How much is too much skin?

[HoosierGiant]

Momentary thread hijack...

160 miles -- were you, perchance, riding in Indiana?

[Aggie_Ama]

I live on the face of the sun so most of the summer I wear sleeveless. I see women riding in sports bras and shorts, I don't feel like putting on the much sunscreen and don't have the abs for it but I don't care what they do. Some non-cyclist around here complain about people wearing lycra that are a little chunky, again I could careless and could probably be a little thinner so why judge?

I have wrecked mountain biking in sleeveless and short sleeve, same amount of carnage. I usually manage to hit the most on the uncovered parts no matter what I am wearing. DH ripped a sleeved jersey and the skin under it so I don't subscribe to the thought that clothing protects when we have rocks to wreck on.

The worst road rash I saw was a former co-worker who ripped the side of his shorts off and the sleeve of his jersey. No, he didn't show me his butt however I saw his upper arm - it was gruesome!

[pinkbikes]

Oh yeah - I'm hearing you on the clothes not protecting you! I think lycra is one of those bullet-proof things. I have taken some great falls in the forest onto rocky horrible stuff and torn great chunks of butt and hip and shoulder *though* the knicks and jersey, without leaving a damned *mark* on the damned lycra! I reckon it only protects itself!!

I have matching chunks on my unprotected skin too - knees and elbows have not escaped unscathed. I reckon I've had more scabs on my knees in the last two years since I took up MTB than I had as a kid! My mother is horrified!

As for lycra and exposure, I have a figure that probably doesn't shout "Put lycra on me and I'll look great!" But I wear it anyway because it is comfy and if I have generous curves they aren't going to look any smarter hidden in a voluminous tshirt. I have made a pact with myself to wear my curves out where they can be seen and appreciated for the power behind them rather than their sartorial style! I say wear whatever you're comfy in and if you're comfy enough to flaunt, then go for it!

And boosting - well the first time DH boosted me I nearly had a heart attack. And I was probably a bit miffed that he thought I needed a boost - I'm pretty much one of those "if you can't carry it yourself, then don't bring it" kind of people, including when cycling.

But I must admit when riding the tandem on a nine day tour recently, I was boosted several times when I was struggling up hills by a couple of nice fellows (who certainly had no evil intentions in the presence of my 10yo DD stoker) and appreciated it *very* much. So I guess it just depends on the circumstances and intent behind the boost.

Actually, I once had to "boost" a male workmate who came out MTB riding with me. He was trying a particular uphill logpile for the first time and I was spotting him. He didn't quite give it enough in the run up and I ended up planting my hand fair on his rump and giving him a push. Thought nothing of it at the time but wondered afterwards if I was a workplace harasser!

[Trigress]

Any official UCI races require short sleeves and cycling shorts with legs - it says in the rules.

I think a bra top and short shorts must be fine if it's a warm day and it's not a race. Sunscreen application is a necessity and not an activity I would normally place in the erotic section, and getting a helping hand on the back is necessary for me, at least until I really do take up that yoga class. The skimpiest outfit I've worn is probably the Castelli Melbourne dress with the accompanying shorts - they're really short, and even my hubby commented on there being rather a large proportion of flesh showing. For club training I always wear proper jerseys and shorts, normally the club attire.

When riding in a pack, being pushed about a little is quite common - it's probably the only gathering of people in which touching one anothers' bottoms is quite normal. When climbing I regularly receive a helping push either on my bottom or on my lower back - depends on the height of the rider who pushes - I'm tiny and so many of them don't reach down to my bum, but they normally get a better push the lower towards the seat they push. Even in girls' packs this is quite common, and if you watch TdF you can see that they quite regularly push each other, either to mark that they want another rider to move or to make him take a lead.