mountaindave 

Sent to me by a friend, I made it C/V appropriate:

Bianchigirll 

MooneyBloke

The issue I have is that the use of a lot of modern synthetics in shorts and jerseys dates well back into vintage period. I started riding road back in 1980, and Pearl Izumi and Descente had skin shorts on the market in the early eighties. The odd thing is that elastane (e.g. lycra, spandex, or whatever else it's called) seems to have quite varying shelf life. I have a Pearl Izumi skinsuit from my early days (pre-sublimation printing) that stretches just fine, and I also had far more recent stuff that got tossed 'cos the lycra just up and died. I also have an old wool embroidered Bianchi/Campagnolo jersey I bought off a fellow rider that's had a few holes darned.

One nice thing about synthetics is that grubs don't eat them. That being said, I'm a bit of a natural fiber snob (Bemberg Cupro jacket lining excepted) when it comes to non-sporting clothing.

pastorbobnlnh 

...shouldn't the bottom box read, "MORE, AND MORE BIKES"?

MooneyBloke

Too many bikes? What a funny concept!

Trakhak

Yes. In an interview with long-time cycling writer Maynard Hershon that was reported in the Rivendell Reader, Grant Peterson asked him at one point what he thought was the most important development in the world of bikes in the last 50 years (or some such time span). Condensed version of that conversation:

Maynard: Lycra shorts. [Goes on to explain the reasons he loves Lycra shorts and detests wool shorts.]

Grant (after some polite back-and-forthing): You must never have tried Kucharik wool shorts. They're wonderful. I'll send you a pair.

Maynard: I love you, Grant. Please don't send me any wool shorts.

mountaindave 

I tried to edit the title immediately after posting, but no luck. Also true for ladies.

mountaindave 

Shhhhhhh. N+1 translates to “just one more bike,” not lots of bikes. If my wife had known it meant lots of bikes, she’d have implemented S-1 long ago. At this point, S now stands for space rather than separation…

mountaindave 

I can’t argue with what makes one’s behind feel comfortable, but I can’t stand Lycra jerseys for all the reasons that have been thrown around before. I have some fun ones that I still keep, but I never buy new ones. I’m even gradually replacing my poly base layers because I’m tired of the insta-funk. I can do two days of Cino in a wool jersey and not even notice at the end. Not true of spandex. (Of course I naturally smell like vanilla…)

I’d love it if Grant sent me a pair of Kucharik shorts, but I usually ride in cargo shorts (with wool briefs) anyway!

RB1-luvr

2022 was a good year for this dad. I scored three vintage bikes.

March - Bridgestone RB-2

July - Centurion Accordo

December - Marinoni

MooneyBloke

I basically agree, but for synthetic tops, the rule is basically one ride and it's off to the washing machine. I can't imagine trying to make them last for more than one ride. With wool, the disincentive is the special care they need in washing; you really want to get a few rides in before you go through that ordeal again.

mstateglfr 

That cartoon- meh. It does a good job identifying tools and accessories that are commonly used by an adult recreational/enthusiast cyclist.
Ha ha ha, I guess?

I understand the humor is supposed to be in how much stuff is listed, but its no different from being a painter, owning a horse, etc etc. Way to list stuff, I guess.

mstateglfr 

While one COULD do 2 days of sweaty riding in a row in a wool jersey, why would one WANT to do 2 days of sweaty riding in a row in a wool jersey?

MooneyBloke

Agree completely. I remember one summer changing a tire in humid ninety-three degree heat under bright sun while wearing a wool jersey. I was not at all comfy. My jersey felt heavy, and the itchiness was not unnoticeable. The absence of air flow made the experience one I'd not care to repeat.

albrt 

I ride in cotton shorts and a t-shirt, like I did in the 70s. Sometimes add a layer of synthetic undies between the cotton undies and the cotton shorts for long rides.

mstateglfr 

^ albrt's post ride process.

first cold spray.

then shower.
then apply.

daka

I usually ride in whatever I have on that day. This notion that you have to dress up like an Easter Egg before taking your bike out floors me. Especially among the C&V crowd.

squirtdad

forgot to mention: invite to Cino

I gave my dad a 3 wheeler....first new bike he ever had at 80+ years old.

SurferRosa

I don't get it. Does Dad not have access to his own finances? He still looks pretty young to be mentally incompetent.

mstateglfr 

Cycling is a wide spectrum of disciplines with varying levels of interest/commitment. What a homeless guy needs in order to ride from his tent to favorite off-ramp spot is understandably different from what a triathlete needs in order to train for an Ironman.
My earlier post with 2 gifs about how to handle riding in cotton was goofin...I thought that would be obvious, given the actual gifs I chose. But if it wasnt clear, allow this to be the clarification- I was joking around. Of course you can ride your bike in whatever clothes you are wearing at the time.

With that said, many here consider them enthusiasts and use cycling for exercise as well as setting/reaching goals. As such, clothing comes into play for many.
One could play basketball in whatever they happen to wear, but playing in appropriate clothing will feel better and you will perform better. One could swim in whatever they happen to wear, but swimming in appropriate clothing will feel better and you will perform better.
If you arent someone who cares about performance, maximizing potential, or whatever other performance metric applies here...cool. Totally fine. There is no right or wrong way to ride. But lets not pretend that wearing cotton underwear, cotton shorts, and a cotton shirt is as comfortable or equally performing during a hard 70mi ride as some cycling bibs and a quick dry shirt of some sort(jersey or otherwise).

C9H13N 

I have Smartwool long sleeve running shirts that I wear for cycling in the winter. I give them literally zero thought when washing: they get washed with my regular clothes and they go in the dryer.

I don’t own any wool cycling clothing (too expensive for me) but I don’t understand why it can’t be made the same way?

Mr. Spadoni 

Ex fabric guy here: your pre sublimation garments have held up better because they are mostly nylon with Lycra. Any item that is sublimated will likely have a high polyester content. The pigments from the sublimation process bond really well to poly, hardly at all to nylon. Downside is that poly pills, holds odors, and has lower abrasion resistance. In short, if it’s poly, it’s gonna wear out faster. So no surprise that your old PI is going strong and you’ve trashed newer product. I could also get into changes in fabric production between the 80s and now, and how that has changed what you can get now, but that a story no one wants to hear.

nlerner

Give a dad a vintage bike and he'll flip it for less than what you originally paid for it?

Mr. Spadoni 

If you want a pair of Kucharik shorts, you’d better give John K a call quickly. They are closing shop and have been selling off all their inventory. I said call because the website is a little quirky now and plus you are likely to get a deal if you talk to the man himself

MooneyBloke

Oddly, I had the shorts portion of sublimated skinsuits die where the printed top remained sound. Also, some of the got-up-and-died togs were plain black bibs which I don't think were poly based. Also, the elastane itself seems to have been what gave up the ghost. I suspect something in its manufacture isn't up to the old standards. These days, I try to conventionally launder warm, but I air dry the stuff. The recent stuff that has lasted best for me is some misprinted custom Castelli things I got from a no-longer-extant surplus shop. It's not as though I'm taking out another license, so I really don't particularly care what my clothing says. I do care if it holds up in routine use.

By the bye, I am interested in how fabric manufacturing has changed especially towards the worse. There maybe some clues how not to get burned here.