ksryder

Instructions unclear. Walked into a sandblasting booth naked and now the cops are talking to me.

Nipomored

Why do you care how others dress or ride? Isn’t the objective to enjoy our selves? If you prefer to dress in a more toned down manner and ride slower just do for it and have fun your own way! And others do the same without useless criticism!

Miradaman

It's called attention seeking. Most of us ride because we like riding. This subset of road cyclists seems to be more about "hey everybody, look at me!"

strawbale

OP, such riders are actually not going fast. Their $1k+ bike and tight fancy clothes only make them look like they are going fast. "Skinny" is also just an illusion that happens when things are moving slower in reality than what they appear.

dkatz1

I have a bike that cost a lot more than a grand, i wear cheap (relatively) cycling cloths BECAUSE THEY ARE WAY MORE COMFORTABLE and practical than wearing street cloths, and I'm NOT very fast. And I don't care what other people do.

dkatz1

What about people who give themselves names like "PimpMan" and are probably just pimp wannabe's?

drbarney1

While one can always submit rationalizations to skeptics justifying extreme prices for such things as status symbol costumes: tailored suits, haute coiture dresses worn only once costing five figures, I am persuaded that the purpose of such bike riding costumes is to impress those who see them. Most people with minimum training even if self-taught could sew together a riding costume that would look identical to the high status riding costume, not that I would want to accommodate the tastes of the kind of peers who would tell me what I have to wear. Shorts and a possible T-shirt and sneakers can't be beat in warm weather and work clothes in cold weather have the practical advantage.
Those who want to ride as fast as they can for sport even though they are not that minuscule fraction of a percent of the population who are strong enough to compete in the Tour de France I esteem even though I prefer amateur bodybuilding for my sport.

Eric F 

Your conclusion is false.

Troul 

Sewing takes skill & time. I'd rather buy a premade item & use the saved time to ride longer, & farther away from people.

caloso

That's good to know.

fuji105

It's about staying healthy and enjoying life.

Yacc

The number of riders "of this type" you see depends highly on where you live -- when I was living in Denver they were all over the place, and many of them actual pros that go there to train. But still, how do you know or not know if they race or not? There are cycling competitions of all levels in all areas -- many of those people probably do actually compete in things, even if they are amateurs.

Eric F 

For cycling, they can absolutely be beat. Cycling-specific clothing and shoes are not just about a certain appearance, but also practical application of materials designed specifically to improve the human function in that activity.

drbarney1

While I question the tight fitting shirts and shorts which might have a minuscule aerodynamic advantage approaching that of wearing a g-string, I am open to considering something as functional as cycling shoes. I will look up such specifically designed shoes to discover whether they feel better to use. It depends on what I can afford and I do not buy leather because I don't believe in killing animals to harvest their body parts.

caloso

Off the top of my head, I can think of half a dozen advantages that a decent jersey has over a t-shirt:

zipper
pockets
breathable fabric
reflective piping
sleeves and waist hem cut for riding position, not standing around
and more aerodynamic

JimInPT

Would there be an entry fee? 'Cause I can just go to the store and buy pie without all the paperwork.

Eric F 

The aerodynamic advantage of non-flappy clothing is probably more than you think. Remember, we are talking about the clothing worn by fast road riders, not casual cruisers. Modern fabrics used for cycling jerseys will keep you cooler in warm weather, and warmer in cool weather, than a typical cotton t-shirt. Proper cycling shorts include padding that makes for riding long distances more comfortable, and the tight fit eliminates chaffing issues that can be a problem with non-cycling specific shorts. High-quality cycling shoes include stiff soles and a snug fit that improves power transfer significantly.

ferengii

I particularly enjoy sitting on the seams in my jeans while riding...

Glidedon

OP is making up stuff in his head .. and you know what they say about assuming . I wear Lycra because it's the most comfortable attire to ride in. Some times I by shirts with logos just because you can get high quality apparel at a low price.

indyfabz

And you know this how? By objectively testing all sorts of clothing, including cycle-specific clothing, in all sorts of conditions?

Glad I was not wearing "work clothes" during this nearly 30 mile climb I took while crossing the country. Also glad I wasn't wearing normal shorts, t-shirt and sneakers during those high 90s to 100 degree days with killer humidity later in the trip. And, interestingly, I am at work right now wearing a pair of cycling tights, long sleeve t-shirt and hoodie.

AlanO

This question can’t be serious. I just assume they’re younger than me.

Troul 

& here I am like a sucker with clipless shoes! Steeltoe boots here I come!

Darth Lefty 

Well,you hit 200 replies. Good job dunkin' on the troll, everyone

TomM

I look at your username and have the same question.

Dvdvija

I agree with you the person workout with heavier bike will put more effort into riding. I can never understand those people who ride extremely light bikes expect to have good workouts.