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OK, I've got myself a nice road bike (CAAD10) but have a wardrobe full of MTB gear. I've read "the rules" but still baulk at going full [s]retard[/s], er, sorry, [i]lycra[/i]. Is there a halfway house or am I just going to have to feel self conscious for a bit?
I think I would feel more of a douche on a road bike with loads of baggy mtb clothing flapping around and a massive back pack full of needless kit, straining out to see from under my helmet peak. Just pull on some lycra and have at it; 99.9% of people really won't be looking or give a toss. Rapha do a touring short thing, which is a half way house if you are desperate to spend money.
Go for lycra, you'll soon get over any insecurities you may have. No-one else will really care, you'll look like just another cyclist.
Don't waste money on halfway solutions, they don't exist and you're only putting off the inevitable 🙂
Really it's just a matter of deciding if you should shave your feet as well or not.
Reasonable kit, then? In both "look" and price - I [i]don't[/i] want to be poncing about in team kit as that would, to me, anyway, imply that I was either a bit handy or a poser - I'm not. On both counts.
* Blimey, talk about feeling insecure...*
At the end of a day it's just a bike, wear what you would for riding any other bike. Roadies seem to get very worked up about people who don't wear the "proper" uniform.
Here in Oz it appears mandatory that you wear the "right kit" for riding. There is an advert on during the TDF for a special edition bike and if you buy it you get the matching riding kit to go with it!
No ta.
Ride how you want to ride, I certainly won't be changing my attire to suit those around me. I'd even use flats on a road bike if I had one.
What kit?
I always thought Wiggle's own brand DHB made pretty good bib shorts - then just any jersey that's on offer and isn't a billboard
That's what I do anyway
Think I'll get the bibshort version of my usual padded shorts (Lusso Pro Gels) to team up with my extensive collection of Aldi/Lidl jersey's - that should impress folk......as should the MTB SPD's/shoes and lid with the peak removed.I'll have to give Mrs Soks time to get over the new bike purchase before lashing out on owt else.
I go for some longer lycra shorts on the road bike and somethimes the bibs if I feel cold.
Got a raodie top for free at a race and another when I moved out here.
Most importantly get something visible and avoid white shorts.
Or red, apparently...
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Specialized's stuff is pretty in offensive and not as expensive as most, but yes, Aldi is a good place to start. It gets you in the end.
there's nothing wrong with wearing team kit but it will mark you out as a noob in many roadies' eyes. whether that matters is really up to you.
otherwise, club kit is always acceptable or any of the non-pro replica kit. or you can go rapha, retro, etc if you want to mark yourself as a Mamil 😉
OK, I've got myself a nice road bike (CAAD10) but have a wardrobe full of MTB gear. I've read "the rules" but still baulk at going full [s]retard[/s], er, sorry, lycra. Is there a halfway house or am I just going to have to feel self conscious for a bit?
Are you sure road riding is for you? I'd hate to think that you're spend so much time worrying about what people are going to think about you instead of enjoying the ride. 😐
Black shorts, a top and some socks and shoes. And a Mae West if it's nippy.
OK, I've got myself a nice road bike (CAAD10) but have a wardrobe full of MTB gear. I've read "the rules" but still baulk at going full retard, er, sorry, lycra. Is there a halfway house or am I just going to have to feel self conscious for a bit?
Strangley I feel odd in MTB kit, like a nine year old off to football practice
Are you sure road riding is for you? I'd hate to think that you're spend so much time worrying about what people are going to think about you instead of enjoying the ride.
I'm as happy as Larry, with the riding, it's other folk going on about "what one should wear and how one should look etc" that's starting to rattle my cage a bit.
It took one ride for me to get over the whole lycra thing. Its much more comfortable, and like everyone says no body cares.
Unless you are a massive fat biffer, in which case people may laugh and point, and small children cry. The key to avoid this is ride your road bike more so you are no longer a biffer.
Within a month of owning a road bike I bought a team jersey (it was cheap) and really like it. Only a matter of time till I graduate from black bibs to team ones with matching socks and gloves....
I'm as happy as Larry, with the riding, it's other folk going on about "what one should wear and how one should look etc" that's starting to rattle my cage a bit.
Seriously don't worry. As my clubs chairman I ride with our weekly newcomers group and I see all sorts. As a long time roadman I'm only concerned that they are safe and enjoying the ride.
I do have to chuckle at the look of contempt on the faces of some riders who's paths we cross. Then again after all these years I can spot a weekend warrior at a hundred paces with there well practiced hardman stare 8)
Rapha or torm with splashes of exteondo and castelli.
Maybe some assos if you can get it to fit correctly.
Castelli for comfort. Plus you must have something Italian about you otherwise your only on the fringe of the rules.
I can see "what stuff in pockets" being your next topic....
Or just some stuff from the shops.
Off to google exteondo.
etxeondo will give you better results
Roadies seem to get very worked up about people who don't wear the "proper" uniform.
Do they? Too me it seems that it's the cyclist that only ride mountain bikes that think this. All the roadies, myself included that I ride with just like to see cyclists out and having a go at all types of riding.
OP, wear what you want, but once you try lyrca you will find it a lot more comfortable than flappy baggie shorts and tops.
Altura Pro Gel shorts are very comfy and reasonably priced.
Bibs will probably be too hot for this time of year.
I don't like bibs myself but what do you think the whole tdf Peloton ate wearing? 😉
Endura do a good range of plain-ish roadie clothing at decent prices. As everyone else has said, lycra is much more comfortable and far more suited to road riding than baggies or loose flappy tops.
I'm as happy as Larry, with the riding, it's other folk going on about "what one should wear and how one should look etc" that's starting to rattle my cage a bit.
As others have said wear what you want, but cycling gear has been designed for a specific task after a few years of R&D.
My comment was directed more at the langauge used as much as the question of clothing.
😉
Most bibs vest bit are mesh, as are the back of the shorts. I suffer with the heat but always wear a thermal vest under my jersey to keep cool.
Kryton57 - Member
Castelli for comfort. Plus you must have something Italian about you otherwise your only on the fringe of the rules.I can see "what stuff in pockets" being your next topic....
Nah, sod pockets, I'll be using a Camelbak HAWG and I ain't wearing no Castelli, fool! 😉
Nah, sod pockets, I'll be using a Camelbak HAWG and I ain't wearing no Castelli, fool!
You're going to get your bum smacked if you go on like that.
Bib shorts I find comfy & not too hot so would recommend those plus any jersey - the longer the zip, the better for temperature control.
On the shorts, I find some brands fit me better than others so if You have a fave for MTBing then theirs would be a decent start point.
Try a few rides without the camelbak, you'll be amazed at how much more comfy you'll be. Only problem I find is the discomfort of using one again when I go out on t'MTB.
You do see some drivel in these threads but whoever wrote ''bibs probably too hot" needs to be introduced to their arse and elbow.
OP you are clearly a bit of a self conscious girly so just go with something straightforward and decent value.
Dhb is good kit and when you do hanker after something with a bit more style it mix and matches well with more £££ italian stuff as the colours and branding are discrete.
But at the end of the day no one really gives a **** amaxingly normal people get the idea that people on bike wear Lycra like rugby players wear rugby shirts and you put trunks on to go swimming.
I'd even use flats on a road bike if I had one.
They even sell bikes off the shelf which would be suitable for you
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/categorydisplay_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_categoryId_165534_langId_-1
Worried about wearing lycra? Ther were about 300 MAMIL on the ferry back from Calais after Tuesdays tour stage ,I wouldnt worry about it but then I wear lycra to mountain bike as well as I cant stand baggy flappy shorts
I'd love to see what bibs people are wearing that are too hot?
perv
Busted 😉
I wore baggy shorts to start with then just switched to lycra as it made more sense by being 100% more comfortable if you're sitting in the saddle for hours.
As said above 99.9% of people don't give a toss.
I wore my tri-suit for a swim for the first time this morning and to save taking anything else with me wore it straight after for a ride on the tri bike.
I wouldn't necessarily advise this though, as I was molested by a policeman at a set of traffic lights 😯
However, I'm in India, and the general consensus of what is acceptable and what not seems to be a little different from the UK 😆
Cheers, Rich
went for first road ride this morning, cheap lild/aldi lycra bottoms and a DHB underlayer for my top half. no weird looks from other riders on the road, just polite early morning nods 🙂
Wearing a world champions jersey, or a yellow tour replica may invite a race, but to be honest, I have never heard any roadies saying anything about other riders clothing. However I have noticed king of the mountain's jerseys are very often worn by men with big beer bellies.....
+1 for DhB bibs/tights. Good value, as Wiggle seem to have it on special offer a lot of the time, and well made.
Remember and order a size up if you're going for anything svelte and Italian.
There's a reason why roadies wear lycra... and after a few decent length rides you'll realise why + no-one else rightly cares.
It's comfy basically
As far as the general public are concerned, imo once you are engaged in an 'activity' like running or cycling you are pretty much invisible to them.
If you are out running or cycling than nobody looks twice at you, I've given up worrying about how I look when I'm out.
pearl izumi, great kit, mid price. Two cuts (elite/pro is for the whippets). I have a Sky Rainforest replica kit, which is comfortable and shows my support and I shall be wearing it at the final Time Trial in Chartres 😉
Black with white is very flattering and popular at the moment. I also swear by bibknicks (3/4 length shorts) Very versatile given this "summer"