Heresy Alert: This post contains text portions detailing use and enjoyment of multi-geared bikes.

I ride my fixed-gear bomber everyday to work and for running errands around the ‘hood. My commute takes me through some tough areas and folks on the street occasionally toss out less than welcoming proclamations about whom I am and where I need to go. However, I have never felt unsafe or threatened riding through these parts of town. I’ve had mechanicals and flat tires, and have never been hassled taking my time to fix my bike on the sidewalk or on somebody’s stoop. My normal commuting attire consists of rolled up or cut-off pants and a t-shirt. Recently, because of the heat, and an attempt to be fashionable for my Europhile friends, I’ve been sporting a Galatasary SK football (soccer) jersey…It wicks. Anyway, in a true example of ‘the clothes make the man.’ I feel like part of the scenery in this get up.

Rewind to last Saturday morning. My wife has to be at work at 7am. Being the good husband I am, and not being able to fall back asleep, I get up, make her breakfast, see her off, and decide to take the road bike (the one with gears…it’s steel, at least) out for some intervals at the National Arboretum. The arboretum is about two miles from my house. I live in North East DC, and like any other city; NE has its good and not-so-good areas. To get to the arboretum, I have to travel through a greater proportion of the not-so-good. And, all of the sudden, I’m a bit apprehensive about making the ride. Normally when I ride the roadie I throw it in the car and head out somewhere rural. In these instances, I don’t think twice about throwing on some spandies, a jersey and the Look compatible Sidis. However, the thought of riding two miles through my neighborhood dressed in geeked-out cycling gear had me thinking twice.

Put me on the fixie dressed in my urban assault gear and armed with the mini-U or NY chain and I’ll take all comers…within reason (read: unarmed). Put me on a road bike and dress me like an aerodynamic clown, and I get worried. Maybe I’m just naďve and will get my ass kicked on my commute someday. But I don’t think anybody will be proactively looking to start trouble as they might if they see what looks like a typical weekend-warrior roadie riding through the projects. Possibly I’m being self-conscious and suffering from a bit of spotlight effect, and nobody really gives a crap, but I tend to think my chances of getting hassled are much higher dressed like a Performance catalog model.

Needless to say, I stuck true to the rebellion. Said eff-you to my self-doubt and headed off—dressed like catalog page 18—to the arboretum for some hill work. Got there in nothing flat (I think I averaged speeds in the high twenties the whole way). COASTED up to the front gate and was greeted by a rent-a-cop who told me they weren’t open until eight. It was 7:30. Tried to explain I was only there to ride around the roads, not visit the gift shop, and I promised not to steal a cherry blossom tree or smuggle a banzai out in my shorts. But it was to no avail; she had a job to do and authority to exert. So I went back home, changed into a t-shirt and some knickers length cut-offs, swapped the roadie for the fix, and headed off for some coffee…feeling confident, secure and ready to take ‘em all on. I’m not there five minutes when two guys on tricked out carbon fibre machines roll up to the shop. Dressed in Mapei and QuickStep team issue kits, including team issue arm warmers pushed down to their wrists (its already 85 degrees out, for eff’s-sake), they klop-klop into the place without a worry in the world, order their lattes, and start chatting about how far they had ridden—this evidently was there turn around point before heading back to the Maryland ‘burbs. As they are leaving, Simoni (or was it Cunego) gives me the once over and a bit of a tsk-tsk, like I’m the freak. Ah well. At least he didn’t kick my ass.

Agreed on it all. Just something about the ability to throw it down while dressed in a second set of skins. Of course the flip side is that if you do kick their ass, they have to explain to the onlookers how a lycra-clad wuss got the better of them.

Ran into a couple brain surgeons last night who thought that a guy riding a bike with a mess. bag <must> be their paper boy. Nearly fell of my bike when they yelled for me to "toss it". Imagine their dismay when a 4" thick 3-ring binder would have hit their stoop.

Dave

when changing from my work clothes into my commute clothes (camogreen cargos, tshirt) post work one day, in the restroom (city hall), two older business types were talking really loudly about something that involved female genitalia and lots of swearing (btw, these are people that make big decisions involving this city...) - as im leaving, one of them says "who the **** was that, that kid looks homeless"

awesome!

funny, i get self conscious when:
-on weekdays i ride around in my work clothes (usually grey casual slacks and short sleeve button up) on a fixed and totin' a small timbuk2 bag, i think messengers and hipsters* are gonna kick my ass.

-on weekends when i ride to and fro the local bouldering crag in my knickers (or capris for guys) and t shirt, i think homophobic frat-ish guys are gonna kick my ass.

(*disclaimer: in no way intending to equate messengers with hipsters. should be viewed as seperate entities, the former with repsect and the latter with a sense of humor)

northwest dc is just a different hood i guess.

oh and i don't wear lycra. my wife would have my assed kicked. actually, i'd have my own ass kicked. but that's just me. some people can wear it. some people shouldn't. i shouldn't.

My normal lunch hour ride in and around Hackensack, NJ consists of mostly flat terrain with some small hills thrown in the mix. Typical work wear is a pair of jeans and a t-shirt or SS (that'd be Short Sleeve) button down. My typical riding clothes consists of a t-shirt with wicking capabilities matched with a pair of camo cargo shorts. Since I only have about 45 minutes of my lunch hour as riding time, I try to ride far, fast and hard, resulting in a profusely sweating me. Thus the wicking shirt. Don't want to smell too bad at work. Luckily I take my lunch late in the day and usually arrive back when folks are leaving to go home. Haven't really had any "beat-down" looks yet while riding...just your average "why the fock would you be riding a bicycle when you could be riding in a beautifully crafted bling bling Beemer like mine?"

Besides, with my belly, if I wore full on page 12 of the latest roadie catalog, I'd look like a bratwurst sausage on the BBQ just about ready to burst its juicyness.

I do what I do. And I do it for no one but myself (except for the "Drunken Bird" revival - that was for Schiek). I love the fact that the Mapei Militia think the more colorful/expensive the lycra, the better rider you are. Sometimes yes, most times no.
take the bait...it's fun most times

I bet you were faster than roadie dicks. I snoot at most of 'em, ride by no brakes no hands smoking a ciggy. And I'm one trashy kid, If I'm not covered in paint, grease, and grime wearing my little campy or frenchy hat you've caught me at a very unusual moment. The ones that CAN really ride I respect, catcvh a draft and spin till my legs fall off. However, I've noticed that the fast ones *usually* don't wear full team issue spandex.

I wear whats nearist to me on the floor in the morning for my commute. I remember years ago a messenger buddy of mine that I used to room with in Brooklyn used to always tell me I did'nt dress rite. It was funny too b/c it was true that and the way you look and walk or something always tipped of New Yorkers that I was from out of town.

an irony about new york city is that is accomidates all types and styles, yet it's painfully obvious when someone is an outsider.

so when I go to the city this saturday what should I wear so I don't look out of place? I was thinking a pair of cargo shorts with some kinda graphic tee in a light colour as to not attract the sun's rays which would inevitably make me hot. And what shoes? Should I stick with my pumas, or where my pony's? How about my Keds? And should I use my MEC backpack to carry my wife's purchased goods, or should I buy a messenger bag? And then if I do buy a messenger bag what brand of messenger bag should I get? Should my main criteria be a stash pocket? And how do I go about finding the stash pocket? And then what happens if we eat at a restaurant? Will my outfit be good enough to get a table? Do I need to bring a separate "eating out" outfit? Should I buy one? If I buy a messenger bag and pass some messenger folk, will they call me a posenger for using a messenger bag off my bike and even though I used to be a messenger? Oh the horror...the decisions...

Someone should really come up with some do's and don'ts regarding way of dress for on and off the bike fixed riders.

BTW, is Gray's Papaya far off of Broadway? My wife is craving some of their coconut juice drink stuff. Maybe that'll be our first stop, and then head to Canal St. and work our way up Broadway towards Times Square.

When did this turn into "Queer Eye for the Fixie guy" ?

I have yet to buy anything of a techie fabric. And I usually don't feel like changing clothes for my commute...which means I'm fully capable of riding in a skirt while retaining some semblance of modesty.

i really had no interest in this thread until gilby came along.

agreed.....tell us more.

a picture tells more...

Nice try.

This is what happens when the forum is filled with all guys. Sorry gilby, we're usually more interested in bikes.
On another fashion note, I get the weirdest looks from roadies when I'm wearing spandex and a BMX helmet. So I like my BMX helmet, sue me, does that mean that I don't get to wear bike shorts and have a comfortable ass on a 60 mile ride? I'll let you imagine what the BMX guys say, but it makes the roadies seem encouraging.

Around here, I get the funny looks from those riding without helmets! Maybe, as they sit on their Target and other department store bikes (hey at least they're riding right?) sans helmet, perhaps they think I'm weird because I'm riding my fixie with my mtb helmet. Who'd a thunk it?

Since we're all getting fashion conscious here I may as well ask. Is it OK for me to wear old soccer shirts like my Bayer Leverkusen jersey from the german bundesliga? It's kinda cool it says ASPIRIN really big on the front. What about other pro soccer jerseys? what about old jerseys from teams I've played on?

I'm in favor of this. i think it's okay to cross-pollinate jerseys. Just no Man U.

I'd wouldn't be caught dead in a brit or a dutch jersey.

Thanks.

People either think my BMX helmet is really cool or they call me Special Ed. No in between, apparently.

I get funny looks when I'm riding in my spandex and my "modified" BMX helmet. I don't really know why it's cool to have neon under your car but not on your head.

what a coincidence, i wear a bmx helmet and i ride a Special Ed.
um, i'd post a photo but i forgot how.

When i ride im in cut-off dickies or camo shorts or rolled up jeans ( the latter only if i have to) and a t-shirt and a back pack. If i have no bag i have my krypto chain and lock around my neck. Its a little smaller than the new york chain. Roadies just look and say nothing. Actually alot of people just stare even drivers when stopped. May have something to do with a big black guy covered in tattoos riding a bike in the middle of traffic though.