and you only live once, right, why not go all the way when you can have it your way right again Fubar5

Sunglasses are mandatory for me, not only because I won't ride without an eyeglass mirror, but because of debris and dust. I have ones with interchangeable lenses; I stopped this evening and popped the amber ones in and it looked like daylight--which is nice, but deceptive: motorists without amber glasses don't see as well as I do in the dusk!

I took a ride the other day in regular khaki shorts (with cotton briefs underneath) and it only served to make me appreciate my cycling shorts all the more. Just not anywhere near as comfortable.

I wear Nike "touring" shoes as a compromise between the almost unwalkable cycling shoes with cleats, and something like running shoes which are not stiff enough. When these wear out, I sure hope they still are making them.

I tend to agree with Fubar. If I look like a cyclist I will feel more like a cyclist. Sometimes I feel like the guy who rides his bike to work, or the guy who totes his son around on the back of his bike.

I'd like for another cyclist to see me riding down the road on my bike and say, "look at that guy go!," insead of something like, "wow, that fat a** should ride a bit faster."

In a Rodney Dangerfield movie from the 80s, Rodney says, "if you want to look like you're skinny, hang out with a bunch of fat people." <--(paraphrase mine) Unfortunately, none of my fat friends ride bikes, so I'll have to stick to hanging out with the skinny guys.

(I hope by posting this reply I've not portrayed myself as having an inferiority complex, because most of the time I don't.)

OK some of you have missed the point. I am not talking of any specific clothing cycling or store bought. I am speaking of intentionally wearing certain clothes or picking a specific bike to be "cool" or to "look good." When I said "the coolness factor" I did not mean a helmet I meant to look cool. Oscar believes in "looking good" while on a bike that is what I mean. I want to know why this is important to those who believe this. So in other words is looking good while on your bike important. I thank those who have answered I am just trying to understand this. In my opinion I do not put "looking good" first on my list. When I go out to ride I just ride. Since I ride MTB looking good is kind of irrelevant since some times mud is involved which negates how you look very fast. Also since being a Christian vanity is not looked on highly by the Lord.

I don't go in for flourescent logo type clothes, but I do wear cycling shorts, and jerseys.

They're designed the way they are because they're practical for the sport with the padding, extra
pockets etc., and the newer fabrics, such as coolmax really are more comfortable.

Helmet and shoes, it goes without saying.

I also have the sunglasses with interchangeable lenses and inserts for prescription lenses.
I just got them and wish I'd gotten them long ago, because, again,
they are practical for cycling, as well as skiing, because they're comfortable, don't slide off and are
useful when there are changing light conditions.

Having said that, when I go for a ride around the park with my SO and grandaughter,
it's ordinary shorts and a T-shirt, and yes racso, sometimes even sandals.

Having said that, when I go for a ride around the park with my SO and grandaughter,
it's ordinary shorts and a T-shirt, and yes racso, sometimes even sandals. [/B][/QUOTE]

yes, Dave, I agree with you, but when I ride with my 4 year old son, I ride my mountain bike w/ a child carrier, and suit him up properly in cycling jersey and matching short, and I am suited up properly also, But when I ride my Road bike, I see to it that I am dress properly and suited for the occassion, like really riding a bike, not going to a convinience store...

I dig where you're coming from Hunter. Putting "cool" before function. This kinda ticks me off, because usually the people who do that are weekend warriors and they have expensive Cannondales and are decked out in Pearl Izumi or Fox Racing with Giro helmets. But you ask them about their bike, or what the benefit of biker shorts is, and they have no answer other than,"it's cool". I have nothing against, wearing cyclist clothes, and looking like a cyclist,but to me, you gotta earn that look. If you wear a lot of Fox Racing stuff, you'd better be a serious off-roader DH freerider or at least ride frequently. And if you wear Pearl Izumi, you better be a real rider, just like Izumi is real cyclist clothes. In my mind, there is a food chain in biking, the beginner to the old salts. And to be an old salt you have to earn it, by riding. For each level comes new privileges, like being able to get biker shorts, or a Bianchi road bike etc etc. I consider myself now qualified for biker shorts do to the painful crotch rash I have. But hey, no pain, no gain.:thumbup:

OK, OK, let me back up and try to address Hunter and some of the other posts.
Isn't it really a matter of, well, first, personal preference, I guess, and, second, nature of ride?
When I am on my bike, I am usually on my way to or from work. My bike has all the junk to safely and comfortably commute 21+ miles round trip in the dark (mornings), to wit: headlight, fenders, blinkies, panniers, etc., etc.. With all that stuff, I don't think there is any way I could "look good". In fact, I think it would look incongruous and silly for me to ride such a machine in flashy kit. On the other hand, if I were on a serious 30-40 mile training ride on a pure road machine, padded shorts and a nice, moisure wicking jersey, would make the ride more comfortable. Now, when I see cyclists in full getup, they usually are on serious road bikes or mountain bikes and are moving fast, so I assume they are on a training ride. But even if someone wants to put on the good stuff to ride to the grocery, that is their choice. Besides, if you see someone at the grocery in full getup, maybe they are just stopping in to get water or pick up something after a training ride. We don't know what someone has been doing or is going to do. And what they wear is up to them.
In one of the cycling mags a while back, I think this question was asked, why people wear pro team jerseys. Among the answers were
1. To honor pro cyclists or a particular cyclist
2. To feel like part of a group larger than oneself
3. As inspiration to train harder
Those seem like reasonable answers. And as Poptart says, if you have your club jersey with sponsors names, you are giving them some advertising and value for the money they invest and thanking them.
On the other hand, I would probably be offered a small stipend NOT to wear any advertising.
Rainman

I appreciate Hunter's question. Why do some people feel they have to look "cool".

We all have insecurities. Sometimes looking cool feels like your letting people know that you're good at whatever it is your doing. If you have the "right" looking equipment people assume your a "pro". You read the mags and books and you go on the web sites. You get all the catalogs. Maybe it fulfills a need to feel smart about this "hobby". Maybe people unconsciously want to be asked about the sport, to be the "know it all".

Who knows why some people feel the need to look cool for other peoples benefit. Maybe a better question is:

Why should how someone looks when they're doing their thing bother me??? :cool:

Good points, Cheryl. My approach comes from the flip side. I don't want to look like I think I'm good until I am sure I am good. I always prefer to be underestimated by others. (Don't even go there, Pete Clark.)

OK I think I am beginning to understand. It is statement making. Like "Look at me I am cyclist." Or it is showing appreciation for sponsorship as someone put it. I do own cycling clothes I have shorts, long cold weather pants and a long sleeve jersey. I also have a Gore Tex coat for cold weather. Hey I used to live in Va. I have ployprolylene and a poly baclava. I have a mouth and nose wrap once again poly. Thing is I do not wear it to "look cool." I hardly wear the shorts because they are crotch incompatible. Basically if you saw me you would more than likely say " hey look at that guy he is in shorts and a t-shirt riding expensive stuff." You would not say that in cold weather because I "look the part." However in the Tx. Summer I wear shorts socks and boots most of the time no shirt. I have done this every since I can remember.

Okay Guys,
so that everybody will understand why I would prefer to wear this clothing , Cycling jersey- it has a high perspiration absorption, 'what I mean, if you perspire, in just a minute or two the wetness on your jersey will dry up and you don't get sick of pneumonia and it has an aero dynamic effect because the jersey is really close to your body, unlike T-shirt which is always loosely fitted, padded cycling short, this one is also tight, and the padding on the crouch gives you added riding comfort, headband well I think this is obvious, to stop the sweat from rolling down you eyes, shades, another obvious item, to keep out flying object from going to your eyes, helmet, I think this one is to protect your brain, cycling gloves, if you have an "endo", at least the gloves will protect your hand, and,
who said that I am just wearing this item, but I don't know the benefit of all the clothing on me.....AND BESIDES IT'S COOL, AND MY WIFE LOVE'S ME MORE IF I LOOK COOL....

yes buddy, you said it right,

being cool and functional goes hand in hand Fubar5, as I have said I my previous post, all the cycling clothing that I wear are really functional and they really looks cool,

and mind you Fubar5, I can still cycle really good, at my age, I did the 15k time trail in 29 minutes, and that's not a bad one.....and I cannot call myself a weekend warrior..maybe, an "everyday warrior"

Hunter, I think you've struck upon a mighty touchy subject.

Fubar5,
see i even change my avatar, coz, there were three of us using the "Avenger" avatar, i want to be unique and also cool at the same time, not only on my cycling outfit maybe in all my undertaking

I really have to take issue with those who claim that certain "threads" can increase your speed.

Riding naked = chased by cops = faster

However, it's not exactly a "chic magnet."

Well maybe not for you.
Now me on the other hand............

I vary my garb for the occasion. Work clothes for a 3.5 mile commute, no problem. On my regular fun rides, I wear jerseys. Got a couple of flashy club jerseys I like to wear - the sponsors appreciate the show of colors, the jersey's look good and they are very practical - 3 pockets, good ventilation. I spent some big bucks on an Euskadi jersey because it is a pride thing, and part of my heritage. Shorts? I've tried some of the baggies and don't like the performance on MTB rides as I am constantly out of the saddle, sliding behind it on descents, and the like.

My wife and I are taking out the tandem quite a bit this spring and we want to start adding some matching gear to our wardrobe. Vanity? Overcoolness? Perhaps, but we are doing what we enjoy together. I'd rather drop the bucks for a couple of a jerseys to wear cycling with my wife than spend money getting the car detailed.


When they outlaw lycra and logos, only outlaws will wear lycra and logos

I say "live and let live." Wear what you feel you want to wear and not concern yourself with some kind of statement. Flashy is fine, and so is laid back. Lighten up on apparel concerns and focus on the bikes, I say.

OK I see some could care less, and some do in fact put looks as an important issue even to the point of vanity. This is what I wanted to hear but I still want to know why. Orgausch seems to be concieted about his looks. Another poster Oscar I believe, is concerned to the point of vanity but is in denial. Ba-Dg-Er is also concerned about looks and likes it. Some others would gladly go for looks if they could afford it. It still does not explain why. I see the comfort aspect clearly like I said I own some bike clothing stuff. What I am trying to understand is the desire to "look good," or to, "look cool."

Hunter, Definitely I am not in denial, but I really want to look cool and and beside the cycling clothing that I wear are really functional, I want speed when I ride my bike, the cycling Jersey, the short In a way help in the speed because you become aero, when you wear them, I mean they are tight and the air resistance/drag is less

Did you read any of these answers**********?

The "WHY" is different for everyone. Why do you MTB and not road? Why are some folks married and some not??? Why do some choose to wear flashy Jerseys and some T-shirts?

FREEDOM to choose. Doesn't make it right for you, doesn't make you understand. Why do you have to?

I love philosophical questions....there's no wrong answer.

Hunter, you're a good guy. Keep us on our toes.

You can dress comfortably. You can dress well. You can do both at the same time. But if you dress to show others who you are, remember that what you really are will show through.

On the other hand, I would not want to show up at a wedding wearing blue jeans (unless it was that kind of a wedding.)

Clothing is a thin mask. When I was a teenager, you had to wear certain things to be respected, like dirty blue jeans, long hair, "Bad Company" tee shirt, etc. Even rebellion has its conformity.