Squeezebox

Just my opinion here! I'm really looking forward to getting my mountain bike shoes adjusted properly. So I can walk short distances and still have decent bicycles shoes for riding in. I don't feel comfortable or safe without being clipped or strapped in. Like driving with or without a seat belt. Lycra padded shorts are more comfortable, less chaffing, and the nasty little knot where the 4 pieces of the regular shorts are sewn together digging into the soft parts down there. T shirts, long or short sleeved, wool or cotton is good. Often wear 2 layers so if a crash happens the 2 layers slide against each other, maybe a little less road rash.
About jerseys! One of those loud jerseys makes me look like a "serious cyclist" and I believe I get more respect from car drivers, because of their perception/attitude/opinion I must be a serious cyclist who obeys the rules and such. And deserve to be treated as such. Well I am!! Thank You !!
Oh Yea !! blinky lights even during the day.

Doug 64; or whoever. The big dry bag on top of your rack. I've looked at Peter White, Ortlieb, even in German, where can I find one??

RedandBlack

See, I'm the opposite. If **** goes wrong I at least want the option to dive towards safety. I have this horrible mental image of me not remembering how to unclip them and going over a cliff with a dramatic, "Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...."

Squeezebox

Oh contrare mon ami, If I'm clipped in I have the chance of sprinting to safety. Even if safety is a ditch with a foot of water. Better than being the deer in the headlights watching a pick up take me out. By-the-way, What's the height and the grade of the cliff I have to choose from with the pickup??

MassiveD

The helmets look so stupid anything else a cyclist does is pretty much beside the point. Most people in bike helmets look like a bleached out version of the aliens from Mars Attacks!. I'm not against helmets, pretty neutral really. But putting our collective image in the hands of Bell as proven unwise.

indyfabz

Have any actual support for this? And do you really think a mirror makes a difference? Someone isn't going to approach you because you have a mirror attached to your helmet? And where exactly are you touring? Based on your previous posts, it sounds like you don't get that far out of your own backyard. What are "racing goggles?" You mean glasses? When you get a bug stuck in your eye you might reconsider.

mdilthey

I have my Amish slow-moving vehicle reflective triangle on all the time now. So does Kelley. Does it look dorky? Yup. Does it help? You bet. I can see cars giving me more room with that thing waving around.

mdilthey

Speak for yourself, I just invested in a nice helmet after using cheap ones for 5 years. I look like a regular Peter Sagan.

rhm

A lot of cyclists have an attitude something like "if you're not doing it the way I'm doing it, you're not doing it right." I think most people, when they find themselves thinking this way, realize how silly it sounds. Oddly, some don't; but that's really not anyone else's problem. Cycling clothes make some people happy. Others, not so much.

andrewclaus

A warmshowers host in Sandusky, Ohio asked me if I'd had any problems in the area with motorists. I replied, no, everyone has been wonderfully polite. He shook his head in amazement, saying when he goes out on his carbon fiber bike and wearing Lycra, he gets a lot of antagonism. His pet theory is that tourists, commuters, and other bums get more respect because it looks like they're on the road for a purpose, while more "sporty" riders look like they're out playing with their toys and just slowing down traffic for no real reason.

Since I've never been a sporty-looking cyclist, and usually have at least one pack on the bike for running errands or to carry lunch and a jacket, I can't test the theory, but I thought it was interesting.

Machka 

+1

mm718

I saw some research supporting the idea that non-enthusiasts get more space. I don't remember whether it was specifically investigated or if the authors were speculating but "perceived competence" was discussed as being a factor regarding drivers decisions about passing distance.

I could also see how hi-viz could become a conditioned stimulus for drivers rage. A little like the bullfighters red cape...

Trevtassie

I ride full cycling gear, fully technical, with wicking fabric, rear pocket, padding. And you would think they're normal clothes... there are so many great mountain bike clothes out there. Plus I've made sure my helmet doesn't look like an alien from mars attacks, it's a bit unwieldy when I go riding my MTB but excellent for touring, keeps the sun and rain off.

You can just see my scary mirror poking out the right side. I don't usually rock the wallaby skull on top though, too easy for a branch to knock it off.

Joe Minton

Dickies shorts when it’s warm with thin, smooth-seamed mid-long briefs underneath. For longer rides (30 miles or more) I'll wear cycling shorts perhaps with the Dickies on top. Bright "T" or long sleeved shirts. I'd look like the Goodyear blimp with a fitted jersey; prefer long sleeved poly dress shirts for most riding.

We have a significant problem around here with arrogant scofflaws who wear Lycra and ride like the roads are closed just for them. Last year one of these team-dressed wannabe racers ran a red light and killed an eight year girl. A little after that another 'kitted' rider ran a red light and killed himself against the side of a car. -- I don't want to look like I might even know such people.

I have been a full or part-time civilian accident investigator since 1970. I have seen what happens to lives and families after serious and especially fatal accidents. The lifelong effects are devastating upon everyone involved; in one case a fatal crash led to the suicide of an otherwise healthy 18-year-old woman who had turned left in front of a motorcyclist when she was 16. The widespread emotional damage, in my considered estimation, is very much greater when the person responsible was doing something very wrong, like driving drunk or -- running a red light.

Joe

andrewclaus

I've talked to at least one motorist who felt that way. And she was friendly about it, just warning me.

Papa Tom

Having re-read my original post, I can see why the wording prompted so many angry responses. I guess it's too hard to express sarcasm with words alone. "THOSE people" is an expression I hear all the time from non-cyclists, and it pisses me off. But I put it in there to help drive my point home about how so many people see cyclists in full gear.

Unlike many of you here, I don't travel the world, so my comments are pretty much geared toward the northeastern US. I should have mentioned that, as I am sure the sentiment toward cyclists is vastly different around the globe.

Perhaps a better way to have approached this was to, first of all, not open up with "I'm not trying to start a flame war," then to ask a question instead. So here it is: When on tour, do you feel you are more approachable by locals when you are dressed in cycling gear, or when you are wearing civilian clothes?

essiemyra

I have one comment, why do you have to validate your choice? Isn't the fact that your happy with it as opposed to what others do good enough?

GeoKrpan

Civilian clothes.

I wear denim shorts, no underwear, and polyester running shirt. Champion C9 at Target is the poor mans Patagonia. I use a fatter than average saddle to compensate for no padding in the shorts. The denim shorts work well. They're thick enough to prevent abrasion from the saddle and protect in the event of a fall. Sweat and chafing aren't an issue and I live in a hot climate.

I feel I'm more approachable by non-cyclists but that bike dorks are a little skittish about someone not in lycra.

Papa Tom

Good point. I guess I just wanted to put the idea out there for people to chew on. Most of the crap I post on the various Bicycling Forums is just an excuse to talk biking during the months mine is in the basement.

In any event, I wear cackie shorts over padded cycling shorts, a t-shirt on top, and cheap sneakers down below. When I walk into a deli, sweating like a MF with my cycling gloves still on, I'm always approached by someone asking where I rode from or where I'm going. Maybe it's because I have some grey in my hair or because I smile a lot. Or maybe they just want to make sure I'm not some homeless guy who just wandered into the neighborhood to stay. I don't know, but I seem to get more attention than the guy behind me who REALLY looks like a cyclist and probably just rode 100 miles to my forty.

Remember, this was an observation about me and why I like to ride in my "civvies," by which I mean the same clothing I wear in civilian life. Regardless of how anybody interpreted the wording, I did not mean to judge anybody else's approach and, truthfully, at 53 years old, I do not care how anybody else dresses to ride.

jonc123

It might be a good thing to look down and out...I have read in several different forums, trip reports, etc. of touring cyclists being given cash, meals paid for and other freebies. I already made up my mind on what to do if they offer me cash or a free meal...I'm going to take it. I'm not going to waste my time explaining that I have a job, home (an apartment actually), bank account, retirement, and that bicycle with 4 panniers leaned up against the wall may very well have more value than the car they are driving.

Here is what I look like, I like button up sun blocking synthetic shirts or a high viz shirt. Always longsleeves. For the bottom half, LL Bean Sport Shorts (cheap & long lasting, baggy) over some type of long underwear which can be removed when it gets warm later in the day. Always have shades on and I love the Da Brim on my helmet. The second picture is my lowrider rack conversation starter. I'll have people walk clear across the street to ask me what in the world that thing is on your wheel down there. I'm a one bike person, so I ride the bike unloaded often so the lowrider rack shows.

veganbikes

People always get angry. It is the nature of cyclists to be angry at each other for one thing or another. Heck I was riding in normal clothes on my touring bike to go to CVS and some guys yelled out of their car "STUPID ROADIE" a few years ago, it was hilarious. We are all doing the same thing but we cannot really totally get along because we like the way we personally do things and those who don't must be wrong for one reason or another.

essiemyra

I understand liking to talk about biking. I enjoy talking about cycling also. I also enjoy reading your threads about your cycling trips because you are somewhat close to my area and I think I may use your routes some day.

Doug64

When riding through Chicago my wife and I decided we would see how many people we could get to return our smiles. It was pretty amazing, with dozens of people giving us a wide grin in return

My wife and I were dressed as "cyclists", comfortable attire matched to the job were were doing. I'm not sure that what we were wearing would have made any difference in people's reactions.

The one comment I do remember when we stopped at a store. My wife took her sunglasses off, and after 2- months in the sun she looked a little like a raccoon, a cute raccoon. A gentleman behind us said to her," Lady, do you ever take those glasses off outside?" He had a big grin on his face as he said it.

Chicago— Nice feminine sleeveless jersey with her long underwear top underneath. Pretty stylish, eh!

MassiveD

I don't know who that is, but if you look like your picture you are probably starting from a good base. You will be one of the really nice looking martians from Mars Attacks.

MassiveD

I don't think that is it. Ever see someone parodied in a movie as they pull on fancy driving gloves, a scarf, glasses and get into their sports car as if they were some kind of race car driver. That's it with cyclists. In what other sport do people make fools of themselves like that. Well actually hunting where they own everything in treebark/mossy oak from toilet seats to pickup trucks.

People have a few reasons for thinking people like that are jerks:

1) They think so highly of themselves, as though they could hang with Lance Armstrong on his worst day in cancer therapy;

2) We mostly all buy fantasy stuff we shouldn't, but cyclists put it all on display, which is pretty open of them actually;

3) cycling is something of a counter culture in NA, which is great, but there will be someone out there who counters back;

4) it seems to regular people like Wally the Wheelman is flashing his padded wallet at them;

5) there is always a little bit of derision reserved for the person who bought everything the salesman suggested;

6) there are cool ways to have even more expensive stuff but not be noticed, which is cooler in some circles;

7) At the more sophisticated level, you have all those people with fancy bikes and every piece of cycling clothing, but they don't have real shoes. For some reason that is a posers dilemma, getting clipped in. And anyone on even the first rung of the cycling style police ladder will see right through it.

But at the end of the day, these people provide us all with some pleasant entertainment.

ironwood

I was going to mention sun protection, but Jonc123 already has. That "healthy tan" you have at twenty-five or thirty isn't so great at seventy-five. Those of us of Northern European descent don't do so well in the sun. Cover up kids.