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Cycling In Regular Clothes: The Ultimate In Blue Collar?
December 8th, 2008 by Guitar TedIt’s funny, but all my life I always thought the weird guys were the ones that wore lycra. I mean, I grew up cycling in Chuck Taylor’s and Tough Skins, ya know? When I found out that “real cycling guys” wear this synthetic, stick to your skin outfit, I cringed. It just didn’t seem right.
Well, I “fell in line”, of course. Humans being what they are, I wanted to fit in. And I have to admit it, there is a lot of good things about cycling in technical clothing. This isn’t so much about ‘putting that down” as it is lifting up the other side for consideration. That “other side” being cycling in regular duds.
Why not ride “as you are”?
My morning commute today was in 25 degree temps through about three inches of snow along different parts of my route. Today I rode on a single speed with flat pedals, so my work boots were fine for keeping my feet warm, and my all year round Dickies slacks (or Dickies shorts in summer) were the pant of choice with a “hi-vis” green/yellow rain jacket and a light fall jacket underneath that for layering. My gloves are $10.00 Polarfleece cheapos and the only “real” cycling specific garb I used today was my helmet.
So, my point today is that you really can get along without all that “cycling specific” gear and still have fun, and gain usefulness from a bicycle. Sure, wearing cycling specific shorts for that multi-hour ride, or wearing a cycling jersey on a humid day is probably- nay- it is better than regular clothes. However; don’t let that stop you. And in some cases, the “blue collar way” is actually smarter. So just go for a ride already! Cycling in regular clothes is really okay. Really!
Dickies slacks, cut off and re-hemmed, (still cheaper and not as baggy as Dickies shorts) are my year round cycling wear. Of course, living in LA means I never need very many warming layers. When I lived in Nebraska though, I didn’t have the sack to wear Dickies slacks past the beginning of winter without thermals underneath. Too cold.
I’m with you on wearing everyday clothing to ride, but I’m sticking with SPDs for anything over 10 miles.
Well said. Wear what you have, need or want and enjoy your ride, short or long!
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http://www.singlespeedrevolution.com
Ride One or Ride None!
My cargo pants, t-shirt, ball cap and I agree with you completely!
I usually wear cargo pants over my padded shorts to protect from sun, branches & poison ivy. I’ve never found a reason to switch to all lycra. With a t-shirt or tank top and my “normal” looking shoes, I definitely stand out from the hardcore bikers (well, I’m also a girl), but blend in with all the regular folks on the trail. Wear what makes you comfortable. There’s no reason to be concerned with looking like everybody else.
Absolutely no need for lycra.
Indeed hardly any people here in Copenhagen wear bike clothes.
See here for examples, somewhat smug, but you get the idea:
http://www.copenhagencyclechic.com/
Keep up the good bluecollar work, the way the economy is going there must be a demand for cheap cycling!
Right on!! I’m all about regular clothes, but then I’m a cheap-skate.
Joe in Osage
I wear jerseys and arm/leg warmersbut all summer I wear regular shorts, wool pants in the winter, but I am not affraid to wear slacks/collared shirt/tie when I need too, I just choose the jerseys that look like golf shirts, so I look nicer while wearing performance gear.
t-shirt + long ride = sore nipples, otherwise I’m all for improvising. Some of that stuff is crazy expensive to try to wear everyday.
Riding in regular clothes is cool….
…in fact very cool.
I like to throw on a xxl Hawaiian Shirt on too.
Remember the words of Dwayne F. Schneider, “Always remember and never forget, Loud shirts save lives.”
…pegging your pants?
I VERY rarely wear cycling clothes. I commute to work in regular clothes, and often that means a skirt, tights and boots. I get funny looks (which isn’t that strange considering only about 5 people in the entire city commute by bike!), but I don’t understand why I need to spend all that money on clothes to wear to get to work. For longer rides, I have cycling shorts I wear underneath jeans or cords and a cycling jersey. But for the most part, it is me and my rolled up jeans, Vans, tshirt with armwarmers and windbreaker. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I ride a bike to get places and save money, not to dress up like Lance Armstrong! (not that there is anything wrong with that…)
Elisa, you’d fit right in here in Portland, OR. There are far more daily bikers here that wear street clothes than their lycra counterparts.
This time of the year for me requires the use of rainproof gear as my outer layer. Underneath is typically bicycle shorts and a cotton t shirt, with a balaclava on the coldest days. I didn’t used to be gel padded when my commute was only 6 miles round trip. Now that it’s 15, I have to make some extra considerations.
I get odd looks while out on my Haro hardtail (fully pimped out with Shimano XT bling-bling). Van’s shoes, Dickies 13″ shorts, “The Clash” t-shirt. Oh and my hairy legs…I never change out my regular legs for a ride; I’m funny that way.
“Serious” cyclists aren’t accustomed to seeing other riders on a badass bike dressed so casually. I have been sneered at on many occasions. God I love non-conformity…that and pissing people off, lol.
I live in north Texas and work at the local water utility and ride to work almost every day in wranglers and steeltoes. In the winter I wear my field coat and gloves, and my wife bought me a pair of ear warmers. Those nut huggers support your leg muscles and help straighten your legs back out at the top of the stroke. I ride a cheap singlespeeed-converted road bike and it works great.
Should someone refrain from riding until they a can purchase a full kit? Oh hell no! Get out and have fun. I don’t think anyone cares what you wear when you’re riding a blue collar MTB anyway. And frankly there are plenty of “regular” clothes that work great for the rigors of bicycling. I, for one, am not sold that fancy poloyesters are better than natural fibers. And cycling-specifc clothes are a hell of a lot more expensive than other athletic clothes. Seems like you can take a pair of tights, market it for biking, and charge 3x as much. I do have a couple of pairs of lycra shorts that I got from Performance on sale. They are comfy, but I would never NOT ride because I wasn’t wearing them.
I used to race my bike in regular clothes
http://antonyl.brinkster.net/porc/images/antbomb.jpg
I always get a kick out of people that see me dragging my bike out. The keep expecting someone riding a bike like mine to change into some spandex. Then they get a shock when I strap on my cleated mountain shoes and skate style brain bucket and take off wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Summer or Winter, that’s the standard apparrel around here.
Nice to know I am not the only one that feels that way. I live in Milwaukee and have been Mountain biking since 1993. I am jeans and Tshirt , while everyone else seems to be in tights or speedos. There is also a safety factor, (if )you bail you want jeans on. No?
John,
Indefense of the crashing, ‘07 was my first summer back on a mountain bike, it should have actually been called Mountain Crashing, and after daily wear, I still have the jerseys and still wear them daily.
I just happen to know that sometimes, the normal outfit that I have is not the normal outfit for cycling. Sometimes I just wear anything that I can take from my closet and wear them off in the road. Now I know the reason why people keep staring at me when I go riding my bike.