Clothes...

[voodoochilli]

Just wondering, how many people on here cycle with their regular clothes rather than lycra? Hopefully getting a bike very soon but just cant see myself dressed that way.

 

[Raging Squirrel]

Whats wrong with lycra? It makes you go faster and looks better. I'm 24 stone and wear bib tights and it looks alright. Think maybe my height and build help me pull it off though haha

 

[vickster]

Wear whatever you want but baggy clothes have more drag. Plenty of folk wear their padded Lycra shorts under something else

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Just wondering, how many people on here cycle with their regular clothes rather than lycra? Hopefully getting a bike very soon but just cant see myself dressed that way.

Me
But then I'm an old cat lady going at 5mph ....

 

[RWright]

I wear Lycra some but not often in winter (except for base layers). I go out for the workout mostly. If I am on my drop bar bike, most of the time I wear spandex cycling underwear that have a pad in them. I wear t shirts and sweat shirts and pants over them. If I am on an upright bike I might not even wear them, depends on the distance I plan to go.

I do wear Lycra often when it is hot, it wicks and cools very well. I was pleasantly surprised when I first used it in the heat.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I'm 6'5" and 21 stone. (Even here in the U.S.) I have been forbidden by United Nations Resolution from wearing lycra. So I wear street clothes or Jamaica Shorts over cycling shorts and a Shirt of that sweat wicking fabric. Except at club events, where I wear the standard lycra kit. I hope the U.N doesn't hear of this, or I'm off to the Hague.

 

[Tango]

I wear Lycra and look a little like max wall

 

[Ozzrahog]

I wear thermal lycra tights in winter and am impressed by how much they help keep me warm but not too hot. Will use lycra shorts if the weather ever warms up

 

[lavoisier]

At 5' 11'' and 17st. I wear lycra. Helps to stop my wobbly bits from wobbling too much.

 

[voodoochilli]

Ok so most people do wear the stuff...interesting. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Ladytrucker]

I wear it, most of mine are from my running days, I just wear my padded shorts under the leggings. Hubby wears padded shorts his under his normal football/sports shorts in summer, he won't come out with me in the winter. They are much more comfortable than normal clothes.

Try some from Sports Direct first to test them out. Be brave it takes willpower to do it the first time.

 

[Davos87]

When I first started cycling again I used to wear a pair of shorts, adidas trainers and cotton T shirt ( in warm weather). This sufficed for a few miles tootle at the outset of my cycling adventure. However I quite quickly realised that It was no fun and a quite uncomfortable experience having cotton stuck to your back after a few miles on a warm day not to mention the pain in my unmentionables by not having any form of padded support where its most needed. Since becoming a more regular/serious cyclist I finally took the plunge and decided to invest in some 'proper clobber'. Padded Lycra shorts, decent quality base layers, fit for purpose cycling shoes and cleats, cycling jerseys with storage pockets and windproof/waterproof jacket, track mitts, winter tights etc. I can only speak personally but it has made a world of difference to my biking experience being correctly/suitably attired. Like I say each to his/her own but a relatively modest investment has enabled me to feel confident to go out on my bike in most weathers and importantly enjoy it more.

 

[HLaB]

Just wondering, how many people on here cycle with their regular clothes rather than lycra? Hopefully getting a bike very soon but just cant see myself dressed that way.

Depends what I am doing, a short commute or a winter commute I'll wear regular clothes. If there's a possibility of a sweat I sometimes wear a lycra top but regular trowsers; fortunately I don't sweat much. On a leisure ride I almost always wear lycra its just more comfortable: padded, wick sweats easier, less of a wind drag and dries faster, ect. A lot of people (including me) start with your apprehension but switch to lycra eventually for that very reason

 

[voodoochilli]

Depends what I am doing, a short commute or a winter commute I'll wear regular clothes. If there's a possibility of a sweat I sometimes wear a lycra top but regular trowsers; fortunately I don't sweat much. On a leisure ride I almost always wear lycra its just more comfortable: padded, wick sweats easier, less of a wind drag and dries faster, ect. A lot of people (including me) start with your apprehension but switch to lycra eventually for that very reason

Hmm...well who knows then, perhaps in a couple of years I will be advising someone else the same thing and the cycle will continue!

Cheers!

 

[snorri]

Ok so most people do wear the stuff...interesting. Thanks for the feedback!

Actually, most people don't wear lycra, I haven't seen any cyclists in lycra since last summer. The vast majority of utility cyclists don't see themselves as cyclists, and are unlikely to subscribe to a cycling forum therefore the poll on this thread does not give an accurate snapshot of clothing worn by cyclists.
Just get cycling.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycle_chic