NorCalCyclist

Glad I am not the only one

alcjphil

Why is it necessary to resurrect a 7 year old thread to make comments about cycling shorts?

shelbyfv

Felt compelled to join BF, post to this critical thread? Must have been all the talk of the vegetable "isle."

bargeon

Well, isle be darned!

GrainBrain

To be fair he was adding the thought of shaving the legs as well, because hairy legged cyclists are a faux pas.

Fwiw my pearl izumi shorts have so much padding they make anyone look androgenous.

Metieval

after going to wal mart and other places and seeing people in pajamas. Going urban and seeing a culture with their pants at half mast. Seeing fat obese females running around in yogo pants.
I have no issues with cyclist running around in kits, unless they are fat cyclist.

FlMTNdude

Seeing guys with their belly hanging below the shirt, butt cracks and underwear above the belt line, women with half their cheeks below the shorts and all kinds of inappropriate wear for both sexes, my cycling gear looks way better than half of society.

realyfishy

Cycling attire in public is fairly common in South Florida!

indyfabz

Zombie thread resurrection trolling is the new black.

indyfabz

+100, although I would probably say 3/4 of society.

rydabent

Not a problem for me at all. What I ride in is my regular summer attire. I wear a common T-shirts, many wicking, and rugby shorts. As a bent and trike rider I dont need the pretty much outlandish cycling kit. On my bent bike I wear mountain bike shoes without the clips, but I might click a little with my SPD clips when I ride my trike.

OTOH who really cares. Have you seen what some people appear in public wearing?

Maelochs

If you are covered in accordance with the laws in your area, screw everyone else's complaints.

if they think I look bad in spandex, wait until i take it off.

Troul 

will they still be saying they've seen nothing yet?


i wear tipless gloves when waxing the chain. Once done, toss on the aviators and cycle around on the fat uni.

DMC707

I'm a "Super-Clyde" --- 275 pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal Also over 40 and my current thought process is ---- If anyone has a problem with what i'm wearing - that's actually their problem and it doesn't have to be mine -- i'm just wearing the most efficient clothing for my chosen sport

That said, --- If i'm wearing cycling togs and have to go in somewhere --- its usually a quic in n out for a banana or a cup of coffee from a convenience store
---- if the ride was centered around going to a café and hanging out for an extended period, id try to plan ahead and throw some trac pants and some soccer slides in my camelback --- I',m not ashamed of myself , but I do think there is a reasonable decorum level to thin of

Witterings

I read through the whole of this thread and I must admit I'm in the chibibike school of thought on this one!

I feel extremely self conscious wearing my tight fitting Lycra out and about .... all those pervy women just gawping and some even blatantly drawling at me in public it's embarrassing ....
You've seen what they can be like ... verging on hysteria at a Chippendale's show and I think it's made worse because the Chippendale's are on a stage and untouchable .... yet you're there in the supermarket and so close and real it seems to exaggerate their pervy thoughts and encourage their comments ... often laden with innuendo.

What's worse is knowing most of them will probably go home and find a way to perform an act the bible has taught us for years will make us go blind whilst imagining what they'd like to be doing with the bulges in my Lycra ... totally unacceptable as it can play havoc with your concentration and have a huge impact on reducing your average speed.

shelbyfv

Is there an award for "bad taste post of the day?"

Witterings

Hopefully so

It was obviously said totally tongue in cheek but it does offer an alternative point of view and if a woman saw me in Lycra she's more likely to run for the hills and have nightmares so I tend to avoid being seen in public whenever possible .... I even bought a frame bag to put a "normal fitting" t-shirt in for when we go for beer at the end of a cycle

I think the funniest and most hypocrytical part on my behalf is .... I've done loads of sport to quite a high level for years but cycling was always a "fun" thing to do, go out and do a bit of sight seeing or cycle to the beach with a pick nick and I always thought the Lycra brigade were a bunch of people who underneath wanted to be wearing women's clothing (just an acronym of how bad I thought it looked) in public but believing that wasn't totally acceptable thought this was an acceptable alternative.

I've kind of been forced into wearing it because it works ... I wore normal t-shirts for a while and for the winter bought a decent quality Altura Evo jacket and sweated like a pig after 2 miles.

It wasn't until I bought proper Jersey's / wicking clothing and a decent cycle jacket (thanks to advice from people on this forum) how much better the temperature control was .... BUT .... I wish they made more t-shirts with the wicking properties and jackets that are windproof on the front but the rear parts breathable for temperature control in more "every day fit" styles as I still think if you walk into a pub for a beer wearing Lycra after a ride a lot of people think you look like a complete (couldn't find the censored emoji).

This is the jacket I bought and think it's absolutely brilliant
Boardman Mens Removable Sleeve Cycl...

I get there is some MTB clothing available but that's mainly Jersey's ... it's the jacket that throughout the winter has made the biggest difference to me but out of choice I'd never wear it in public ... wish they made the exact same in a more comfort fit!!!

Slightly off topic but along the same lines .... I've always wondered why everything is so tight fit ... I'm guessing it's from the racing heritage / minimal wind resistance**********

Happy Feet

I think if you are worried about how you look wearing something in public then you should not wear it in public, Period. But public includes the time riding your bike. Don't pretend people don't see you all hunched over perched up on that saddle. The schizoid quick change stuff just speaks to low self esteem / insecurity which is really what is unattractive. Be an adult and own your choices.

When you worry about how you look you should consider who it is you are trying to impress. Is it the lazy uninspired sarcastic slacker or the active, engaged, out going confident life lover? I don't waste time on the first and the second category get what cycling clothes are about. They also probably wear tennis shorts, jogging shoes, golf shirts or yoga pants.

There's nothing in cycling that precludes one must wear bibs that reveal ones junk or shirts that accentuate every curve. Lot's of choices out there.

Myosmith

I know . . . zombie thread . . . but WTH.

If I anticipate participating in non-cycling activities or events as part of a ride, I often wear my "stealth" cycling gear. I have a couple of relatively plain MTB jerseys with small zippered pockets or basic jerseys that look like athletic t-shirts except for the back pockets, trekking shorts with a few pockets, and MTB shoes that look just like regular athletic shoes. With my helmet off, few people would realize I'm a cyclist by my attire.

If I'm just stopping for water, snacks, etc. on a training, group ride, or organized cycling event, I have no problem wearing full kit into a store or cafe.

rydabent

Yes it may be an old thread, but it is new to many new forum members.

And again if it covers everything, why care what strangers think. As I stated earlier I dont have to wear a cycling kit, but some do. So who cares.

jimmie65

Perhaps central/south Texas is different, because we're used to people wearing as little as possible during the summer anyway (including bathing suits, if water is within a 10 mile radius). But I've never really noticed anyone caring what someone wears into a casual restaurant/convenience store/whatever. at least in the middle of the day.
I often stop at a nice little place (Stella Public House near downtown San Antonio) on Saturday or Sunday afternoon in whatever I wear to ride (they have a great beer selection). I had on spandex shorts and a muscle shirt the last time, and no one gave me a second glance or acted weird.

Tanstaafl

That's because you have a city nearby whose unofficial motto is "Keep Austin Weird". Your spandex and muscle shirt doesn't even register on the scale....

jimmie65

LOL.
Love Austin and San Antonio - but they are nothing alike.

bigsky109

Too funny reading this thread. I now see and at my age......I really don't care as long as I am riding.

WNCGoater

Just visit any beach in the Southeast during the summer and you won't much worry about what you look like any longer!
Also, the older I get, the less I care what anyone else thinks. I'm not "shopping around" or trying to impress the girls or anyone else. I make a stop, nobody knows me, what do I care if they think I look like a dork, they're not part of my life & I'm never going to see them again.

I mean, I'm modest enough that I don't wear shorts (like some younger cyclists around here) that are virtually see through so motorist following are subject to your butt crack showing. I do wear cycling gear that covers.

But the harsh reality to those of you in fantasy land...here it comes... NO ONE looks GOOD in Lycra!

If I stop at a bakery or DunkinDonuts or a Convenience Store to grab something quick I'll walk in with what I'm wearing. However, I don't think I'd walk into a restaurant and sit down for a meal without changing or covering up my riding attire with another shorts/shirt. But then, I'm one who is irritated by men who wear a hat into restaurants and don't remove it at the table.