Help me argue with myself

[PotomacCyclist]

I use triathlon shorts because I find that road cycling shorts have too much padding for me. It’s an individual thing, but that’s my preference.

I tried riding in running shorts a couple times. That did not go well. At the very least, wear proper shorts or a bike short liner. (You can buy a bike short liner, then wear any other shorts or pants over it, unless those cause chafing problems.)

As for clipless vs. platform, I ride both and I enjoy both. After getting used to clipless, I think it’s OK. (When I go a couple months without riding on clipless pedals, it takes me a couple rides to get used to unclipping and stopping without tipping over, even though I’ve been riding for several years now.) I like platform pedals too, primarily on Capital Bikeshare. When I bike-commute, most of the time, it’s on CaBi. (I haven’t ridden much in recent months because of quad issues, and now bike-laziness.)

Clipless is a little more efficient, but outside of pro competition and longer rides, I’m not sure it makes too much of a difference. You could split the difference and go with those clipless/platform hybrid pedals. I started a thread about that a year or two ago. Some people like them. But others may have said that it’s a little harder to clip in with clipless shoes. You have to get the clipless side of the pedal facing upward.

I also wear running shirts on many rides, mostly because they feel more comfortable. Unless I’m in a race, I don’t care too much about aerodynamics. Even in training, I figure that the aerodynamic penalty of a running shirt makes me work a little harder, which is not a bad thing for training. (In a race, you want to be as efficient as possible, and maximize speed at any given effort. But I don’t race that often.)

[Vicegrip]

@baiskeli 105319 wrote:

Does everyone realize that the rest of the world thinks spandex looks dorky no matter what kind of pedals?

Not everyone but close. I am a 50 something regular fred and have gotten some (some =2) positive comments. One was from a lady driver while I was idling at a light. The other was down right funny. I was riding in Vienna last summer and came across a couple I had not seen in a while. The guy is an old friend, we joke around a good bit and he asked if my clothing came in “mens”. Without hesitation his wife said with conviction “It looks all man to me” and my food friendly buddy turned beet red.

I use the best tools at hand for the job at hand. Clothing, shoes and bikes. I am so used to clipless pedals it feels odd to use platforms and I barked a shin once after forgetting I was not clipped while riding my beach bike.

I am lucky to be old enough to not care what people I don’t care about think and almost don’t care what my loved ones think ether.

My take is you should wear what you like while doing what you want to do. Life is short and good.

[lordofthemark]

I find this whole question of what to get, and how to sequence it, and how worthwhile the “roadie” things are, still a bit befuddling, despite learning from the group. I now commute 10 miles each way, and would do it more often if I was faster. I do both relaxed errand rides, and weekend fitness rides from time to time. I know I am not close to fast enough for aerodynamics to matter just because of my speed – but I think that on windy days being more aerodynamic would help, even at my speeds. My wife likes the idea of me riding in kit. I am leaning towards getting tights as my next purchase, more for warmth, and because I sometimes find baggy pants getting caught on peddles (I had a reflective leg band, but lost it.) If they also adds aerodynamic improvement (despite me riding slow and upright) so much the better. I have never ridden with anything but platforms, and am somewhat intimidated by not being able to hop and off very easily, and needing to wear special shoes. I guess I need to test ride clipless. Just as I need to test ride a road bike. Something to do in the Spring, I think.

[PotomacCyclist]

If you want to be cool, wear a time trial/aero helmet. Well, some think those are the dorkiest item of all. But I’ve had some positive comments. Seems to impress the younguns and some women. (I know. There are probably some who think it’s a Star Wars Death Star helmet and I’m doing cosplay or something. Or they just think it’s generic cyclist goofiness. But I don’t think I’ve ever had a stranger shout any negative comments about it. Tri/bike shorts are a different matter.)

[FFX_Hinterlands]

There are clearly some better options if you want to be really aero…

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[hozn]

Yeah, definitely do not buy a time trial helmet before you are riding a bike with aero bars. And even then, you’d be better be pretty damn fast. And if you’re going that fast, it’s hard to imagine that being appropriate on the MUPs. I encounter a couple people every year in TT helmets (and TT bikes) out on the W&OD between Reston and Vienna. Hitherto they have been very slow and, despite dawdling behind them for awhile thinking (“oh, they’re just getting up to speed; they’ll take off here in a second”), I inevitably have to ring my bell and pass them so I can pick up my kid before preschool closes. It give me no pleasure; I feel so embarrassed for them.

If you want to ride faster, get a road bike and use the drops to develop an aero position. Start doing road group rides, etc. And, of course lycra and clipless pedals: you’re a cyclist!

[Tim Kelley]

@hozn 105422 wrote:

Yeah, definitely do not buy a time trial helmet before you are riding a bike with aero bars. And even then, you’d be better be pretty damn fast. And if you’re going that fast, it’s hard to imagine that being appropriate on the MUPs.

Truth. Unless you’re doing a race day simulation ride, don’t wear a TT helmet.

However, it is appropriate if you’re being ironic:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7464[/ATTACH]

[FFX_Hinterlands]

Seriously, though. I have BMX pedals, leather saddle and a basket. A BASKET! I’m not really worried about speed. I worry more about lights, fenders and reflective tape than wind resistance. I don’t even own a pair of padded bike shorts. I would keep your commuter and buy a purpose built fast road bike, per @hozn’s comment. Skinny tires will make you go faster more than adding lycra and clipless pedals to your commuter.

[PotomacCyclist]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7467[/ATTACH]

These guys only listen to Darth Vader or The Emperor.

[PotomacCyclist]

There are a couple other reasons to wear an aero helmet. They don’t have as much ventilation, so they provide a little more warmth in cold weather. If the helmet has a face shield, it can be useful during those times of the year when the gnats are swarming (as in millions or billions of those gnats). But I guess even then, it might not be great to wear the aero helmet. They are heavier and in the rare case of a crash, the extra length can cause problems for your neck. Maybe a commuter helmet would be a better idea in the winter.

[dasgeh]

If you really want to get into, some studies show that drivers give more space and drive more safely around cyclists who aren’t wearing helmets/are wearing “street clothes”. So it’s possibly safer to ride helmet-less in a suit.

[baiskeli]

@Vicegrip 105360 wrote:

Not everyone but close. I am a 50 something regular fred and have gotten some (some =2) positive comments. One was from a lady driver while I was idling at a light. The other was down right funny. I was riding in Vienna last summer and came across a couple I had not seen in a while. The guy is an old friend, we joke around a good bit and he asked if my clothing came in “mens”. Without hesitation his wife said with conviction “It looks all man to me” and my food friendly buddy turned beet red.

LOL, did your friend start wearing it?

I am lucky to be old enough to not care what people I don’t care about think

There you go. It’s sheer liberation when you reach that sort of enlightenment.

[baiskeli]

@Tim Kelley 105425 wrote:

Truth. Unless you’re doing a race day simulation ride, don’t wear a TT helmet.

However, it is appropriate if you’re being ironic:

[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7464&stc=1[/IMG]

Way too ironic for me.

[americancyclo]

I happily rock lycra winter tights with hiking boots on platforms on my beater bike. i’m warm, and that’s about all i care about when getting to work in the winter. =

[dplasters]

Well thanks to twowheels I learned about the giro hipster line and picked up their undershorts for 60% off (urban outfitters again… its becoming a worrying trend in my cycling purchases). Only XL is left.. I guess I snagged the last small?

And I’ve found their Overshorts for 50% off. Score.

At least I’m consistent. All summer I was worried about what to wear in the winter and now that its winter I worry about the summer.

[Author]

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