Cycling clothes needed for a non-specialty rider?

[jrenaut]

@baiskeli 3904 wrote:

Depends.

(Get it?)

Yeah, I just wish I didn’t.

[Joe Chapline]

I just bought a used road/racing bike for long rides. I’ve been riding hybrid bikes for many years without special clothes. So far, I haven’t gotten used to the rock-hard saddle that came with the bike, or the more expensive, rock-hard saddle I bought to replace it. So I caved in and bought padded shorts. Like I say, I’m new to road bikes and I’m sure there’s a reason for doing it this way. But I wonder if I could market a line of furniture to cyclists; all metal slats and hard wood. And a corresponding line of clothing with furniture cushions sewn to it.

[SteveTheTech]

@StopMeansStop 3867 wrote:

I wanted to avoid looking like looking like a d-bag wearing all of those fancy clothes, but after getting some unpleasant chafing I caved and got some padded Lycra shorts. Well worth it.

Agreed, it couldn’t make 10 miles without wanting to quit.

I hit up the REI outlet. http://www.rei.com/outlet/search?cat=22000003&page_size=29&hist=cat%2C22000003%3ACycling&pageSizeRedirect

Currently I’m using a Cannondale set which is very similar to a male bathing suit. It is the best single piece of clothing I own, totally worth it! Cycling jerseys are brilliant. REI was having a sale on Pearl Izumi when we purchased

Also gloves with gel insoles and a synthetic terry cloth material between the thumb and forefinger for wiping sweat are worth every penny.

I’m a 200lb 6′ tall guy and finding my sit bones was quite uncomfortable but after many small adjustments and equipment changes has made it much better.

Road bikes just keep wanting more money, then when you ride longer you need gels and other “food” items…but IMO it’s still worth it.

Cheers,

[acc]

Joe, it’s not just sadistic saddles. This is a sport where Power Bars pass as food, the average BMI of a serious cyclist seems to be approximately 6, the jerseys make us into human NASCAR displays, we eat bugs and laugh about it, I won’t even get into the leg shaving discussion, and we dodge traffic for diversion. Oh yes, we are a well adjusted lot. But I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Happy trails,
ann

[Mark Blacknell]

Things that all riders who decide they want to go more than 20 miles (or 20mph, regularly) eventually come to realize:

1) The upright position of a hybrid works against you. It can be overcome, but it will always be more work.
2) Padded saddles are no good. Soft padding squishing soft bits = no blood flow. Find a hard saddle that fits, and you’ll end up more comfortable (and efficient). This is perhaps the hardest thing for new/advancing riders to accept. But it’s true.
3) There’s a point to closely fitting cycling clothing – and no, it’s not to look like a 20lb sausage in a 5lb casing. Rather, it’s more efficient (sense the theme, here) as you have less flapping in the wind, better transfer of heat/sweat, and an easy way to carry the basics in back pockets.

Some take longer than others to come around to this. Also, bib shorts. Trust me.

[Joe Chapline]

Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes. — Henry David Thoreau

[acc]

Oh yes. Bib shorts. I’m definitely behind those.

ann

[Brock]

+1 for bib shorts. Fat guys, take note: WORTH IT. I wasn’t going to bother investing in them (I had regular bike shorts that I’d wear under gym shorts, since no one wants to see a fat guy in spandex) until I read another thread (maybe on the Q&A site) wherein one big fella recommended them to another. And that fella was right.

[CCrew]

@acc 3931 wrote:

, I won’t even get into the leg shaving discussion,

Hollon, aren’t you a woman? We have to explain this to you? Thought it was a birds/bees discussion!! LOL

Funny story though… Went in last year for my shoulder reconstruct (deer + W&OD – Long story) and when they were prepping me for surgery they put these monitors around both ankles. Nurse didn’t even flinch… says “swim or cycle?” I said “yeah, cyclist. Why? ” She says “only guys I see coming in here with shaved legs are either swimmers or cyclists – but it makes my life so much easier because I don’t have to shave them for the monitors!”

[acc]

Speaking as a former nurse, it would take WAY more than a man’s shaved leg to make me flinch. I might have to put my shoulder into getting enough leverage to get your stilettos and fishnet hose off, but even that wouldn’t make me blink.

I came from the swimming community and the big differences I notice are:
1. There is less shaving in cycling
2. It’s still Lycra, but more material
3. Swimmers talk about technique the way cyclists talk about the specs on their bikes
4. Cyclist hair is less green (no chlorine damage)
5. There seems to be less devotion to weightlifting
6. There are no ugly shoes in swimming

Happy Trails,
ann

[CCrew]

@acc 3957 wrote:

Speaking as a former nurse, it would take WAY more than a man’s shaved leg to make me flinch.

Oh, funny. When our daughter (now 18 ) was just barely walking we had to take her to the ER because she forcefully inserted a bead up her nose. The Dr that took it out (and it was a feat!) asked if he could keep it. I asked why. He said he had a collection of things that he had removed from people. I was told I *really* didn’t want to know some of the items in the collection.

The one thing he would admit to was a full size light bulb. I didn’t ask for more.

[Author]

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