FormerBMX'er

I started out my morning commute as normal. Got into my riding gear, packed my work clothes and lunch...tooled in because my legs felt tired from yesterdays run. I swiped my keycard to get into the bike room and noticed the black Fuji Team Lite that shows up on occasion that’s never locked. I locked my bike, swiped the loading dock card terminal and I'm in. The young black chick at the security desk whom I’ve never spoken to enthusiastically greats me for the first time, "Hiiii". I literally looked over my shoulder to make sure she was talking to me. She must have been because I was the only one there. She says "at least yours is black" and for an instant I thought she meant my skin color as some sort of “inside” racial comment, so I'm like huh? Then says while laughing her arse off , "the guy who works for Such & Such was wearing bright orange" referring to his riding gear.

I’m assuming that it must have been the guy with Fuji Team Lite as most of the bikes in the room are Kmart Specials. I'm not sure why she found his kit so funny, perhaps he rode commando and was showing “his goods”. I think we all know how cycling shorts other than black or dark blue can be revealing. I tried to defend him by explaining how cycling gear can be wild and that bright colors help with visibility, but I don’t think she heard me over the laughter. Personally I ride low key to work saving my flashy gear for group rides. It reminded me of all the strange looks I got on the elevator this past winter when I tucked my wind pants into my PI shoe covers. No big deal really, it just has me wondering what we must look like to non-cyclist.

DIZZAH

I think all that laughing should tell you.

Doggus

I was thinking more like fruit loops.

substructure

We look like total femmes. Hence the signiture from a quote from MST3k.

HAMMER MAN

use to bother me, many years ago.
Now I just figure I enjoy something,bicycle riding ,that most have forgotten about or have 0 comprehension of the joy, serenity, solitude and how you can ride anyway and anywhere ya want, slow,fast, compete, anything!, all up to you.

Tequila Joe

I remember meeting my wife at the mall after work because she wanted my opinion on something before she bought it. I commuted by bike that day and the mall was really busy. I was clicking through it in my clipless shoes, carring my helmet and wearing a lycra kit. Talk about self concious. I noticed that a lot of the ladies, young and old, were checking out my "Boonen" No one was laughing, not that I could hear, but it sure felt awkward

VeloLisa

My sweet, non-cyclist husband agreed to drive 3 1/2 hours to take me to the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey. As we were driving in to the parking area, he spotted a couple of guys on road bikes and started laughing. I said, "What's so funny?". He says, "Look how gay those guys look. They're both dressed alike." I started busting up laughing and I go, "Babe, they're dressed alike because they're on the same bike team and that's their team kit."

catatonic

I just end up feeling like a giant perv...seriously, bike clothes feel like I'm just wearing underwear.....might be that I wear boxer briefs norrmally...beats me. Either way, I feel naked.

operator

Ha.

mellowdave

get in touch with yourself and move on.

Namenda

Just not in public, 'kay?

Mach5871

I think about his all the time when I buy cycling jerseys. Coming from a military background it was tough to get used to the bright colors and wacky designs. I usually wear black cycling shorts and a solid color jersey with a couple of exceptions. I have to believe that cycling as a hobby, sport, or competitively is growing in profile every year, so more and more people accept the gear as the standard look of cyclists. I love to ride my bike and in the end don't really care what people may think about us.

Psimet2001 

My wife found his green kit during last year's TdF ...uh...enjoyable.

I used to stop by my high school during after school rides way back when. I always got a lot of eybrow movement and impressed grins from the girls. I enjoyed it.

Do we look gay? Yes. Let's face it...our best riders wear rainbow jerseys...it's not like we hide it.

Avalanche325

I was living in Miami and had to drive about 30 miles to go MTBing. There was a Home Depot there and I needed a new tool box. So I figured "what the heck" and went in. After about 5 minutes in the store I was so uncomfortable with the stares that I left.

CastIron

Let's face it: in roadie kit we look like a missing member from the Village People.

Psimet2001 

Thought this story might fit as well....last year I was super geeked to find that Primal Wear Pink Floyd dark side of the moon jersey on sale. Being a fan and loving the specific album I was in heaven.

...until I noticed that it got me a lot of attention on the first century I rode with it on. It wasn't just, "nice jersey"...it was more like "NICE jersey <blip on the gaydar>".

It wasn't until I got home that I realized that it was the rainbow in the art that was drawing the attention (these guys weren't Floyd fans and had never heard of the dark side of the moon...that was my first clue).

While I find that kind of attention strangely flattering, I just didn't find myself donning the jersey for nearly as many rides as I had intended.

Albany-12303

I was going to commute to work today (we are down one car - my van died, and my Wife wanted to use the remaining vehicle). But I convinced her to let me use her car today.

I have traffic court at 6 PM and there would be no time to go home and pick up the car. I figure that it would be unacceptable to show up at a small village courtroom dressed in my lycra and Sidi's. The judge would likely double my fine for looking like a fairy!

hiromian

Wtf is a Boonen?

Psimet2001 

A large Belgium that wears a Rainbow jersey. See also: "Cycling God", "Freak of Nature", "Next Doping Investigation Target", "Nicknames for One's Trouser Equipment"

caloso

Please, somebody post the photo for hiromian.

Somebody once wrote on these forums that the coolness factor of bike kit is like the pull of gravity: it decreases in inverse square to the distance from the bike.

Psimet2001 

Try this one...

caloso

And notice that he's not holding up his hands to say "Victory!" but "this is how long it is when I'm really excited!"

Psimet2001 

My laughter is disturbing all of the surrounding cubes now....you will be sent a bill for lost time....

cycle17

I bought a Suarez "USA Kit" that looks like a giant U.S. Flag last Summer. I've worn it on a few Summer rides and specifically on Fourth of July weekend. Being a former Marine, I'm fairly patriotic you know(I have the primal wear USMC cycling jersey also). Anyways, women usually whistle, make cat calls or say"Nice a**!" A few have laughed that "Your a fairy" laugh..it's true. I've even been slapped in the butt once by a girl in the passenger side of a car(that was actually scary! I almost crashed I was so startled!) But anyways, It's usually the guys who act like tools and say derogatory things. I love cycling though and I really don't care what other people think of how I choose to dress to participate in the sport I love. It's there problem not mine.

Also, someone above mentioned going "commando." Duh.... you mean there are fellas who actually wear there boxers or briefs under their riding shorts!? When I try on a pair of shorts with them on, I'm like "Wow this is really uncomfortable! Glad I don't have to ride like this." But to each his own...I always go commando when cycling. :-)

dstrong 

I saw an outfit yesterday that I think look far worse than our kits by a mile...ever seen a kayaker walking around with their spray skirt on???? They look like some character out of Alice in Wonderland!!!! I tried to Google for images but couldn't find a single picture of one actually on a person. They look dorky and they know it!

** Apologies in advance to any kayaking enthusiasts on this board **