My Evening Commute

[Dickie]

Was not my finest. It started OK as I stopped off at Bikenetic to see Dirt and talk new cross/commuter tires as mine are completely shot and flatting all the time. Dirt was not around but Jan was glad to help out. I left informed but without new rubber for now. Back on the WOD and being careful to elude the dreaded FCPD I slowed at the Grove St. crossing only to be passed by a dude with absolutely no regard for the stop sign. He flew through the intersection just as I was getting clipped in without even a look. He then pulled the ultimate DB move, passing (and nearly clipping) two woman with strollers as they crossed paths with a gentleman walking towards them… yep, four abreast with him at speed. The gentleman yelled and put his hands out for protection and the ladies screamed. I slowed, apologized for his behavior and chased the scum down. As I got next to him (and gestured for him to remove his headphones) I became possessed by a sudden calmness (weird). I decided to politely explain what I had just witnessed and suggested better methods for future situations… he tolerated my intrusion and then I flatted. DANG IT! Luckily it was directly in front of the “Free Air” station on the WOD so I rolled my bike to the station, leaned my steed against the air machine (you can see where this is going), started taking off my back pack when I watched my bike slowly roll forward and fall against the pole…. result:

Needless to say, wasn’t a great ride home.

Topic

[TwoWheelsDC]

@mstone 115629 wrote:

Because they don’t want everyone in the office seeing them in full lycra? (Some things just can’t be unseen!) The solution here is simply to wear a longer shirt.

In my experience, it’s less about the length of the shirt than the flappiness of the shirt.

[mstone]

@TwoWheelsDC 115630 wrote:

In my experience, it’s less about the length of the shirt than the flappiness of the shirt.

Both are important–a tight crop top won’t help here.

[hozn]

@mstone 115629 wrote:

Because they don’t want everyone in the office seeing them in full lycra? (Some things just can’t be unseen!) The solution here is simply to wear a longer shirt.

I think Pete’s wondering about non-bibs vs. bibs. Or maybe he did mean baggy shorts?

I think people wear non-bib shorts since they’re slightly simpler and usually cost ~15-20% less than the bib short variant. I agree that bib shorts are a lot more comfortable; I used to wear more “regular” shorts but have switched almost wholesale to bibs. I regard it as an indication of cycling maturity or seriousness now, but I imagine there exist some that still prefer non-bibs for whatever reason.

[Tim Kelley]

@hozn 115634 wrote:

I think Pete’s wondering about non-bibs vs. bibs. Or maybe he did mean baggy shorts?

I think people wear non-bib shorts since they’re slightly simpler and usually cost ~15-20% less than the bib short variant. I agree that bib shorts are a lot more comfortable; I used to wear more “regular” shorts but have switched almost wholesale to bibs. I regard it as an indication of cycling maturity or seriousness now, but I imagine there exist some that still prefer non-bibs for whatever reason.

I’ve heard that some people prefer bibs because the waist band doesn’t cut into their tummy as much?? I’m on the thinner side so I don’t mind either way.

And on the trainer, I think I actually prefer shorts because they’re cooler.

[mstone]

@hozn 115634 wrote:

I think Pete’s wondering about non-bibs vs. bibs. Or maybe he did mean baggy shorts?

I think people wear non-bib shorts since they’re slightly simpler and usually cost ~15-20% less than the bib short variant. I agree that bib shorts are a lot more comfortable; I used to wear more “regular” shorts but have switched almost wholesale to bibs. I regard it as an indication of cycling maturity or seriousness now, but I imagine there exist some that still prefer non-bibs for whatever reason.

I took “regular shorts” to mean “regular shorts”. I.e., not something that a superhero would wear. If I’m going for a long ride (50+ miles?) then definitely bibs. For a commute? It’s not long enough that the pants matter, so I might as well (try to) keep my dignity. Similarly, I don’t wear bibs to go shopping or run errands.

[Emm]

@Tim Kelley 115635 wrote:

I’ve heard that some people prefer bibs because the waist band doesn’t cut into their tummy as much?? I’m on the thinner side so I don’t mind either way.

I think this is only available for women, but bontrager makes shorts with a yoga waistband. They are actually just as comfortable for me as bibs are since the waistband design prevents rolling/cutting in. Plus as a woman, they only JUST started making bathroom friendly bibs (aka ones that you don’t need to strip naked to use the restroom), and I haven’t decided if I need new bibs quite yet.

I wear the above bontrager shorts for my work commute. I just wear a long, slightly baggier shirt with it. I definitely feel inappropriate wearing the shorts in the office so I get out quickly after I change.

[hozn]

Yeah, I just assumed since he was talking about seeing butt cracks that the cut (i.e. the “bib”) was the significant part — not the material.

Sure, I will wear baggy shorts or jeans or whatever if I am just casually riding with the kids or something.

Tim has a good point about shorts being a bit cooler than bibs.

[ShawnoftheDread]

I don’t wear bibs because I don’t like them, either comfort-wise or for practicality. I cover my rear by using shorts and shirts that actually fit me.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Tim Kelley 115635 wrote:

I’ve heard that some people prefer bibs because the waist band doesn’t cut into their tummy as much??

And since they don’t have a waistband, they smooth over the gut-pelvis transition, giving them a slimming effect as well.

[pfunkallstar]

@ShawnoftheDread 115651 wrote:

I don’t wear bibs because I don’t like them, either comfort-wise or for practicality. I cover my rear by using shorts and shirts that actually fit me.

My clothes fit, for the most part – my issue is more one of “spandex age v. exposure to UVA,” which leads to UVB (you view my butt). I try to strategically pull my jersey over my shorts, but I really just need to get new ones.

[Crickey7]

I own no bibs, but I’d definitely choose whichever best shows off my newly desirable “dad bod” to its most curvaceous effect.

[Powerful Pete]

Wow, that brought on a few comments.

A clarification might be useful: I really don’t care what you wear when you ride, but would appreciate not having to see… ehm… too much of your backside while riding. The best solution for this (in my very humble opinion, of course) are bibs. Feel free to wear what you want, but please think of the children at gravelly point… and the poor slowpoke cyclists like me.

We work hard and should not be… exposed to such things on the ride home! :rolleyes:

[pfunkallstar]

No better incentive to dig deep down and summon a CAT 6 POWER PASS than semi-translucent bike shorts.

[rcannon100]

Ftfy

powerful pete;115674 wrote:

we work hard sitting all day on our fat asses and should not expose such things on the ride home! :rolleyes:

[kwarkentien]

@TwoWheelsDC 115654 wrote:

And since they don’t have a waistband, they smooth over the gut-pelvis transition, giving them a slimming effect as well.

I love bibs. I would never go back to bike shorts. My middle-aged, post-menopausal, fat-assed body is not safe for anyone if I don’t wear my bibs. My civvies are ok in the “off” season but I am very cognizant of the potential for shirt creep and the resultant pants drop and am constantly checking to make sure that I am not one of the offenders. I’ve had to witness too many instances of inappropriate skinage and those cannot be unseen, no matter how hard I try.

[Author]

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