Confession: I ride my bike wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
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Confession: I ride my bike wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
Should I invest in some biking shorts? If so, can I wear them as underwear?
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Yes, yes you should.
Yes you can, but you should not. Just wear them as shorts.
Yes you can, but you should not. Just wear them as shorts.
#3
Throw the stick!!!!
It's your bike, your butt, and your privates. Do whatever works for you. If you are comfortable riding in Texas in jeans then go for it.
Now, if you want to start putting some miles in buy some cycling clothes.
Now, if you want to start putting some miles in buy some cycling clothes.
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I may be fat but I'm slow enough to make up for it.
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are you a hipster?
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Wear whatever you want. A large part of it is the image you project, or fashion if you will.
That said, riding in jeans slows me down and tires my legs more quickly, and puts wear on the jeans so I prefer not to. However, I'm not going to change clothes just to bike down to the store or for fast food.
If I want to be faster, or stay on the bike for more than a couple of hours, biking shorts and jerseys are the ticket.
That said, riding in jeans slows me down and tires my legs more quickly, and puts wear on the jeans so I prefer not to. However, I'm not going to change clothes just to bike down to the store or for fast food.
If I want to be faster, or stay on the bike for more than a couple of hours, biking shorts and jerseys are the ticket.
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try riding 50 miles in the wind with jeans and you will know why riding shorts were invented. Jeans are good for cold weather and short rides. most jeans are cut from 4 panels and they cover the whole lower body. decent riding shorts are cut from 6 to 8 panels just for shorts. better by design.
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What, no flip flops?
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I wear jeans and a T-shirt all the time myself. If you're new to riding, careful ramping up your mileage in jeans. You'll probably need almost a year of daily 40-minute rides before you're ready for a 3-hour ride in jeans. Jeans really suck in the rain, so if it starts raining and you're more than two miles from home, catch a bus or call a cab.
As for cycling shorts, yes, get a few pair. You can wear them under other clothing or on their own.
As for cycling shorts, yes, get a few pair. You can wear them under other clothing or on their own.
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Any guesses as to who this is, yet?
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Scarlet Knight
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Scarlet Knight
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Jeans, shorts (regular) work well around town. I don't like cycling kit unless I'm on an organized ride or riding a long way for a workout. You can wear cycling shorts under regular pants or shorts. old SWOBO used to sell cycling padded shorts to wear under shorts or jeans.
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For anything beyond a casual JRA ride, cycling shorts make a huge difference. IMO, I can't imagine not wearing any. To many seams and rough fabric on civilian clothing. Go ahead and wear them under other clothes; loose clothes would be better. No chamois line.
Baggy mtb shorts are one answer if the idea of form fitting lycra makes you uncomfortable. I wore lycra shorts for many years without any sense of embarrassment. Now, with a 2X waist, it would be a crime against humanity.
Baggy mtb shorts are one answer if the idea of form fitting lycra makes you uncomfortable. I wore lycra shorts for many years without any sense of embarrassment. Now, with a 2X waist, it would be a crime against humanity.
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One thing I realized about jeans after switching to cycling shorts: they are HEAVY. They are even heavier when wet.
But yeah, lycra is not the coolest thing to wear around a mall.
But yeah, lycra is not the coolest thing to wear around a mall.
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Guy riding a very nice CF Merckx with Sram Red jumped into our pace line yesterday on a 35 degree Fahrenheit jaunt. He had on the usual cold weather cycling gear (winter jersey, leg warmers, gloves, etc.) plus a very nice tuxedo jacket with tails. Wear what works for you. Incidentally, although a bit formal for my taste, the tux jacket made an impressive style statement.
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Did it today. Will do again.
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If it works for you, there's no problem at all. I know plenty of folks who ride in jeans and plenty who only wear spandex.
The new West by Yo Spiff, on Flickr
I'll only wear jeans for very casual riding and errands. When I do, I use a pair of cycling specific liner shorts under them.
The new West by Yo Spiff, on Flickr
I'll only wear jeans for very casual riding and errands. When I do, I use a pair of cycling specific liner shorts under them.
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Depends. I don't put on the full kit just to ride to the store for a gallon of milk and I'll often ride to work in my office clothes when the weather is cool and dry. On the other hand, if I'm on a 50 mile training ride, a pair of 501s and a t-shirt isn't optimal.