Cycling gear
- Thread starter Leemi1982
- Start date
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I think that at a minimum the poster should have added a link to a mind bleach supplier. As they haven't, here's one
Was in Decathlon years ago and they had black cycling lycra shorts that retailed for less than £10. Picked up lycra top for about the same. Prior to that not at all interested to look fashionable or trendy. I only picked it up when I saw the price and decided to check it out. I was curious. That night away from public scrutiny I tried.
Since that night I have driven further or did more miles because it was such a joy to cycle in such comfortable gear. All along I though it was a fashion statement. Everything I thought intuitive about cycling turned out to be the opposite - wide seats, suspensions, wider tyres, straight bars, wide pedals, etc. At least for me.
Since that night I have driven further or did more miles because it was such a joy to cycle in such comfortable gear. All along I though it was a fashion statement. Everything I thought intuitive about cycling turned out to be the opposite - wide seats, suspensions, wider tyres, straight bars, wide pedals, etc. At least for me.
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Dwn
Senior Member
As almost everyone has said, wear what you want; anyone who looks down on you for wearing regular clothes isn’t the sort of person whose views should concern you.
Ironically, when younger and slimmer I would have been way too self-conscious to wear lycra, and often cycled long-ish distances in regular casual clothes (I learned not to wear denims after cycling in jeans from Edinburgh to Glasgow - a torture device after about 10 miles).
But, wearing what you want shouldn’t exclude specialist cycling clothing. Now that I’m older and fatter I don’t care what I look like on the bike - and cycling clothes are more comfortable for longer trips. You can also get more understated designs if you are worried about the occasionally garish appearance of cycling jerseys.
There is an element of snobbery about what you wear in some sections of the cycling world, but there also appears to be an inverse snobbery as well. Basically, damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
Ironically, when younger and slimmer I would have been way too self-conscious to wear lycra, and often cycled long-ish distances in regular casual clothes (I learned not to wear denims after cycling in jeans from Edinburgh to Glasgow - a torture device after about 10 miles).
But, wearing what you want shouldn’t exclude specialist cycling clothing. Now that I’m older and fatter I don’t care what I look like on the bike - and cycling clothes are more comfortable for longer trips. You can also get more understated designs if you are worried about the occasionally garish appearance of cycling jerseys.
There is an element of snobbery about what you wear in some sections of the cycling world, but there also appears to be an inverse snobbery as well. Basically, damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
Decathlon mitts for me. Plus I have various others to suit the season / weather. I don't ride without gloves either, for similar reasons.
Clothes for cycling in don't have to be expensive - one of my go-to items is a windproof jacket with detachable sleeves that I bought in Lidl three years ago for a tenner. And anything from Decathlon is really good VFM.
Johnno260
Veteran
- Location
- East Sussex
Wear what you like and more importantly what you’re comfortable in.
I wear bibshorts on long rides, but also if I’m going to the shop to get milk it’s flat shoes and whatever I’m wearing when I hop on my BSO.
I wear bibshorts on long rides, but also if I’m going to the shop to get milk it’s flat shoes and whatever I’m wearing when I hop on my BSO.
