Is this how it begins?

[MaineMaid]

It began so very slowly; first a pair of spandex shorts and then the tights and they fit so nicely in the thin little drawer. Then the long underwear and the waterproof jacket. Then another pair of shorts. Then it got warmer and I needed a short sleeve jersey. Then all the wool socks. Now NOTHING fits in the thin little drawer and it all hangs on the wooden clothes rack in the middle of the bedroom. All of it getting worn or washed or worn/washed so there is really no point in putting anything away.
Is this how it all began with all of you? Please say yes; I need the love and support of my cycling peers. Is the no end in sight? I peruse the rack thinking that I need another jersey or .... and maybe.... and... well, you know.

Jan in Maine

[Jenn]

It will NEVER end, it only gets worse, I hate to tell you. 3 jerseys, a pair of padded knickers, a pair of bibs, socks, shoes, sunglasses, now I need a new helmet.....it NEVER ENDS!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You know you've arrived when you start moving your "regular" clothes out of your bureau and into plastic bins in the closet and filling your bureau with biking clothes instead.
And when you have one large bureau drawer just for various black lycra bottoms, and it's overflowing.
Oh, and when you start buying the giant bottles of Woolite more often than regular laundry detergent.

[trekin']

Yes!!!!!

[Zen]

Muahahahahaha!

They've got you now

[DarcyInOregon]

I confess. This winter I purchased another chest of drawers, five drawers in total, for nothing but bike clothing. Plus I have a fancy painted stand sitting in the bedroom to hang the clothes on to dry. Plus I have a wicker hamper in which I put the winter bike clothes so as to make room in the drawers for the new spring purchases, and I am secretly hoping that consistent long-distance cycling this summer will make none of those winter clothes fit when the cold months arrive again.

The bottom drawer holds the jerseys that fit just a bit too snug and I keep them, thinking that by the end of the summer the jerseys will fit, that maybe the biking will burn some of the fat around my bust area and shrink me a few inches. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Darcy

[marni]

Dear Late rider ,

Having started biking when I weighed well over 200 pounds, I can sympathize with your hesitancy to wear form fitting bike clothes. I went through the same dilemma and only gave in to wearing exercise tights when the pants I was wearing ended up bunched in my nether regions and rubbing saddle sores into the skin. My first step was a pair of padded underpants and a pair of calf length tights, followed by a breathable t shirt, rather than a regular cotton t shirt and finally a padded pair of bike shorts beneath my tights, and then because it was hot I started rolling my tights up and then nothing would do but just to ride in a bike jersey and biking shorts.

2 years later, many workouts with a trainer and many hours of riding later, I am 80 pounds lighter, 6 clothing sizes smaller and absolutely will not wear anything other than bike specific clothes for riding. The benefits of proper padding, non bunching or rubbing fit and breathable fabrics far outweigh any negative emotions I have with the form revealing aspects. At this point I figure anyone who criticizes is either jealous or admiring, and at least I am out doing something constructive with my free time.

All that being said, I should also point out that I live in Hot, Humid, Headwindy Houston , home of the horriblist drivers anywhere, and that for most of the year, properly fitting breathable bike clothes and a camel pack are simply the facts of survival.

At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

marni

[nomummytummy]

It began so very slowly; first a pair of spandex shorts and then the tights and they fit so nicely in the thin little drawer. Jan in Maine

I was never going to get anything as silly as leg warmers or arm warmers. I mean tops come with long sleeves that you just push up when hot. Right? like the others i ahve slowly but surely increased my kit - even to the point of putting a known jacket overteh new top so DH doesn't ask any questions!! Love the 'click to shop' option above in here. Have started to think about purchasing from US online. Please - may it NEVER end!!