Dress pants for commuting
#26
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I sometimes just wear regular dress pants while commuting, in nice weather anyway, and change to shorts for the home leg. While it's not strictly on topic, just saying that the alternative is not that bad.
#27
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Roundtree & Yorke at Dillard's. They've got several different styles - pleated, non-pleated, cuffed, no cuffs - as well as all cotton and cotton blends, and the linked ones are polyester. The ones I buy are all cotton, washable, they keep a crease pretty well, they're 2 pairs for $78 and they hold up pretty well. My commute is 8 miles each way, but pretty flat and dress code here is more casual than the OP's.
#28
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With a Dutch style bicycle (City Bikes | LocalMile) there is no worry of chains or grease or having to clip pants. A leather Brooks B67 allows the fabric to slide easier and so not wear out as fast as on other saddles. I've a B67 on my Workcycles Opafiets and do a lot of riding in dress pants (mostly wool, some cotton) and it works well.
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#29
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Get a Dutch style bike (full chain case) and either:
- Get multiple dress pants to spread wear.
- Get synthetic dress pants
#30
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If "dress" doesn't have to be really dressy, https://www.duluthtrading.com/mens-m...efault&start=2 I haven't used their pants that much, but I've been commuting for several years with their shirts (I change at the office in the morning; but wear the shirts back). Indeed, most of my Duluth shirts are 6++ years old, I bought them for trips to India and have used them as office attire since. Really hold up well.
#31
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However I will say from experience that depending on your circumstances - weather, temperature, distance, sweat rate, etc. - this may not be as great a solution as intended.
#32
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Pants for cycling
https://www.gq.com/story/outlier-pan...d-of-the-world
Shop at
https://shop.outlier.nyc/shop/retail...dungarees.html
Expensive!
https://www.gq.com/story/outlier-pan...d-of-the-world
Shop at
https://shop.outlier.nyc/shop/retail...dungarees.html
Expensive!
#33
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I wear scrubs. Yes, that's probably a little bizarre.
Mind you, not the typical blue, straight-legged type. There's actually a retail store around here that sells various types with pockets, belt loops, etc. They basically look a lot like outdoor pants you'd find at REI—very lightweight, stretchy enough, they dry almost immediately, but they're about half as much. Basically they work for me.
Mind you, not the typical blue, straight-legged type. There's actually a retail store around here that sells various types with pockets, belt loops, etc. They basically look a lot like outdoor pants you'd find at REI—very lightweight, stretchy enough, they dry almost immediately, but they're about half as much. Basically they work for me.
#34
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Lululemon makes pants just for this either the ABC or Commission. The ABC pant is a little more casual than the commission pant. I have a pair of the ABC pants. Stretchy and breathable but look good with a dress shirt (seattle business casual here). I ride 2 miles to work, but its mostly down hill.
#35
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GQ did a good roundup on this very topic: https://www.gq.com/story/best-pants-to-bike-to-work
My favorites are a pair of Outlier OG's - they don't make that particular design anymore, since it was their very first model (I've had them for 11 years, so they were definitely worth spending $150 on back then). I don't have to dress up often these days, so my daily pants are Swrve's cordura jeans.
My favorites are a pair of Outlier OG's - they don't make that particular design anymore, since it was their very first model (I've had them for 11 years, so they were definitely worth spending $150 on back then). I don't have to dress up often these days, so my daily pants are Swrve's cordura jeans.
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I wear prAna pants. They move freely. You could do splits in them. Easy to ride a bike in them. I can't go back to uncomfortable jeans ever again.
#37
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I've been wearing Banana Republic non iron trousers for about 3 years commuting 2 miles each way with zero issues. I have a Brooks smooth saddle, which I think helps keep the crotch from rubbing too much. I use an ankle band to prevent the pant leg from hitting the chain.
Most of my BR pants are not of the stretch variety, but it seems all the sell these days.
Most of my BR pants are not of the stretch variety, but it seems all the sell these days.
#38
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I tend to ruin nice clothes, so I dress casual for work, and commute in my work clothes, so that's not particularly helpful.
But I actually prefer cheap dress pants for riding. I have black uniform pants for that purpose-- uniform pants for restaurant and hotel work, that is; permanent press, pleated front, machine watchable. I wear those for brevets (200 km rides) in fall-winter-spring. They are comfortable and hold up well. I prefer them over any cycling clothes I've tried.
But I actually prefer cheap dress pants for riding. I have black uniform pants for that purpose-- uniform pants for restaurant and hotel work, that is; permanent press, pleated front, machine watchable. I wear those for brevets (200 km rides) in fall-winter-spring. They are comfortable and hold up well. I prefer them over any cycling clothes I've tried.
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#39
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I've ruined several pairs of khaki pants by putting holes in the back. Nowadays, I wear bike pants and shorts to/from and then change out in the restroom. It's a hassle to carry everything back and forth but it's worth it. No pain, no gain!
#40
Junior Member
My wife has long wanted the dress-pants and we didn't know where can we find it, thank you for your recommendations. Helen loves to wear dresses, she even watched different life hacks like "riding a bike in a dress". These life hacks were useless, so she had to ride a bike in sports clothes. Here is a link to her favorite online store https://seven.deals/deals/apparel/wo...skirts/dresses and you can see that these dresses are definitely not suitable for riding a bike. By the way, I hope this dress-pants is made of durable materials because other clothing doesn't stand the test of cycling.
Last edited by ypspidsi; 06-09-20 at 09:29 AM.
#41
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Lululemon’s mens ABC Pants could work. They’re expensive, but you get what you pay for.
But for 2 miles, I would honestly just walk. The time difference between walking and pulling out the bike, riding the 2 miles, and then parking it and securing it is probably less than 15minutes?
But for 2 miles, I would honestly just walk. The time difference between walking and pulling out the bike, riding the 2 miles, and then parking it and securing it is probably less than 15minutes?
#42
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I've been commuting to work for 18 years in "office-casual" type slacks such as Dockers. I've learned to *always* use good cuff restraint, especially on the right leg. I usually get 2 to 3 days out of a pair of pants except in the hottest weather (I'm in Chicago).
The longest part of my commute is between 3 and 5 miles, depending on circumstances. The total distance is about 50 miles each way, so obviously it's "multi-modal", with the biggest part on heavy rail. I have done the entire round-trip a few times on my folding bike, but a "bike-to-work Century" is not sustainable.
The latest wrinkle (no pun intended!) is that because of the coronavirus, I will be wearing scrubs at work (I'm a dentist), so I will have a little more flexibility in choosing comfortable biking clothes.
My goal is to complete 20 years of bike commuting before I retire.
The longest part of my commute is between 3 and 5 miles, depending on circumstances. The total distance is about 50 miles each way, so obviously it's "multi-modal", with the biggest part on heavy rail. I have done the entire round-trip a few times on my folding bike, but a "bike-to-work Century" is not sustainable.
The latest wrinkle (no pun intended!) is that because of the coronavirus, I will be wearing scrubs at work (I'm a dentist), so I will have a little more flexibility in choosing comfortable biking clothes.
My goal is to complete 20 years of bike commuting before I retire.