Wool is probably the best fabric on the planet.
I believe that nylons were one of the greatest inventions.
Men liked nylons so much that they had to figure a way to
wear nylon.
I can still remember my first polyester jacket.
What a totally cool windbreaker it was.
Nylon put a new dimension in cold weather camping
and skiing.

I wear riding shorts. The seams in skivvies aren't real comfortable, particularly after a long day.

The bike stuff is the way to go when the weather gets hot too. It's just more comfortable on the bike.

You don't have to dress like a peloton dog. They make cycling specific clothing that doesn't scream poseur.

You probably needn't bother if your commute isn't very long or hard though. I wouldn't.

I wear either cycling shorts (both MTB-style and road style) or athletic shorts for my short 5.5 mile commute. I prefer the cycling shorts (padding, no chafing, better wind resistance), but they're pricey and I don't have too many of them so I don't have enough to go between washings.

Between my exposed chain and the sweat issue (hilly terrain), pants don't work well for me. So if I have to change (and shower, incidentally), might as well wear the cycling shorts since they're more comfy.

I often multi-mode to work by bus and bicycle, 48 miles round trip. If riding only a few miles, I'll wear a set of office clothing to & from work that day; if longer, I'll wear cycling specific clothes and change into one of the sets of office clothing that I store in a tall cabinet at work.

I don't think I could commute without cycling shorts anymore. Before I got my shorts I'd be riding the 10 mile commute home in 100 degree weather, all with cotton undies. Not a pleasant experience!

I'm lucky enough to be a contractor @ a large R&D firm. I carry a change of clothes in a trunk bag to work. I nab a locker during the day to hang my shorts and towel. Just glad there is no one checking badges at the shower entrance. :)

I commute either 5 or 17 miles each way, depending on whether I take the train part-way or not. I wore 'regular' shorts and jeans for years, and didn't really have a problem with pain or saddle sores. I now wear cycling-specific bottoms -- mountain bike baggy shorts with a chamois liner in the summer and tights in the winter. Two things happened that caused me to change what I wear.

First, at some point in my career I needed to start wearing casual dressy, then eventually slacks and nice button-up shirts. Riding in slacks is pretty much a non-starter, and as long as I was going to change anyways, I might as well wear cycling clothes while riding. Second, at some point wearing non-cycling clothes started to bother my nether bits.

Everyone's different, but when my nether bits complain, I listen and respond.

As for tops, I wear all sorts of stuff. Most of the time I wear polyester or hemp short-sleeved button up shirts (like this one) or a regular cotton T-shirt. Sometimes I layer with wicking polyester or SmartWool, or wear cycling jerseys for the 34-mile round trip in the summer.

I keep my dress clothes in my office, change when I get here, and hang the cycling stuff up to dry during the day.

Depends on the bike and seat for me. My principal commuter right now is a folding bike and I've got it set up for a pretty upright ride and it has a comfy Biologic saddle on it. I can ride that puppy all day in regular shorts and never have a problem. I usually put 15 to 20 k on it the days I ride it. I only live 3-4 k from work but I usually manage to find the long way and pull a utility trip or two with it as well.

What I do have to wear here in Okinawa is some kind of hi-tech shirt this time of year. Cotton sweats through almost instantly.

I usually take a couple of those hi tech running shirts with me and change if I need to. Sometimes I keep a small wet rag in a zip lock bag and a those little pocket rocket Axe body spray things so as not to offend anybody too horribly if I stop to conduct biz somewhere.

I almost always ride with a big Topeak bag so there's room for a change of clothes if need be.

John

John

why does everyone qualify chaps with "assless"? If they weren't assless, they'd just be pants, no?

:lol:


Bibs or other regular cycling shorts for me. I hang them up on my PC at work to dry.

I have a few pairs of bibs that I rotate through. If its rainy I have a set of Endura waterproof knickers and if its just cool I wear their regular cargo knickers. I have 15 miles door to door so the cycling shorts are a must. I like the knickers because they help keep my knees warm and I don't have to worry about people staring at my junk if I decided to take public transit for part of the way.

I store clothes at work and only take a shirt, shorts and socks with me. We also have on site shower and locker facilites so stinking isn't an issue.

Shorts in the summer, tights in the winter. The value of a chamois is very high. I didn't know what I was missing, and now I wonder how I could have been so blind. But, if you're not comfortable wearing tight lycra shorts, go with something in a mountain short. They're nice and baggy. I like 3/4 length messengers too.