Hello,

I am a commuter and car-free person, I also like to ride my bike on long road rides. Is there anyone that abstains from lycra like I do? My current kit is PI Elite Jersey,PI MTB shorts, or Fox Ranger 10" shorts with MTB performance shoes. Will I see any performance increases on long rides if I switch to the tight fitting lycra kit. Also I am thinking about racing will I see any performance increase in amateur races?

You will feel more comfortable in tights and shorts like the lycra material goods. Short of buying some wool shorts and jerseys the microfiber material kit are the way to go. It makes a workd if difference to me to wear the lycra shorts, jerseys and cycling socks when I ride.

Bill

this may be a bit of a lame way to put it, but there is a long downhill towards my house, i go down it everytime im coming home from a ride, at the bottom of the hill, it starts to rise up again, if i go out in the full lycra gear, i do not have to pedal at the bottom of this hill to get up the far side, i simply freewheel to the top, but if im in baggy shorts and a tshirt, with it flapping in the wind, it seems to slow me down conciderabley, therefore forcing me to pedal back up the hill, so yes, it will make a difference in this aspect but also comfort. GO LYCRA

I think you should enter a road race with your baggy shorts and MTB shoes. It will be a fun learning experience.

I was the same way. MTBer on a nice RB.
I used to ride in MTB jerseys, shorts and shoes.
Little by little, I began to convert. First, the shoes. WOW! Big difference for me.
Then, I wore recreational shorts instead of MTB baggies. Eventually, I got a pair of lycra shorts. Padding (insert angels singing chorus here). I slipped those under my recreational shorts.

Of course, I didn't want to wear them because I felt weird in them and wondered what people would think. But then I realized something. I was never in once place long enough for anybody to really see me. I was too busy RIDING and when I rode, I never really stopped (for hours at a time). And if I did stop, it was at a rest and the only people there were other riders and guess what? They had lycra shorts on too.

So, one day, I went out in my lycras and roadie shoes! FTW! And it was noticeably better than having loose material swashing in between my legs and I didn't have to think about it. I just focused on riding. Eventually, I graduated up to a "real" cycling jersey and the difference there was great as well. The final straws were the Roadie specific helmet (no more visor) and fingerless gloves and I was all in.

For "me", it was well worth it. Of course, you have to find out what's best for you. Maybe, you could take my route. Ease into it. Wear the lycras "under" your MTB shorts. Notice the difference. If you like it, hit the road on an early weekend morning when nobody else will be out besides other cyclists who frankly won't care what you're wearing.

Go cheap at first. $20. pair of shorts and a $30. jersey. As for shoes, go cheap with those too ($50.-80. combo of shoes/pedals). If you like it, "then" upgrade. If not, then stick with what works for you.

And if you're going to race (on a road bike or cross country bike), it's definitely worth the relatively small investment to know the differences between the two. All in all, there's a reason why MTB gear is baggy and why RB gear is fitted. The best way to know that is by actually trying it out.

Hope that helps.

I think most of us were initially uncomfortable with clingy lycra. Cycling clothing has evolved to what it is because it works. It would be unfortunate to miss these clear advantages because you are concerned about looking silly. Face it, most people probably view adults on bicycles as strange, regardless of what we wear. Having said that, if your rides are only 15 or 20 miles, wear anything you want. Cutoff jeans, a wife beater or tropical shirt and sneakers will work for that!

When I started getting back into cycling a year ago, the first thing I bought was some baggy shorts; it was the inevitable transition, after having hernia surgery in my late thirties, and having worn looser-fit clothing ever since.

I wore the baggies two or three times last year, and only once this year - the Lycra shorts are definitely the only way to go if you are doing anything besided riding around the block; a fast cadence and long-term comfort depend on the freedom of movement and the liner.

Oh, and remember to ditch the underwear; I was chafing all of the time, especially in the summer, and now it's all good down there, after following the Go Commando advice...

I even do the lycra thing on my commute to work - it's just what I wear to ride. In my case, I have to shower anywho when I get to work, so there is no thought of wearing my work clothes on the bike.

I still use MTB shoes - I like being able to walk around when off the bike. I suppose that high-falutin' road shoes would be stiffer, but I don't see that they would be that much stiffer nor improve my performance all that much. And my Mavic shoes are so tremendously comfortable I can't see changing from them, at least not till I've worn them out.

just do it...you'll understand...the devil is in the detail.

+1

Up until 2009 I rode mtb and hybrids and baggy mtb shorts.

After moving to AZ I bought a road bike. The dealer threw in a pair of lycra shorts and a jersey.

It took me a week or so before I tried them. After a couple of rides I decided I would ride them and to heck with anyone else if they thought I looked funny.

A few months later I decided since I ride every day and wear a jersey I may as well advertise my business instead of wearing clothing advertising something else.

I contacted a custom jersey company and had them make 6 jerseys (their minimum).

My 1.5 hr weekday ride route starts 11 miles from our restaurant and heads away from it. I have customers tell me they saw me out for a ride all the time. I even get quite a few 5 finger waves instead of 1 finger ones.

A couple of regular lunchtime guys say I should take a different route as their kids see me often and it reminds them of our place.

I've never had any one give me a hard time about it but have had people ask how often/far I ride, what's a good lbs, etc.

If I'm out on a long ride and I'm heading by one of the restaurants I'll stop in to fill a bottle or grab a banana or a bite. I've had bmx kids ask if I'm sponsored and who do they contact as there is a track near by.

This is a long-winded way of saying buy some lycra, wear it and don't look back. Most likely no one will say a thing and you will "fit in" better with the other cyclists if you don't want to ride alone. You'll also ride faster as you will ride farther before your stuff hurts.

You all are very convincing, you would have laughed me off the road today I wore this following kit:

Lazar Neon helmet with retro reflective tap all over it
Gore Bike So Phantom Jacket
PI Quest Jersey
PI Half Finger Gloves
PI MTB Shorts with the chamois liner
regular cotton ankle socks
Shimano MTB shoes

I got called lance armstrong and I passed some guy that was more kitted out than I was

Lastly, I was hoping to hear a post of some one like Lance, Lemond, Mercx winning their first race in a pair of dickies. I guess there is no stories like that

Cheers,

Because that's never happened.

About 1/3 the roadies I ride with or encounter use MTB type cleat systems. No real reason not too.

Baggies, on the other hand, have their drawbacks; binding, flapping in the breeze, hot, etc... I generally wear Lycra even when mountain biking for these reasons. Out on a road ride the other day one guy out of about a dozen was wearing baggies and a T shirt. If anybody looked odd, out of place, or improperly equipped, he did.

OP, if you're feeling self-conscious about how you look, do this --

Get a pair of bib shorts and, optionally, a base layer T-shirt (something tight like Under Armour).

Over that, wear your regular clothes, or whatever you prefer to wear at the grocery store.

Ka-ching - you get the sweat management and chafing protection of cycling clothes while looking like a regular person.

I've got my superhero poseur gear and my normal clothes that I wear for different reasons and destinations. I feel a little weird (more than usual ) going to the movies dressed like a Cat 6 domestique.

Road pedal/cleat systems are typically lighter, have better clearance (less chance of striking), distribute pressure more evenly with a larger platform and have different float. These are all reasons not to use an MTB pedal.

That and good road shoes don't have two bolt cleat mounts and will only accept look style 3 bolt cleats or Speedplay cleats (with an adapter, or some shoes are speedplay specific).

BITD, there was a mennonite kid who used to show up at races in sweats and kill the field. His name was Floyd Landis.

I wear MTB gear a lot when I commute, but if I know I'm going on a longer solo ride or any sort of group ride I will go with roadie gear. When you're going > 20mph your baggy stuff will flap around a lot.

Except for my jacket - it's a MTB one and a little baggy but I don't want to spend more on a road cycling jacket right now, and my MTB shoes. Good MTB shoes can be really stiff, so I don't think it's the stiffness that makes the difference. Smaller platform and different float I can believe.

BS. There are lightweight, good clearance, appropriate float mtb pedals just as there are heavy, poor clearance, wrong float road pedals. If the sole of the shoe is stiff, it doesn't matter how wide the pedal platform is, and there are plenty of high quality stiff and lightweight two-hole shoes available.

Yes, obviously there are exceptions to what I said, but for the majority of options what I said is true. Almost all mountain bike pedals are heavier than the cheapest Shimano road pedals until you get to a much greater (4x) price point, the exception being Crank Brothers, and many people question the durability of the cheap lightweight Crank bros. I don't think there's any MTB pedals that really have better cornering clearance than road pedals either.

And obviously all cycling shoes are meant to be stiff, but they aren't perfectly stiff (often on purpose) and the larger pedal platform really does make a difference. Also, name one single high end road shoe that accepts a two bolt cleat. I don't think it's made.

I'm just saying there are reasons why every person who shows up to a road race uses a road specific pedal and shoe. The performance increases are real for that specific application - the road shoes and pedals work that much better for road riding.

MTB shoes and pedals obviously have significant advantages for mountain biking.

If you want to be "accepted" by some of the douchier cyclists then wear appropriate attire. I wear running shorts and any breathable shirt.

The OP is talking about racing not being accepted. Tight clothes will make as big a difference as expensive deep profile wheels.

I am thinking I am going to have to bite the bullet if I want to compete in a race. I think I am going to do what other posters mentioned test ride them on the weekends early in the morning. I work on a military base there is no way I am going to be wearing them,when I ride to work. I think I am going to train in my MTB shorts, its like runners that train with a parachute. Maybe I will develop speed that way,I might be on a new training fad.

I felt sort of self-conscious wearing the lycra stuff, but then when I showed up at a bike rally, with hundreds of other riders all wearing lycra, I felt self-conscious NOT wearing it, so that can work both ways.

One thing I have discovered is that nobody much cares what I wear. Maybe if you're the World's Most Interesting Man or something, then everyone watches you to see what you're wearing today. Otherwise, who cares?

I see no mention of shaving legs. Until you shave your legs, you are NOT all in.