Ideal for freezing to death! :eek:

I have made a note of that!:o

I'm curious....why do you say "red"? Coloring dye?

I cannot imagine doing long rides in jeans and tee shirt, especially in hot weather. Those of us who do long rides and put out a hard effort have come to understand the benefits provided by cycling specific clothing.
I do not wish to look like a model or an effete TDF cycling snob, whatever that is, but I will pay for the right clothing to help me enjoy riding. I do wear nondescript single color jerseys most of the time.
If I was cruising to the corner store I might wear regular clothes but If I'm doing 9 hours in the mountains I will certainly wear cycling clothes.

Don't worry it's just fashion. Whatever you're wearing now will probably look dumb in 15 years or so.

Just an observation... I think we tend to assume that others ride like we ride. Some here view a good day of bicycling as putting on a hundred miles through the mountains with their cardio-pulmonary system along with all the muscles and tendons working like a perfect machine. Others (and this includes me) view a perfect bike ride as a dozen or so miles on a rail trail with a cool fresh breeze on our face and the friendly waves and words of fellow cyclists, joggers and strollers part of the quiet, simple, pleasure.

Others yet may view their bicycle as daily transportation to their job or the shop -- much as many Europeans did for years before motorized family transport was put within their reach.

The later did so in whatever cloths they wore for their day's activity, just as American do when they drive their cars. (What? No driving gloves and mocs?) And they did this for generations.

The Tour de France riders obviously have different needs and dress accordingly. (Although I expect their bright colors have little to do with safety, and much to do with advertising their sponsors [just as with racing motorcyclists] and getting their pictures posted.)

I've been an avid sports motorcyclist for many years, doing regular sessions on the track as well on on the back roads, but I was never attracted to the garish colors and sponsor sticker look. To me that was an affectation. My years as a motojournalist provided me with many sets of leathers and textile riding suits. (see http://www.duc.bz/honest_evaluations_of_products_y.htm for one of many possible examples), but even with the freebies and sponsor stuff available I never wanted to go that route.

So need and individual character play a part.

Variety is, as they say, the "spice of life."

So apparently is thinking others needs and desires will always match our own.

-don

Glad to see the change in direction here. No need to toss out all kinds of negative implications of individuals having different preferences.

I think its been a great conversation, with as many different opinions as their are riding styles, but all the opinions were expressed thoughtfully, respctively, and sometimes tongue-in-cheek, but thats OK too. Thats what makes for a good and interesting forum IMHO...

I wasn't sure what the reaction would be so I wasn't to enthusiastic about bringing it up, but now I'm glad I did.

Darker colors absorb heat more than lighter colors do.

Well, maybe I'll be proven wrong, but personally, I think I'll be fine in cotton. I'm a construction worker for 28 years now and all I ever wear is cotton tees. And pretty much for any sweat filled activity, I've worn cotton tees (I'm guessing thats true for everyone else here to). They do a fine job at soaking up the sweat and they are light and comfortable too. On an extremely hot day, a change of shirts might be needed, but I see no problem with that. I cannot imagine myself sweating more at cycling than I do at work so I should be OK. If it does become a problem than maybe I'll move into the lycra stage. A mix of some poly with the cotton is best though.

No lycra or spandex to be found on a construction site!:D

You may find me in just about any garb. Today, on the 'bent, athletic shorts, 50+ jersey, tennis shoes and white socks. To the store - depending on weather - jeans or shorts and a t-shirt or sleeveless, or colder - sweat shirt.

Longer ride on DF bike - typically Lycra bibs, clip on shoes, real jersey,

Etc., etc.

But nothing I do or don't wear is driven by fear. Heck, at 71, and able to outride, out swim, out walk and out lift about 75% of the folks I see, what is there to fear?

Typically, on a colder and wet day, cotton will hold the moisture in, chilling one to the bone in the wind of bicycling. Wool will not do that, and wicking materials will move the moisture away from the body. With jackets, it is easy to start sweating like a pig in cooler weather.

Anyway, have fun and good luck. I really hope they work out for you.

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._6689742_n.jpg

When I was 400 pounds I kept to myself as much as I could because I thought people stared at me. When I began losing weight I realized that most people don't care and the few that do would find a reason to stare anyway, so I didn't shy away from Lycra.

If I can go in public dressed like this, anyone can.

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...3_853660_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._8347113_n.jpg

And I hate to say it, but this may be your problem. What if the guys found out! :eek:

Exactly.

Neil B, good for you getting out there.

Shorts: I wear either mtb shorts, or I wear a pair of whispy thin athletic trunks over my lycra. I won't walk into the local store or bar wearing swim trunks or other sports gear. Why would I go there dressed like a bike racer?
Top: I own a solid white and a solid hi-vis green jersey. Otherwise it's a wicking tee. (Cold weather is a whole nuther thread.)
I do not understand the tricked-out jerseys. Just not my style.
Wear what you want, but IT IS OK if you're not comfortable wearing full biker kit. Seems like there is some peer pressure to do so.

All well and good but the OP seemed to indicate that he was getting fairly serious and not just noodlng around or going for groceries. So I think most people advised him accordingly.

I love this topic :lol:

When you get to be 72 like I am, I really dont give a hoot what people think about what I am wearing. I have posted before, as a bent rider I wear $15 rugby shorts, and cotton t-shirts.

Bottom line>>>>dont worry about what other people "think", as 90% of them dont think anyway!!!!!!!

Just as a point of information I would like to say that the mosquitoes in Maine can bite right through Lycra. The trick is to keep moving.

Once upon a time I heard a question:

"How would you dress if the whole world was blind?"

Simple answer? "Any way I want, but mostly for comfort."

I'm most comfortable riding in 'cycling' clothes. If the "spectators"/fashion police have a problem with that, it's their problem -- not mine.

The mosquitoes here in TX can bite right through heavy cotton. I looked like I had measles after an evening [off-bike] in a rugby-style shirt.
No telling what the mosquitoes in Minnesota can drill through. Kevlar, I bet.

If it feels good wear it.

Me too. An underwear thread is about due I think. It will have about 250,000 posts.

I really couldn't care less what somebody thinks. If I see somebody who's overweight and is on the road, more power to them ! It means that they're motivated and are really making an effort to get into shape.

I can usually get away without padded bike shorts for short rides of less than 20 miles but I don't think I'd want to go any farther than that without them.

I'm built like a running back and I've been trying to get rid of that last 10 pounds of flab around the middle which one reason why I've taken up kayaking as a second sport for the upper body conditioning that I need. Same shirts, different bottoms.

MTB shorts are a good alternative although I've never tried them myself.

Yeah, I know, I look like a hard core roadie, well I am. I also wear fingerless gloves in summer, full fingered ones when it''s cold. I've got a stubborn ring around the middle that I've been trying to work off for the last year because I've never had one until a couple of years ago but then again, I've seen much worse on guys 30 years younger than me.

Do I care what people think? Not one bit.

On tops: Unless it's short hop to the corner store, stay away from cotton. For your base layer, moisture wicking materials are best, if you don't like synthetics, merino wool is good.

In the cooler weather, I wear layers. I'll often use a pair of nylon running pants that go over my shorts.
I also use the same gear when cross country skiing the only difference is that I'll put them over long underwear instead of bike shorts.

The base layers for the tops are the same. I use them for skiing, biking or paddling.

Oh.. and socks.. stay away from cotton. OK for short rides but a real no-no any other time. I had a good case of hot foot yesterday when I went out for a 42 mile ride with cotton socks instead of nylon. By the time I got back, my right foot was really, really hot and very uncomfortable. Dumb, dumb, dumb !! I wasn't intending on doing 42 miles (actually I planned on 20) but the weather was nice and well.. you know.

I've been meaning to get some cycling jerseys because I can also use them for x-country skiing but I just haven't gotten around to it.

My advice ? Wear whatever you need to wear to keep you dry and comfortable otherwise you'll come back feeling hot, sweaty and feeling like something the cat dragged in not to mentioned tired and frustrated. Wearing the right clothes for any sport can go a long way towards how much you well enjoy it.

I've seen people out on the ski trails dressed like Nanook of the North with heavy parkas and downhill ski pants, sweating to death while struggling up a hill because they're overdressed.
Do they come back ? If they haven't learned from that experience, probably not. The same goes for cycling.

On bugs: The one thing I'm not sure about is how nylon and lycra/spandex clothing tolerates bug spray. Anybody have an answer to that ?