Hi everybody, I'm new to these forums and to cycling in general. I plan to get a road bike (something like a Giant TCR, OCR, or something similar) for exercise and maybe riding to school. My problem is that I don't know what I can wear for just a short, 4-mile commute. This is important because I don't think I can bring a change of clothes. So here are my questions:

1. Does a backpack work well with biking on a road bike?

2. Are jeans and a t-shirt ok for a really short commute assuming that I'll ride in something like 60 degree weather at like 10-15 mph? (chafing, sweat, etc)

I'm in shape from running cross country if that matters...and my legs look more like a cyclist's than a runners somehow. Weird quads.

Thanks

I'm sure you'll be fine in jeans at that temp and pace.

A lot of people prefer racks and panniers but since you're likely to be carrying your stuff with you once you get to school anyway then a backpack or messenger bag may be your best bet. You'll want a backpack that has a strap that secures around your waist.

It all comes down to comfort. If you're carrying a lot of books, that may be tough on your back. You may also end up being more sweaty.

My commute is about 7 miles and I use a messenger bag. As long as I pack it well it's comfortable. Usually I carry a light laptop, clothes, and lunch plus a few misc items. Probably ends up being well under 10 lbs.

I find jeans to be fine. I would just be sure to have some way to secure your right pant leg so that it doesn't find itself as food for your chain rings.

I have a 2.5-mile commute each way with some hills. I wear jeans (with some metal clips to keep them out of the chain) and other casual street clothes in temperate weather. I sometimes come in a little warm, but never seriously sweaty. I try and keep a very deliberate pace on the way in and push a bit harder coming home.

Not fond of backpacks though - I use a messenger bag. My main commuter has a rack, but I sometimes take my CX bike or mountain bike in which event I just sling the bag over my shoulder or get by with a fanny pack.

I do wear SPD shoes and keep a spare set of shoes at work.

- Mark

4 miles, i'm sure jeans will be fine. Wish I had 4 miles
Backpacks work fine.
Buy a good lock. You will not regret spending the extra cash on a good one. Kryptonite Evolution would be my suggestion.

I'd bring a change of undies at least. Avoiding jungle crotch is well worth stuffing some extra boxers in your backpack and changing in the restroom...

I've never had any problems riding in jeans. I definitely would recommend a rack though. It's amazing how much less sweaty I am if i strap my backpack down with some bungee cords compared to actually wearing it.

i use jeans all the time, even at these times of the freezing year.
and no over top nor under neath protection for warm.
just good old plain jeans

we'll see how lower temp it can hold without adding another layer

Jeans would work for that short of a distance as well as a backpack. Anything over 5 miles I'd start thinking about a rack and panniers as well as cycle specific clothing even if it meant living with my spandex under street clothes.

man, people here act like you'll immediately burn to death from the chafing while riding in jeans. Man, I ride everywhere in Jeans. My commute to and from school is 8 1/2 miles round trip, and I ride in jeans fine. Just make sure to cuff up your right pant leg and let all the nasty grease get stuck in there instead of on the side that shows. And get a messenger bag Backpacks suck ass for riding; they make your shoulders overkill. At least with a mess bag only one of them hurts. Plus messenger bags are all the rage these days, so you'll probably get compliments and the like with them.

I have a 4 mile commute to work that 3 out of 5 days is taken with my Kilo TT. I ride with jeans everyday at a fairly quick pace, and cover flats as well as hills. Jeans are fine, and as far as your pack, it's a personal comfort thing. If you're used to the backpack, stick with it, you'll be solid either way. But do make sure to cuff up your pant leg, because ripped up pants make for a bad start to any day.

If you wear slimmer fitting jeans you won't have to mess around rolling up/tucking in/strapping down

Sweet. Thanks for all the tips.

Some bikes eat pants more than others. If there's a ring guard on your bike, it will be *much* better behaved than a regular bike. Some double chainring setups have space for a ring guard, so it might be worth looking into.

Most jeans have flat felled seams, so they should be OK for commuting. It's pants that have a regular seams, that aren't sewn down, that have a potential for rubbing. Not all of them will either, but when you hit that pair, it's miserable.

Jeans are fine. It depends a lot on your saddle; jeans work particularly well with a hard saddle (leather is good) because there's less friction between saddle and pants.

It's good to do something to keep the cuffs from snagging on crank &c. I use velcro reflective straps, but you can also pull your socks up over your pant cuffs. This look goes especially well with a tweed jacket with leather patches on the elbows. They'll think you're a college professor!

Listen to this. A change of undies and a change of shirt. Commuting with a backpack works just fine, remember to tighten the straps to snug to keep them from shifting too much. Carry a second shirt to replace the first sweaty, wet one when you get there. Also carry deoderant.

Jeans worked fine for me, 6 miles in, this morning.

60 degree weather combined with moderately brisk riding can have you sweating pretty heavily: my rule is to consider the "felt temperature" when riding to be 20 degrees higher than the thermometer temperature. My ride in was in 40-45 F weather, and lightweight, close-fitting jeans (plus a long-sleeved T-shirt) were great for that.

It would be appropriate to stuff a change of shirt into your bag. Heavy jeans tend to absorb moisture and odors more than lightweight jeans do, so consider that as well.

Jeans suck. Better hope it doesn't rain.

Depending upon the conditions, you might find a featherweight under-layer beneath denim makes you more comfortable and in fact keeps you cooler rather than the reverse (which is what you might expect.) Not necessarily spandex or lycra, either.

I like the lightest weight of Patagonia Capilene, myself.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/bookings..._1_bottoms.htm

Carry a pair of shorts/briefs/dayglo g-string to change into at work/school. Comfier riding and no crotch rot.

BTW, if you're riding to a school that has dorms, you might look into getting an assigned locker somewhere and access to the laundry facilities. Makes things even easier.

When I was a child we didn't have 'fancy pants' for riding a bicycle. Levi's and Chuck Taylor's coupled with any shirt we had on were the norm. Not even gloves or a helmet (imagine that) and we rode everywhere on one speed bikes, unless we were lucky to have a genuine ten speed. Mountain bikes? Not invented yet! None of us died or lost skin from our crotch........heck we didn't even think about these things. We just used our bikes to get around, go fishing, ride to the store for candy or go to a friends house to play football. Our rides varied from about 1-10 miles and as much as 40 on occasion as we got older. Strap all your books on a rack or inside a saddle bag or front bag, then you don't have to get extra sweaty or have the load constantly shifting around on your back. Messenger bags always remind me of an old woman's purse!!! Buy a bike that can take fenders and a rack.........perhaps a cyclocross or touring style for a more versatile ride.

Sorry but these types of questions make me shake my head in disbelief!

You must be one of those famed Oregon Trail riders.

Yes........that's the state I did much of my riding in.

There are jeans and then there are jeans. The best for riding are not the heavy duty style but more the flexible stretch style jeans. They may be harder to find, but they are very nice to ride it. If riding in wet conditions, should plan on having slipon outerwear available.

4 miles is maybe 15 to 20 minutes, right? Jeans are perfect. Don't get this.