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Old 09-29-11 | 08:18 PM
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pant suggestions

Haven't been commuting for over a year now and it's been like losing a friend. It's great to be back.

I'm looking for some ideas for pants that work as casual pants but have some cycling features. Levi's has a skinny commuter jeans which I was about to try until the wife said I wouldn't like skinny jeans and she's probably right.

How many of you just commute in your regular Dockers, Levi's, Columbia's, etc?
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Last edited by daredevil; 09-29-11 at 08:21 PM.
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Old 09-29-11 | 08:48 PM
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I commute in the same pants I wear to work. Slacks or suit pants depending on what I have going on. I don't own any pants with cycling features. Just tie a rubber band around your right ankle to keep your cuff out of the gears. Or, if you wear jeans or don't care about creases, just roll it up.

What cycling features are you looking for?
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Old 09-29-11 | 09:00 PM
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regular dickies are nice. not the ones with doubled knees, but just the regular work pants. they can be stiff early on, but give it a wash with some softener and it'll feel just fine. you can roll them up as needed as well. It's worked for me nicely so far.

https://www.dickies.com/product/produ...45524441761639
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Old 09-29-11 | 09:07 PM
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Originally Posted by IP Freely

What cycling features are you looking for?
Nothing in particular. Those Levi's sound nice in that among other things they are waterproof, reinforced in certain areas and a little stretchy.
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Old 09-29-11 | 09:08 PM
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I ride with running pants from Target. They sort of resemble loose bike pants as they have a narrow leg. Polyester... but comfortable enough that I often wear them around the house.

I can't handle riding with jeans. I think I'd rather wear Dockers.
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Old 09-29-11 | 09:09 PM
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Originally Posted by trdsupragt
regular dickies are nice. not the ones with doubled knees, but just the regular work pants. they can be stiff early on, but give it a wash with some softener and it'll feel just fine. you can roll them up as needed as well. It's worked for me nicely so far.

https://www.dickies.com/product/produ...45524441761639
I have some of those...I'll give em a try.
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Old 09-29-11 | 10:22 PM
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Bikes: Novear Buzz V. I also have a 'B' cycle city borrow a bike, only I own it. It's 3 speed, slow, heavy and rugged.

I just wear cheap blue jeans and I tie a bandanna just above my ankle to keep that pantleg out of the chain. I've been told the bandanna looks cool when I'm off the bike and in a store.
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Old 09-30-11 | 12:25 AM
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I have a pair of the Levi's commuter jeans. There's some stretch to them. I was told they would shrink a little, so I bought a size up. Quite comfortable. Water-resistance is good for moderate rain and for a short duration (15-20 minutes). Dries quickly, though! I'll be getting another pair.
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Old 09-30-11 | 03:33 AM
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Polyester/cotton hiking/travel pants are fine for riding a bike. You can get fancy brand name ones or from discount hiking stores. Some are too baggy, some dry more quickly than others. I think the cargo-pant look is a bit too casual for some use so I have some plain , more formal-looking ones (from UK supplier Rohan)
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Old 09-30-11 | 06:07 AM
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Stretch jeans, chinos or cargo pants are nice commuting pants. These are the ones with just a small percentage of spandex, so they move freely and comfortably, but still look like "normal" clothes. My favorites are some zip-leg hiking pants from Costco. They have multiple secure pockets, repel water, dry fast, and cost a mere $20.
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Old 09-30-11 | 06:20 AM
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Originally Posted by EChing
I have a pair of the Levi's commuter jeans. There's some stretch to them. I was told they would shrink a little, so I bought a size up. Quite comfortable. Water-resistance is good for moderate rain and for a short duration (15-20 minutes). Dries quickly, though! I'll be getting another pair.
Online they're $78. Kinda pricey but I might try a pair.
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Old 09-30-11 | 06:36 AM
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How long of a ride? For anything longer than 4-5 miles, I find jeans to be pretty uncomfortable. I often bike in athletic shorts (tights underneath in the winter) and change at my destination. I have found lightweight "hiking" pants to be more comfortable than jeans, and some khakis work well too. I think it's due to the thinner fabrics, which make for thinner seams, so less material to cause chaffing.
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Old 09-30-11 | 06:43 AM
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I have rwally learned to love the Rivendell Musa pants.There are no seams in the crotch,really deep pockets and built in reflectors. I've been using them all year and the fabric seems really durable. They look ok as casual pants also. I'm buying more.

The Boy Scouts of America also have an interesting pair of convertible cargo pants,the fabric is great for cycling.

Marc
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Old 09-30-11 | 09:10 AM
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When the levis' jeans came out, I emailed the company to ask them to make a version for their Docker's casual pants. Since most places seem to have jeans day once a week or so, making dockers with commuter features would give them a larger chance at the commuter market. Never heard anything back, but here's hoping. Even at $78, I'd buy every color they cvame out with if the dockers had the same features as the jeans.

I ride 8 miles each way in my Dockers when it's cool enough. Mountain HArdwear used to sell some work(ish0 pants that were made for bike commuters (reinforced seat, reflective band under the pants cuff, etc IIRC, but I haven't really seen any other commuter specific pants that were less than $100 each.
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Old 09-30-11 | 09:18 AM
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These are just perfect - not too hot, but keep wind and cold out. They dry in 2-4 hours, which means I can put them on for the ride home if I go to work and it is raining.

https://www.mckinley.eu/products/ingham-men_987

Some 15-20 euros on discount, 30-40 euros full price.
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Old 09-30-11 | 09:19 AM
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Originally Posted by fotooutdoors
How long of a ride? For anything longer than 4-5 miles, I find jeans to be pretty uncomfortable. I often bike in athletic shorts (tights underneath in the winter) and change at my destination.
I sweat easily so I'm the same. I don't want to sit at work with sweaty trousers/jeans.
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Old 09-30-11 | 07:32 PM
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It has to be pretty cold before I'll ride in my work pants, which are usually just cheap Costco jeans. If it's that cold it's probably raining, so I'll have my Gore or my O2 rain pants on over the jeans to keep dry, and they make the lower part stay snug so it doesn't get caught by the chain.
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Old 09-30-11 | 07:46 PM
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Northface hiking pants are fantastic - wick moisture, fast drying, lots of pockets, can zip off legs to convert into shorts, and very durable.
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Old 10-01-11 | 10:12 AM
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Looks like a good product, but it's too bad there's no version for women, at least none I can find with a few minutes of googling.
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Old 10-01-11 | 06:01 PM
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Originally Posted by DrPangloss
Looks like a good product, but it's too bad there's no version for women, at least none I can find with a few minutes of googling.
When I googled them, women's came up first....no kidding.
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Old 10-01-11 | 06:50 PM
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Originally Posted by daredevil
When I googled them, women's came up first....no kidding.
I used the sport hill dc running pants for a year they are a bit pricey at 100 dollars. I lost mine in a fire along with all my other paragoni clothing was a huge lost. But I just picked up the Columbia bagaboo pants they are warm and rain proff but I miss my sporthill pants they were super warm and made no nosie while I was on my bike. The bugaboo's noise is really annoying the crap out of me and I just bought them. There goes 80 bucks. Sporthill site is on Google just type it in.
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Old 10-01-11 | 11:35 PM
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Originally Posted by daredevil
When I googled them, women's came up first....no kidding.
Huh...I've tried "levis commuter jeans women", "levis 511 women" and didn't get any hits.
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Old 10-01-11 | 11:57 PM
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Sweat-pants, here .. knit fabric gives and stretches, woven ones do not.

I got a pair made of a compound type , smooth on the outside fleece on the inside , nylon polyester.

and find 50/50 cotton /poly blends are durable , more so than all cotton.
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Old 10-02-11 | 12:16 AM
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Originally Posted by EChing
I have a pair of the Levi's commuter jeans. There's some stretch to them. I was told they would shrink a little, so I bought a size up. Quite comfortable. Water-resistance is good for moderate rain and for a short duration (15-20 minutes). Dries quickly, though! I'll be getting another pair.
I didn't know these were out yet. I just looked them up on the Levi's website. I thought they were going to be made of something other than cotton. Oh well, I was riding in some tight cotton jeans before anyways. These might be worth a try, if I can find them for cheaper than the official website.
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Old 10-02-11 | 12:17 AM
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On the few occasions I get to commute, I wear my standard work cloths which usually are Dockers or EB type slacks, Sperry Topsiders and a polo or button down shirt. Sorry, I do not wear the cycling uniform anymore than I would dress in a NASCAR fire resistant leather racing outfit to drive my auto in to work. I ride my Surly CC and flip my dual sided pedals over to the non cleated side.
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