Hello OP,

After I got married I decided to wear the gear. So I did that for a few years and now have gone back to whatever shorts and shirts suit me for riding best, that already are in my closets. Can't say I've reached a daily distance where I start to think about going back to bicycle specific riding clothes though. The further I ride, the better I feel (given the time allotted). So far, so far I haven't thought, hmm, I should go back to the riding clothing.

Some people like the feel of lycra or that kind of material when they ride. Makes them feel more... right. If you fit into that category, you should wear it and accept what works best for you.


Harv

Silly women, forgetting that they're objects for the male gaze rather than subjects, like real people.

I am pretty comfortable in my cargo shorts and t shirt, haven't had the need to get cycling specific clothing. I would only wear it if I had a decent pace on a road bike, competed in races, or was in a group ride with others wearing kits too.

You know, I really feel embarrassed for people who turn up to bbqs dressed in a sloppy T-shirt, with a huge gut hanging over the tops of their shorts (doesn't matter if women or men), and have tree stumps poking out the legs of the shorts.

By comparison, someone in bike kit is looking healthy and fit.

This.

There's a time and place for kits...if I'm riding the grocery store or a restaurant or making a quick jaunt to a friends for bbq, I'd most likely just wear normal clothes. I also wouldn't bring my road bike. If I'm going for a bike ride where my main objective is riding my bike, then I'll wear my kit.

The more you ride, the more you feel comfortable wearing skin tight lycra and the more you feel better about yourself and your conditioning...at some point, you really don't care what others think of you. Not to mention, 9 times out of 10, the person making fun of you could use some gym time themselves.

Right, because not having a chamois to wick ball and ass sweat away on an 80 degree day doesn't make a bit of difference.

FWIW, I would recommend trying a pair of the padded shorts, and wearing them under your cargos. I used to wear boxer briefs (which I usually wear when I play tennis or other sports) under shorts or sweats, but got a new pair of padded cycling shorts for my birthday. It made quite a difference in my comfort over longer distances (not that I was especially sore or anything before that). Seriously, I wear a pair of lightweight cargo shorts over them, and it's quite comfy. I don't have a road bike, but I do ride some longer distances.

Now, jerseys I don't like at all. I've tried numerous ones, and they're always too tight, particularly around the armpits and the neck. If I get a size that fits those areas comfortably, it's just as baggy as a the t-shirts I usually wear, so I've just ended up with an expensive, often gaudy, t-shirt with a tiny little priest's collar. The material they're made of doesn't matter - a t-shirt made out of moisture-wicking material is always cheaper at the sporting goods store.

I'm with you - if I found jerseys more comfortable I'd studiously avoid anything with a logo on it, or at least a large one. And I often wear t-shirts with stuff on the fronts!

Around here, there's a certain subset of rider who is, quite frankly, peacocking by wearing logo'd jerseys when they stop at Starbucks on their group rides. Not like they're all wearing the same team colors (makes sense, they're a team on a training ride) but a group of five to seven men (almost always all men) wearing full logo'd clothing, sitting outside drinking latte's before getting back on their bikes. They're usually the same types of rider who never, ever, announce when they're passing another bike or a pedestrian.

The only concern I have about wearing my kit in public is generating envy.

Unfortunately the only cycling shorts that have padding to protect the riders from a DF seat seems to be spandex.

This is not a problem for me since I ride a recumbent bike and trike. With bents you can pretty much ride in any kind of shorts you want to.

Meh, I don't care what people think. The minute I get on my road bike and start riding a certain number of people hate me because I'm on the road anyways. I like to do long distance rides, so I'd rather be comfortable. I did 100+ miles today so I'd rather have the proper clothing.

I use to wear them years ago when I first got into cycling, but since I'm a dirty white boy I just couldn't justify the expense of these things, so I stopped buying them. No you don't need them, they may (and that's debateable) help in the beginning with chaffing and stuff, but you toughen up to those things.

Since I stopped wearing them, I only wear cheap nylon shorts; looking back, I can say it was a needless expense.

Thanks, it seems like the ones that tried them, the stopped, felt no difference. I always thought the people who said they dont care what other people think, actually care the most. But if they wear those, they truely dont care how they look.

I just go right for the Nike compression running shorts. People who have full tights and gear are out of control and think they can ride well.

Or they just enjoy being comfortable over a higher mile ride.

Honestly, I don't know why so many people think riding a bike in bike clothes is such a strange thing.

Especially when on, or near, or having just finished riding their bike

No, OP... I don't care.

When I commuted, I would wear liner shorts under some synthetic hikey pants, sometimes, for appearances... but I'd get so sweaty/nasty in non-cycling clothes that I dropped that pretty quick.

You wear padded, close-fitting chamois shorts/bibs because they increase your comfort on the bike. If you're just toolin' around town or otherwise doing short rides and you have a comfortable saddle, no real benefit to bike shorts... but if you're doing any serious/hard riding, why the crap wouldn't you want to: reduce chafing, increase shock absorption, wick sweat away from your skin, be more aero, reduce bike/clothing compatibility issues, etc?

Threads like this make me wonder if there are similar posts on www.golfforums.net: "I just wear my softball cleats. People who have spikes are out of control and think they can ride well."

I've worn both, and honestly a good saddle and running shorts is just as good...for me. Everyone does their own thing.

I absolutely don't care about this - I wear cycling appropriate clothing when I ride. If I'm going to a social event like a BBQ I probably won't wear the lycra tights though: not because I'm embarrassed, but because I don't find that sort of attire all the comfortable if I'm spending significant time off the bike socializing, etc. I'll wear mountain biking shorts which are comfortable enough for riding but are more practical for an event like that or I'll bring a change of clothes.

Really, it's not all that complicated!

Simply put, to each his/her own. You are truly amazing if you can ride 112 non stop miles mainly on aerobars in cheap nylon shorts and then complete a marathon after doing so. Personally, I'll keep my padded Sugoi shorts whether on a 50 mile ride or a 200 miler.

A long time ago I did have some apprehension regarding dressing in cycling clothes but that quickly went away when I found how much more comfortable the rides were and how the clothing actually improved my riding efficiency. Besides, at almost 65 since I don't have an issue swimming in my Speedo suits, why would far less revealing cycling shorts embarrass me????

Like I said, it was all about the money for something that doesn't really benefit me, period. I've done many long touring trips in simple nylon shorts, many 100-mile days. I just don't need to spend the money on something where simple shorts work fine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTD9aDWdwHg

Who needs a chamois when you have PEDs?

Heh, I'm not sure I'd call it pride. Maybe stubbornness.

Apparently the entire peloton.