What do you wear when commuting

DonDaddyD

Yesterday was the first time I went out in nothing but lycra, I got caught in the rain and got soaked but I loved every minute of the ride! My skin could breath I was faster and it felt good. If I had it my way I would wear lycra all the time - hell if i get shapely enough I recon I could look like one of those Superheroes I'm always reading about ..... (like the Mighty Thor, Batman, Thanos etc )

The thing is when I commute, though I would prefer to wear just lycra, I just couldn't bare all the eyes and muffled comments - like I'm some sort of alien or no one has ever seen a cyclist before. Ultimately I end up wearing a cycle jersey, gillet, shorts and my lycra shorts underneath. It's not the most comfortable ensemble of clothing.

Anyway, I'm looking out the window, shaping to leave work and I want to wear nothing but my lycra. It got me wondering what do you guys (in this self concious society of ours) wear when commuting to and from work?

lost_in_thought

Depends really, sometimes it's sportswear, sometimes it's office wear, usually on a Friday for example I can't be bothered to change back out of my office gear, so if it's a skirt or dress just put some shorts on under that and cycle home.

If it's raining I lean more towards lycra or similar - ie my trusty USA Pro collection of yoga pants which I've butchered into shorts - Lycra dries quicker...

Specialized Needs

DonDaddyD wrote:

hell if i get shapely enough I recon I could look like one of those Superheroes I'm always reading about ..... (like the Mighty Thor, Batman, Thanos etc )

£2.50 jogging bottoms from Primark and a cotton 'George @ Asda' T shirt from a 3 for £2 pack. I've interpreted that as "Sports wear, not lycra".

If I wore lycra the only superhero I'd resemble would be the Stay Puft® marshmallow man from Ghostbusters :shock:

Stuart

Coriander

duncedunce wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

hell if i get shapely enough I recon I could look like one of those Superheroes I'm always reading about ..... (like the Mighty Thor, Batman, Thanos etc )

£2.50 jogging bottoms from Primark and a cotton 'George @ Asda' T shirt from a 3 for £2 pack. I've interpreted that as "Sports wear, not lycra".

If I wore lycra the only superhero I'd resemble would be the Stay Puft® marshmallow man from Ghostbusters :shock:

Stuart

Excellent post.

biondino

Lycra shorts, mtb shoes with egg beater cleats, cotton t-shirt. So a combination of the above. I did wear a team lycra top once but after almost killing myself to take a scalp I realised the team colours negated it

biondino

p.s. i HATE riding a bike in jeans. It's so uncomfortable and so restrictive!!!!

pst88

Rolled up jeans or MTB shorts and cycling jersey or normal tshirt. I may or may not change when I get to work depending on what I feel like (they let me wear whatever I want). I was a bit apprehensive about wearing shorts in the office at first but noone cared.

biggstevie

jersey
arm warmers
lycra shorts.

AndyManc

DonDaddyD wrote:

I got caught in the rain and got soaked but I loved every minute of the ride!

I love biking in the rain .. though I'm not a lycra wearer .... it's baggies and t-shirt for me.

ris

baselayer or sports top (usually climacool or simialr quick-drying material)
cycle shorts with baggies over the top (for the good of those around me).

if cold i break out a shell or waterproof.

andrewc3142

Lycra bib shorts and a jersey, etc.

girv73

Lycra shorts, breathable sports top (not sure of the material), track mitts and an pair of old lightweight trainers (I use toeclips on my commutabike). And a builder's hi-vis vest that's way too big. Oh and a helmet.

If it rains, I get wet. No biggie.

Not sure what I'll do when it gets colder as I've yet to buy winter gear. Some sort of waterproof jacket I guess, and probably bib tights if I can work up the courage

Wear what's comfortable, ignore the comments. They're probably just jealous of how good you look in skin tight clothes. That's the way I intend to think about it anyway

rwsbike971

If its dry I wear baggy MTB shorts and a loose fitting MTB top with full finger gloves, if its cold I wear lycra tights and either a long sleeve top or light jacket sometimes with a base layer. For wet weather its tights MTB overshoes and a waterproof jacket.

rjeffroy

Lycra cycling kit from here:

http://quickerbybike.com/

Just to rub it in while filtering through the gridlock!

jstutters

Sportwool t-shirt, padded lycra shorts and baggies over the top at the moment. I'm thinking about picking up some bib longs (with or without baggies over depending on how terrifying my rear aspect is by then) and combining that with a long sleeve top from silkbody and a pertex windproof for the cooler months.

graham_g

Jeans & t-shirt. It's only 3 miles each way.

2wheelzgood

Recently, rolled up trousers (the ones with buttons to let you do this or elastic to keep em up and outa the chain. cotton (sweaty) t-shirt and shoes with recessed spds.

When regularly commuting it used to be, loose synthetic cycling top and mtb baggie shorts or Ronhill bikesters. not strcikly lyrca but effective at not drowning in my own sweatbath. Synthetic stuff gets smelly very quickly and am on the lookout for a cheap (yeah I know!) woolen top

dafruk

Lycra top and baggies.

I'm increasingly reaising htat wearing skintight is the way forwards, comfy and doesn't soak up the rain.

Anyone recommend a really comfy pair of shorts?

Tobiwan

For my 7 mile commute, baggie shorts with lycra padded inner, and either a regular cotton T-shirt or a more fancy quick-drying sports T-shirt, depending a bit on what's clean and a bit on the weather! I've also got one of those "breathable" cycling jackets, but go without most of the time as it gets too hot, so it only come out when it's really pouring or a bit chilly too.

Currently wondering what to do come winter time, particularly for the legs. For the top half, I'll probably go for a base layer and some sort of zipped top over that, so I can undo it once I've warmed up. Maybe just the waterproof will do? For the legs I'm thinking lycra, but not sure I like the idea of turning up to work in it!

owenlars

Winter=merino base layer, merino mid layer, softshell if cold or drizzling replaced by waterproof Keela shell jacket if pouring.
Legs get covered by fairly slim fitting track suit bottoms which seem to shrug off water. No padding for my 16 mile round trip

il_principe

I wear full lycra but with a pair of these:http://swrve.co.uk/mens%20shorts.html over the shorts. So If I want to stop off on the way home for beers, shopping etc I don't get stared at.

biondino

I want them to stare. Frankly the bits between my waist and my knees are my most attractive features and I don't get to show them off much (except to certain special people perhaps)!

dirk_van_gently

dafruk wrote:

Anyone recommend a really comfy pair of shorts?

DHB bibs shorts or knicks from Wiggle, excellent value and quality.

I always wear full on lycra for the commute, but not a "Team" jersey, I don't want to look a complete fool, MTB shoes, SPDs, etc. I just change when I get to the office.

Littigator

Dirk Van Gently wrote:

I always wear full on lycra for the commute, but not a "Team" jersey, I don't want to look a complete fool,

Woah there tiger, there's nothing wrong with a bit of team kit here and there thankyouverymuch.

Although whilst lapping Richmond Park one Sat'dee morning recently I spied a lad in full Astana strip...hmmm bet he's regreting having bought that now n :twisted:

2wheelzgood

I was thinking about getting these socks to go with the world champ Bianchi colours on me bike..
http://bluelug.jp/?pid=9153406

worse then team strip?

elevensees

my commute kit is a howies merino top with a breathable top over that, lycra shorts and baggies, spd shoes, full finger gloves and helmet
someone asked for good tops - the howies merino is fantastic and they have a sale on at the moment, not sure how much stock they'll have left though. One thing I would say is the merino top is comfy, easily lasts all week without smelling, it's warm when you need it to be, you hardly feel the wet, but it is so delicate. I had a craghoppers merino that shrunk from xl down small enough to fit my 11 year old son after less than 10 washes at 40 and although the howies hasn't done that, it wore through in a summer (2 months?) of riding with a rucksack. So I always now wear a v light breathable over the top of a holey but incredibly comfy merino.

biondino

Litt, I bought an Astana 2007 top earlier this year (and have ridden it round Richmond Park, though not with the shorts etc.) and actually found that their post-Tour disgrace made me want one more

DHB shorts seconded, by the way - I have three pairs and they're comfortable and hardy.

Brixtonbiker

My favorite kit is

Mystery Shopper

biondino wrote:

Litt, I bought an Astana 2007 top earlier this year (and have ridden it round Richmond Park, though not with the shorts etc.) and actually found that their post-Tour disgrace made me want one more

DHB shorts seconded, by the way - I have three pairs and they're comfortable and hardy.

Brixtonbiker, is this you in your shorts?

http://www.cyclingforums.com/showthread ... ost1639979

m0scs

When I got my first MTB last year I started out wearing cotton shorts and T Shirt.

I quickly realised that comfort played a big part of bike riding, especially if you want to ride any distance.

I then got MTB specific baggy shorts with built in padding and wore them for a while.

After a few months and it was getting towards winter, I bought some MTB padded leggings and realised Lycra was the way to go.

All this summer I have worn nothing buy lycra shorts. Very comfortable. No flapping around or bunching up in uncomfortable places.

Tops, I have various cycle specific long and short sleeved depending on the weather.

If its dark I also wear a reflective Gillet or waterproof light top if its hammering down.

I did buy a pair of waterproof legging but they are so uncomfortable I dont use them.

Feet. MTB clipless shoes and peddles..

If its really cold, ie just above freezing, I have some overshoes as well and skull cap to go under my helmet.

On the lycra issue, its worth spending some money to get good quality shorts with built in padding if you want to go that way.

always_tyred

Recently I've been wearing mouldy shorts, mouldy base layer, mouldy non-team short sleeved top, damp sidis and smelly gloves.

I then climb on my bike and squeak off down the road.