Does Clothing Matter?
#26
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Cycling clothing should match your intensity.
Clothing should match the weather.
Clothing is a tool, the samezas any other tool. Pick the correct tool for the job.
Clothing should match the weather.
Clothing is a tool, the samezas any other tool. Pick the correct tool for the job.
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#27
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If you do something a lot and friction is involved then the contact points matter.
Runners vaseline or tape their nipples for pete’s sake. If you ride enough and sweat doing so friction is an enemy.
-saddle fits butt shape and power output
-padded shorts because that way the cushion moves with you, permanent saddle pads are crap as it doesn’t move with you
-chamois buttr because friction reducer
-tight clothes because modern materials aid sweat wicking and tight clothes don’t snag on saddles or other stuff
-I loathe stopping to eat, so eff a tshirt….bike jersey convenient food or tool storage. Reach back, grab snack, eat! Enjoy wind and sights riding. I can stand idle at home!
Spend money on the contact points:
-matresses
-clothes
-shoes
-eye glasses
-etc……
Runners vaseline or tape their nipples for pete’s sake. If you ride enough and sweat doing so friction is an enemy.
-saddle fits butt shape and power output
-padded shorts because that way the cushion moves with you, permanent saddle pads are crap as it doesn’t move with you
-chamois buttr because friction reducer
-tight clothes because modern materials aid sweat wicking and tight clothes don’t snag on saddles or other stuff
-I loathe stopping to eat, so eff a tshirt….bike jersey convenient food or tool storage. Reach back, grab snack, eat! Enjoy wind and sights riding. I can stand idle at home!
Spend money on the contact points:
-matresses
-clothes
-shoes
-eye glasses
-etc……
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I can do 20 miles a day 5 days a week on my commute in my work clothes. but when I hop on the tandem in the evenings or weekends wear cycling clothes. my body wont allow non padded shorts after the commute. I would wear more regular shirts but I need the pockets. what sucks with cycling clothes in the winter here in portland if we stop and rest we freeze.
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I’ll be wearing NOT SHORTS and a Rapha jersey to Brooklyn tomorrow.
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Unless your racing anything works unless your going for those strava mup koms. But of course you got the "I wear the most expensive **** just because it happens to work best for me" crowd.
#31
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Yo, Indyfabz .... I always figured you for a big LL Cool J fan ....
#32
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In my experience it depends on the bike, the saddle, the ride and the rider. It is too cold here for me to ride regularly year round. In the early parts of my cycling season, I have to toughen my tuchus. Once I have that done, shorter 20 or so mile rides are fine in running shorts. Longer rides I like padded shorts.
I wish GPS would have been around in the late 70s because I'm pretty sure I rode more miles in cutoff jean shorts than I do now in lycra.
I wish GPS would have been around in the late 70s because I'm pretty sure I rode more miles in cutoff jean shorts than I do now in lycra.
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I have found quite a few very affordable pieces of very functional, stylish cycling clothing from non-name manufacturers. There are those who can afford Assos, Castelli and other high end brands, but what I have found does what it is supposed to do for cooling, wicking and comfort on 50-60 mile rides and saves me a lot of coin. No need to wear cargo shorts and T shirts (unless you want to) when you can find affordable cycling specific clothing for a few dollars more.
My go to training clothes are one-piece roadsuits from Decathlon, which is an European big box sports store chain, which are their top shelf stuff at around 100 Euro a piece. They're just good in every way. Sure, Castelli road suit has slightly better materials but it cost basically double. Perfectly usable although basic bike shorts can be had for under 10€ and I have a stack of those which I use for the indoor trainer and the odd training ride, never given me grief. I have an Aliexpress trisuit which I use for training and used in races without issue which cost under $50 (just have to size up ordering from China - I wear S in Euro sizing, XS in USA sizing and L in Chinese)
So, you don't need to spend a ton. That said, I do love my Castelli stuff.
#34
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The more comfortable I am, the more I enjoy the ride, and I am most comfortable in good quality, well fitted jersey and bibs. I’m a big believer in paying whatever is necessary for contact points, so I don’t cheap out on saddles, shoes, bibs, etc.
That said, if I’m just riding to work, I typically just wear office clothes.
That said, if I’m just riding to work, I typically just wear office clothes.
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It matters. Bicycling is a tribal sport. For such a simple activity, there seems to be a very large number of tribal variations. The clothes that you choose to wear tell the rest of us to which tribe you belong.
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Floppy clothes on road rides suck. Especially shirts unless you never want to carry anything in jersey pockets. Stop caring what people may think when they see you. This seems to be the main issue.
#38
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Cycling clothes that look like normal clothes exist. There’s a time and place for tight jerseys and bibs as well as normal clothes
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#39
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Do clothes matter?
Why ask me? Do your own experiment.
First day, go for a 20 mile ride in full cycling gear, the best you can beg or borrow.
Next day, same ride, cut-offs, flip-flops, tank top.
Third day, go naked.
In most of the places I have ridden .... the answers will be absolutely clear by the end of the test.
Why ask me? Do your own experiment.
First day, go for a 20 mile ride in full cycling gear, the best you can beg or borrow.
Next day, same ride, cut-offs, flip-flops, tank top.
Third day, go naked.
In most of the places I have ridden .... the answers will be absolutely clear by the end of the test.
#40
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#41
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Do clothes matter?
Why ask me? Do your own experiment.
First day, go for a 20 mile ride in full cycling gear, the best you can beg or borrow.
Next day, same ride, cut-offs, flip-flops, tank top.
Third day, go naked.
In most of the places I have ridden .... the answers will be absolutely clear by the end of the test.
Why ask me? Do your own experiment.
First day, go for a 20 mile ride in full cycling gear, the best you can beg or borrow.
Next day, same ride, cut-offs, flip-flops, tank top.
Third day, go naked.
In most of the places I have ridden .... the answers will be absolutely clear by the end of the test.
I think the funny thing about this thread is that the OP seems to have run that experiment and discovered they really don't want to wear cycling kit. They're uncomfortable with that because a bunch of people are telling them that's wrong.
That said, I agree with you that op should experiment with this with the new road bike. OP already has the clothes, but wasn't using them much anymore.
#42
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I own some lycra shorts and some cycling jerseys, and I've worn them, but these days I mostly find myself wearing civilian t-shirt and shorts when I ride. On a FB group awhile back, someone was asking for recommendations on clothing, and I was about to respond to the effect that it hardly matters, but then I saw someone had posted quite the opposite, suggesting it's very important and that you should spend as much as you can afford, because you get what you pay for. That exchange has been sulking in the back of my head for awhile. Now I've just acquired my first legit road bike, and I'm wondering what I'm missing in the clothing department.
I thought I'd ask the group here: What benefits do cycling wear bring, and how significant are those benefits?
I thought I'd ask the group here: What benefits do cycling wear bring, and how significant are those benefits?
This isn't an argument or a suggestion, just info. I rode my road bike 100 miles yesterday and am about to take a 70 mile ride on it today. Both days, I'm wearing tight tshirts and cargo shorts. Been doing this for several years.
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Maybe for you it does. Definitely doesn't work for me though. I find cycling clothing massively more comfortable to ride in than my casual everyday clothing. If it wasn't then I wouldn't bother with it. People who ride a lot can figure this stuff out for themselves and everyone I know who rides a lot wears cycling clothing, of which there is a vast range of options and pricing to suit any budget and style. Even the simple cut (long back, short front, close fitting) and rear pockets of a cycling jersey are enough for me to choose one over say a running jersey.
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My preferred outfit is cargo shorts, a t-shirt and wool boxer briefs unless I'm racing. Cycling clothing matters a lot for speed, there's lots of wind tests from Zipp, Specialized, Trek, GCN and others that show how much of an effect loose clothing can have on speed. Comfort-wise I don't like padded shorts and for me they create rubbing issues, I don't find cotton to be that bad and I like my comfort. All up to you
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For me, the only important aspects are the contact points: feet, hands, and butt. I wear clothing that keeps those parts comfortable, functional, and protected. I rarely concern myself with the rest of the ensemble.