Multi use cycling attire!

[geocycle]

They don't sell Bikesters any more.

There's some kind of conspiracy by Big Tights because my favourite Winter Cruisers were withdrawn around the same time. My last pair of WCs had iron-on patches over iron-on patches. I wear Ronhill Tracksters with clip on braces these days.

Agreed, my favourite Endura multisport also have disappeared. A conspiracy by the padded bib fraternity.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Go back a few decades and apart from those racing, no one wore cycling specific gear. You’d just wear your usual clothing with ankle clips if wearing long trousers.

In fact if I am just out doing utility riding, shopping etc on my Brompton then I’ll will not change specifically before heading out.

Back in school days I’d just cycle in my school uniform which included a blazer.

 

[Webbo2]

Go back a few decades and apart from those racing, no one wore cycling specific gear. You’d just wear your usual clothing with ankle clips if wearing long trousers.

In fact if I am just out doing utility riding, shopping etc on my Brompton then I’ll will not change specifically before heading out.

Back in school days I’d just cycle in my school uniform which included a blazer.

School blazer how posh.😉

 

[Ming the Merciless]

School blazer how posh.😉

Nah, secondary comp , nowt posh about it.

 

[Profpointy]

Go back a few decades and apart from those racing, no one wore cycling specific gear. You’d just wear your usual clothing with ankle clips if wearing long trousers.

In fact if I am just out doing utility riding, shopping etc on my Brompton then I’ll will not change specifically before heading out.

Back in school days I’d just cycle in my school uniform which included a blazer.

Back in the day I cycle commuted some 10 miles each way in a suit and tie

 

[Webbo2]

Back in the day I cycle commuted some 10 miles each way in a suit and tie

How many pairs of trousers to the suit jacket, unless you rode the ten miles stood up.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

What do other people wear for the street casual but smart look that a visit to those events where smart casual is required?

If it's dry a normal, comfy on the bike, jacket, a Sam Browne belt - I don't own neon stuff anyway.
If it's wet, a cycling jacket, keep the casual one in the panniers to change at destination.
Bottom: if it's dry I wear leggings (I'm female) or sporty trousers without seams.
If it's wet, the same but I wear waterproof over trouser that I take off at destination.

A lot of the gear I wear for winter riding isn't cycling specific. Gloves, trousers (Ronhill tricksters but only because they stopped making Altura Winter Cruisers), base layers, socks, buff and sometimes jacket (but I do have a bike specific jacket)

Same here.
I still have a decent pair of AWC, because I had bought 2 a few years ago.
Just started to wear the second pair last winter.

I went fishing yesterday with my cycling base layers, skull cap under my hat, leg warmers under my pants and cycling socks! And over the coming cooler months my thermal cycling gloves will come in handy too!

Why not?
My waterproof socks are fishing socks, a lot of stuff I wear on the bike is supposed to be running gear, I have some winter gloves marketed as ski wear.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Go back a few decades and apart from those racing, no one wore cycling specific gear. You’d just wear your usual clothing with ankle clips if wearing long trousers.

That kind of depended what you were doing. In the 80s, yes sure, if I was just riding my bike to get somewhere I just put my bike clips on and wore usual clothes as you say.

But if I was "going for a ride" or off on tour I did indeed have special clothing for cycling. It may not have been manufactured as such but I had specific T shirts and the like that I only wore for cycling. I had a pair of shorts that were actually designed for cycling (no seams in saddle contact area) and of course I had a rain cape which was bike specific. So back then I did wear special gear for cycling. A lot of it was a bit rubbish and unsuitable and not as good/comfortable as modern cycling gear but it was cycling specific. I certainly didn't just wear my usual clothing. And I have definitely never raced.

My mate who I used to go touring with actually did have more special cycling gear. I think his dad was a member of a cycling club so he was a bit more "proper cyclist" than me, but as far as I know he never raced.

 

[Webbo2]

I started cycling in 1981. I started wearing stuff I went running in but gradually built up a proper cycling wardrobe. At times I rode to work and if it was no more than about 5 miles I would ride in my work clothes. At other times with longer distances, I would take in a weeks worth of under wear and shirts and cycle in my cycling clothing.
These days I don’t work so the only cycling I do is for pleasure. The shortest rides I do are about 25 miles which includes my interval training so I’ve got proper cycling clothing on.
I do have various base layers that get used for walking, climbing as well as cycling.

 

[presta]

They don't sell Bikesters any more.

I don't cycle any more, but when I did I just switched to Tracksters, there's no difference of any significance.

 

[Gwylan]

In 1958 I cycled to school in my uniform. I had a yellow oilskin cape for when it rained. It didn't make a lot of difference, but it meant I looked a complete twerp. But everybody else did.
No one ever died of being wet! My french teacher told me. He was a veteran of WW1 and spoke from experience and with some authority.
If you were a fashionista and had drain pipe trousers then cycle clips were unnecessary. Otherwise you nicked a clothes peg out of the washing basket
You were hyper cool if you had drops and stratospheric if you had derailleur gears.

I had a Raleigh 3 speed that my parents made me pay for, odd jobs and weekends spent window cleaning and worse.
In Cardiff in those days you needed a licence from the Council to be a window cleaner.

I was in a damp pool of tepidness at the style party.

But by cycling I pocketed 6 old pence (2.5 new pence) a day, out of my allowance.

Now my dilemma starts with which bike to take. My latest bike cost 3 times my starting annual salary as a graduate chemist.

Then what to wear?

I have a choice of umpteen combinations of layers, levels of performance and of course colour.
Despite evidence to the contrary we have to be grateful for some sort of progress

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Holy cow! If I was out riding dressed like that I'd take a bucket with me and I'd fill it with cash from people who thought I was on a sponsored ride, lol.

I couldn't go fishing dressed like that, I'd scare the fish away!

As I was riding into/out of Leeds, working near Tetleys
I rode along (for those who know it) Hunslet Road, past Waddingtons, up Bell Hill (Stourton Park & Ride at bottom now), towards Wakefield
This could be at any time between 04:30 & 23:30, l didn’t care what l looked like

If people saw me, & it registered in their mind, all well & good!!
(I left Leeds work in 1997, & still here, so it contributed!)

 

[Webbo2]

I worked on Hunslet road for a couple of months at I think the Yorkshire Brick making machinery company. It’s not there now but nothing is.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Years ago, when l worked in Leeds, & rode in, l wore ‘Troll’ rock-climbing tights, as they were very visible!!
Mindst you, so was that Orbit frame!

Note the Shimano shoes, the ones that had the 2” square carbon-fibre insert in the soles
Plus, l think that’s a Two Wheels Good jersey?
(that’s where l bought the Orbit, & our Marin MTBs from)

View attachment 789907

Then, when l started running (about 2007), l wore jerseys/bib-tights initially

The classic style of climbing leggings at the time. Do you still hsve them?

 

[Webbo2]

The classic style of climbing leggings at the time. Do you still hsve them?

By the time troll were making they were a bit mainstream rather than risqué as they were at first. I got my leopard skin patterned ones from the Pineapple dance studio in Covent Garden.