53-11 alltheway

.....and you said I'm in the 10th grade. How immature are you to resort to name calling? I'm above that.

53-11 alltheway

Never said there weren't tangible benefits......just not neccessary.

Carbon Fiber frames have tangible benefits......but you don't "need" a carbon fiber frame to ride as long as you are happy with what you have.....whether it is steel, aluminum, etc.

Specialized Body geometry saddle (older version)..tilted slight down.

53-11 alltheway

It's this kind of snobbery that keeps newbies from really enjoying road cycling.

No doubt, everyone judges you by the clothes you wear and the car you drive (or the shorts you wear and how nice your bike is)......but damn this is exercise.

Biking is just exercise.....

53-11 alltheway

Hahhaha....it was a typo. And the pretentious crap in this forum must be wearing off on me it if I'm calling a component group a "grouppo".

soda

If it's snobbery that allows me to ride with a group of guys that I can trust to know how to safely ride in a group and also get a good workout then I'm a snob. I'll admit to that statement. I'm a snob by your definition. I like to ride with people that know what they're doing but I also like to ride with people that are just starting so we can teach them the rules for safe group rides. And frankly, yes you are judged by what you wear and ride because it's a sign that you know what you're doing. The more experienced you are, the more you can appreciate quality and how it can effect your ride and as much as you seem to not be able to admit to it, cycling shorts have a tremendous impact on the quality of the ride. You're right in that they're not necessary but they do improve the quality of the ride. I commuted in gym shorts for years and finally decided to try cycling shorts. When I first used them I didn't know what the big deal was but one day I forgot my cycling shorts and had to use my gym shorts again. Even within those short 6 miles, I could tell a big difference in comfort. The rest of us can't seem to convince you of that so let's agree to disagree.

Let me finish by reinforcing my comment about riding with newbies: I encourage newbies to join our group and enjoy road cycling safely. And riding safely isn't restricted to the road. It also applies to the health of the rider and I can't allow a newbie to start riding and already be behind the 8 ball by not wearing cycling shorts. I want them to come back but if they're sore from the first ride, do you think they're going to be up for the next ride? I would even venture to say that it's your idea that cycling shorts aren't necessary that is keeping newbies from enjoying the ride. They're not used to sitting the boys on a saddle for 2-3 hours and their thighs are not used to the constant road vibration and if anything can minimize or eliminate those discomforts they'll be more likely to come back and become a strong rider and friend. I want more people to ride with not less. It's kinda boring being out there alone. There is nobody to challenge me or help push me up that hill or to even vent about the hard day at work. So as you can see it's more than just excersise.

cycling shorts = newbie comfort = ride with me again = stronger rider/good friend = better workout for both of us

gym shorts = newbie DIScomfort = "what the heck are they doing to me" = "screw them" = I ride alone = poorer workout

And as much as you may think that I think you're a dork; I don't. I actually think you would be great fun on a ride as long as I don't have to see your gym shorts flopping in the wind giving me a peak at your tighty whities. If you could promise me that isn't a possiblity, then I'm game.

53-11 alltheway

You were decent enough in that post.

I resist the shorts for one very good reason. I don't want to get "addicted" to them. I get along perfectly fine without them.....but if I ever wear them one day and I get hooked by the way they hold my muscles (and all the other reasons people state) its going to add the "hassle" factor into my riding. I don't want them to take away from the spontaneous nature of my cycling.

55/Rad

You stated you average almost 250 miles per week. To maintain that level, you must have to wake up every day knowing if you are going out or not. That is called planning and you need a lot of it to ride "12-15K" per year. Spontaneity is going out on a day you weren't scheduled for cause the weather is too nice or a friend called or your other plans changed.

55/Rad

pseudobrit

And having clean shorts would be least of the hassle factors doing 250/wk.

Keeping the cables adjusted, chain lubed, wheels trued, etc. would be a much more significant factor than keeping a clean pair of cycling shorts at-the-ready.

slone130

Wow...a thread about shorts...kewl.

qmsdc15

Necessary? No. But you ride enough to merit buying bike shorts. You say it is a hassle to put on bike shorts but it is not much more difficult than putting on other shorts. You have to wear something, why not shorts that don't flap in the wind, add padding and won't get caught on your saddle when you mount/dismount? If you are uncomfortable in lycra shorts for any reason, don't bother. They might hold some parts of you closer to the body so you don't need to ride on sloping saddle, maybe not. I don't need bike shorts, sometime use the padded underwear. Maybe to be welcome on group rides you need them. If you ride well the group will accept you after they get over your fashion faux pas.

Trekke

53-11, try the damn shorts. You know you are in denial because you can't even come up with good reasons not to wear them. If you get addicted then so be it. When you were a child someone fed you real food. You liked it now you eat it all the time. (I may be assuming too much Ha Ha HA). It will just make a better rider out of you. I'm sure there is room for improvement. Actually I have never riden with a cyclist that was wearing gym shorts that was worth a **** anyway.

JBBOOKS

It's not a name, it's a word that means an annoyingly stupid or foolish person.

qmsdc15

Which word means that? Tenth? Grade?

LordOpie

this thread = sofa king we todd ed

55/Rad

It took me awhile but I got it. All them year's riding the short bus paid off.

55/Tard

halfspeed

If you're not yet dialed in, you'd better believe it's necessary. My first metric century on a small bike with cheap shorts and a saddle that didn't work for me was not a pleasant experience. Without the shorts, I wouldn't have finished. With better shorts, I would have been much better off.

I have a BG "Milano". It's great up to about 15 miles. Beyond that, forget it. Maybe that stuff works for you, but I'm done with those.