All the cool kids wear lycra

RealMan

Been hearing a LOT of lycra bashing, and I've only been using this forum for like a day.

What has everyone got against it?

It doesnt snag or branches and such.
It can be aero or baggy.
It dries quickly.
It doesnt smell when it gets sweaty.
Its very good at maintaining your body temperature.
It comes in lots of different styles and colours, and from your LBS.
Most of it is cycling specific, so has features that are perfect for cycling (eg: sunglasses wipe, rear pockets).
Its easy to clean.
Its comfortable.
Its strong and durable.
Its stretchy, so it fits well.

And it looks good. (I admit, this point is arguable)


Are people just not comfortable with their sexuality? Do you think you will be classed as homosexual for wearing lycra?

I'll be in full lycra on the road bike, but (usually) baggies and a lycra top on the mtb.







Would you tell sam he looks like a gay in a condom suit?

deffler

Ive nothing against lycra myself, wish i had the body for it
Each to their own I say, i wear baggies with lycra padded shorts underneath, cycle specific top with under armour heatgear underneath that.

I do find men walking around in lycra shorts a bit funny tho, if theyre staying on the bike fair does

Anonymous

Can I vote yes and no, because for long, epic rides, I wear lycra shorts underneath my baggies?

Anyway, the way I see it, yeah, lycra is fine for competitive cycling, but do people really need to wear it when casually cycling? I don;t have a problem with people wearing it, I just don't understand why.
It's like if I decide to have a quick play in a kayak, I don't immediately reach for the wetsuit, buoyancy aid, and helmet.

If I wear my baggies to go for a ride, I can comfortably stop at a cafe or a bar for refreshments, without having everyone stare at me. I have enough social issues as is dammit!

ride_whenever

lycra rules...

It just works for exercise, doesn't bunch and moves well with you.

RealMan

deffler wrote:

I do find men walking around in lycra shorts a bit funny tho, if theyre staying on the bike fair does

Well I would agree with that too. But thats because no one would ever do that, except when they stop for a cafe stop or something. Can hardly expect people to bring along a change of shorts so they can have a piece of cake.

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Anyway, the way I see it, yeah, lycra is fine for competitive cycling, but do people really need to wear it when casually cycling? I don;t have a problem with people wearing it, I just don't understand why.
It's like if I decide to have a quick play in a kayak, I don't immediately reach for the wetsuit, buoyancy aid, and helmet.

I think http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... 11&start=0 is very similar to what youre talking about.

stickygreen

the reason for the lycra bashing is that someone on here was laughed at for wearing a fullface helmet and pads by people wearing lycra,who cares, wear what you want to wear and sod what anyone thinks of you.If your worried about what people think of you your far too sensitive.(this is not aimed at anyone in particular i wouldnt want people thinking bad of me!)

RealMan

stickygreen wrote:

the reason for the lycra bashing is that someone on here was laughed at for wearing a fullface helmet and pads by people wearing lycra

Yeah, but those people also ride bikes, and drive cars, and probably drink water.. So why arent people bashing car drivers, cyclists and people who drink water as well?

stickygreen

Who knows? Why can't everyone just get on with everyone else?

finlayson99

Mrs Finlayson thinks that guys in lycra are a bit odd so that's a good enough reason for me to go baggy, besides unless you have the body for it it is much kinder to the human race not to parade around with lycra-covered rolls of fat on show.

RealMan

Ok, good point - but how many proper cyclists actually have "rolls of fat"?

Anonymous

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Anyway, the way I see it, yeah, lycra is fine for competitive cycling, but do people really need to wear it when casually cycling? I don;t have a problem with people wearing it, I just don't understand why.
It's like if I decide to have a quick play in a kayak, I don't immediately reach for the wetsuit, buoyancy aid, and helmet.

I think http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... 11&start=0 is very similar to what youre talking about.

You mis-understood me. I don;t have a problem with lycra-clad cyclists, I just don't "get" it.
One of my co-workers is a keen roadie (and very very very fit for his age) and much friendly pi** taking goes on between the both of us

Anonymous

RealMan wrote:

Ok, good point - but how many proper cyclists actually have "rolls of fat"?

All the ones that come out in the summer, or when Le Tour is on telly

stickygreen

RealMan
Define proper cyclist.

soy_sauce

what is your definition for proper cyclist? proper cyclists for me would be people do cycling as a hobby and not have to take it seriously also.

i think, it kinda like girls with bikini or guys with skinny jeans. it will look odd if you don't have the body for it and people will make comments or give you looks.

finlayson99

It doesn't need to be a big "roll" to be rather unnerving
Baggys hide a multitude of sins, but each to his own I say

stickygreen

This shouldnt even be an issue for anyone. lycraists wear lycra baggyists wear baggies job done.Why the f*@k is anyone elses business what i wear.

cgarossi

I have lycra sets and baggies. I just dont have the physique for lycra so have gone for baggies.

geordiefreerider

It makes you look like julian clarey at an all night hardcore ecstacy rave in berlin

mikey0303

its not a good look but each to their own

bomberesque

RealMan wrote:

Ok, good point - but how many proper cyclists actually have "rolls of fat"?

erm :oops:

ride_whenever

geordiefreerider wrote:

It makes you look like julian clarey at an all night hardcore ecstacy rave in berlin

What hate? Lyrca is comfy and practical, much nicer in the summer and winter.

Ever tried the whole body lycra look?

llamafarmer

I wear lycra tights under my shorts in the winter to keep my legs toasty, but otherwise I don't really like the look . Not got a problem with anyone else wearing it though!

geordiefreerider

ride_whenever wrote:

geordiefreerider wrote:

It makes you look like julian clarey at an all night hardcore ecstacy rave in berlin

What hate? Lyrca is comfy and practical, much nicer in the summer and winter.

Ever tried the whole body lycra look?

You got me all wrong I absolutely love the the berlin love parade look

miss notax

As a girlie I wear lycra for the reasons mentioned earlier (doesn't bunch up etc etc) and i've never had any complaints Fair play if the chaps also wear it, but lycra shorts can sometimes look a bit eye-watering.... :shock:

Anonymous

miss notax wrote:

As a girlie I wear lycra for the reasons mentioned earlier (doesn't bunch up etc etc) and i've never had any complaints Fair play if the chaps also wear it, but lycra shorts can sometimes look a bit eye-watering.... :shock:

Well, women in lycra, that's an altogether different matter!

MrChuck

yeehaamcgee wrote:

Anyway, the way I see it, yeah, lycra is fine for competitive cycling, but do people really need to wear it when casually cycling? :

Depends what you mean by casual cycling. I don't wear it to the shops or just getting about, but when I'm out on the bike for fun I usually do at least 30-40 miles and it's more comfortable in lycra than it would be without it, so why not?

And I don't get this baggies vs lycra thing. On the road it's lycra, on the MTB it's lycra with baggies on top. Pretty simple.

MilitantGraham

All these criticisms of lycra are just caused by people's petty jealousy because they haven't got a Size Zero Supermodel figure, like what I have,

If you've got it, flaunt it.
How about this for an example of being well hung.



Even with my weight leaning on it, the gate hasn't moved an inch. That's certainly a well hung gate.

deffler

yeehaamcgee wrote:

miss notax wrote:

As a girlie I wear lycra for the reasons mentioned earlier (doesn't bunch up etc etc) and i've never had any complaints Fair play if the chaps also wear it, but lycra shorts can sometimes look a bit eye-watering.... :shock:

Well, women in lycra, that's an altogether different matter!

Agree

geordiefreerider

miss notax wrote:

As a girlie I wear lycra for the reasons mentioned earlier (doesn't bunch up etc etc) and i've never had any complaints Fair play if the chaps also wear it, but lycra shorts can sometimes look a bit eye-watering.... :shock:

Theres a saying that goes "shy bairns get nowt", so here it goes.....

Any pics ?

Tel39

Lycra is, well for want of a better phrase, err... gay as a bunch of Daffs.... simplez

RealMan

MilitantGraham wrote:

How about this for an example of being well hung.

How about this?...

http://www.uploadgeek.com/share-6782_4A4BDE3D.html

Tel39 wrote:

Lycra is, well for want of a better phrase, err... gay as a bunch of Daffs...

Now I've seen a lot more straight people in lycra then I have gays, so I dont get where this attitude comes from. Do you just think people will make fun of you for being overweight or something? Or do you actually believe that lycra somehow makes men seem attractive to other men?