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Fashion conscious roadie attire

minusnothingminusnothing Posts: 30
edited January 2015 in Road buying advice
When I started with a road bike years ago I always said I'd never go 'full lycra'. And after riding with my club week in week out and seeing some very bad fashion looks and how much bad design is out there - this idea was compounded.

Now, I am now in the market for some tight shorts. However, I don't want no see through, gaudy badly designed affairs. Nor do I want Rapha or any of their followers.

Think simple, quality, stylish, understated.
What brands should I be looking at?
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  • AnonymousAnonymous Posts: 79,667
    Ping, Taylor Made or Wilson, and taking up golf perhaps?

    WTF is 'fashion conscious roadie attire'?
    Fashion means copying something lots of other people have doesn't it?
    Lots of stuff I see looks great. If you have not seen anything you like in all these years then it does not exist.
    If you make your own (that looks noticeably different to whats out there) you will no doubt look even sillier and be even less comfortable than I am guessing you are now.

    Bib shorts pretty much look exactly the same (black and short) anyway, so whats the issue?
    If you were thinking more of shorts than bib shorts I would again suggest the golf idea.

    Why are you asking other people what you would like? Especially other people you seem to be saying look unfashionably stupid :roll:
    Cycling is not really about being a fashion victim IMO.

    If you have been anti lycra all these years then don't be a hypercritical fashion victim now, just keep your current values :wink:
  • raisinberry777raisinberry777 Posts: 141
    Plenty of plain black shorts out there from loads of brands, if that's what you're looking for. dhb Goldline is a great quality option for the summer months, or there's the Roubaix fleeced bib tights for winter.

    As for tops, Torm is an alternative to Rapha, the same kind of Sportwool fabrics if you're after those.
  • dork_knightdork_knight Posts: 405
    I have no experience of the following products;

    http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/uk-en/shop/m ... -smith-531

    http://www.pedaled.com/product/view/Discovery-Shorts

    http://www.chromeindustries.com/uk/en/a ... ns-bottoms

    http://www.kinokocycles.com/giro-mobili ... rts-1.html
    The path of my life is strewn with cowpats from the devil's own satanic herd.
  • minusnothingminusnothing Posts: 30
    Carbonator wrote:
    Ping, Taylor Made or Wilson, and taking up golf perhaps?

    WTF is 'fashion conscious roadie attire'?
    Fashion means copying something lots of other people have doesn't it?
    Lots of stuff I see looks great. If you have not seen anything you like in all these years then it does not exist.
    If you make your own (that looks noticeably different to whats out there) you will no doubt look even sillier and be even less comfortable than I am guessing you are now.

    Bib shorts pretty much look exactly the same (black and short) anyway, so whats the issue?
    If you were thinking more of shorts than bib shorts I would again suggest the golf idea.

    Why are you asking other people what you would like? Especially other people you seem to be saying look unfashionably stupid :roll:
    Cycling is not really about being a fashion victim IMO.

    If you have been anti lycra all these years then don't be a hypercritical fashion victim now, just keep your current values :wink:


    I just want to look good that's all. Don't take it personally.
    I have ssen things that no man should see. For example - the rider in front of me bum tattoo through cheap shiny lycra. Puts me right off my cadence!
  • arthur_scrimshawarthur_scrimshaw Posts: 2,596
    MinusNothing wrote:
    When I started with a road bike years ago I always said I'd never go 'full lycra'. And after riding with my club week in week out and seeing some very bad fashion looks and how much bed design is out there - this idea was compunded.

    Now, I am now in the market for some tight shorts. However, I don't want no see through, gaudy badly designed affairs. Nor do I want Rapha or any of their followers.

    Think simple, quality, stylish, understated.
    What brands should I be looking at?

    I think you should post this question in the MTB section if you're looking for advice. Come back and let us know how you get on.

    I have mix of gear, used to like Castelli but gone off their designs - I now prefer Sportful which is part of the same group. Torm is nice understated gear but no shorts, DHB is generally good value so is Planet X but sometime a bit wierd on fit.
  • term1teterm1te Posts: 1,462
    Depends if you want fashionable but understated, or want to dress to impress. I like the Campagnolo heritage range for the Italian understated look. Prendas do some great modern-retro kit if you want some knowing smiles as you cycle past. They either know their cycling history, or your shorts have worn a bit thin, always worth checking. If you want to disappear into the crowd, Rosebikes do some good value kit, I like their winter kit which is nice and warm, if dull.
    The Master
    The Moser
    The VN
  • FitzMFitzM Posts: 232
    [/quote]
    I just want to look good that's all. Don't take it personally.
    I have ssen things that no man should see. For example - the rider in front of me bum tattoo through cheap shiny lycra. Puts me right off my cadence![/quote]

    There are a large number of small 'boutique' cycle wear outlets. But the last think you want is to stand out looking differnt if you can't back it up on the bike.

    You can't go wrong with the in house brands from

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk
    http://www.probikekit.co.uk/home.dept

    But if you have money and looking good is your priority

    http://www.vulpine.cc
    http://www.cafeducycliste.com/en
    http://www.velobici.cc
    Klein Quantum, Cervelo Soloist Team, Boardman SLR 9.0S, Boardman SLS 9.8, Kinesis Racelight 4S, DengFu FM028
  • minusnothingminusnothing Posts: 30
    Carbonator wrote:
    Ping, Taylor Made or Wilson, and taking up golf perhaps?

    WTF is 'fashion conscious roadie attire'?
    Fashion means copying something lots of other people have doesn't it?
    Lots of stuff I see looks great. If you have not seen anything you like in all these years then it does not exist.
    If you make your own (that looks noticeably different to whats out there) you will no doubt look even sillier and be even less comfortable than I am guessing you are now.

    Bib shorts pretty much look exactly the same (black and short) anyway, so whats the issue?
    If you were thinking more of shorts than bib shorts I would again suggest the golf idea.

    Why are you asking other people what you would like? Especially other people you seem to be saying look unfashionably stupid :roll:
    Cycling is not really about being a fashion victim IMO.

    If you have been anti lycra all these years then don't be a hypercritical fashion victim now, just keep your current values :wink:

    was it your bum tattoo I saw? :wink:
  • cougiecougie Posts: 22,512
    What are you wearing now on the club runs ??
  • imposter2.0imposter2.0 Posts: 12,015
    http://www.lusso-clothing.co.uk/
  • holiverholiver Posts: 729
    Howies stuff is understated and well made. I recently received a pair of the padded tights which are great.

    http://www.howies.co.uk/mens/clothing/cycle.html
    2013 Kinesis Racelight T2
  • northpolenorthpole Posts: 1,499
    Assos make great shorts. Rapha, whatever your preconceptions of fashion may be, also make decent enough shorts. My preference however, is with Assos for bib shorts. I couldn't care less about the fashion aspect - I'm interested in riding a bike and incurring as little discomfort as possible.

    With regards to see through lycra, there is a problem with lycra and laundry conditioner which will cause this effect on any lycra shorts. Golden rule is, never wash lycra with conditioner.

    Peter
  • jordan_217jordan_217 Posts: 2,580
    Shutt VR, Vulpine and Torm spring to mind. I have no experience of Shutt but I own a few bits of Vulpine kit (mainly casual/off the bike) and got some Torm l/s jerseys for Xmas - they are great!
    “Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired.”
  • TjgoodhewTjgoodhew Posts: 628
    Check out some of the Morveleo shorts currently in the sale on Wiggle.

    I loved a couple of the designs - something a bit different. But typically the ones i liked weren't in my size so went with a pair of Ale instead.

    Arrived today and look great. Altho no Haribo in the box - FUMING !!!!!!
    Cannondale Caad8
    Canyon Aeroad 8.0

    http://www.strava.com/athletes/goodhewt
  • cubedeancubedean Posts: 670
    I find DHB kit from wiggle very good & reasonably priced as well. I have a pair of bib shorts & bib tights. They are A good thickness & sizes are realistic I find.
    Transition Bottlerocket
  • imposter2.0imposter2.0 Posts: 12,015
    The Planet X oem stuff is also worth a look..
  • t4tomot4tomo Posts: 2,643
    MinusNothing wrote:

    I just want to look good that's all. Don't take it personally.
    it will take more than clothes for that you big tub of lard :D:D
    Bianchi Infinito CV
    Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Ultegra
    Brompton S Type
    Carrera Vengeance Ultimate Ltd
    Gary Fisher Aquila '98
    Front half of a Viking Saratoga Tandem
  • minusnothingminusnothing Posts: 30
    cougie wrote:
    What are you wearing now on the club runs ??

    baggy shorts and whatever jersey. Anything long is wool (arms/legs).

    Skateboarding is my main hobby and the thought of lycra makes every cell in my body ache. Although, it's starting to creep in as I get older...

    Yours,
    66kg of lard.
  • FitzMFitzM Posts: 232
    MinusNothing wrote:
    cougie wrote:
    What are you wearing now on the club runs ??

    baggy shorts and whatever jersey. Anything long is wool (arms/legs).

    Skateboarding is my main hobby and the thought of lycra makes every cell in my body ache. Although, it's starting to creep in as I get older...

    Yours,
    66kg of lard.

    You could always combine both interests :)

    http://sbyke.com
    Klein Quantum, Cervelo Soloist Team, Boardman SLR 9.0S, Boardman SLS 9.8, Kinesis Racelight 4S, DengFu FM028
  • cougiecougie Posts: 22,512
    Yeah I always said I'd not get the clipless pedals....

    LOL - love the idea of skateboarders calling roadie fashion out. :-)


    Just go head to toe rapha - uber cool but you'd need a mortgage....
  • minusnothingminusnothing Posts: 30
    FitzM wrote:
    MinusNothing wrote:
    cougie wrote:
    What are you wearing now on the club runs ??

    baggy shorts and whatever jersey. Anything long is wool (arms/legs).

    Skateboarding is my main hobby and the thought of lycra makes every cell in my body ache. Although, it's starting to creep in as I get older...

    Yours,
    66kg of lard.

    You could always combine both interests :)

    http://sbyke.com


    wow
  • rolf_frolf_f Posts: 16,015
    MinusNothing wrote:
    When I started with a road bike years ago I always said I'd never go 'full lycra'. And after riding with my club week in week out and seeing some very bad fashion looks and how much bed design is out there - this idea was compunded.

    Now, I am now in the market for some tight shorts. However, I don't want no see through, gaudy badly designed affairs. Nor do I want Rapha or any of their followers.

    Think simple, quality, stylish, understated.
    What brands should I be looking at?

    How can you have been riding for years and not be aware of plain black lycra shorts? They are what they are and every cycle kit manufacturer makes them. Most of us wear them - I rarely see cyclists in anything else. They are no more stylish when made by Rapha as when made by Decathlon because none of them have any particular style. They all look the same when they are plain black provided you make sure there are no silly logos on (which usually crack up and look rubbish in no time).
    Faster than a tent.......
  • minusnothingminusnothing Posts: 30
    Rolf F wrote:

    How can you have been riding for years and not be aware of plain black lycra shorts? They are what they are and every cycle kit manufacturer makes them. Most of us wear them - I rarely see cyclists in anything else. They are no more stylish when made by Rapha as when made by Decathlon because none of them have any particular style. They all look the same when they are plain black provided you make sure there are no silly logos on (which usually crack up and look rubbish in no time).

    I'm 'aware' of them. I'm looking for something with a little more panache, and certaily looking for something a little less see through than regular black lycra shorts.

    Maybe matt black, not shiny. Who knows? Imagine the ethos of the outcome if someone smashed some 'plain black lycra shorts' into the dopest pair of jeans you've ever owned.
    I just wanted some ideas on brands a little more 'outside-the-bloomin-box'.

    So far there's been some great answers. Keep em coming.

    I'm not convinced Rapha is cool at all. In the skateboard world they would be derided for their opulent pompousness. Whereby, a bit like a 'Jaaaaaag' - only a certain age and status demographic of people can afford. Having said that they looks like well made accoutrements innit.
  • ravey1981ravey1981 Posts: 1,111
    http://www.primalwear.com

    Lots of different designs, some good, some not so good.
  • alihisgreatalihisgreat Posts: 3,872
    Here are some Instagram accounts to look at for your inspiration:

    http://instagram.com/kitwatch
    http://instagram.com/wtfkits

    I quite like the look of Tenspeed Hero, and Cadence kit:

    http://store.tenspeedhero.com/collections/men-s
    http://shop.cadencecollection.com/

    (I think Cadence now has a UK distributor, but I might be wrong)
  • coulddobettercoulddobetter Posts: 812
    I used to swim competitively in Speedos. Wouldn't be seen dead in a pair now. Sin of sins I ride my road bike in endura padded shorts I got for mountain biking. Some of those I see around Bushy Park in pro replica kit clearly have no sense of shame !
  • cyclingfurycyclingfury Posts: 676
    Why don't you just use google like the rest of us? How are we supposed to know what you're going to like?
    ___________________________________________
    Titanium Bertoletti
  • minusnothingminusnothing Posts: 30
    cyclingfury wrote:
    Why don't you just use google like the rest of us? How are we supposed to know what you're going to like?

    Because that's what Forums are for cocker; talking to people who have experience and opinions.

    If it helps you understand it - think of a forum as going to the pub where everyone is an expert on your chosen subject (road cycling). If you ask a question in said pub you will get some great responses (as I already have) and a couple of people, who may or may not have social interaction development issues, will either not understand the question, or tell you to 'go away and ask someone else'.

    This forum is the best I've come across. There's an excellent mix of brilliant, helpful, even funny and outraged, angry people.

    Cheers for brightening up my day everyone!
  • minusnothingminusnothing Posts: 30
    cyclingfury wrote:
    Why don't you just use google like the rest of us? How are we supposed to know what you're going to like?

    I think we've got a clear winner for the 'Most Welcoming Post of 2015' award. So soon in the year as well!

    Congratulations.
  • yayayaya Posts: 411
    What's with that 'see through' anyway. Not every piece of black Lycra is see through...

    But have a look at http://dannyshane.co.uk you might like some of their stuff
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