I think this is targeted marketing.

It's funny, I think, the disdain for this "hipster" that everyone keeps conjuring. It sounds more like a straw man than anyone extant. I was just thinking yesterday how awesome my Levi 510 Skinny jeans are for riding around this time of year (they have stretchy-stuff for accommodating giant thighs).

Also, it should be noted that, all ye biker-people, bicycle-specific clothing leans way more to the "skinny" side than most "hipster" jeans: I've so far refused to get bike-specific clothes because I keep having flashbacks to David Bowie in "Labyrinth."

For me it's pretty simple. As a male rounding the corner towards 50, I don't think skinny jeans would really be acceptable on me from a fashion standpoint. Neither would ultra baggy jeans. Both would be seen as trying to look like something I'm not - young. ;)

Biking shorts and tights would also be a fashion faux pas around the office, - that's why I change.

Anyone else bothered by wealthy politicians appearing in front of rural or blue color folks wearing jeans and flannel shirts that are obviously brand new? I am. It just seems so phony to me. Be who you really are.

Don't think clothing choice I make shows who I am most of time unless it is very "job"/"task" specific.
If there are functionality involved... I wonder what the big fuss is about?
I suppose I am natural born FRED after all.

I think Chinos, jeans, or any other type of "regular" clothes are fine for putting around. For me though commuting isn't putting ;). My intent is to make it a fairly intense workout. And just like I wouldn't wear jeans on a 5 mile run, I'm not going to wear them on a training ride.

Though I've seen similar sentiments before I think the touch football analogy is a little flawed. No one is going to wear full pads to play touch football because they would hinder your performance. You might wear jeans if it's a spontaneous game or on a school playground but not for any game where you want to be competitive. For the semi-annual games I used to play with my high school buddies almost all of us wore cleats. None of us wore jeans. Several traditionally wore a football jersey of some kind.

In fact people wear football and other types of sporting jerseys all the time, but nobody seems to care. Yet when a cyclist wears a cycling jersey while ... you know, cycling, for some reason people take issue with it. Personally I don't get it.

Myself I'm not one to wear "kit" but I really don't care if other people do. I wear black cycling shorts or tights almost all the time while commuting. I have a few solid color jerseys I may or may not wear. But I don't always wear cycling gear either. Today I used one of the gift cards I got for Christmas to get myself some lunch. It's maybe a 2 mile ride from work and I just left my work clothes on.

Agreed. Even if it's not an intense workout, it's at least a 30 min period of at least medium intensity exercise.

When I used to commute to the nearest train station (10 min ride) I would happily wear jeans or work clothes. Although they would still get sweated in.

I just got a pair of Novarra Cragmont jeans on sale at REI. I do like the stretchy material, the fit, and the tappered legs. The reflective material though is mostly covered by the pocket flaps.

Today they were good in light drizzle, but summer will be the real test. Worth $36 on sale but not sure about the $90 full price.

20-some years ago there were cycling shorts that were lycra and 'looked' like blue jean color/material.

I used to be presented with these ads all the time, haven't seen them in a while though.

The reflective pocket-square and cuff lining looks useful.

But in general, I would never bike in jeans. Too inflexible. I dont' even enjoy casual riding in most of my cargo shorts.

I have the Levis biking jeans in black, and they are comfortable. I have been using them mainly for travel, lately since I fly frequently and they are very comfortable on long flights. They stretch slightly so they have give, unlike regular jeans. The actually feel fine on a bike.

I found them odd to wash at first. They had white smudges on them so I had to wash them a few times. I use a liquid detergent not powdered. It seems if they aren't rinsed completely you get the smudges, the other clothes don't show it. I think it is because the fabric is made to be slightly water and stain repellant. I have gotten it sorted out after washing them a few times and figuring out just how much detergent is too much.

The black Levis are very nice looking, they don't really look like jeans, they look more dressy than that.

Anyone try the Rapha jeans?

$$$$$$$$$
If I had that type of money I'd go with the Outlier slim dungarees.

doubt they have a fat peoples size for the elderly .. marketing stops caring past 35.

I'm wearing Levis Commuter pants (not exactly jeans) today.
I have two pair. A khaki pair I bought a little over a year ago and a new pair in black.

They're too hot in the heat of summer. They work well on their own in the transitional seasons. I wore them coupled with a base layer at 0°F for 5 miles 1way with no worries.
The older pair could use a little refreshing of it's water resistance chemicals. When new/before washing a couple times, they worked better than expected. I've stayed relatively dry even in a downpour. The water just beads up and rolls off - like fresh wax on a sports car.
The black pair (linked above) doubles well in the office. The look like any other "dockers" style pants.
For me, they're very comfortable on the bike - except in the heat. I have to lighten up in the hottest parts of summer.

Any sign of crotch blowout? Been thinking of buying a pair but so far Dickies in the summer and winter have been the best and cheapest alternative.

The crotch is reinforced, at least two layers but not to be confused with a pad like real cycling shorts have. Should make them last longer though.

Rick / OCRR

People tell me that on a regular basis and can not understand how I can be comfortable in denim shorts. Yet that is what I always ride in and have gone as much as 115 miles in one day wearing them. I would not be adverse to spending money on other attire, but I don't know how to solve a problem when, (for me) a problem does not exist. I am in Texas with mild winters, summers can be 100* +.

Don in Austin

I have the same situation here in Vegas. I wear cargo shorts with bike shorts under for the summer and most of the spring and fall. I would get the Levis if I can try them on first. I don't want to look like a 40 year old hipster.

I like my cotton duck Landscaping pants... they have zip off legs so convert to shorts in warmer weather and are comfortable to ride in and are quite windproof and a little water resistant.

I just wear jeans..

Funny stuff in this thread. For anything other than training rides I wear whatever normal street clothes I happen to have on. Most of the time that's Levi's 511 or 513 (stretchy fabric both) but might also be khaki's, gray flannels, or a suit. Just about the entire population of The Netherlands and big chunks of Denmark, Sweden, and Germany and millions of others throughout Europe and Asia do the same with no ill effects. Why do Americans like to complicate things so?

Why do Americans like to complicate things? Such ignorance. Enough commuting causes the crotch to wear out in denim, pants, trousers, etc. Always looking for an alternative versus patching up holes and tears. I've blown through 511's, 501stf's and Dickies have been my go to for years.

I have 3 pairs of cycling jeans to avoid the extra shower/change when commuting. The time saved is worth it for me. Plus I get them on sale so it wasn't expensive compared to regular jeans.

I have 1 pair of Levi's 511 commuter jeans. It's pretty comfortable even though it is tight fitting. I wear them even when I'm not cycling. The main bike-specific feature I like is the small leg opening.

I have 2 pairs of Fox Racing Selecter Jeans. These are my favorites because of the two zipper pockets: back-left pocket and watch pocket. I can keep my cell phone in the back pocket with zero chance of losing them. The watch pocket is zipped and extra large, suitable for money, keys, maybe a small pocket knife too.

(first post, woohoo!)

No idea. I ride thousands of miles a year in jeans, no other kind of pants/shorts. I've ridden with jeans in 100F/90% humidity weather and in 20F weather. They are just incredible clothing, durable, cool, but insulate in the cold. I guess if I were doing huge rides regularly I'd want something specialized for cycling, but that's not on the horizon, jeans work fine for commuting, around town, and decent day trips.

The crotch doesn't wear out on my jeans, indeed the only damage they've taken was when I was a n00b starting riding again and didn't know to roll up my right leg. And the cuff I roll up and down all day doesn't wear out either :)

No. The color is a bit faded and they do have a few stains from the chain/changing a flat.
But there's no excessive wear an any area. I wear/wore these in the office fairly routinely. The khaki less now but the black one still look great.

I wear regular jeans or dockers on short errand rides. I bought the levis commuters primarily for the water resistance on rainy days (like today). I came in relatively dry after 15 miles in a moderate, steady rain.