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-   -   Road cycling in street clothes? (https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/848640-road-cycling-street-clothes.html)

Training.Wheels 09-25-12 12:51 AM

Road cycling in street clothes?
 
I use my track bike for every day things and wear street clothes, but I'm currently saving up for a Specialized Allez Compact as my first "real" road bike. My question is; do you guys occasionally ride in regular street clothes? I can't see myself in spandex, haha.

Cookiemonsta 09-25-12 01:00 AM

To be honest I dont when I train/exercise. Only when riding an older road bike around the city.

I know it is a little hard to get used to , but once you start wearing it, you will get used to it pretty soon. You may not have ever worn skintight outfits and it may look silly to you at first. But once you step outside you will realize no one even gives you a second look. You simply look like every other roadie out there.

If anything, it is street clothes that make you kinda stand out and look out of place. If you get serious enough, you will get to a point where the street clothes will start to feel awkward. Also, you will get to a point where you start caring more about comfort and performance. For these two things, cycling specific clothes can make a big difference.

So my advice is: Throw away your notions of what looks weird. It does not apply on a roadbike. Wear the "spandex" or "lycra", also wear the goofy helmet. I will leave it up to you whether you want to shave your legs ;)

rooftest 09-25-12 01:27 AM

If your clothes flapping in the wind doesn't bother you - then you aren't riding fast enough.

AK404 09-25-12 01:28 AM

Because my road bike is also my commuter, I often find myself riding in street clothes.

Verdict: I will never go more than ten miles in street clothing because it sucks. I got over feeling silly in biking clothes really quick because I feel light and dry, and if I'm going to go to public places, I can get away with MTB shorts and a long-sleeve jersey which aren't as aerodynamic, but look like a long-sleeved shirt with baggy shorts that still wick up sweat quite nicely.

However, whenever I bike in street clothes, I feel like I'm tied up: blue jeans stick to your legs, making you feel constrained, pant cuffs get caught in the chain wheel or water bottle cages, the lack of cycling shorts hits me right where you'd think it would, underwear (no matter what kind) bunches up, cotton shirts don't breathe or dry out, baseball caps feel scratchy because they're either too tight or too loose, and every time I have to ride in sneakers, I miss my clipless shoes because sneakers just don't grip properly, even on a flip-flop pedal.

And the worst part? Because most pants aren't made to take the sort of stresses that cyclng shorts are (lots of movement and friction in the butt and crotch area), those parts get threadbare fast.

escarpment 09-25-12 01:42 AM

all the time, I only wear jerseys in group rides or races, or warm sundays. I will wear bike shorts under my shorts. I like wearing regular t shirts. And I like pockets I can reach.

Generally I feel like a tool in spandex, and more like a target for cars.

I will admit that the back sweat sucks

Bike Gremlin 09-25-12 01:57 AM

I ride regular clothes when commuting. Because it is easier to change clothes that way (I don't have to carry that much clothes with me, since I wear most of it).

My commute is about 11 km, no hills, just some strong headwind sometimes. And still miss the cycling clothes and jersey (more comfy and super handy pockets at the back).

Fiery 09-25-12 02:04 AM

I also commute on my road bike in everyday clothes, no problems whatsoever. My clothes are pretty loose and unrestrictive, and I've never relied on chamois padding to keep me comfortable, so no problems there

Cycling specific clothes make a difference for me once the ride becomes long enough and hard enough for sweat to become a problem.

jmX 09-25-12 02:12 AM

If I'm specifically going for a ride to ride, then I'll put on the spandex. If I'm going to run errands, commute, meet up with people, or troll other roadies, then I'll wear regular clothes.

The difference in functionality and comfort is huge. If you're considering exercising in your street clothes just because you think it looks cooler, I think you might be mistaken about how cool a person on a bike looks.

Cookiemonsta 09-25-12 02:45 AM


Originally Posted by jmX (Post 14771305)
If you're considering exercising in your street clothes just because you think it looks cooler, I think you might be mistaken about how cool a person on a bike looks.

+1

Training.Wheels 09-25-12 03:30 AM

Thanks for the response guys.


Originally Posted by jmX (Post 14771305)
If I'm specifically going for a ride to ride, then I'll put on the spandex. If I'm going to run errands, commute, meet up with people, or troll other roadies, then I'll wear regular clothes.

The difference in functionality and comfort is huge. If you're considering exercising in your street clothes just because you think it looks cooler, I think you might be mistaken about how cool a person on a bike looks.

I think that's the issue right there - I don't use cycling for exercise. I use it for commuting, so my personal performance is not that high up on my priorities list. As to why I'm getting a road bike just to get around, I just like owning different types of bikes for the heck of it. Oh, plus I love speed. Anyways, I'll probably end up getting at least one cycling outfit anyways, knowing me. I just wanted to see what others' opinions were.

Machka 09-25-12 04:42 AM

Most of the time I wear cycling-specific clothing, but not always. We're travelling around the world and cycling in various countries these days, and I've opted to wear cycling shorts because I find them comfortable, but instead of a jersey I go with a wicking T-shirt. And sometimes I'll wear capris over my cycling shorts.

Bike Gremlin 09-25-12 04:48 AM

Apparently it works:

http://simplybikeblog.com/?cat=31

StephenH 09-25-12 05:57 AM

If you're riding through the neighborhood by yourself, it doesn't much matter. If you go do a bike rally with several hundred or thousand other cyciists, then you'll feel out of place in jeans. If you ride when it's hot, cycling clothing works better. If you ride when it's cold, cycling clothing works better. You may be thinking about what you look like as you ride, but nobody else really cares.

WC89 09-25-12 06:20 AM

Personally, I wouldn't be caught dead on me road bike in anything other than the racey look of bib shorts and kind of tight road jersey, both usually with logos all over them. On the MTB or me hybrid: I wear the mountain biker look (baggy cargo shorts, loose jersey or muscle shirt, regular cycling shorts underneath, clippless MTB shoes/pedals).

Bacciagalupe 09-25-12 06:44 AM

Wear whatever you like, and don't worry about what other people think. The only thing that matters is that your choice of clothing is functional and comfortable.

dayday82 09-25-12 08:05 AM

if i wanted to wear street clothes (non cycling specific) while riding then I would ride a hybrid or something different.

cmcgarvey 09-25-12 08:33 AM

Being someone who use to wear basketball shorts over my spandex and having finally dropped them. It took a ride or two to become comfortable(read:dont give a crap what you think) Realizing how much more comfortable of a ride it actually is. Not having your shorts bunch up under your arse as you sit down is really nice.

Bumer 09-25-12 08:45 AM

Just put some running or training shorts over it, that tights are not the only thing you are wearing. That's how I do it. :)

Bacciagalupe 09-25-12 08:49 AM


Originally Posted by dayday82 (Post 14771947)
if i wanted to wear street clothes (non cycling specific) while riding then I would ride a hybrid or something different.

Why would that matter? Is there something magical about drop bars that magnetically attracts spandex? :D

kmill065 09-25-12 08:49 AM


Originally Posted by cmcgarvey (Post 14772048)
Being someone who use to wear basketball shorts over my spandex and having finally dropped them. It took a ride or two to become comfortable(read:dont give a crap what you think) Realizing how much more comfortable of a ride it actually is. Not having your shorts bunch up under your arse as you sit down is really nice.

agreed, I used to do the same. I'd suggest taking a ride of 15-20 miles with the express purpose of going fast and riding hard in your regular athletic shorts and then doing the same ride in a pair of just lycra road shorts, your ass will thank you on and after that second ride.

If you're worried about what other people think, you're living life wrong.

as rooftest said If your clothes flapping in the wind doesn't bother you - then you aren't riding fast enough.... also if you're able to hear people talk smack as your passing them, you're not going fast enough

But I will wear street clothes and flip-flops for anything under 5-8 miles for errands and meeting up with friends and stuff

tagaproject6 09-25-12 08:53 AM

Wear whatever is comfortable for you, not what other people think you should wear.

Aeolis 09-25-12 09:09 AM

I slowly transitioned to my current all Lycra outfit for riding. Started with cotton T and bball shorts. Now it's cooler out I'm wearing cycle shorts under tights, UA compression top.

Seattle Forrest 09-25-12 09:37 AM


Originally Posted by Training.Wheels (Post 14771261)
My question is; do you guys occasionally ride in regular street clothes?

More than occasionally.

The side effect of riding in clothes that you already own is that you wind up with hundreds of dollars staying in your bank account that would otherwise buy you a costume fit for professional wrestling.

You don't have to shave your legs, either.

Obviously, some clothes are more suited to riding a bike than others.

caloso 09-25-12 09:47 AM

You mean like 10 minutes ago, as I rode to work? Fun fact: you can even wear a tie and your bike won't assplode.

escarpment 09-25-12 10:10 AM


Originally Posted by caloso (Post 14772352)
You mean like 10 minutes ago, as I rode to work? Fun fact: you can even wear a tie and your bike won't assplode.

I made the mistake of biking in a slacks, shirt, and tie, to work one day. I spent the first 30 min in the bathroom drying myself off, And the next 2 hours not getting out of my chair because of the giant sweat stain on my back.

none the less, I rarely feel justified in my skin suit just to shave seconds off my record setting attempts.


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