To answer the question of performance, I doubt you'll notice much difference in a solo ride unless you repeat the same ride a bunch of times and calculate the average time with/without the Lycra. In a first race, you'll probably get dropped no matter what you ware. I'm not saying you aren't a strong rider, but staying with the pack will have more to do with learning how to position yourself in the pack, predict surges, get on the right wheels. Once you've been dropped, if you continue racing, you'll look to eliminate every disadvantage you can to avoid being dropped again and show up to your next race in the Lycra.

There is a pretty fast local group ride that I do where there is one guy who always shows up in basketball shorts and he keeps up OK for most of the ride. There is a hill followed by a sprint at the end, however, that tends to separate the more serious riders and racers from the recreational types. I've never seen him with the front group at the end. I'm not saying that the shorts are keeping him from being up in the front, but if you are serious about the sport, you'll eliminate disadvantages. I would say that baggy shorts are more of a symptom, rather than a cause of slowness.

That's the big reason, I think. I did quite a few road races on eggbeaters. It wasn't until my first few crits, that I ended up buying a pair of Speedplays.

Pretty much all the roadies on the military bases around here go with lycra, even if they're coming to work (if the route is long enough to make a difference, anyway).

But you could be onto something with the baggy clothes, like swimmers who wear drag suits for resistance training.

how many miles are you riding in running shorts? I can't imagine being on a saddle for more than a few minutes before the mesh in my running shorts draws blood.

Seriously, I'd expect that if anyone would understand that form follows function, it would be people in the military.

That kinda depends on the saddle, though. A grippier saddle won't let the fabric move as freely as a slicker one. A dramatic difference would be a lycra-covered "comfort" saddle versus a Brooks.

I can think of all sorts of reasons I'd rather wear proper bike shorts (bibs, actually) than running/basketball/gym shorts:

1) catching the nose of the saddle
2) chafing on that big central seam
3) billowing material
4) and the fact that the pedaling motion will hike up the leg of the shorts and reveal far more skin than any pair of cycling shorts.

But wear what you want. It's all fine with me. I'm one of the douchier riders around and I'll accept you for who you are.

I haven't had any aforementioned problems with my MTB shorts. They are not surfer or basketball baggy, I have noticed that they do catch wind on descents. I have seen the problem with them riding up my leg and but nor to bad. When I make a bit more money I will try some cycling bibs. Lastly, with knee and and leg warmers do they go over the bibs?

Jesus man, use some periods!

Nope. Leg and knee warmers sit under your shorts; they often have a rubber ring around the top to keep it from slipping on your skin.

When you guys talk about clearance of road vs MTB pedals, do you just mean when cornering? If so, does that really make much difference unless you are leaned over a lot? I always thought that you put your inside pedal up when you're turning anyway.

It's a problem when pedaling through turns, which is mostly only a problem in races since riding casually you normally won't be taking turns that aggressively. The OP mentioned he was thinking about racing in the first post, that why people are mentioning road pedals and shoes.

Put on arm warmers, then put on the leg warmers. Then the base layer and finally, the bib shorts.

In addition to the normal black leg warmers, I've got some very red Hincapie leg warmers. People can spot me from miles away.

I'm probably switching to lycra next season, but I've been using gym shorts and only #3 came into effect...

83 miles has been the most at one time.

I don't look good in lycra. Trust me. But I wear it anyway because it's designed for biking, I don't have sores from seams and I the chamois is helpful. Surprisingly, they also don't get sweaty. I can sweat out and stink up those polyester jerseys in my 9 mile commute. But the shorts seem dry after a 40-50 mile weekend rides. I do wear underwear so that I don't have to wash shorts daily.

I just wear black shorts and solid jerseys and don't feel like a poser. The cycling clothing is more comfortable than regular clothing which sticks to you. At least get some all polyester micro-extra quick dry type shirts. Cycling jerseys with zippers are better. Shop around and you can probably find some for under $20. ebay or CL might let you find something inexpensive to try out.

Ditto on those -'s.
And ditto on riding with what you want.

And OP, if you're in one place long enough to be noticed, you aren't riding!

i went the other way. used to always wear lycra and never questioned it
however, i like cycle-specific clothing (not lycra). the materials are fitted, strech and are cut for cycling and wearing normally off the bike
i've done serious miles in them and was comfortable

if you want mixed use clothing or just something "normal" looking, there are options.
i've found it allows me to cycle more and not think of it as something i have to change clothes every time i ride.

racing and training is best in lycra but there are options.

Man you guys convinced me a brought my jersey and shorts and planned on wearing em on the commute home I didn't feel comfortable changing into them and rode home in a cotton and carhartts. Man it was an uncomfortable ride I have been riding at higher rpm and I was sweating awful

those are for women, bro

Wow so you decline to use clothing that would make your 83 mile rides much more comfortable and enjoyable because you think cyclists that wear lycra are "douchier"?

i only workout in my dice clay jacket...these women are animals

No, I said "douchier" because there are some elitist cyclists out there that think you have to be all decked out to ride and look down on people that don't wear cycling attire. I didn't call the "nice" ones "douchy."

Really? I've never met any of them.

Yeah nobody cares what you or anybody else wears.