Originally Posted by texaspandj

Wait, which one is the conformist and which one is the non conformist?
I like not being like everyone else........just like everyone else.

Originally Posted by Dan333SP

You've already received a lot of good responses. Ride what works is the long and short of it.

Personally, I look like one of the TdF wannabes with skin-tight stuff covered with shop logos and cycling shoes/cleats. I do race so it makes sense in that context, but I still wear the same stuff even if I'm just going around the neighborhood for a casual spin to get my legs moving.

I ride in that type of gear because the padded bib shorts are far more comfortable than any alternative. Being tight is a must, loose shorts allow your manly parts to move around and potentially snag on your saddle nose at very bad times. I ride with hips rotated forward and come out of the saddle a lot, so it's important to know that everything down there is squared away. If you're riding on a touring bike with a more upright position and you spend all day sitting on a comfy saddle, these things aren't going to matter as much.

I also ride with a lot of other racer-types and learned what to wear from them, so there's an obvious link between what your cycling peers find effective and what you adopt.

Plus, I'm still young and in shape, so there is a touch of vanity in going around in skin tight attire while angry overweight people yell at you from their pickups

Originally Posted by johanhorak

Funny. Seriously. I am having a lot of fun. Hahaha. Enjoy. Good to know your manly bits are safe and out of the way.

Originally Posted by SpeshulEd

... just like you don't wear a tux to sit at home and watch tv...

Originally Posted by jefnvk

Since others are putting their money where their mouth is:

But to answer the general question, that is how I normally dress on a bike, and I had no issue walking into any business or bar or location dressed as such.

Originally Posted by osco53

And shaving really does help with wound management,,,

Originally Posted by johanhorak

Yes!. Pretty cool! Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by SpeshulEd

just like you don't wear a tux to sit at home and watch tv. Dress for the occasion.

Originally Posted by johanhorak

Goodness! Thanks for reminding me. I forgot this bit. More people would have been cracking the whip at me if I elaborated on having to cross the shaving-bridge when I asked my question initially

I hope I don't wait till the first blood before I get the courage to do it. I find it difficult to say it. Hahaha.

Originally Posted by Daniel4

Yes, the OP is making the point that there aren't a lot of choices if you don't like the gaudiness. The pro-gaudy people get really defensive about it with statements suggesting wear what cyclists wear or don't cycle. Sounds like motorists telling cyclists if there aren't any safe places on the road to cycle, don't cycle.

Except for the visual, cycling clothes are designed to be aerodynamic and quick-drying. I like jerseys with a full front zipper for easy removal. Ever tried to pull a sweaty T-shirt off your back? I do have cyclist shorts but I have a pair of normal loose nylon shorts that I wear all the time. The soft smooth feel doesn't cause any chafing.

Flat coloured jerseys are hard to find but they are out there. Some people choose to dress is ugly. The industry caters to them. They get very offended when there's a person who just wants to go No-Logo.

Originally Posted by texaspandj

Wait, which one is the conformist and which one is the non conformist?
I like not being like everyone else........just like everyone else.

Originally Posted by Dan333SP

If you're a pro and can reasonably expect to get daily leg massages and have a crash requiring extensive bandaging at least once a year, then it's worth it. Otherwise I go full Chewbacca.

Originally Posted by Scarbo

Hey--you're lucky we aren't talking about our taints! So count your blessings.

Originally Posted by bulldog1935

it's still not what the thread was about - the OP was asking for alternate sources and more choices, and it lasted until the be just like me folks arrived

the word conformist was being used as a synonym for "perceived serious cyclist" - the OP and his wife wanted functional clothes that looked different from that image

Originally Posted by bulldog1935

he's not alone in wanting cycling clothes that don't look like TdF wannabe (or don't, but can't find anything else)

Originally Posted by mapeiboy

Those so called rolling billboard might just save your life on the road . People talking about hi vis clothes to make them more visible to the motorists . Get one of those kit from the tour teams and for sure you will be very visible on the road . `

Originally Posted by bulldog1935

it's still not what the thread was about - the OP was asking for alternate sources and more choices, and it lasted until the be just like me folks arrived

the word conformist was being used as a synonym for "perceived serious cyclist" - the OP and his wife wanted functional clothes that looked different from that image

and those clothes do exist, as demonstrated on the first two pages of the thread

Originally Posted by johanhorak

Hi

I have not cycled for 30 years. My wife and I are buying touring bikes and intent to ride locally and then when we take longer breaks in Europe.

Ok, great!

Nothing too far or too hilly as the wife is excited by traffic and hills change her personality.

So we are not going to race anywhere.

Gotcha!

Looking at other cyclists dress it's obvious they know something we don't.

To wear such ugly clothes must be important function wise.

Yes, function weighs in quite a bit when looking at cycling clothing.

I suppose our assess will get sore. The saddle is important and how we distribute our weight over ass, arms, and legs.

I see cycle pants come with a soft clot where ass meets saddle.

But none of this explains why wearing such tight fitting ball pitchers.

Blah blah blah, making fun of people in cycling clothes, we've heard it all before.

And the tight fitting feminine psychedelic shirts? I have nothing against feminine.

Well that's a bit misogynistic...

The helmet I understand.

One could argue against the helmet, but that's another time and place.

The clip in shoes?

So you can pull up and pedal all the way around the pedal stroke, but yes, clip-in pedals/shoes aren't for everyone...

Over the top. Even pedal clips can stay at home. As they will not work with my flip flops. Okay. I will not always be in flip flops. But most of the time. As we are not going fast.

...flip flops make poor cycling shoes, been there done that, but if you're just cruising around town then fine.

So. It boils down to a sore ass needing comfort.

Really, the chamois in cycling shorts is there to wick away moisture.

Any other reasonable explanation why I need to dress like so, would be of great value.

Try reading the thread...or ya know what, just wear what's comfortable.

Have fun.

Johan

Originally Posted by bulldog1935

wow, an immoderator.
He actually was trying to be funny.
I live and ride in Texas hill country summers, 100-150 mi/wk, and just got off the bike this morning (glorious dry fall morning - didn't last).
One answer to sweat and chaffing is a hammock leather saddle (Brooks, Rivet, etc.) - they're all about cooling. Hard to see sitting on a soggy blanket as a solution - that may be an approach if you don't like the weight of a Brooks saddle.

I tried to answer about modern platform pedals, too, but I think it got lost in the drone.

Originally Posted by SpeshulEd

Yes yes...the point is, people saying "wear what you want and be comfortable" are answering the person's question while you're saying they're running the post off topic.

Originally Posted by bulldog1935

it's still not what the thread was about - the OP was asking for alternate sources and more choices, and it lasted until the be just like me folks arrived