The uniform dujour

[skhill]

Stopped by my favorite coffee shop this morning and noticed something odd-- there were 5 of us there getting our morning coffee who had arrived by bike, 3 men and 2 women. We were all dressed identically. Blue jeans with right leg rolled up, hooded sweatshirt, keen sandals (with warm socks), and bike helmet. Weird...

[tulip]

jeans - ouch!

[jdubble]

why ouch? i've never noticed it to be painful biking in jeans. i mean, i wouldn't wear them for a long ride, but for around town, going to the store or the coffeeshop or bar? what hurts about them?

[WindingRoad]

That's funny! I ride in whatever when I'm commuting. Of course I have a softer saddle on my commuter than my road bikes too.

[jdubble]

Skhill, I also meant to say that that sounds like the dress code of choice mist places here in portland :) I'm often in that get-up though I gave my keen sandals to my mom while paddling with her dragon boat team so make my shoes addidas :)

[Slowspoke]

I run errands dressed like that all the time! I think the funny looks I get from the helmet and cuffed pant leg are really looks of envy :cool: I do fine in jeans up to about 5 or 6 miles, then I prefer my bike shorts under something comfy.

[tulip]

ill-placed double seam, that's what's ouch.

I commuted for six years in DC, 14 miles each way. No way would I wear street clothes. Now when I run errands on a bike and feel to wear street clothes, I wear cycling shorts underneath shorts or skirt. I still don't wear jeans; they are pretty constricting in the knee-bending department for me, and that double seam just does nothing good for me.

[jdubble]

ill-placed double seam, that's what's ouch.

I commuted for six years in DC, 14 miles each way. No way would I wear street clothes. Now when I run errands on a bike and feel to wear street clothes, I wear cycling shorts underneath shorts or skirt. I still don't wear jeans; they are pretty constricting in the knee-bending department for me, and that double seam just does nothing good for me.

yeah, that length of a commute/ride would definitely mean no street clothes for me too. :) my commute/daily life doesn't involve nearly that sort of mileage, so street clothes work just fine. i've never noticed a problem with the seam of the jeans though. now i'll probably be all paranoid and hyper-aware of it next time i bike with jeans on :)

[OakLeaf]

I'm fine in jeans up to 5-6 miles. After that, nuh-uh.

It's funny, isn't it, how some days you'll show up at the gym and nearly everyone in class will be wearing blue. The next day it'll be pink. And the day after that, green. :confused:

[shootingstar]

It's great that some people can cycle in all kinds of street wear.

But I don't, no matter what the distance except for certain walking shorts with zipper and waistband. For latter, I'm extremely picky since I have cycled 40-100 kms. in them. Though not often in such shorts regularily anymore.

To get anyone back into cycling again, I definitely would not be recommending that they wear jeans for their first few rides. No matter how short the distance. Usually newbies are complaining about their bum/crotch or knees/thighs after their first "revival" bike rides.

[PamNY]

Stopped by my favorite coffee shop this morning and noticed something odd-- there were 5 of us there getting our morning coffee who had arrived by bike, 3 men and 2 women. We were all dressed identically. Blue jeans with right leg rolled up, hooded sweatshirt, keen sandals (with warm socks), and bike helmet. Weird...

I love the rolled up jeans. To me, it's a statement that cycling is part of regular life. And it is funny when you get accidentally "dressed alike" groups like that.

[WindingRoad]

My commute is about 10 miles each way but I get a several hour butt break before I go home so all is good. It does actually help toughen my butt up for ultra long rides, with cycling shorts of course, LOL. I must say I'm a bit fed up with my crankbros cleats though, they just wear out too freaking fast. I think I'm going to have to switch to SPDs for commuting.

[Tri Girl]

That's pretty funny- everyone having the same *look* at the coffee shop. I only WISH I had someone else wearing biking stuff where I stop on my errands. ;)

I can wear jeans for a few miles- and that's if I'm riding at a *very* leisurely pace of 8-11 mph. Any faster and the friction starts up and pretty soon I'm worried there's a gonna be a fire starting down in my britches. :eek:

[malkin]

I can wear jeans on my bike for about 60 seconds. Unless it's too hot or humid or my jeans have stopped fitting.

[GLC1968]

That's funny. Around here, it's walking through the market - everyone has on a Showers Pass Jacket and is carrying a helmet and/or panniers. :)

[Crankin]

I couldn't ever wear jeans on a ride. I can go about a mile without a chamois. That's about it.
I have built up a wardrobe of "urban cycling" stuff, that often has a detachable liner and looks nice enough to wear without the liner for anytime. Same with wicking or polyester/lycra tops that serve many functions. I wear this stuff for my errand rides and just hanging around, walking, etc.
When I commuted, it was 13.8 miles, so I wore my regular cycling clothes and rode my road bike.

[malkin]

My most chic urban riding kit is bike shorts under a utilikilt.

[moderncyclista]

Dude. I pretty much only see/hang with people who ride in jeans/capris/manpris. It definitely takes some fine tuning as to - jean choice/underwear choice. :D

I can go over 10 miles in jeans. Longer than that and I'd want some cycling shorts underneath. I agree though that Keens, jeans, hoodies is a pretty standardized uniform in urban areas.