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.