Twinges- freda cycling inferiority

[Andrea]

I wear an orange & reflective yellow safety vest

[F8th637]

I wear regular clothes even on my road bike if I'm going to run errands or something on it or going for a ride that is less than 10 miles or so. I will still wear a bright shirt so I can be seen but I'll leave the lycra at home.

I'm with zen (Ms. Mo) on this. I want to ride for the experience and to see things not to chase after people. Becoming faster will come in time, I've even noticed that I've gotten faster in the past couple of months which is always a welcome surprise. I figure if I'm going to beat myself up for doing something I love and enjoy. . I probably better stop.

And when I DID have my hybrid (who now lives with zen) I wore the whole get-up because it made sense to me to wear it. I'm going for miles on the bike even if it is a hybrid so I better dress for comfort lycra-style!

[bounceswoosh]

I wear regular clothes even on my road bike if I'm going to run errands or something on it or going for a ride that is less than 10 miles or so. I will still wear a bright shirt so I can be seen but I'll leave the lycra at home.

I'm with zen (Ms. Mo) on this. I want to ride for the experience and to see things not to chase after people. Becoming faster will come in time, I've even noticed that I've gotten faster in the past couple of months which is always a welcome surprise. I figure if I'm going to beat myself up for doing something I love and enjoy. . I probably better stop.

And when I DID have my hybrid (who now lives with zen) I wore the whole get-up because it made sense to me to wear it. I'm going for miles on the bike even if it is a hybrid so I better dress for comfort lycra-style!

Lycra is comfortable ... jerseys wick ... bike socks are so comfy I like to wear them even when I'm nowhere near a bike ... why *not* wear technical gear whenever you're on a bike?

I guess it would be weird going into a grocery store or something in Lycra. I have a great skirt from Title 9 that I could wear over spandex to feel a little less exposed.

[F8th637]

Lycra is comfortable ... jerseys wick ... bike socks are so comfy I like to wear them even when I'm nowhere near a bike ... why *not* wear technical gear whenever you're on a bike?

Exactly! After switching to bike gear, I have officially stopped working out in anything with cotton. All those white cotton socks I had?! Now unused! I wear lycra and other synthetic dry-wick materials exclusively right down to my socks now. I'll never go back!

[Geonz]

Snork.... why ahve rules at all? I wear... whatever makes sense at the time, or whatever's on top of the laundry bin (is that pile clean or dirty? sniff...)

[mimitabby]

I almost always feel like a poseur. except right after I scale a mountain pass

[7rider]

I almost always feel like a poseur. except right after I scale a mountain pass

Same here.
Well, no mountain passes in MD...I guess it's all relative.
I may not be at the front of the pack, but I'm out on my bike (waving hand...also not deserving of my flashy bike here).
Being out and about and doing something healthful for your mind and spirit are the important things.
Enjoy the accomplishment.
(oh...but I am guilty of chasing down the rider in front of me! I'm frequently bored and I want to play!)

[GLC1968]

Up until I moved here, I always wore cycling specific clothing. Some if it was more 'flashy' than other stuff, but it was all technical. I rode in primarily HOT conditions and for longer rides (greater than 8 miles at a time). Only cycling clothes made sense, so I never gave it much thought. Yes, there were rides where part of it was on a MUP where no one else was in cycling gear, but it didn't make me think twice because I knew what I was wearing suited my purpose.

Now I have a bike for errands and commuting that is more upright. It allows me to ride in regular clothes and I do. I do notice a different group of cyclists acknowledging my existance than when I'm on my road bike, but I don't think I feel any less like a cyclist. I see the super fast roadies go by and if for even a second I feel like I'm less than them, all I have to remember is the beautiful Ti bike awaiting the next road ride in my garage.

There were many times when I took my touring bike on 'training' rides at work with the guys. The were worried about wearing armwarmers when the other guys weren't (or about carring a big wedge under their seat) and here I was with a big honkin' mirror, a handlebar bag and a rack on my bike. I didn't need those things for that particular ride, but they were there for a purpose so I didn't care. From my experience, I think guys are more concerned with how they are accepted when they ride than most of the women I know.

[shootingstar]

Ok...I have not yet graduated to cycling socks yet. Maybe later..when turning 50 next yr. Somehow as long as my feet are dry, I'm happy. Methinks I also don't have same problems of sweaty feet as others might.

Hilarious to think we're not as "good-looking" as our carbon bikes. I never thought of matching level of techie cycling garb to the level of bike design roadiness. I just wonder about myself looking sleek cycling lovely and...getting passed..