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Dragging this one up from the depths...
I do the lycra thing - once you do, you can't go back. My wife rides to work too, and once I finally convinced her to buy a pair of knicks and a jersey, she was hooked, and spent a lot of money on more gear. 
Apart from the comfort issue, I find that regular clothes get trashed pretty quickly when you're riding to work every day wearing a backpack.
Oh, and yes to helmets, but everyone wears helmets here.
http://www.longexposure.net |
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Always gloves, Pearl Izumi. Legwear is usually a pair of quick-dry pants, longjohns of various weights under them when the weather gets cooler. Top is 1 to 4 layers; microfiber tee, cotton tee shirt, liner, and windbreak or shell. Most of my gear is from Marks Work Warehouse and MEC.ca.
I don't wear a helmet right now, the one I had became incredibly uncomfortable to the point where i was getting rashes on the strapline. Itched horribly. Stopped wearing it. Willing to take recommendations! Something you can wear a hat under would be ideal. I typically wear an army style ripstop patrol cap, or one of a number of "wooly hats" in the colder months.
All this stuff doubles as exploring gear, gloves included. Keeps costs down.
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Posted by TaP
my helmet and cycling glasses...the rest i dont really give a damn...the pants will always get ripped anyways...
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This why I typically ride in knickerbockers and socks. Gaiters if the roads are wet.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heinrick05/ |
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Long shorts and bright T-shirt in the summer and full goretex pants and jacket in winter(if its raining). I've had the same Sierra designs goretex pants for 20yrs and highly recommend them for wet/cold riding. Helmet and gloves ALWAYS.
neX_: If your helmet is giving you issues go and get one that is properly fitted to you at a bike shop. I wouldn't recommend a hat underneath though as the helmet is not designed for that and won't work right if it has an impact.
good luck.
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Never lycra. nothing against those who do, I just can't stand the sight of myself in it. Plus there is a certain joy which comes with ripping past peletons of dudes on four thousand dollar Treks and $300 dollar outfits on a 78' Tommasini and basketball shorts/white tee. It's all in the legs.
In the winter I'll rock some vintage wool riding shirts though.
And helmet or not depends on the ride. If I'm flying through center city or riding at night/ in rain I'm definitely wearing a helmet. and of course any competitive riding. Short rides on backroads or bike trails I generally dont though.
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Posted by insanebuslady
Never lycra.
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THIS.
gallery | deviantart | flickr |
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Someone probably makes the perfect clothing for casual cycling, but I haven't found it.
I guess the modern lycra stuff works well for hardcore roadies, but isn't what most of us actually need. We aren't all about to turn pro.
Real cycling shorts provide padding and have seems on the outside. The classic lightweight wool stuff worked well and didn't make us look like wannabe Tour de France riders.
A real cycling jersey is cut for a bent forward posture one has when riding. You don't have plumbers' crack and the sleeves are rotated forward for riding comfort. The old school three pocket stuff worked well.
Light colors keep you cooler in the sunshine. Bright colors make you more visible. Sponsors' names and logos make you look like a dweeb, unless they really are your sponsor.
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You take this all waaaay too seriously.
The way I dress on a bike is entirely decided upon by what I do wherever I go with the bike... Ok, I have one specialized piece of bike clothing: a set of rainlegs 
Posted by MapMan | 18/9/2005 19:25 | Hedy Lamarr made porn?
Posted by turbozutek | 20/9/2005 2:29 | Dude, educate us! |
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Posted by IIVQ
You take this all waaaay too seriously.
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It's because we're vain
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/heinrick05/ |
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Posted by IIVQ
You take this all waaaay too seriously.
The way I dress on a bike is entirely decided upon by what I do wherever I go with the bike...
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And that's the way it should be; but not the way it is here, because cars, and America, and fuck bikes.
In car-dominated North American culture, bikes are not seen as reliable, or respectable, transportation. Opposite this, are the spandex and lycra wearing Europhile racers who go to every length to look like they just came in from a mountain stage, to not be mistaken for a poor (or DWI offender) who ride because they have to. Add hipsters to that, and there become even more shallow people who care what you look like on a bike. I just ignore it all but that's the way things are here.
Forgotten but not gone. |
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In cities throughout North America, people see bicycles as utilitarian vehicles and dress accordingly on a daily basis. They may be the minority, but others would as well with better infrastructure and more suburban communities built like traditional cities so that utilitarian cycling could be practical. More people would ride in rural areas too with rural highways with paved shoulders. A lot of people would join the utilitarian cycling movement if their built environment encouraged it.
[last edit 11/18/2012 2:51 AM by Hi/Po - edited 1 times]
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Ethics
