OK, I'm now 52 years old, and just got back into the cycling thing. I'm really loving it all over again. And as pretty much everything else I do, I go into things pretty seriously. Bought a nice vintage road bike, getting my road kit together for problems, about to get road shoes, I'm looking for riding clubs, but the hardest thing I'm doing is trying to figure out what to do about riding apparel!

Yeah, I'm alittle afraid of lycra and spandex!

I mean I love the whole bike jersey thing with team names and sponsors and such and I'm sure the biker shorts are the best thing to wear for long trips, but geez, I just cannot seem to get myself to buy them. I think I'm in good enough shape to pull it off, so what could it be? Maybe I'm just not ready for them? Maybe it's to soon?

Anyone else have a fear of spandex? (spandiphobia?)

Just buy a pair of bike shorts and ride.
No one cares what you look like.

You can get mountain bike shorts that look like regular shorts but have the padding underneath. You can also wear a t-shirt made of a wicking material, it just won't have pockets.

You can also get padded bike underwear that is basically just like bike shorts, but designed to be worn under something else.

But what 10 wheels said.... just do it and don't worry about it. Bike gear is well-designed to improve your cycling experience and you should take advantage of it.

When I started out, I didn't worry so much about what I looked like as much as I fretted about being seen as a poseur. To me, putting on the gear may have seemed to mean that I was claiming some skill or capability that I didn't really possess. I got over it.

Yeah, the notion of wearing it does take a little getting used to. But look at it this way, what chance is there on a group ride of you being the MOST RIDICULOUS LOOKING PERSON there?

I'm 65 and wear cycling shorts on every ride. I was like you at first and said that I wouldn't be caught dead in them. After my wife bought my bike for my birthday, that same Christmas, my daughter got me a pair of riding shorts. I put them on one day and rode around the neighborhood at a time when everyone was at work. It only took one ride for me get over it. I would buy an inexpensive pair and see how they feel. I don't think that you will regret it.

Edit: PS - If it's the wearing of lycra that bothers you, think of yourself playing football. They wear it too.

HOWEVER......

...my 14 y.o. daughter is still mortified that her father is seen in public wearing spandex shorts or especially tights.

shorts that are a liner under other shorts, or buy the regular bike shorts and wear other shorts over them until you are comfy without. I resisted bike jersey's for a long time, then realized the benefit of the longer tail, pockets, and zipper with the first purchase and haven't turned back.

socks are the one item I don't get. Most athletic socks are designed to keep your feet healthy, so paying more for ones at the LBS seems a bit silly.

Most importantly, find what is comfortable and wear it on your ride! Keep riding!

Yup, I think thats it! I don't think I've been doing this enough and it will show. A poseur - well said...

I'm also not sure what my 17 & 18 year old daughters will say either! (actually - I'm pretty sure...)

Good suggestions on the MTB shorts or padded underwear. I might look into that route.

PatW - good point, there would have to be at least one person on the ride that looks worse than me, right?

Old men with sinewy leg muscles glistening under spandex are gross. Sorry, but I think its true. Its like an old lady in a polka dot mini. Achh!

Wear 'em if you want but know that you will be grossing at least some people out.

I won't do that to my neighbor. I wear the mountain bike shorts with a t. That is gross enough, thanks.

-don

Mountain bike shorts will get caught on your road bike saddle.

Casual rides of 10-20 miles can be ridden in any outfit.
Once you get passed 30 miles is where you benefit from bike shorts.

Yeah, what 10wheels said. I just imagine that everyone is paying attention to me, and in reality, nobody really gives a hoot what I wear.

If you show up at bike events where everyone else is in spandex, you'll start feeling out of place if you're not, too.

!!!

That made my day!

I can't disagee with you brother...

duceditior - - you cannot be serious.

OP - disregard that tripe, please. Wear what you like as no one (except duceditor) cares and comfort trumps looks anyway.

Spandex is cooler... literally and figuratively and you look good on a bike in Spandex. OP, I went through the same thing your going through a few months ago. I started rideing and was apprehensive about the bike shorts. Took about 5 weeks and was in the buff in my spandex!

Fist at 50+ why do you care what anybody else thinks? Wear what is comfortable for you. Give lycra a try, you may like it, lots of people do. At least try the baggie MTB style, plus they have pockets.
I used to show up at my kids softball and lacrosse game in tights. Keep in mind this was mostly the "My SUV is bigger that your SUV" crowd. I could not care less what they thought of me. I was happy and a whole lot fitter than most of them.

Funny thread. As a life long cyclist, I can't imagine wearing anything other than Spandex/Lycra. I have been renovating the kitchen and restrooms for the past 2 weeks so have not been riding and my wife says last night " Go shave your legs. You look like like an ape". I guess after 28 years she has come to appreciate the cyclists dogma.

Get yourself some plain black bib shorts and a retro jersey and nobody will say or think anything about it.

Took me a long time as well, but once I got them that was it, so much more comfortable, wouldn't ride without them and I don't care what they look like, they feel great.

Oh yeah, one other thing I had to overcome. When I first started riding, my wife and daughter teased me, "So, you're going to start wearing those foolish-looking technicolor clown costumes now?" My response, was, "No, no, I don't need that stuff. I can ride in gym shorts and a simple t-shirt." So when I made the transition to riding clothes, I had to eat some crow.

Oh well. Live and learn. THe shorts are comfortable. The jerseys, with their back pockets and their evaporative cooling, are indespensible. And on the road, visibility is a safety issue, so yeah....I ride in technicolor clown costumes, now.

I found a pair of light weight swimming trucks that I cut the liner out of. IF I stop somewhere that is not normally catered to by cyclist I pull them on over my bike shorts and move out smartly. However as others have said, WHO CARES? Wear what is comfortable for YOU and all the non cyclist be darned.

Great discussion guys!

Alot of good opinions. I was alittle apprehensive about starting this thread, because I thought most of you would think it's a ridiculous "fear" I have. But I see that many of you had, or still have, alittle bit of anxiety over the issue and some still suffer from spandiphobia. I guess I'm just going to have to do some shopping soon and see what feels right. And yeah, what looks right too!

I actually don't find an older rider in Lycra gross, I think good for them, out there riding a bicycle, staying fit and in good shape, someone who can enjoy his/her retirement. What I find gross, is a 400lb, 30 something sitting in a car, at the McPukes drive through.

Get out on an organised "Serious" road ride and put on the Lycra. You can put a Mac on to get to the car if you don't want to be seen by the neighbours and when you get to the ride you will not be the odd one out.

Never had the worry about wearing lycra- but going commando- that took a few weeks.

Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration.

Do what works best. You may look silly to some if you wear lycra, but most won't even notice. You may look silly to others wearing baggy shorts riding a road bike.

I quit fretting about what others think a long time ago. If they don't like what I look like thats their problem.