vintage cycling clothes !

[woodbutcher]

Quiet Sunday so excuse the length of the post

Much depends on the age of your bike and what sort of riding you want to do

I love a bit of merino, warm, comfy and at the end of a long ride doesn't wiff as if something has died in it. I happily ride in wool jerseys all year round.

However, it does soak up the rain and pockets can get a bit baggy if heavily loaded. Modern waterproofs are much better than the old stuff so best to have one with you if the forecast is variable.

Given your current stable of bikes:

For 70s wool. There are lots of retailers of modern reproductions

These are pricey, but if you shop across the net you can find some big reductions. I got a Belgian jersey at half price from the UK and an Italian one at 70% off in Belgium ( a few years ago when prices were lower). http://www.demarchi.com/en/replica-retro-cycling-jerseys-man

These are stunningly well made in high quality pure merino. http://www.magliamo.be/product-category/jerseys/


For the 80's and gaudy designs, plus some classics but in modern materials https://www.prendas.co.uk

I don't have any wooden shorts so can't comment except to say that modern wooden shorts have modern pads in and so should be comfy. Here's an example http://www.juracycleclothing.co.uk/merino-cycling-shorts/merino-wool-cycling-shorts

Concerning shoes, if you have toe clips and straps you can pretty much wear what you want.

I have an old pair of road shoes with nailed in cleat, comfy on the bike, not so good for walking and summer use only:but then so is the bike

If you want to use a clipless pedal then these beauties come in both two and three bolt varieties. https://www.alwaysriding.co.uk/vittoria-lorica-1976-cycling-shoe-spd-sole.html

This all looks a bit spendy, but being in France if you rummage around the local flea markets, "bourse de vélos retro"
and local small adds you will no doubt turn up some good stuff.

Of course l will forgive the length of the post, its exactly what l hoped for. I wrote my original post after coming home cold, wet and fed up having been tending to the unending needs of our bloody horses. As far as riding my bikes for pleasure it will be strictly Summer and Autumn. Early mornings before it gets hot ( it regularly hits the mid 30's C here).
So now l can spend the afternoon checking all your useful links and maybe spending some dough !
I have recently discovered that the Cahors branch of Emmaus charity has large numbers of bikes for sale usually very cheap. I will be spending a few happy hours trawling through their wares, so may have to increase the (bike) stables!
Thanks for the links .
Chris

 

[ozboz]

Try this site @woodbutcher ,
http://www.pedalpedlar.co.uk/
Got all sorts of old gear ,

 

[woodbutcher]

Try this site @woodbutcher ,
http://www.pedalpedlar.co.uk/
Got all sorts of old gear ,

Will do, thank you...lm going to have a busy afternoon !!

 

[Smokin Joe]

I don't have any wooden shorts so can't comment except to say that modern wooden shorts have modern pads in and so should be comfy.

Ah, I remember those. Lovely and comfy and completely waterproof, but boy once the varnish wore off you were forever pulling splinters out of your arse.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

I have a penchant for all those old 80s team strips; Systeme U, Panasonic , La Vie Claire, Z Peugeot, Kas, Fagor, all that stuff. I owned loads of jerseys like that in the 80s but they're sadly long gone.
I'm now very tempted by the repro La Vie Claire strip that Prendas sell.

 

[BalkanExpress]

Ah, I remember those. Lovely and comfy and completely waterproof, but boy once the varnish wore off you were forever pulling splinters out of your arse.

Of course only the weight weenies had wooden shorts, rest of us had to made do with stone

 

[woodbutcher]

Ah, I remember those. Lovely and comfy and completely waterproof, but boy once the varnish wore off you were forever pulling splinters out of your arse.

Ooh you are an unforgiving bunch.....bloody computers trying to second guess humans...might have meant the Norse god Woden or in old english Odin which in modern english is Odour and as such is loosely linked with bike shorts !

 

[woodbutcher]

Of course only the weight weenies had wooden shorts, rest of us had to made do with stone

"Rock On" !

 

[mikeymustard]

Of course only the weight weenies had wooden shorts, rest of us had to made do with stone

Of course, proper hard northern riders used steel! The cheaper ones were stamped but a beautiful hand-made pair would have been forged, and the edges filed down. Some makers carved intricate designs into them
Can you tell I'm bored?

I have a penchant for all those old 80s team strips; Systeme U, Panasonic , La Vie Claire, Z Peugeot, Kas, Fagor, all that stuff. I owned loads of jerseys like that in the 80s but they're sadly long gone.
I'm now very tempted by the repro La Vie Claire strip that Prendas sell.

Love that La Vie Claire - very Mondrian!
I recently bought this La Casera cos I liked the colour. Of course it's too small for me but hey ho...

 

[Sharky]

Ah, I remember those. Lovely and comfy and completely waterproof, but boy once the varnish wore off you were forever pulling splinters out of your arse.

Dont remember the wooden shorts, but i used to be big fan of the wooden tops.

 

[woodbutcher]

Well its been an entertaining if slightly surreal afternoons discussion, l especially like the idea of filing down the edges of your shorts and engraving intricate designs in them.