Appropriate clothing for 1st "event"

voodooman

So, having commuted for a while and upgraded to a cross bike, my wife has put her money where my mouth was for Christmas and entered me for the wiggle new forest sportive. My question is about clothing.

I'm not traditional cycling build, and all my cycling clothing is dirt cheap commuter gear from Aldi / Decathlon. Do I really need to buy some branded cycling clobber? Anything from Rapha, or related to a TDF team will see my wife, colleagues, friends etc in stitches. Is there anything else that will look reasonable, do the job and stop the titters?

I've had a look at Fat lads at the back, but their gear is way above what I'd normally pay. Am I merely being a tightfisted northern git (not my words).

I'm 6'6", weigh 16 1/2 stone, and my waist is expanding even as a I type (currently 38). I'm also fairly competetive so will train like mad to make sure I get round in a decent time.

rjsterry

DHB, Wiggle's in house brand, is not a bad place to start. Get it sorted well before the event, too - you don't want to be wearing something for the first time on the day.

meanredspider

It depends if this is a flash in the pan - there's nothing worse than buying cheap and needing to buy twice. If you're just going to do this one sportive, then, yes, DHB will be perfect. If you're going to be do lots more longer rides, but something really good - it's an economy in the end. If you're an unusually large size, you'll find stuff in the sales pretty cheap.

goonz

Buy whatever you want to. You will be a MAMIL either way.

Get the garish pink Lampre kit. That usually goes down quite well.

NB: This only applies if you beat everybody else up the hills and are standing at the finish line in first place.

markhewitt1978

If your standard gear is comfortable, then use that. Don't get any branded stuff, IMO if you wear branded gear you need to be able to unleash hurt on the entire field, if not, steer clear.

Keith1983

I'd recommend DHB stuff too. It is good value but I wouldn't consider it cheap rubbish. It will do a good job and last a reasonable while if you look after it. Other than that wear whatever you like, and what you are comfortable in.

rubertoe

Castelli San-Remo Skinsuit. You know you deserve it.

goonz

You know you want to.

PBo

goonz wrote:

Buy whatever you want to. You will be a MAMIL either way.

Get the garish pink Lampre kit. That usually goes down quite well.

NB: This only applies if you beat everybody else up the hills and are standing at the finish line in first place.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/view/223858/

DrLex

goonz wrote:

You know you want to.

Please tell me that the rear panel below the waist isn't mesh.

OP: main thing is comfort in the saddle for the distance.

cookeeemonster

Just wear what you're currently wearing (if comfortable) and if you continue the sportives then buy better stuff if you feel you need better stuff.

I've ridden half a dozen 60 milers the last year with no 'proper' padded cycling shorts and a couple with - for me there's no real difference, for you there might be (100 miles nearly killed me though )

Just chill out and enjoy the ride. Pretty much nobody gives a flying f*ck what you wear and those that do are not worth trying to impress anyway

tgotb

+1. If your existing kit works, stick with it. If you get to the stage where it's causing problems, come back here with details.

From what I've seen, there's nothing whatsoever wrong with Decathlon kit, and the Aldi cycling kit sales always seem to be popular with people on this forum.

markhewitt1978

+1 for Aldi kit, it's as good as most others out there

meanredspider

markhewitt1978 wrote:

+1 for Aldi kit, it's as good as most others out there

Totally untrue but fine if want to believe it

UndercoverElephant

meanredspider wrote:

markhewitt1978 wrote:

+1 for Aldi kit, it's as good as most others out there

Totally untrue but fine if want to believe it

The top-half stuff is usually more than OK, however they seem to have real problems making anything even halfway decent for the bottom half.

rubertoe

I have an Aldi softshell and it is really an amazing peice of kit, the only thing is it that its about 3 years old and they arent as well cut as they used to be.

and I crashed in it on sunday and its now got a tear in the elbow... So I am looking at Mavic/Gore jackets now (cant justify a castelli) but would go for one of these again if it was the same.

mattrixdesign2

If what you have now works, then use it. If you are doing short commutes and it just gets you by, and the event is a "long" one, then it maybe worth upgrading say the shorts/trousers for extra padding, making sure you have a decent waterproof etc. I wouln't go mad. Decathlon do ranges, starting from cheap as chips to good, to even better. DHB stuff is good value, but I have found some of the sizing out. If you are not of the "usual cycling build" -what ever than means, you maybe prefer to wear baggy MTB kit, than figure huggging lycra.

Nowt wrong with some of the Aldi stuff, although I binned my long cycling trousers as the padding was in the wrong place - but like the winter gloves, arm warmers, tool kit, socks etc.

Besides... its not the kit, its the training and effort you put in on the day that counts, and if you can pass someone on their £3k bike and Sky kit, you can give them a nice wave

markhewitt1978

meanredspider wrote:

markhewitt1978 wrote:

+1 for Aldi kit, it's as good as most others out there

Totally untrue but fine if want to believe it

Depends what you're comparing it to? It's half the price of comparable branded clothing.

meanredspider

markhewitt1978 wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

markhewitt1978 wrote:

+1 for Aldi kit, it's as good as most others out there

Totally untrue but fine if want to believe it

Depends what you're comparing it to? It's half the price of comparable branded clothing.

"..most others..."

I don't even think it's as good as DHB. It IS cheap - it's got that going for it

spasypaddy

http://www.vo2sportswear.com/collection ... e-club-kit

mpatts

I overtook a guy in ancient baggies and anorak doing the Etape Penines. He was riding a 90's specialized rockhopper.

From personal experience, you don't need much. For my first sportive I bought a planet-x long sleep merino jersey (still one of my fave bits of kit).

The only thing I'd really say invest in are some decent overshoes and gloves. As others have said, the DHB ones are great.

rjsterry

meanredspider wrote:

It depends if this is a flash in the pan - there's nothing worse than buying cheap and needing to buy twice. If you're just going to do this one sportive, then, yes, DHB will be perfect. If you're going to be do lots more longer rides, but something really good - it's an economy in the end. If you're an unusually large size, you'll find stuff in the sales pretty cheap.

DHB (and not even their pricier stuff) has seen me right for week in week out commuting of up to 40 miles a day and I wore the same Aeron bib shorts for my ride down to Devon (just shy of 100 miles) with no sore bits. That said, I do seem to fit the DHB stuff very well, and if it's the wrong shape for the OP then it doesn't matter what price it is.

antsmithmk

You probably won't even see many others riders after the first 10km or so, most sportives break up fairly quickly into solo time trials. Who gives a f what you are wearing anyway. Just don't get a full Team Sky get up or you will look a bit of a fullkitw##ker

markhewitt1978

^ This. Yes; quite often you'll be riding solo anyway and the only way you're going to know it's a sportive is when you stop (i.e. the people ahead of you are getting further ahead, the people behind further behind).

daniel_b

It's all been said already really.

My 2p's worth is that your primary concern should be that you will be comfy for the ride, so padded shorts etc that will deal with the distance - how far are you going?
Perhaps a waterproof, and just some decent gear IF you get cold. Looks like it is in April (?) so it's probably even odds that it could be cold and or raining, so might be worth thinking about some kind of packable waterproof unless the rain does not bother you.

Aside from that, if you are happy with your kit, and feel it will do the job, then nothing else matters, and just enjoy the event

I'm riding the New Forest rattler in August, going for the 102 this time, and as a first sportive location I would say it's a fine choice, mostly flat.

Initialised

I got my first bib shorts (Endura ~£70) and shaved my legs for the first time before my first sportive. I've ended up using them for most non-commute rides and a handful of other events.

My Aldi winter trousers are holding up well and I expect at least another two winters out of them (unless it goes on until may like last year), their gloves lasted me three winters before the liners were shot and their skull cap is in it's fourth.

I have a relatively cheap softshell http://www.cycle-clothing.co.uk/Product ... acket.aspx it's survived many tumbles (there wasn't a mark on it when I bust my shoulder three years ago), only problem with it is that it's a large and I'm not anymore, oh and I'd put it's cut off point at 7C dry and 10C wet, not 15C. So it's worth bearing in mind if you intend to lose weight through cycling to buy cheap until you are at your desired weight.

voodooman

Thanks for all the posts - think I'm going to get the dhb bib shorts in xxl they look a reasonable price with some added discounts, and stick with existing stuff for the rest.

I'm signed up for the standard ride, not epic, and have plenty of waterproofs and skins from my other sports. I'm most concerned about my arse and hands if truth be told. My experience of commuting (12 1/2 miles each way) has been that cheap stuff is fine for me - I'd rather be hot and sweaty than cold, so some bib shorts to help with the longer distance should be fine.

Actually I got some further info from a (cycling mad) mate today who said I'll never keep up with the slimmer / lighter people however fit, so instead to work the downhills and flats at a steady HR. Time for some truly mind buggeringly dull HR zone 2 training. Oh joy!

rick_chasey

FWIW, and you probably know this already, but no-one gives a monkeys what you wear except you.

The lycra is principally worn because it's comfy, not really because it shows off your body (though you may get the odd weirdo who does otherwise) so don't worry about it. Do whatever you feel comfortable with (both in terms of functionality and how they make you feel) and you'll be fine.

If anyone does judge then they're bellends anyway.

mattrixdesign2

voodooman wrote:

Actually I got some further info from a (cycling mad) mate today who said I'll never keep up with the slimmer / lighter people however fit, so instead to work the downhills and flats at a steady HR. Time for some truly mind buggeringly dull HR zone 2 training. Oh joy!

You may not keep up on the hills, but no reason why you can not keep up/go faster on the flats and downhills, besides it doesnt matter. What does matter is you do the event and meet your own target.

rubertoe

Are sportives races?

meanredspider

rubertoe wrote:

Are sportives races?

No but they're timed and everyone wants to do a good time.

Besides, it's ALL a race