular clothes and shoes either...

banerjek

I was just curious as to why someone wouldn't wear cycling clothes for rides of more than a few miles. Mud, heat, rain, freezing cold etc is just easier to deal with if you have the right gear. Plus, it's just more comfortable, and you can ride much faster without having to worry about stinking up your work clothes.

I don't bother to gear up for shorter rides, but once you get to a certain length, you can save time even after factoring in the time it takes to change.

GCRyder

I get the feeling there was an earlier thread that explained the reasoning.

Personally, I just don't like looking like a road racer on my commute. It may just be my imagination, but I could swear that drivers give wider berth to cyclists not clad in Lycra. But, since I work in a business office, it also doesn't make much sense for me to try wearing work clothes for a 14-15 mile ride to work. I've assembled sort of an "in-between" commuting wardrobe. My top usually consists of a long-sleeve polo-type shirt, sometimes worn over one of those wicking t-shirts, and usually worn with a blaze orange or yellow vest. I do wear cycling shorts or bibs, but over them, I wear some long pants. Lately, I've been wearing either a pair of modified running pants (snugged at the ankles) or some mid-weight stretch-wool surplus German ski pants from Sportsmans Guide. The latter are my favorites, because they have stirrups that keep them from flapping into the chain, and they have a spiffy, permanent crease.

Catgrrl70

Today I just wore a tank top under a regular old t-shirt, one that's not too big so it doesn't catch the air. But as for "normal" clothes, like work clothes, I don't do it. Too sweaty.

sean000

I often just commute in my work pants (which vary from jeans to some other type of cotton or blend), a light shirt, and a lightweight merino wool sweater over that. A light shell jacket goes in my bag to protect me from rain and cold. I have merino wool caps to wear under my helmet (or a silk balaclava in really cold weather) and wool gloves. This general outfit works for me in temperatures ranging from below freezing to 70 degrees. Any warmer than that and the sweater goes into the pannier with the jacket. A lightweight merino sweater is great to wear whether you are commuting in office clothes or cycling clothes. It keeps you warm when it's cold, but isn't so bulky that you get really sweaty.

My commute is only 4 miles each way, so that's why I wear my work clothes. The temperature range here in Bellingham, Washington is pretty mild as well. I Winter it rarely gets colder than 35 degrees, and in Summer rarely hotter than 85 degrees. In nice weather I will extend my ride home, so sometimes I carry cycling clothes to change into for my evening ride.

I usually wear regular shoes... sometimes my SPD shoes for the post-work ride. My pedals are platform on one side and SPD on the other.

Sean

irabidfish

as daytime temps here in LA reach the 80's on most days lately, I find myself uncomfortable in anything besides shorts for daily activities. A synthetic fabric button down shirt (not necessarily designed for sports recreation uses) with a white t-shirt underneath works just great, even on longer rides. Its often dark on the way home, and a small yellow stowable jacket fits the bill perfectly for the slightly colder nights, especially when you get going on downhill segments, the small bit of added warmth makes the ride a pleasure. Plus I am far more visible on the road to motorists (my route does require a brief jam uphill on an arterial road). With anything over 10 mi, I switch to padded cycling shorts, or half pants for the comfort, otherwise I reserve the more "snug" outfits for weekend rides. Regular shoes also fit my needs, but if it was possible to store a pair at my destination, I would probably use some sort of clip in pedal and shoes.

banerjek

I agree that lycra doesn't get you the maximum berth. However, a commuter is more likely to look like a Fred than a racer. To haul work clothing and your lunch as well as extra bike gear in case of problems/changing conditions, panniers are essential. I find that motorists treat me really well when I'm in my reflective gear with all my junk.

14-15 miles is a decent haul. However, since you're in AZ, your conditions may be more stable and certainly less wet. Even if conditions were perfect, though, I'd opt for the cycling gear just to be able to ride much harder.

DataJunkie

I think the idea of what you wear corresponding to how much space motorists give you is a matter of perception. I have been buzzed in everything from jeans to lycra. Plus, the inverse is also true. Meaning that I have been given plenty of space in everything from jeans to lycra.
Perhaps GCRyder is predisposed to disliking cycling gear. Perhaps not.

evblazer

I like to think my panniers, lights, reflective tape, safety triangle, trunk bag, fenders, mirrors and helmet light cancel out the buzz me lycra factor.
I've been buzzed on occasion no matter what bicycle or clothing I work. Pre-dinotte + Superflash I always thought I got alot more people changing lanes to pass and less heckling when I looked like I had both panniers instead of an empty rack. Maybe the extra width made me look more visible or less hated since I wasn't a "racer". I always had panniers when they threw bottles and slushies at me though. Maybe they thought I was thirsty after riding so far?

If I was to wear regular clothes I'd definately wear something not cotton and avoid seems at parts of my body that rub together or move alot. I have some champion microfiber shorts I got from Target which are awesome that I used to wear over my bike shorts and I use on my recumbent so I don't slide on the seat. That and their wicking shirts have been really good for when I just want to hope on the xtracycle an do some shopping. I think I eve have a pair or two of their pants. The nicest thing I find about their pants and shorts compared to the old stuff I had is they are so lightweight and pack really small.

zebano

My trip is 7-10 miles one way. I usually wear the shorts or pants that I will wear that day (jeans/cargo pants) with a velcro strap to protect it from the chain. I'll wear long underwear if needed. My back gets so sweaty however that I always wear a microfiber/poly t-shirt and layer on top of that as needed. Today I wore a long sleeve poly shirt, a vest and a bright yellow windbreaker (darn daylight savings time moved my commute into the dark). At work, I'll sit 5 minutes then change into a polo shirt.