I was sitting around the house yesterday, watching the tour, wearing my Lance jersey from the first tour win, and i slipped out on the street on the fixie to grab a pack of smokes. As soon as i hit the street, i remembered what i was wearing and was instantly repulsed by myself.

Which leads me to the question; Why do we hate the spandex so much? aren't many of us hiding a chamois under our cutoff deisels? Why am I ashamed of myself in a cycling jersey? Too much self loathing makes jack a crazy boy.

I'm sure many of you will say that most of us don't, its only the posengers looking down on the carbon roadies...but there's a large anti-lycra faction out there, as expressed in other threads. And i'm sure whenever they see a chrome or baileys bag, the roadies laugh as well. I'm just trying to understand the culture here.

The bigger question here is: Why were you wearing a cycling jersey while sitting around the house?

Supporting lance my man, supporting lance. I'm from buckeye football country, you can't watch sporting events without a jersey around here and call yourself a fan.

I like tech gear personally - though I adapt running/hiking/climbing gear for biking. Has most of the same properties - wicking, synthetic fabrics, etc. However, I'm a practical rider so I wear what's comfortable. In summer, it's cargo shorts, though for longer rides I throw on some lycra underneath with some crotch-saving chamois. In winter, I throw on some long running tights under my manpri's or cuffed jeans/pants.

I like the jersey/cargo shorts combo aesthetically. It makes sense - fitting tops and loose bottoms, easy to move, not easy to catch on. I need to find a jersey I actually like and at a price that's actually decent - the only branded jersey I'm fond of is the Gerolsteiner (https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...00/10_4912.jpg).

I don't hate the spandex monkeys too much, I've seen quite a few that deserve to wear it.

In the end it's about us liking our "toys" - the things that make us feel alive.

As for clothing - it's function and form working together.

[QUOTE=absntr]I like tech gear personally - though I adapt running/hiking/climbing gear for biking.

what kind of climbing gear do you adapt for biking? i bought a bmx helmet to be able to use for both riding and climbing, though i usually don't wear it climbing unless i'm leading, which isn't often.

the only aversion i have to lycra or spandex is that i look and feel goofy. but i may reconsider after a recent long ride in boxers that became uncomfortable.

i think he uses his piton hammer for self defense

People hate it because it's tight and shiny and looks gay I guess.

I feel self conscious when wearing it and usually wear some shorts on top.

For a top I use a wicking T-shirt from bikenashbar.

FXjohn

ahh the subtle homophobia and gay-bashing of our modern vernacular (threadjacking my own thread)

I don't wear biking clothes for my short commute to work but it sure is nice when u go for a 10 mile or more ride in 100 degree temps. I don't hate it, frankly dont care what anyone thinks about me, but i dont bother to wear it much.

It's not my fault, heck I like wearing it, I prefer to just wear it when pedaling though, not walking around or in stores and stuff. I would say I'm more of a victim of the "gay-bashers" than I am a gay basher if that makes any sense.

I use my size 0 slcd to jam into door slits of cars so I can pick up a tow.

lycra just doesn't leave much to the imagination.

Group A fears that Group B might be better. Group B fears Group A is better. And so begins the war.

I wear what's comfy and appropriate for what I'm doing. Sometime's it's bike shorts, sometimes it's a three piece suit. I say get over it already.

I wear MtBorah SwitchBack jersey and training (i.e. black soccer) shorts on my commute. Shorts aren't as naff as the longer lycra versions, and I don't need the chamois. Jersey is just cool - fitted but not shiny. Look it up on pricepoint.com - only $20.

Damn straight. Actually I use the ropes to 'lasso' unsuspecting trixies - cowboy style baby.

In all seriousness, it's mostly just the clothes/apparel, however, I've often thought that climbing shoes would make decent bike shoes for clips in a pinch due to their low profile. I've seen people use those for that.

Yeah, the shiny is not good. What i would like to find is a long muscle shirt that somewhat covers the butt and has standard jersey rear pockets, made out of wicking fabric. I don't need the short little sleeves
and the tank top cut makes it easier to remove which you need to if you wear bibshorts.


FXjohn

Clothing? CLOTHING?!?!? What kind of sissy-boy are you? Ride nude, my friend! Nothing wicks better than nothing!

I'd hate to the see the skid marks left on the shiny silver pista seat...

I wear lycra to bed, my wife digs it...

Phil

I remember my buddies making fun of me for wearing my old cycling shoes for flying. My stated excuse was that the stiff soles helped in applying more direct pressure to the rudder pedals and especially the toe-brakes. My other excuse was that they're just so much more comfortable. And in case some of you were wondering, no, these shoes did not have cleats mounted to them.

As far as clothing goes... wear what's comfortable. I personally wouldn't wear lycra for just sitting around the house watching the TdF because to me, that's not comfortable. Riding shorts work well when you're sitting on a saddle but lounging about on the couch is a different story. As far as for being self-conscious... I couldn't care less. I was telling my wife that when I go out of town for our annual meeting and company picnic, that I'm going to hook up with a coworker who'll lend me his bike and we're going to ride from the office to the picnic area (20 miles each way). She asked me if I was going to wear my clown outfit and I told her yes. She said that might not be a good idea since my coworkers and boss will be there. I responded by telling her that it's mainly a social gathering and it's at a waterpark where some people will be in swimsuits. At anyrate, I'm not about to show up with saddle-sores and a drenched in sweat shirt just because my riding outfit is a little flashy.

It's what it represents, not lyrca itself.

You can afford Deisel jeans?



What is there really to understand, all of these "groups" are mere fictions.

Tru, but the flapping, or flopping, it depends on the speed, gets old after five miles. Additionally motorists get weird when you wave at them when both hands are in the drops.

[QUOTE=MKRG]Tru, but the flapping, or flopping, it depends on the speed, gets old after five miles. Additionally motorists get weird when you wave at them when both hands are in the drops.[/QUOTE=MKRG/]



Insert keyword: MOST motorists. Ahem, uh.........I mean, "Hi MKRG, how ya doin'?" Phew, is it hot in this air conditioned room or what? (attempt to practice self control, Jess...)

Did any of you take part in Naked Bike Day last month?