[Closed] How far do you have to commute to justify wearing full on bike kit?

My commute to work is about 3.5 miles via the most direct on-road route. I could do the ride there in road clothes no problem as it's slightly downhill and usually with the wind, however it'd be a different story on the way home.

Even on the way in I do tend to push for a 20mph average speed which gets my heart rate up and a bit of a sweat going.

have ridden a 100 miler in the past in jeans/t shirt (when i was a lot fitter/stupider?) than i am now.at the time couldn't afford proper biking gear.

I commute 10 miles each way, i usually wear shorts and a jersey or t shirt. It's all on country lanes with some nice climbs, use my 140mm fs bike with knobblies on, so get a good work out.

Mine is 5-6 miles depending on route and always wear cycle kit. Would wear short and T-shirt anyway as have a shower at work so may as well wear my cycle kit.

epicsteve - wouldn't it be easier to combine them into one single ride, just for simplicity?

Makes yer choice and do whatever 😆
5mls + full kit including full fluro in poor weather/winter days/nights

epicsteve - wouldn't it be easier to combine them into one single ride, just for simplicity?

Initially wondered what you meant but I've now spotted and fixed the typo!

Until recently I did a 15 mile round trip in normal clothes (+ helemt & gloves) and working away I now regularly do 18-26+ mile evening rides in normal clothes. It's not necessary to 'look the part' all the time. 🙂

Oh, and we're going touring soon (200 miles of up to 40 mile days) and same as last year, my only further concession to cycling gear will be decent cycling shorts under my normal shorts. I'll probably ride most of it in sandals too. 🙂

Hey it's early.

Wouldn't do more than a couple of miles wearing a shirt I intended to wear all day at work. And in summer it's a no-no anyway, wear a lightweight tech top for the commute and then change into work short at work.

7 miles each way , I have work bike kit endura shorts , spds, lifa base , 2 jackets 1 shower packer 1 full
Winter styleee, ride all year round so it's a must

to the op.
If you look round your workspace you can see 'Tomaso smells ' written in the dust 😆

7 miles and I ride in all conditions - I don't use top notch kit I use cheap but functional Lidl stuff - So when I get there wet and muddy then I can get changed and dont stink - I don't mind getting up a sweat!

No way could I ride more than about 5 miles in normal clothes, then work the whole day in them, but I'm a sweaty bugger.

i do around 7 miles but there is one reasonable climb. i have done it in jeans before but they are awful to ride in.

i have some dedicated commuter kit as i was tired of wrecking good stuff and having to ride in in tights which were muddy from mtbing or having to wear dirty kit on a weekend after a weeks commuting.

it's the climb that makes me sweat if it was flat i would re-evaluate what i wore.

I know someone who used to get up in full (roadie) Kit and then ride about a mile to work... 😐

The real question is to whom do you have to justify your choice of clothing for a commute?

Only time I'd consider wearing normal clothes is if I was riding a few mins round the corner to the pub or a mates house or something.

Commuting I have a rucksack which makes my back a bit sweaty, the route has hills and is nearly 20 miles. I've got full changing/shower/drying facilities at work so it'd be daft to consider anything else.

Everyone I know who commutes in civies gives it a miss when the weather is bad.

Either that or they go the jacket, overtrousers, overshoes route, which is basicly cycling kit.

If you have the right kit for the job why not wear it?

Assuming you would have a shower every morning anyway, and assuming there was one at work, what difference does it make to take it there?

I can only speak for myself and do what I want just as I expect everyone else to do what they want. I just wanted to understand what other folks did and what they considered a distance worthy of the hassle of getting kitted up and then changed for work.

I certainly don't want to change or decry what others are doing - its a free country and all

10 miles.. and 40 min ride.
Change every morning and shower when arriving at work. I usually end up playing the "game" every morning anyway even if i tell myself i won't.

If you have the right kit for the job why not wear it?

^^^ is the standard British approach to everything and the reason why cycling is far from ingrained in our culture.

Cycling is sold as physical activity. Physical activity is like sport. Sport requires special equipment. Special equipment for cycling = fluro jackets worn in the height of summer and going to the shops in lycra.

More people would ride bikes to go to work/the shops/on local journeys if a perception of cycling wan't that it was a separate and specific physical activity, rather than just a way to get around.

Theres far too many people who seem completely scared to getting slightly sweaty on the way to work. Maybe its because bikes are sold as "sports" goods rather than just plain old workhorses, or maybe because you have to adopt vehicular cycling methods which mean you're going flat out? it seems to be lumped into the "exercise" category like going to the gym or for a run, but go a bit slower and you get no more sweaty than walking, or even getting the bus/tube/train on a hot day. wierd. And its pointless going faster to save time if you need to spend 5-10 minutes getting changed at the end.

Having said that, i get changed because i don't want to wear a hole in the crotch of my smart trousers.

7 miles each way fixed. Definitely get sweaty - no way could I sit around in clothes I've ridden in, would end up being moved to the furthest corner of the office.

But then I do 'go for it' - I see it as part of my daily exercise, so have a steady pace of 17-20mph. I can't understand how some people commute without getting sweaty.

The office doesn't have showers, so I use baby wipes and a decent deodorant. Leave a change of clothes in the office and just carry what I need in my pack.

Old workplace, 2 1/2 miles, work clothes no problems.
New workplace, 11 miles, suitable gear. No shower accessible, so wipe down and change.
I could see 4 miles would be my threshold and may depend on the day ahead at work, if there was a meeting I may not push as hard as one of those quiet days where no visitors expected. Wear the gear if there was opportunity to expand on route home.

Over, say, 5 miles at a decent pace and I'd have to think about changing and showering at work. So if I'd got cycling kit I could be wearing then I'd probably wear it.

If no need to change then normal clothes. But not jeans! I used to live in jeans and now I only wear them around the house really.

Cycling is sold as physical activity. Physical activity is like sport. Sport requires special equipment. Special equipment for cycling = fluro jackets worn in the height of summer and going to the shops in lycra.

More people would ride bikes to go to work/the shops/on local journeys if a perception of cycling wan't that it was a separate and specific physical activity, rather than just a way to get around.

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3.5 miles in to work. In the winter it's shorts,workshirt and jacket. Now it's summer it's shirts and cycle top -otherwise I'll have to wear a sweaty shirt all day. Trousers and shoes live at work!

I can't understand how some people commute without getting sweaty.

They don't go too fast! Using your figures, at 18 mph you take 23m20s to do your journey. I did an 18 mile round trip last night (on an MTB with slicks & panniers with a duff leg!) at 14mph. Your trip would take 30m00s at that pace. 6m40s slower. Time saved by not having to get changed and bugger about with baby wipes! 🙂

They don't go too fast! Using your figures, at 18 mph you take 23m20s to do your journey. I did an 18 mile round trip last night (on an MTB with slicks & panniers with a duff leg!) at 14mph. Your trip would take 30m00s at that pace. 6m40s slower. Time saved by not having to get changed and bugger about with baby wipes!

Depends what you want though doesn't it, it's not just about total time taken. Sure you can pootle along (and sometimes I do) but I like a good blast in the mornings, and if that means I need a bit more time to sort myself out at the other end then so be it.

More people would ride bikes to go to work/the shops/on local journeys if a perception of cycling wan't that it was a separate and specific physical activity, rather than just a way to get around

The number of people I see riding bikes in normal clothes (ie almost every single one) would suggest that is not an issue 🙂

I thought the thread was not about specific clothing to make riding 'better', rather how sweaty can you let your work clothes get?

I used to ride 4.5 miles in my work clothes, but I could dress casually and I'd wear semi-technical (ie non cotton) t-shirts mostly, and it was downhill on the way in. In the height of summer I'd take another shirt and just swap them whilst walking between the bike shed and the door. Oh, and I used a courier bag which really helps cut down the back-sweat issue.

PP to be fair I personally would not do a long ride in sandals.. I hate riding far in soft soled shoes, it makes it that much harder work I reckon. However I accept your choice is perfectly legitimate and will not pass judgement 🙂

The number of people I see riding bikes in normal clothes (ie almost every single one) would suggest that is not an issue

My point is more about the perceived barrier to riding bikes, rather than those already doing it. We seem to have a conflict in the UK: increasingly we see movement in favour of a more Netherlands/Belgian/Danish style of bike usage, but at the same time create an entry restriction in the way cycling is sold as a "healthy" in the same way jogging and gym membership is.

Mind you, I also have views on the prevalence of mountain bikes, rather than sit-up-and-beg dutch style bikes, as a hindrance to more mainstream cycling.

(As it is, my commute used to be 17 miles each way, so i wore cycling clothes (rather than my suit) and ride year round. New commute (as yet unridden) is 15 miles each way. I'll still wear cycling clothes. Were it 5 miles or under, I'd wear normal clothes.)

They don't go too fast! Using your figures, at 18 mph you take 23m20s to do your journey. I did an 18 mile round trip last night (on an MTB with slicks & panniers with a duff leg!) at 14mph. Your trip would take 30m00s at that pace. 6m40s slower. Time saved by not having to get changed and bugger about with baby wipes!

The whole point being I use my commute as part of my training/fitness routine - I push a little harder so I get more out of it.

For 4 miles ride I wouldn't bother wearing 'riding specific' clothing like a jersey. Would probably just ride in baggies and t-shirt. But I certainly wouldn't wear the clothing I was expecting to spend the rest of the day in.

PP to be fair I personally would not do a long ride in sandals

I do it all the time. Tevas or Chacos usually. It's just like wearing trainers but cooler. Last year in Cornwall it threw it down with rain one day and they were perfect for that!
But yeah, I accept it's not for everyone! 🙂

is 3 or 4 miles even considered "commuting"?
no way I'd wear bike specific clothing, shoes or a helmet for a ride that short infact (if it wasn't too hilly) I'd probably use a BMX

22 mile round trip for me mix of lanes, bridleway, bit of singletrack. I wear full lycra every day. I don't have the figure for it but it's just more comfortable.

I ride 3 miles to work wearing my MTB baggies and a merino tee.

No way am i riding to work in suit pants and a polo shirt. (Especially because of the SPD-SLs on the road bike :D)

12-14 mile round-trip with hills for me. Shorts, base layer and trainers for the ride; leave clothes at work for a few days so not have to lug them around each trip. No shower though and there's a bugger of a hill on the way in so there's a balancing act of effort/not sweating to be played.

I commute to the train station every morning, I wear my office clothes and all's well. If I rode then possibly I'd have to wear other stuff, but for what I do, no need.

If it hasn't already been said, it really just depends. I used to ride in with a guy - 12 miles each way - who didn't shower and I can't say I ever noticed him smell but then he doesn't sweat much.

I on the otherhand would work up a sweat if riding much more than a mile - maybe two or three if I took it very easy and it wasn't too warm so I pretty much have to wear cycling kit and change once in.

[i]How far do you have to commute to justify wearing full on bike kit?[/i]
Proper answer:

ZERO miles. You don't have to justify nuffin to nobody.

I wear work gear on way in as need an ironed shirt and its not too far. If was a longer commute (only 1.5 miles over a hill) I'd wear cycling gear, but I'd then have to drive 1 day a week and drop off 4 ironed shirts at work. Much more hassle than just cycling a bit slower, especially as we are a 1 car family.

I suspect the "never ride in work gear" crowd have the luxury of never needing an ironed shirt or are driving in now and again?

take it easy on the way in, graft on the way home 😯

I do it all the time. Tevas or Chacos usually.

Chacos might be ok, they are pretty stiff. I quite fancy some of those Keen SPD ones 🙂

but I'd then have to drive 1 day a week and drop off 4 ironed shirts at work

Chrome Kremlin Messenger does the trick for that! If I got stuck somewhere I reckon I could pitch it as a tent it's so big!

er... about 3km. Seriously - lid, gloves, shoes, glasses to stop grit getting into my contacts, plus the shorts are just comfier, and then I might as well take my camelbak or commuter bag too. Tada!

I pedal the short distance daily between Lancaster and Morecambe - about 4 and a bit miles and mostly flat. I do it in my work clothes as I don't see the point of getting changed or showered for such a short distance. I can break a sweat if I press on the pedals but if I knock it down a notch or two I only get mildly moist

I used to do that exact commute quite a bit, still do sometimes - it's very flat so unless it's really hot or you're really going for it I don't see the point in getting changed either. What bike do you ride? I'll look out for you (and steal your bike). I'm on a sand coloured Kaffenback with a rack btw.

How far do you have to commute to justify wearing full on bike kit?
Proper answer:

ZERO miles. You don't have to justify nuffin to nobody.

This is the correct answer though basically.

I do about 5 miles each way at present but about 3 of those are off road and can be muddy so I wear baggy shorts and regular t-shirt (ie. TK Maxx specials) Through winter I wear whatever is warm, normally my buffalo mountain shirt and some walking trousers.