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Does Clothing Matter?

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Does Clothing Matter?

Old 09-10-21, 10:22 AM
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Originally Posted by rsbob
Have to agree with a poster above, and I paraphrase, what ever you do, work or play, using the right tool makes the activity so much easier. This is especially true in construction, working on cars and virtually all sports. I remember starting snow skiing in Levis and a sweatshirt. After a few hours my pants were soaked and I was cold. Buying ski pants and a proper jacket made all day skiing a joy. Reflecting on cycling: I first started in cut offs, a T and no gloves or glasses. It went ok until I started getting bugs in my eyes and started worrying about UV exposure, so got cycling glasses. Crashed and skinned up my palms, so bought cycling gloves and had protection and added comfort. Next was tired of chafing of the seam in my cut-off crotch, especially on 30+ mile rides, so succumbed to cycling shorts. Next was flapping and sweat soaked T shirts and were to put my stuff since my pockets were gone, so a cheap REI jersey was purchased. And guess what? Just like having the right tools for the job, having the right clothing for the activity made cycling so much more enjoyable.

I know I won’t change any minds that are dead set on T-shirts, cargo pants and safety glasses. And if that works for you, that is fantastic. But I really appreciated the OP’s logic probably because it reflects my experience.
I think that the blue stripes I left on the icy slopes of Hunter Mountain NY's ski area are still present from my first downhill ski adventure. Wearing blue jeans (dungarees) with cotton long johns (also blue after the adventure) was just not the best idea but it was the clothing I had. On some quick jaunts I've tried shorts with jockey shorts underneath. It does not take long for those seams to create pressure points and chaffing. But we all have our own tolerances and comfort levels.

I will stick to cycling shorts. The top - well, pockets are nice but as long as it is wicking fabric it might be okay.
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Old 09-10-21, 10:54 AM
  #177  
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Originally Posted by AdkMtnMonster
Man, you’ve got a great point in that last sentence. I promise to stop making mocking posts about the very true fact that real bike riders wear expensive stuff made just for cycling. (Ooops. From here on.) The reality is that everyone gets mocked on BF by somebody. WD-40 chain lubers, e-bike riders, the over50 guys, the racers, the backwards fork guy, the saddle too high/low/far back riders, the rim brake riders, the disc brake riders, the GatorSkin tire crowd, the tubed, the tubeless… I’ve said many times that as long as someone is out there riding then that’s all that matters. Here’s a fresh beer.

You'd get away with your mockery if it were, y'know, actually funny instead of completely lame.

I don't know what a "real bike rider" is in your world, and frankly don't care. I know a good True Scotsman Fallacy example when I see it, and would bet that the way YOU tell whether someone is a "real" bike rider is by seeing what clothes and gear they use.

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Old 09-10-21, 11:22 AM
  #178  
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Originally Posted by tomato coupe
But, if the chamois goes on the inside, then the chamois butter will end up on the inside. How will the butter keep your Brooks saddle soft and supple if you put it inside your shorts?
Wait - I thought that you were supposed to freeball with a Brooks?
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Old 09-10-21, 12:15 PM
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
You'd get away with your mockery if it were, y'know, actually funny instead of completely lame.

I don't know what a "real bike rider" is in your world, and frankly don't care. I know a good True Scotsman Fallacy example when I see it, and would bet that the way YOU tell whether someone is a "real" bike rider is by seeing what clothes and gear they use.
Real bike riders get it. Fake bike riders, too. Casual riders, commuters, racers and headset spacers. Hard core, apple core and those with corps d’esprit, aussi! Don’t try to act so bitter all the time, ya big teddy bear!

Love Always,

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Old 09-10-21, 12:17 PM
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Originally Posted by AdkMtnMonster
Real bike riders get it. Fake bike riders, too. Casual riders, commuters, racers and headset spacers. Hard core, apple core and those with corps d’esprit, aussi! Don’t try to act so bitter all the time, ya big teddy bear!

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You must be a lot of fun at the bingo hall.
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Old 09-10-21, 12:31 PM
  #181  
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
You must be a lot of fun at the bingo hall.
Never been. Meet me there? You ride yet today? I just got back about 20 minutes ago. Windy! My particular selection of riding wear was most fortuitously appropriate for the conditions, as it was 60F when I left the house, but I was comfortable the entire time. Never too hot, never cold. And my feet were very pleased with their environment, too. Good times. Hope you get a great ride in today if you get the chance.
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Old 09-10-21, 12:35 PM
  #182  
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
Wait - I thought that you were supposed to freeball with a Brooks?
But not the ones with the cutout.
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Old 09-10-21, 12:40 PM
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Originally Posted by AdkMtnMonster
Never been. Meet me there? You ride yet today? I just got back about 20 minutes ago. Windy! My particular selection of riding wear was most fortuitously appropriate for the conditions, as it was 60F when I left the house, but I was comfortable the entire time. Never too hot, never cold. And my feet were very pleased with their environment, too. Good times. Hope you get a great ride in today if you get the chance.

If today, it would be a very short one after work. My Saturday century is tomorrow, and lately I do a 50 miler on Sunday. Normally I take Fridays off completely, but yesterday's ride was a rain out. It's hard to go wrong on clothes at 60 degrees, you have to try hard to dress too warm, and it's not exactly nippy when you're pushing hard. I don't start feeling cold above the 40s, and 85 is about where I start feeling heat.
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Old 09-10-21, 12:54 PM
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Originally Posted by genejockey
But not the ones with the cutout.
Especially the ones with a cutout.
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Old 09-10-21, 01:45 PM
  #185  
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
Especially the ones with a cutout.
That's a level of intimacy with the bike I for one am just not ready for.
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Old 09-10-21, 05:31 PM
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
If today, it would be a very short one after work. My Saturday century is tomorrow, and lately I do a 50 miler on Sunday. Normally I take Fridays off completely, but yesterday's ride was a rain out. It's hard to go wrong on clothes at 60 degrees, you have to try hard to dress too warm, and it's not exactly nippy when you're pushing hard. I don't start feeling cold above the 40s, and 85 is about where I start feeling heat.

Did we just become best friends?

Have a great time this weekend. Stay safe.
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Old 09-10-21, 05:54 PM
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A long time ago, I did my first big ride. It was from Taos to Santa Fe. A hot day. I wore a cotton T-shirt, ordinary shorts and tennis shoes. When I got to my destination, my feet hurt, my shirt was dripping with sweat, and the hem of the shorts that sit on the saddle had worn into my skin. I was somewhat exhausted by the ride, but the clothing made me hurt a lot. I hated the idea of looking like a 'serious bike rider' because I thought only poseurs wore that stuff. Then one day a pal gave me some clip-in shoes with non-bendy soles... what a difference!... my feet weren't bending all the time, and the pressure was distributed over my whole foot rather than in one small place. Then a couple of years later I got the bike shorts. No hem!... so comforable! I finally got the bike shirt... so much cooler on hot days. I still feel a bit of a prat riding around in the stuff, but... yes, my God, the clothing makes a huge difference on long hot rides (these days it's 120 miles/week, with 8500' of climbing. Today's ride was 95F in California).
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Old 09-10-21, 06:11 PM
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Originally Posted by AdkMtnMonster
Real bike riders get it. Fake bike riders too.
What's a fake bike rider ??
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Old 09-10-21, 06:13 PM
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Every time I see the title of this thread I have to laugh. It makes me think of the local guy who used to ride around attired in nothing but a bright lime green thong. He was an older guy with what might charitably be described as a flabby physique. It was not a pretty sight.

Despite the somewhat disturbing nature of the spectacle, he seemed to me to cause no harm. Other citizens disagreed and accusations of indecent conduct were leveled. Although no evidence of this was ever actually produced, after a few run ins with the law and the courts some sort of settlement was reached that removed the gentleman from public view. He wasn't convicted of anything, but his free form riding days came to end.

So the answer is Yes, clothing does matter.
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Old 09-10-21, 06:17 PM
  #190  
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Originally Posted by jon c.
Every time I see the title of this thread I have to laugh. It makes me think of the local guy who used to ride around attired in nothing but a bright lime green thong. He was an older guy with what might charitably be described as a flabby physique. It was not a pretty sight.

Despite the somewhat disturbing nature of the spectacle, he seemed to me to cause no harm. Other citizens disagreed and accusations of indecent conduct were leveled. Although no evidence of this was ever actually produced, after a few run ins with the law and the courts some sort of settlement was reached that removed the gentleman from public view. He wasn't convicted of anything, but his free form riding days came to end.

So the answer is Yes, clothing does matter.
Was his name Borat?
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Old 09-10-21, 07:50 PM
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Originally Posted by jon c.
Every time I see the title of this thread I have to laugh. It makes me think of the local guy who used to ride around attired in nothing but a bright lime green thong. He was an older guy with what might charitably be described as a flabby physique. It was not a pretty sight.

Despite the somewhat disturbing nature of the spectacle, he seemed to me to cause no harm. Other citizens disagreed and accusations of indecent conduct were leveled. Although no evidence of this was ever actually produced, after a few run ins with the law and the courts some sort of settlement was reached that removed the gentleman from public view. He wasn't convicted of anything, but his free form riding days came to end.

So the answer is Yes, clothing does matter.
It may have been a good thing that his derangement was so apparent. Likely he got the help he needed more quickly.
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Old 09-10-21, 08:29 PM
  #192  
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Originally Posted by jon c.
Every time I see the title of this thread I have to laugh. It makes me think of the local guy who used to ride around attired in nothing but a bright lime green thong. He was an older guy with what might charitably be described as a flabby physique. It was not a pretty sight.

Despite the somewhat disturbing nature of the spectacle, he seemed to me to cause no harm. Other citizens disagreed and accusations of indecent conduct were leveled. Although no evidence of this was ever actually produced, after a few run ins with the law and the courts some sort of settlement was reached that removed the gentleman from public view. He wasn't convicted of anything, but his free form riding days came to end.

So the answer is Yes, clothing does matter.
So, he was cross chaining?
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Old 09-13-21, 11:59 AM
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There was a woman who used to ride the RAGBRAI in a thong. I can't imagine it was comfortable but apparently she got the attention she sought.
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Old 09-13-21, 12:20 PM
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Yeah, you can see almost anything at RAGBRAI. I sold a KHS tandem to a guy who joined it with another to make a "Quadrabike" as he called it. He specifically needed a KHS because it matched the other one he already had. That was a few years ago, wonder if he is still riding it.

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Old 09-13-21, 12:25 PM
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[QUOTE=UnCruel;22214839] I've just acquired my first legit road bike[/QUOTE]

If you intend to be a serious rider, you are best served by wearing the appropriate kit. If you don't, you soon will based on lessons learned. If you are only going to casually cruise around the neighborhood, then no big deal.
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Old 09-13-21, 12:45 PM
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Here's a weird idea ..... if you want to ride your bike, ride your bike.

I am not a participant in a fashion, show, nor any kind of public opinion poll, nor in any way interested in the judgments of random people, or even with the judgments of self-selected "cycling aficionados" at a site like this.

If you are mostly concerned with how you look to people who honestly aren't even looking at you, I cannot help you. If you make your life decisions based on input from random strangers and bots on the internet, no one can help you.

If you like riding your bike ..... maybe try doing that?
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Old 09-13-21, 01:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Maelochs
Here's a weird idea ..... if you want to ride your bike, ride your bike.

I am not a participant in a fashion, show, nor any kind of public opinion poll, nor in any way interested in the judgments of random people, or even with the judgments of self-selected "cycling aficionados" at a site like this.

If you are mostly concerned with how you look to people who honestly aren't even looking at you, I cannot help you. If you make your life decisions based on input from random strangers and bots on the internet, no one can help you.

If you like riding your bike ..... maybe try doing that?
Sorta used a lot of words to say you don't care.
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Old 09-13-21, 01:42 PM
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I used to feel weird wearing cycling clothes, but I finally look like a cyclist, so I don't mind now. It is much more comfortable than street clothes. The padded shorts are absolutely necessary and I like having pockets in the jersey.


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Old 09-13-21, 02:49 PM
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[QUOTE=Steeler_fanatic;22228219]
Originally Posted by UnCruel
I've just acquired my first legit road bike[/QUOTE]

If you intend to be a serious rider, you are best served by wearing the appropriate kit. If you don't, you soon will based on lessons learned. If you are only going to casually cruise around the neighborhood, then no big deal.

Well, in my case, that's complete BS.


Don't know if I'm "serious", but I sure put in too many miles to be kidding.
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Old 09-13-21, 02:51 PM
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[QUOTE=livedarklions;22228514]
Originally Posted by Steeler_fanatic


Well, in my case, that's complete BS.


Don't know if I'm "serious", but I sure put in too many miles to be kidding.
What do you wear then?

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