I don't understand the cycling clothes. Help me out, here.
 

Why do so many road cyclists wear the little clingy(sometimes inappropriately so) shorts, gloves, etc? I can understand Lance and other pro cyclists wearing this stuff, but I really can't figure out why some regular guy hopping on a bike to ride 25 miles down the road or bike path would wear it.

I ride to work every day and pretty regularly do a ride that's ~30mi. on my days off and have never had any problems wearing a pair of cargo shorts and t-shirt. Is there something I don't know about? Am I missing out on some huge something that would greatly improve my cycling experience?

One word: comfort.
Properly fitting cycling shorts are comfortable, and wick the moisture away. Gloves protect your hands if you fall, but also the padding helps protect from the ulnar nerve strain. Jersey is light and also wicks moisture away from the skin. If you get sweaty in a tshirt, it's like riding in a heavy wet and cold blanket.

But the bottom line is that everybody is different, and if what you're wearing works for you, that's great.

I can understand the padded gloves for someone who has problems with the lack of padding. The shorts don't make any sense to me from a comfort standpoint. I've never had a problem. What's wrong with regular shorts? Asking honestly. Like I said, is there some great thing I don't even understand? If it's warm out and you're sweating, wouldn't you want the coolness from it? That's why we sweat. It cools you down. Maybe I'll take a couple extra shirts with me next time I'm riding in heat and change them out a couple times to see if I'd prefer a dry shirt vs. a regularly sweaty t-shirt. Do you think that would be a decent comparison without having to spend the $$$ not knowing if I'd even care about wearing a jersey?

Yes, sweating is good. Wearing it on you in your tshirt, not so much.
It doesn't need to be a jersey, although the pockets are handy. Hiking or running wicking shirt will do the trick also, and it may be less expensive. I usually look for cycling clothes at the end of season, when the sales are on.
As for shorts, I can't imagine riding without them.

I don't know about the shorts, but I just did a 40+ on my mtb on saturday, wearing a cycling jersey for the first time, and it was great. The shirt stayed covering my back, the material felt like it wasn't there, and the pockets were pretty handy. I'm a little tempted by the mtb shorts that look like regular cargo shorts but have a slightly padded liner, but not $40 tempted...

Is the OP male or female? Does s/he ride in an upright position like on a city bike or mountain bike? Or does s/he ride leaned forward in the typical road bike position? This will make a difference in what type of shorts are most comfortable!

I'm male, and ride a road bike. I have a late 80s Cierra Professional 5000 and a Club Fuji if that makes any difference. I spend the most time on top of the bars/hoods.

This topic comes up 2-3 times a week. Do a search, it always leads to some folks telling the bike-clothing supports that they're stupid-looking and wearing unnessary clothes, while the bike-clothing supporters retort that they don't give a crap what everyone thinks they look like -- and they're comfortable.

Please do a search --

Obviously, to increase BF's thread count through the judicious posting of silly threads such as this.

padding in bike shorts help on longer rides, but for < 1 hr, probably not that necessary, standing up ocassionally should delay impotence.

Some people need to get over the masculinity being falsely threatened over wearing tight clothes. This is not directed at the OP, just my observation about most men's objection to wearing lycra.

It's comfort, and function. It looks good too. If you are self conscious wearing it, ride harder and faster until you are proud to wear it (and in a size or two smaller by then).

not to be flippant here, i am answering honestly.

because they want to. they feel comfortable in the clothing, they like how it looks, they get less wind resistance while they ride, etc etc.

have you tried riding in lycra? if you have, and didn't like it, then you aren't missing anything. if you haven't, then maybe give it a try. or not. if you are comfortable as you are, don't sweat it.

Because they are more comfortable.

you're not missing a thing

**READ all the threads (at least the preview of the threads) in the first 3 or 4 or 5 pages before posting. By doing so you would discover that this topic has already been discussed recently**

Oh look ... near the top of the second page: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...quot-gear-quot



But in answer to the question:

1. Because I want to.

2. Because I find cycling clothing comfortable.

3. Because I think cycling clothing looks good.

I usually wear one of these little clingy bits under my helmet. Is that appropriate in public?

I'm with you on special cycling clothes. I only wear a hemet and padded leather workman's gloves. Now I know that if a cyclist has a special need like a race the cycling clothing is the bomb. But for everyday riding they make a rider look like a wanna be Armstrong !

Alright, I'm actually pretty temped. If I were to choose between them, would you recommend I tried a jersey or shorts?

For the most part I'm with you, NightShade. A lot of the packaging has stuff about wind resistance and being faster and performing better due to the clothes, etc. That, to me, is just silly and would make you a Lance wanna-be. The fact that everyone says it's just really comfortable and not really anything about performance is interesting. I doubt I'd ever feel the need to ride in it (I'm perfectly comfortable now), but if it's that great then I'm curious.

Theres baggy shorts and a liner short to support 'your junk' inside its in the Mountain bike clothing niche

Rivendale bikes is one purveyor of stuff that is a more Phred like look.

I find these threads are usually started by attention starved trolls who just need to take up jogging and leave cycling alone.

Everything that needed to be said, was, in post #2.

Been cycling longer than Lance is old.
Cycling apparel is more comfortable cycling (wouldn't wear it swimming).
Swimtrunks/suits are great for swimming (wouldn't wear it cycling).
Sport specific clothing works for that particular sport.
But, wear what you want to wear . . .
Don't knock it 'til you try it.
Pedal on!
Rudy/zonatandem

One other reason is the spandex shorts aren't as likely to snag on the bike. I used to wear Mountain bike shorts which are like padded swim trunks the problem was the leg openings had a tendency of snagging up on the saddle horn. so I went to roadie shorts full time.

The lance wannabe attempt at an insult is over played and unimaginative.
As such, lance wannabe > wannabe dui or day laborer rider.

I know. Why do people like that even post?

seems to be the answer