Loose Clothing?

[Python]

One of the issues is sole stiffness. There’s a misconception (lie) that cycling shoes need to have super stiff soles. They do if the pedals are tiny, like some clipless pedals, because the pedaling force is so concentrated. But if you use a wider pedal, it’s not that important that your shoe be super stiff. Actually, I (Grant) much prefer a sole that lets me feel the pedal, not painfully, but enough to know where it is under my foot. That’s an important thing to know when you’re not connected to the pedal.


The shoes I prefer for cycling are a pair of Hush Puppies. I think they're possibly aerobic shoes. Nice soft leather on the upper and they have a rubber sole which doesn't slip off the pedals and seem to grip the pedals quite nicely.

At the moment my favourite cycling gear is just my cotton T-shirts with a fleece over the top if it's cool. I wear narrow legged tracksuit bottoms (don't know what you call them in the USA - tights maybe?) which are comfortable and don't snag the crank case. If I jump on the bike wearing jeans I've got a wonderful pair of reflective cycle clips to stop the jeans bottoms flapping about.

I do have a pair of shorts but am not overly keen on them.

Mind you, when bikes ruled the road, people didn't have "cycling clothes" and just wore normal clothes.

Like most people I prefer to wear what I'm comfy in

[pooks]

I find the cycling shorts comfy, too. I do think looser tops are more comfortable, though. I just found it an interesting concept, since it pretty much flies in the face of standard advice.

Seersucker tempts me. It is the traditional summer fabric, but then, like other cotton, it might get too clingy and clammy when it's wet. Not sure about that.

[jobob]

Seersucker is supposedly a lot cooler than regular cotton. Worth a try.

My husband has been talking about getting a seersucker shirt for summer riding, either from Riv or elsewhere. He wears baggy tops when riding, either loose-fitting wool jerseys (lighter weight ones in the summer) or mtn bike style jerseys. He can't stand anything snug on top. Plus loose tops camouflage his belly

He still wears the lycra shorts though; he didn't ride with lycra shorts for quite some time, but then once he tried them he liked 'em and now always wears the lycra shorts for any sort of distance ride.

[Zen]

I used to laugh at cycling shorts (HA-ha!) but now I see them as a necessity. as for jerseys, I like the pockets in the back for chapstick, gum, car key and mad money. I also like the jerseys because not much else comes in hi-vis yellow.

But wearing a Discovery channel jersey? Well...

[aicabsolut]

I like performance clothing usually in sport fabrics. I don't even like running (when I used to run) in a huge T. I certainly don't want any extra fabric to worry about on the bottom. Plus, my racing saddle isn't super comfy for riding without the right bottoms. Cotton retains sweat. I'd rather be in some semi-dry UnderArmour than in a sogged cotton Tshirt.

I will use a bag, but I also like having things in pockets that are easier to access. I like that jerseys zip.

As for sole stiffness, there's much greater efficiency of power transfer in using a stiff sole. It also helps to stabilize the foot which can be important for people with biomechanical injuries, as it allows them to retain proper leg alignment.

If I were out riding around on a beach cruiser, then I wouldn't need much athletic apparel, but I still don't like my clothes to be very loose.

[DarcyInOregon]

I can't put in the miles unless I am wearing the right type of clothing. Street clothing or loose fitting clothing might be fine for shorter rides under 15 miles, but I can't remember the last time I did a ride that short. I wear spandex shorts or knickers, and cycling jerseys. The jerseys are semi-loose to tight.

Darcy

[KayTee]

Yeah, performance fabrics and bike clothes for me, too. I sweat buckets and get chilled and clammy in soaking wet cotton. And I just hate to flap and billow, too.

Cycling has given me an entire community of friends, most of whom have only ever seen me dressed like a sweaty sausage with no makeup and really, really bad hair. I love it!

[margo49]

All my touring ( 3 month stint in NZ and two 2 month tours in USA and Europe and various shorter tours) and my 2 years messengering in London I wore totally regular clothes - cotton or denim shorts and cotton shirts (with associated rain-gear as necessary). No helmet - it was the late 70's-early 80's and nothing was going to happen to any of us!
Only started wearing lycra padded shorts after I had had the babies. I wear thin nylon running-type shorts over them as I feel naked otherwise. Tops I wear sporty wicking-fabric shirts. On my feet boring running shoes with a stiff sole.
Money, you know. If I had more I would buy more. Also I live in a very small place outside a small town and do not buy on the internet for various good reasons (like I'm scared it might lead to needing "plastic surgery" , lol!)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

[B][I]
Like most people I prefer to wear what I'm comfy in

I agree. But though I can be "comfy all day in jeans and a loose cotten pullover, this would be very uncomfortable for me on a 40 mile ride. The big jeans seams would kill my crotch, and the loose top would be flapping all over me in the wind and driving me crazy. I find jeans to be very restrictive to my leg movements, particularly my knees, even when they are relaxed fit. I also dislike jeans for walking and hiking for that reason. I feel more comfortable and move better when I am not distracted by chafing and flapping clothes. Love my stretch bike knickers and shorts, whether wool or lycra, love my plain comfy thin wool tops that fit me right.

[teigyr]

I think baggy shorts would be frustrating. If there was a wind, they'd be flapping and even the thought of a bee, well,

When I first started, I thought the whole "cycling accessory thing" was dorky. I wore a t-shirt and lycra shorts. During the summer, I'd be drenched in sweat and I needed pockets. I got a jersey and haven't looked back I have some creative jerseys that I've acquired over time. With the shoes, I need the stiff sole. When I did spin class, before I got shoes with SPDs, I wore aerobics shoes. It killed my feet because I'd put pressure on the ball of my feet but it wouldn't transfer. I don't know if that makes sense or not?

I don't know. I remember way back when I was young and would go ride the 10-speed for fun. I wore jeans and normal shoes and remember those things to tie around your leg so your pants don't get caught in the chain?? I don't know what changed but now I need chamois and cleats

[Zen]

Ah, those were the days- just get on your bike and ride!
Now it takes a half hour just to get dressed.

[Python]

I tend to wear my tracksuit bottoms which are tight fitting and have flat seams. I take my business suits to work and change there. They're fairly crush-proof so I just backpack them.

I'm not keen on wearing jeans because of the thick seams when I'm out with the bike, although if I'm just nipping up to the local shop I don't mind.

My biggest problem is getting clothes to fit me as I'm very small. My LBS was getting a new delivery of cycle clothing so I'll be popping in there in Monday after I finish work to see what they have. It's not too warm here yet but when it does get warmer I will be wearing cycle shorts. I have a cycle T-shirt with wicking fabric but I haven't tried it out yet.

Although sunny, the last few days have had a chill wind so I've been wearing my fleecy zip up top.

Roll on summer

[deedolce]

Form fitting cycling clothes for me. I deal with all the regular clothing on my commute to work! Holding one edge of my skirt demurely to keep it from the clothes-gnashing chain or rolling up one pant leg, flapping clothes and scarves...ack. When I cyle I just want to worry about the road and traffic, not about clothes mishaps. lol. I prefer tanks too, rather than sleeves. Even sleeves bother me! Unless it's like a 5-6 hour ride, and I need to protect my shoulders from the sun.

[Kano]

Bike shoes, cuz my feet hurt when I wear "ordinary" shoes on a bike. Been wearing my shoes longer than I've had the clipless pedals, and yeah, I love the pedals. The concept made incredibly good sense to me right from the beginning....

Lycra shorts with padding -- it's not pretty, but yes, I wear the lycra. Used to wear it when I would go to the gym on a regular basis too, and it wasn't pretty then either. Why do I give up on looking half-ways presentable? The lycra holds my parts together. Never mind clothes flapping in the breeze -- it's REALLY uncomfortable when my body parts are flapping as I ride!

Shirts -- can't find jerseys I really like, but the Champion tops that I can get at Target work really well for me, even though there aren't any pockets...

Sunglasses -- don't need no bugs in my eyes, DO need UV protection for my eyes!

Socks gotta fit in my shoes with my feet, and not get soggy. That's the only requirement I have for socks...

Helmet -- and under that, one of those headsweats head bands, cuz my head is the part of me that sweats the most, and it's no fun when the sweat runs in my eyes...

Karen in Boise

[aicabsolut]

Ah, those were the days- just get on your bike and ride!
Now it takes a half hour just to get dressed.

Haha! I love it! I was at my grandparents' house for a late family lunch around thanksgiving or christmas, and they said I should take my bike for a spin around the "block" (10mi) before it got dark. Well I had to break out the spandex and the warmers and everything. And my grandmother said, "Well, if this were a race, you would've missed it!" because it was taking me a while to get my gear together. I wasn't even taking any food or anything on this ride. Haha.

When I was a kid, I'd just throw on some Keds and grab my beach cruiser and head out the door.