Randochap

Ah, I see. I was poking fun at the (unfathomable) common NA insinuation that the British mien/style is something less than "manly."

It's the whole pioneer/conquerer thing which has devolved into a violent neurosis. The best sendup is the old lumberjack song.

stapfam

First time I wore Cycling shorts- all I felt was comfort. Then came the cycling top and I finally had somewhere to put the phone and wallet. Then I saw a reflection in a shop window- and the blue shorts and Green top clashed.

jasandalb

HA!! You gotta be talking about the old Revolution and NE Cycles jerseys! I ride in the 22's and see them all day long!!

robncircus

Neat thread. My first time out in a jersey and shorts was weird. I left the house and a girl I had a crush on at the time happened to be walking by out front. Figures. We chatted for a bit and that was all.

Now, several years later, it doesn't bother me. I have a few basic rules that I live by however to avoid as much ridicule as possible.

1. Try not to look like a highlighter. Unless it's a night ride I leave the neon at home.
2. Try not to look like a Power Ranger. If you're not racing then there's no reason for the full team kit.
3. Use socks for character. My socks always have something on them be it argyle, beer bottles, spiders, etc... Little bit of personality.
4. Believe it or not there are decent looking jerseys out there. Wool is noce and retro looking. Argyle is cool. And it's always ok to support your favorite brewery.

I go by these and so far it's worked out ok.

thirdin77

They didn't elaborate, but these people are always angry, yelling at their kids, at each other, having quarrels in their front yard. One of them has, with obvious rancor, flipped me off or called me an a-hole while I'm just minding my own business. I'm not bothered by it because they're just being them. Kinda like an animal eating and eliminating and cleaning itself, they just do what they do.

This may be exemplary of many people's behavior on the road, or off.

phantyk

Last weekend I was riding when some group of older teens yelled "Hey sexy" as I rode past. I was unable to discern if it was a guy or girl yelling or if they meant it in a complimentary or insulting manner. Although I assume they were insulting me, I like to think they actually meant it.

cyclezealot

Back country people just not used to city ways.. Touring rural Nevada was an insult most every stop.. But, Today, I did a short ride. - 8 miles maybe , for errands. It was cool out and possible drizzle. Did not materialize.. So , I wore my Gore Tex rain pants and jacket.. 1. within the pants, I was steamin.. 2. When I got home I could not stand the smell of myself. I smelled like a dead rat caught between the drywall. Hurried myself to the shower. My wife yelled, get to the shower...
Not gonna worry ever again who likes how I look . Actually , today's patrons at the grocery store might have appreciated me in Lycra, after smelling me in rain gear.

mattm

1st time for me was on a fixed gear, also happened to be the first century i ever did.

got tired of making holes in jeans/dickies, and the age of lycra was born (for me).

it helped that a friend of mine was already dressing "properly" on the bike, so i didn't feel like an idiot in lycra. we felt like idiots together, at least.

fatallightning

same with me, when people see me out and about kitted on the bike, theyre like is that really you? theyre used to seeing in me in fitted jeans, ts, skate shoes and such. my area is a pretty active riding area, so kits are common. ive gotten the occasional cat call from girls, which is flattering.

Amani576

For me, it was just about a month ago. Mind you, I'm not exactly light, not obese, but chubby. So, when it comes to my legs I'm a little embarassed. Though I really don't care, and don't think anyone else is really paying all that much attention to me. I've only seen one other guy in our area, and he rides in full kit, or something similar. I got over it about a half hour into the ride, it doesn't matter. It's a little embarrassing talking to my family in it, but only cause I'm still new to it. My GF has yet to see me in it (that's coming this weekend).
-Gene-

phipsi271

i'm getting more comfortable riding in full kit..but i don't think i'm confident enough to go into a store or anything like that. It's not that i'm fat or anything....I just know everyone in my town and word spreads fast....

:-/

Copper1122

I was riding last summer in an area that borderlines suburb and rural. I was stopped at a red light light behind a school bus when a car of young kids pull behind me and start honking and cat calling about my getup and the way I looked (blk lycra shorts and blk and white jersey, so not too flambouyant). After keeping pace (the drafting was doing most of the work) at 30+ with the school bus for a while, we all stopped together at another light. This time I allowed the kids to pull up next to me. The kid driving says "That was pretty cool, but you still look kind of like a ***."

I'll mark that one as a win

Machka 

No idea ... it was back in 1997 or 1998, and it wasn't a big deal. I'd been riding in cycling shorts since 1990, and had wanted a jersey but couldn't afford one till then.


And ... I've never had a degrogatory comment about my cycling attire.

Spreggy

Page 3, and I'm the first to say HTFU?

HTFU!!!

OK, now that that is taken care of, I'll chime in with a bit of sci-fi that may help the OP. If you refer to the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, you will find a note about constructing as SEP field. An SEP occurs when something is so mind-bogglingly unthinkable to look upon, your mind will assume it's Somebody Else's Problem, and refuse to see it, rendering the object invisible. So buy the most hideous jersey you can, compliment it with lavender tights and black dad-socks, and hang a mirror from your glasses like the Borg.

No one will see you.

Nachoman

It's been an evolution for me.
I started out cycling in shorts, tee shirts and tennis shoes.
Then I moved to mountain biking shorts and mountain biking jerseys.
Then I moved to lycra shorts and loose fitting jerseys.
Now it's all skin tight. I have no shame.

roccobike

I cheated. The first time I went out with a Jersey and lycra was on a MTB trail, so not too many roadies or neighbors were watching.
As for riding the road bike, around here there are so many road bikers it's easy to put on a full kit and ride and fit in. It takes guts to wear a T-shirt and cut offs those are the folks that get stares.

yogi13

Something along the lines of "boy, this is really comfortable" or "boy, the boys feel a whole lot better."

For the record, I used to wear tie-dye quite a bit back in the day. Got a whole lot more weird looks with that than I've ever gotten wearing cycling kit.

rollin

Chancho. When you are a man, sometimes you wear stretchy pants in your room. It's for fun.

RT

Word. She even uses the same jokes, over and over.

gurana

When I got the shorts and jersey, I didn't think I'd have a problem. I had seen guys in similar kits somewhat on the roads around where I lived, and a lot on some of the roads and trails in D.C. However, the first time I went to go outside, I suddenly felt very exposed and put a pair of running shorts on over my biking shorts.

I did that a few times before I got over myself. I realized that nobody is paying that close attention to me to care wtf I wear on the road. Unless I get jeered (or, very very rarely, an occasional compliment) I assume that nobody cares/notices.

monporn

my bike gera is usually black or a nice flourescent yellow.
that said, i do wear really nice and colourful vintage gear in summer. i never notice anyone leering or jeering. i am too focused on staying alive on the busy roads.

Fremdchen

Black lycra's no problem. What I want to wear but am afraid to is white or red shorts. I have a big booty that gets noticed. Not sure if I want to draw extra attention to it.

Durward_Kirby

My teenagers were the ones that were most embarrassed. I find that to be very satisfying if I can embarrass them. My father did it to me when he would pull up in front of the school to drop me off in our PINK 1955 DeSoto (in 1974) with the broken manifold and rev the motor. I just figure that it is part of the requisite dysfunction that I'm passing on in my family.

Spreggy

I love going straight from work on the bike to my kids' sporting events. Embarrasses the hell out of 'em.

gurana

I really can't wait to embarass my kid. I always thought it was one of the joys of parenting.