m2ber04

It all depends on the type of rides you are interested in doing. As you had commented in earlier post your interest is to mainly get around, so street clothes I guess would be fine. But why would you want a road bike if you are just riding around town, wouldn't a hybrid be better?

If you want to get into longer/faster rides then your probably going to realize at some point why people are wearing this skin tight clothing, it's not just to fit in, it has a very functional purpose.

Not for nothing, but if one of my friends asked me this same question I'd say yes, you need to wear the bike clothes and if you don't want to wear them, maybe rethink the type of bike you want to be riding...

caloso

Of course, humidity makes a huge difference. 105F in Sacramento feels like 85F in Chicago.

mpath

+1.

I'd also add that, we really should respect the sport, regardless of the sport. And particularly the more serious or committed we become. Wearing a football jersey to play softball, or vice versa, even in casual gameplay, is, IMHO, uncool. Denim cutoffs for golf, uncool. Running shoes for tennis, uncool. Ad infinitum.

There are exceptions, of course; I'm a big believer in run what you brung, so if that's all you got, by all means use it. But don't try to make a "statement" by being the guy in street clothes on a group ride.

Seattle Forrest

You can't be serious, can you?

Lazy Dog

I started out wearing basketball shorts and t-shirts.....

Then evolved into wearing cycling, padded shorts underneath basketball shorts and still with a t-shirt up top....

Finally, as I started doing rides longer than 20 miles, I realized it was more about function and ditched the basketball shorts, but stubbornly kept the cotton t-shirts going....

Then summer came around in SoCal and I ditched the cotton t-shirt, went with Under Armor "wicking" t-shirts with cycling bibs underneath....

Finally, two months ago I said, "To hell with it" and went full on roadie with cycling jerseys and bib shorts. The rear pockets are functional on the jersey for extra Cliff Bars, sunglasses, water bottles, iPod, etc. on rides longer than 30 miles. I still think cycling jerseys and bibs look ridiculous, but I don't really care anymore.

The only time I ride in regular clothes these days are leisurely rides with my wife and kids around the neighborhood.

jon c. 

When I rode in the 70s, cycling gear was very uncommon. Most people rode in street clothes. I don't really think it's integral to riding that you be 'properly' attired.

Been back riding for about a year now. I started wearing only street clothes, but have now gone to bike shorts as I do find them more comfortable. Usually just wear a plain tee shirt though.

androidtt

I make Chipotle runs on my SHIV every so often wearing work attire...

mpath

.......uphill, both ways, in the snow, before the internet, Garmin, or Starbucks.....yeah, that's not gonna work.

merlinextraligh

The saddles typically on most road bikes, and to a lesser degree the position on the bike, make cycling shorts a really good idea for a road bike ride of any length.

Up right position, and a more cushy saddle typical to a hybrid makes it easier to ride in regular pants or shorts.

escarpment

Joseph Gordon Levit pulls off street clothes in premium rush. Although I did it first. Minus the bike chain.

Nachoman

As long as I was wearing cycling shorts under my street cloths, I could handle it.
But the days of cycling + underwear are long behind me.

Cookiemonsta

Its also a bit of a subculture thing. In holland you will not find roadies wearing a Bern helmet. Here, cycling as a sport and the gear go hand in hand. The "bike messenger" subculture is pretty much non-existent, as are people on roadbikes (fixie or not) who intentionally do not to look like roadies. Obviously, if you are not cycling for exercise or sport it does not matter what you wear. If you do, you will convert anyway sooner or later.

m2ber04

Yes I'm serious...If I were to use a bike with the sole reason to run errands and put around town I'd probably be much happier with a hybrid.

Kabloink

Having grown up in nothern Indiana, I can say some of us old timers really did ride in the snow both ways. Our parents weren't going to drive us just because it was snowing back then.

On the street clothes, I wear street clothes all the time for short trips. Though, I have a beater sport touring(old fashioned diamond frame) road bike with cage platform pedals instead of clipons for such trips.

vermilionx

i wear regular shirts and MTB baggy shorts.

well, i sometimes use underamour tops but mostly try to look like i have regular clothes when im riding.

i do use helmet, gloves, cycling shoes, shades though.

Carbon Unit

Bike shorts and cycling Jersey only for me.

vermilionx

i cycle for fun and fitness. i do about 100 miles/week.

if i was training... i prolly would wear lycra and jerseys.

escarpment

clearly you dont own a road bike

Bacciagalupe

My beater bike is an old road bike, road-type saddle, bars a little bit below the saddle. For short rides, I have no problem in street clothes.

Besides, I'd think if you were sitting upright, wearing jeans, on a saddle without a cutout, you'll notice that seam a lot more than if you're leaning forward on a saddle with a cutout.

IMO it's much more a function of time on the bike than position. If you're riding half an hour at a stretch, I don't think it matters. 60 minutes, I think you'd benefit from bike-specific clothing.

Chris Pringle

Road cycling w/ street clothing only in the city, on short distances and during cool weather.

m2ber04

Really? I'm not sure if this is a joke or not... I do own a road bike. Although I've actually been thinking of buying a hybrid to use around town to run errands etc...I'm struggling to find what would be wrong with that? Isn't that the purpose of a hybrid. Maybe I'm wrong. But one of two things are going to happen if I go grocery shopping with my road bike. Either I'm in cycling gear or street clothes. I'd prefer to not be in street clothes riding a road bike, don't feel like dealing with pedals, non chamios etc.. So I'm assuming I would be more comfortable in street clothes on a hybrid?? I guess a fixie would work in this situation as well?

dissident

bike in what you want. I've never had a problem jogging in jean shorts or road biking for that matter with the right saddle. People are too concerned about what others are doing and image. Sometimes I do things on purpose such as taking that second cupcake at work when someone is giving them away to people, or cutting across the grass, not dressing perfectly, just to get a rise out of these 'busybodies' like the guy I work with who are all concerned about their own image and insecure, so they think others must be too and 'follow the rules'

Aeolis

Road bikes are only for people who race, no one here should even own one. Hybrids are the BEST of both worlds!

mpath

Okaaaay.

Seattle Forrest

I don't think there's a rule like "If you're wearing tights you should be on a road bike, but if you have hairy legs you should be on an upright bike." It isn't like voting, either, where there are districts that determine what you belong on, city being hybrid material. What would happen if you wanted to do a century that passed through the city, would you need to change bikes midway through?

You would want a road bike if you prefer the fit/position, the handling, the higher gearing, the way a road bike climbs, etc. A hybrid's purpose is to give its rider a very upright position, easier gearing, and, typically, to not cost as much. I could see wanting to ride one to the store, or some nearby errand if you wanted to lock it to a post or bike rack and not have your nice CF frame messed with ... but not just because you aren't wearing the uniform.

PS - You can easily ride 100 miles at a time without leaving city limits.