Cycle Clothing whats cool or not

135

Comments

  • paul64
    paul64 Posts: 278
    I wouldn't give sponsors free advertising and pay for the privilege. It feels like a mix of fanboy, sucking up and football shirt tribalism syndrome. Off-road it's the woodland colours and only lacking the elf ears. On-road I definitely choose bright colours (generally red and white) and want to be noticed * so this includes strobing frogs on the bars, lid and seatpost even in sunshine. It used to feel embarrassing but now I couldn't give a damn

    * It's all because car drivers are so damned stupid and we lose every time we connect with them.
  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    uniforms-ss-ill4.jpg

    with trouser clips of course.
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
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  • soveda
    soveda Posts: 306
    Tony666 wrote:
    Like I said, useful as a chocolate teapot.
  • STEFANOS4784
    STEFANOS4784 Posts: 4,109
    edited May 2010
  • The_Beast
    The_Beast Posts: 89
    Its amazing how modern american military helmets much resemble the old nazi style german army. :o
  • John C.
    John C. Posts: 2,113
    Wear the opposite to me

    I'm not cool
    never have been
    never will be

    No comments please :lol:
    http://www.ripon-loiterers.org.uk/

    Fail to prepare, prepare to fail
    Hills are just a matter of pace
  • moffmcewan
    moffmcewan Posts: 83
    there was me thinking i was only person who thought about this topic, just bought my first road bike and completely brand new to cycling and wanted a top so i bought this

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tea ... query=team sky

    not only because i think its smart but i work for sky tv, but havent wore it yet as undecided if i look a plonker or not lol
  • justresting
    justresting Posts: 292
    Once you reallise whatever cycling gear you wear somebodies going to think you look a plonker, you will be able to stop worrying about it.
    ' From the sharks in the penthouse,
    to the rats in the basement,
    its not that far '
  • moffmcewan
    moffmcewan Posts: 83
    lol, i suppose your right, thanks :)
  • ALaPlage
    ALaPlage Posts: 732
    Once you reallise whatever cycling gear you wear somebodies going to think you look a plonker, you will be able to stop worrying about it.

    Unless you have completely no sense of style or lack colour co-ordination in your cycling wardrobe then "looking like a plonker" comments are usually driven from some form of jealousy. Just the same as people who comment on anyone. Of course you do get mutton dressed as lamb where someone has clearly made the wrong wardrobe choice or trying to fit into clothes that are three sizes too small.

    +1 for above though - just wear what you like and feel comfortable in. Don't worry about it as in general for every one person that might make a derisory comment there will be 20 more who like your look. :D
    Trek Madone 5.9
    Kinesis Crosslight T4
  • justresting
    justresting Posts: 292
    My wife is in no way jealous but she still thinks I look a plonker! Mind you come to think of it she thinks I look a bigger plonker with nothing on. :lol:
    ' From the sharks in the penthouse,
    to the rats in the basement,
    its not that far '
  • ALaPlage
    ALaPlage Posts: 732
    I find it strange that on this forum cyclists are self depricating and seem to convey the view that as lycra clad warriors we look somewhat alien to the rest of the world - stupid even, plonkers as has been quoted and something to be ridiculed.

    My personal experience is that this couldnt be further from the truth. I have had the odd jokey comment such as "bloody hell its Lance Armstrong" or one old boy who said the same but replaced Lance with Eddy Mercyx.

    I never get approached in "normal" clothes, everyday but on a number of occassions on the bike at cafe stops/breaks have been "chatted up" by women interested in where I'm going, how fast can I ride, how do the shoes work (several times I've been asked that!?) and often comments on looking good in the lycra.

    Twice I've had a car pull alongside me when riding and some young lady passenger shout "nice ar*e" before driving off.

    Missus loves me in Lycra (but can't go into any further detail :wink: ), her work mates have passed comment to her when I have met her at work from a ride, to ride the last mile home with her, along the lines of how good they think I look and at my own work charity event I had lots of positive comments regarding the "look".

    I never get such positive attention in my normal day wear (maybe I should wear Lycra full-time :lol: )

    My riding buddies generally have the same experience as me and there is definetly a pride in looking good on the bike amongst all of us which does generate some playful banter from time to time. None of us ride because we think its cool or a pose but because we love riding and keeping healthy. The fact it is a cool sport is a bonus.

    Surely others have a positive experience about how we look in Lycra.
    Trek Madone 5.9
    Kinesis Crosslight T4
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    You`re obviously a very gorgeous man with a lycra fetish, not everyone looks so good in lycra.
    Oh, i`ve had the nice arse comment too, it`s awfully degrading. :)
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • CarleyB
    CarleyB Posts: 475
    If someone shouted nice ars*e to me i'd probably get off my bike n kiss them.. maybe not I'd lose time lol
    Level 3 Road & Time Trial Coach, Level 2 Track Coach.

    Blackpool Clarion CC
    http://blackpoolclarion.webs.com/

    Blackpool Youth Cycling Association
    http://www.go-ride-byca.org
  • ALaPlage
    ALaPlage Posts: 732
    antfly wrote:
    You`re obviously a very gorgeous man with a lycra fetish, not everyone looks so good in lycra.
    Oh, i`ve had the nice ars* comment too, it`s awfully degrading. :)

    That's my point - I'm far from gorgeous and not one now or in my past to ever get much interest shown from the fairer sex however on the bike I do seem to get a lot more positive interest. Definetly has something to do with the gear.

    Lycra fetish? maybe :wink:

    Plus if you get the right fit then even those of us with a larger body build look ok in lycra - the problem arises when it just doesnt fit.

    Maybe I am on my own with this one :(
    Trek Madone 5.9
    Kinesis Crosslight T4
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    I`m sure you`ll find plenty of like-minded people, just on a different sort of forum.
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • moffmcewan
    moffmcewan Posts: 83
    When I've saw cyclists in all the gear I think it's pretty cool hence why I've bought some but for someone like myself who doesn't own shorts etc it's just all new to me. I'm 6'1" and 30" waist so it's not like I'm out of shape just don't normally wear this type of clothing helmet etc. My missus thinks it's nice too but just need to pluck up the courage to go outdoors ha ha :)
  • CarleyB
    CarleyB Posts: 475
    So do you fella's all spend your time checking each other out and appraising each others cycle wear?

    Cos I can't say Ive noticed whether the blokes I see are wearing team jerseys or all plain or even what make. I'm too busy looking where I'm going lol
    Level 3 Road & Time Trial Coach, Level 2 Track Coach.

    Blackpool Clarion CC
    http://blackpoolclarion.webs.com/

    Blackpool Youth Cycling Association
    http://www.go-ride-byca.org
  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    CarleyB wrote:
    So do you fella's all spend your time checking each other out and appraising each others cycle wear?

    Cos I can't say Ive noticed whether the blokes I see are wearing team jerseys or all plain or even what make. I'm too busy looking where I'm going lol

    I check myself out, but that's because I suffer from the Narcissus complex. :lol:
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
    Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143173475@N05/
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    edited May 2010
    Tony666 wrote:
    It would be much better/more accurate if the slogan was 'There's no such thing as road tax'.
    I suggest you go to www.ipayroadtax.com and actually read what the campaign is about before jumping to conclusions as you have totally missed the point

    Pretty ridiculous campaign if the jersey needs five paragraphs to explain it. Does it come with flyers to shove through car windows? If I miss the point despite understanding the principle, what do you expect a car driver who doesn't to think? It just muddles the issue (not that drivers are likely to read it anyway)

    Does look nice though.......
    Faster than a tent.......
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    antfly wrote:
    Rolf F wrote:

    That's just silly. Mind you, I think I will go out on my Look 585 wearing my Aldi jersey just to cause snobby roadies to get confused and crash!
    They won`t crash they will just look at you with mild disdain.
    Or complete comtempt.

    Possibly. Such shallow, feeble minded people I would look at with mild disdain or probably complete contempt. Silly to judge people like that anyway. Nobody seemed offended by my Aldi softshell on the sportive today. I wasn't offended by the chap who had a Highroad top and Astana shorts. Who cares in the end?
    Faster than a tent.......
  • cw42
    cw42 Posts: 205
    I've been riding on and off road for 20+ years now, and have collected a small selection of various cycle clothing. Some has long out-stayed it's welcome, and I recently decided to get it sorted. So, I've settled on Gore as my bike wear of the future. Just bought a set of basic 6 panel shorts and short sleeve top to start, with a set of mitts to compliment the summer look on my road bike. In the future I'v earmarked another ss top, 2 long sleeves, long finger gloves, mtb shorts and a better (more expensive) 8 panel pair of shorts for later this summer.
    As I buy, I'll be throwing away my old faithful kit. Should look like a gore cycle wear sponsered rider by the winter :)
    Red and Black is the colour scheme, with a little white thrown in to match my new shimano road shoes and graphics on the bike :D
    live long, eat biscuit
  • i like to get seen by cars so tend to wear bright coloured tops...also as a car driver when i see cyclists in black tops it just strikes me as plain dangerous when venturing on busy british roads...

    i think the some of tour stuff looks good, ie: tdf and giro sprinters/points jersey but would't go out in KOM or leaders jerseys - i'm not that good
    a Bianchi is for life... not just for christmas
  • ScaldedCat
    ScaldedCat Posts: 111
    Riding my 1990s Scott Apache rigid mtb in jeans and T-shirt. Totally ignored most of the time by all but some other women and nice old chaps on aged roadsters.

    Riding my Bob Jackson in co-ordinating (with the bike) lycra and toning helmet, shades and shoes I get waves, nods, winks, smiles and other warm acknowledgements from roadies but blanked by everyone else pretty much. I think I probably do look a prat but my kit is chosen for comfort and practicality for the most part, I just like it to look fairly 'pulled together' as an ensemble. :lol:

    I don't wear team kit but would almost spring for a Jelly Belly team shirt just because I like it and anyone who knows me would see the irony (recently lost 8 stone) or an old Z Peugeot team shirt because I always liked that shirt ever since I was a teenager.
  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    John C. wrote:
    I'm not cool
    never have been
    never will be

    John C speek da troot.

    :lol:
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
    Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143173475@N05/
  • rdt
    rdt Posts: 869
    Rolf F wrote:
    antfly wrote:
    Rolf F wrote:

    That's just silly. Mind you, I think I will go out on my Look 585 wearing my Aldi jersey just to cause snobby roadies to get confused and crash!
    They won`t crash they will just look at you with mild disdain.
    Or complete comtempt.

    Possibly. Such shallow, feeble minded people I would look at with mild disdain or probably complete contempt. Silly to judge people like that anyway.

    Indeed. People who think like that have been lobotomised by brand mangers into sheep-like behaviour that's almost beyond contempt :wink:

    We have a situation where a pair of bib shorts, comprising a flimsy bit of nylon/elastane/polyester pumped out of a Chinese factory can easily cost more than your Joe Punter spends on their entire bike, while at the same time said bits of flimsy lycra are reviewed as representing "good value" by industry mags. Crazy world.

    They certainly represent "good value" for the manufacturers, distributors and retailers, with their big fat juicy margins.
  • The_Beast
    The_Beast Posts: 89
    ScaldedCat wrote:
    Riding my 1990s Scott Apache rigid mtb in jeans and T-shirt. Totally ignored most of the time by all but some other women and nice old chaps on aged roadsters.

    Riding my Bob Jackson in co-ordinating (with the bike) lycra and toning helmet, shades and shoes I get waves, nods, winks, smiles and other warm acknowledgements from roadies but blanked by everyone else pretty much. I think I probably do look a prat but my kit is chosen for comfort and practicality for the most part, I just like it to look fairly 'pulled together' as an ensemble. :lol:

    I don't wear team kit but would almost spring for a Jelly Belly team shirt just because I like it and anyone who knows me would see the irony (recently lost 8 stone) or an old Z Peugeot team shirt because I always liked that shirt ever since I was a teenager.

    I've gone from combat shorts and battered hoodies and moderate responses from people on the road to like a twilight zone today. I was wearing proper cycling shorts, UnderArmour lycra long sleeve top with my new 2010 Liquigas team shirt over it and some of the responses from people were as if I was on another level. :D

    Even joggers one especially give me a proper respect nod, it was funny. If only they could have seeen me 12 weeks ago.
  • CarleyB
    CarleyB Posts: 475
    lol its insane isn't it. When I was on my MTB the only guy on a roadbike to acknowledge my existance was an older guy.
    Level 3 Road & Time Trial Coach, Level 2 Track Coach.

    Blackpool Clarion CC
    http://blackpoolclarion.webs.com/

    Blackpool Youth Cycling Association
    http://www.go-ride-byca.org
  • The_Beast
    The_Beast Posts: 89
    CarleyB wrote:
    lol its insane isn't it. When I was on my MTB the only guy on a roadbike to acknowledge my existance was an older guy.

    I suppose the modern world is all about giving impressions rather than actual substance at times.

    Get the lycra on Carley and the blokes will be swooning like fools. :D
  • redjeepǃ
    redjeepǃ Posts: 531
    Does anybody know a good white cycling top that doesn't go transparent when it's wet ? I'd like a white top with some black to match my bike (it has to be mostly white as I won't wear black on the bike due to visibility problems), but don't want to look like an escapee from a wet tee shirt competition.

    I quite fancy the Castelli Prologo or Giordana Silverline, anybody got any experience of them ?