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Nerd.
What's everyone’s take on cycling-related gear and fixies?
Lately I've been buying all sorts of random cycling clothing-related crap and I feel sorta odd about it. What I mean is: I have this bare-bones fixie but I am buying things like cycling glasses, gloves, shoes, shorts, etc. On long rides I'll wear it all too. Does anyone else do that and feel weird? (For the record, it's not as though I'm going to STOP wearing my gear, but I was wondering if anyone else feels awkward about having a crap bike and nice-ish "peripherals.") |
Sometimes crap works and sometimes you need to invest in quality. Use whatever works is my motto.
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Sometimes the accessories make all the difference. If you're not squinting, chafing or going numb, you're free to enjoy the ride. I see no weirdness in prioritizing how you spend your money. It's not as if you're buying stuff to make you go *faster* and ignoring the bike...
But yes, we look like nerds out there. :) |
cycling shoes are almost a necessity, especially if you run clipless...gloves are nice to have as well, and so are glasses, for keeping bugs and debris out of the eyes. shorts....hmm...i've never worn cycling shorts...
while THE TOUR!!!!!! was going on i almost bought a whole team-like outfit to go wear around the city on my fixie. but as it turns out, i didn't. mostly because i didn't have the money. rock whatever style you wanna rock. |
Hey DV-
do whatcha gotta do. I'll clown anyone makin fun of you with Mr NY Chain...tht'll shut 'em up real quick-like |
i'm doing a century this sunday and i got a camelbak. not only do fixers make fun of me, but so do roadies. f 'em it's all about hydration
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My new pedals and shoes cost twice as much as my bike. Being nerdy is cool!!
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I think what rocks about fixies, and those that ride it.. is we all are our own people. We aren't roadies, who run around in matching spandex to bike colors. Or mtn bikers who thrive on being "not roadies" You can even tell those that have a hidden fixed love that hasn't been found when riding with roadies or mtn bikers... we dont care what people wear or what is on their bike.. or how much it cost. as long as they are on that bike that's all that matters
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i don't have too much special gear.. when riding my fixies, anyway, i wear regular clothes most of the time. plus cycling cap and gloves.. but usually i just roll up my pants and go. for longer rides i put on a jersey and sometimes some cheap padded cycling shorts under my shorts/pants.
dumpstervegan, don't you need to get a better bike before you buy nice accessories? :D |
allright... i was reading up on various bicycling sub-cultures and came across the following essay. it's a little long, but it's really freaking good, so please give it a read if ya got the time...
As it is the last Friday of the month, I spend some time contemplatively drinking a beer and repairing last night's damage to my ride in preparation for the mighty Critical Mass. The efforts complete, I mount my steed and ride towards the gathering point, only to be reminded that I forgot to fix that rusty brake that won't release its death grip on my rim. No matter, I anticipated a setback such as this, and have alloted the time necessary to smack the offending component around and lube the **** out of it. Once again I am awheel, and as the gathering point draws near I encounter my comrades on their own choppers, tallbikes, and battlewagons. We hail and are well met, becoming one clot among the many converging from all directions towards the shelter of the Burnside bridge, traditional meeting place for massing cyclists since the days of yore. Pedestrians and motorists mistake us for the Critical Mass ride itself, and we wave to them cheerfully, for it does not matter; whenever two or more cyclists are gathered in its name, there Critical Mass will be among them. In fact, nuts to the ride, perhaps we should ditch it and derby in the park tonight? The idea is debated back and forth with volleys of shouts as we ply the streets, but no, our destination does not change - we wish to be with our people, the people of the wheel. And as we come within sight of the milling throng, we are glad that we stuck with the plan, because there they are: the crusties on their barely functioning found bicycles, the technogeeks on their expensive yuppie rides, the nerdy guy with the basket bike, the clever mechanic, that one messenger, the shy kid, the loudmouth old dude, the ordinary people who just like to ride the mass. They're all there, and we love them all, even if we don't like a lot of them. The socializing ends and the ride begins as we take to the streets once more, and wherever we go, we own. Better yet, we give it freely back minutes later. Is it our fault that the drivers following us can't think of anything better to do with it than what they've been doing every day? We've made our mark. People around us have seen it, and that's swell, but it isn't really important, after all. What is important is that we can feel the mark within ourselves. Critical Mass is a part of of us. When the ride is done, we will still own the streets every other day of the month, and we are still a part of the community of massers, until the month rolls around and it is time to ride together again. My apologies if this doensn't make 100% sense. It's nearly 2am and I'm pretty drunk and ready for bed. :beer: -alex |
Originally posted by Arsbars we dont care what people wear or what is on their bike.. or how much it cost. as long as they are on that bike that's all that matters |
I tend to prefer t-shirts over jerseys, although when I do wear a jersey, it's just a solid color... I don't like to pay $50 or more to be a rolling advertisement.
Bike shorts might look dorky, but they do make the ride a heck of a lot more comfortable. One time I was short cutting through a local high school parking lot, and some kids were out there. The guys started making fun of me and yelling at me about my shorts. But I noticed that the girls weren't yelling and making fun of them. ;-) |
alexs-
excellent choice (being drunk and posting) and nice quote too. I have never owned a cycling team kit, but there is a pretty cool team here in town (www.xxxracing.org) whose goods I would be proud to wear. Check out their website. Street history points out that this team was started by a few messers... |
I started riding again about last November, so I was used to wearing many layers, hats, gloves, etc. That was fine at the time, but now I have really been enjoying just wearing a t-shirt and shorts. Since it will be getting cold again I may pick up a couple warm things just to streamline myself since most normal winter clothing is rather bulky. Other than that I don't really go for too much gear. I do have a cycle cap and messenger bag, but I actually find that I am more comfortable with a baseball cap and backpack.. :confused:
-Jason |
I recently plonked down the same amount of cash for my Selle Flite that my bike was worth. Undoubtedly I got my bike at Working Bikes here in Chicago and is a converted SS but comfort is key. I occasionally wear shorts under baggy shorts on long rides and I like mixing and matching bike gear and regualr gear. What you should notice is that most cycling gear is the same as running or most other technical gear, same synthetic fabrics and whatnot so I adapt some running/climbing gear for cycling, since it's cheaper.
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Originally posted by absntr so I adapt some running/climbing gear for cycling, since it's cheaper. |
Originally Posted by 165-48:17
me too! Like crampons and ice axes...
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