How much is too much skin?

[Mr. Bloom]

if she crashes, I pity her the road rash

I think there's a misperception on the protection that clothes provide from road rash.

Some of my worst road rash was under my unripped clothes - the only difference between the exposed skin and the unexposed was the road grit.

Sorry to hijack...

[Crankin]

I wear a lot of sleeveless now that it's finally hotter out. Mostly, my sleeveless are Terry Eurohalters, which come up high in the front, and don't show any stomach. But, my arms, shoulders ,etc are very bare. I have 2 regular sleeveless jerseys, which I wear, but I like the Eurohalters better because no bra is needed (there's a built in shelf bra). Believe me, no one is looking at my, ah, chest area!
I have one new Descente halter which is short and tight. I look fine in it, but some might think someone my age shouldn't wear it. My shorts are longer (right above the knee) for my Bellas; the new S Pros are shorter, but, what I would call average length. There's some advantage to being short here.
If some strange guy tried to push me by touching my body, I would scream bloody murder. I've never had anyone do anything remotely like that. I have had men act "interested," when I go on my group rides, which are mostly people my age, but they are harmless and nice. I always mention my DH, if they don't know I'm married.
I am debating whether to wear the bra top I bought for running tomorrow. It's hot out and I really am feeling it. Frankly, my stomach looks better than some of the younger girls I've seen running in bra tops. I wear longer shorts when I run, so I just might go for it. Can't be any worse than some of the shirtless men I see running!

[Biciclista]

wear it Crankin! just don't moan suggestively when you put on your sunscreen!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Yeah, you look great. Wear what you want.

[Crankin]

After my hot ride today, I am definitely wearing it! I have my yoga class in the AM, so i can't run until later.
Believe me, no suggestive sunscreen application. It is done in the privacy of my bathroom. Some people just have no sense .
Looking forward to the cool breezes in Maine later this week.

[shootingstar]

Even when it's 90 degrees F with 100% humidity, I wear short sleeved jerseys ..or as described elsewhere, I've worn loose long sleeves.

And some shorts have a short inseam. Others do not.

I've never been tempted to wear tank top or go sleeveless, while cycling (though I will off-bike or go sleeveless), it's primarily for skin protection across other unexposed areas.

I just feel sorry to see women around my age, whose skin around their chest, etc....is darkened and hardened already. My lower leg skin does have a icthomyosis...where the skin has become dried and shiny over the years. Despite slathering on 50 SPF sunscreen/block. So I know...

After seeing dermatologist a few wks. ago who confirmed for now, I don't have anything malignant, but still need to take care, I have less incentive to show more skin while cycling.

[OakLeaf]

I think there's a misperception on the protection that clothes provide from road rash.

Some of my worst road rash was under my unripped clothes - the only difference between the exposed skin and the unexposed was the road grit.

Sorry to hijack...

My experience is that my lycra has definitely protected me from road rash. That's why the scars on my knees and elbows are so much worse than the ones on my shoulders. And that is why racing used to require the shoulders to be covered - don't know if that's still the case.

Yesterday I rode with two women in sleeveless jerseys. I was in a long-sleeved jersey and wishing I'd worn a wool base layer and knee warmers. Whatever! Different people have different tolerance for cold. It's not my business what they wear. If it's not an event with equipment requirements, it's no one else's business, either.

On the boosting: I know a guy who'll boost his wife. Never seen it around here except for that.

[Pedal Wench]

I think that anyone who's out there, on their bike can wear whatever they're more comfortable in. Who are we to judge?? There are many people who feel that anyone with the slightest bit of a belly shouldn't be wearing lycra at all. Sorry, but I don't like judging people based on what they wear. She was wearing what she felt comfortable in. Good for her.

[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.

[arielmoon]

I do not like jerseys when it is really hot out so I wear a singlet. This has spawned a few questions about whether I am a triathlete because I guess they look like tri tops but they are not revealing at all in the front.

For example: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...TC39C&v=glance

Another reason I like them is the tan line. The shorts tan line is bad enough, I dont want the tan line across my biceps.

I got road rash through both my top and my shorts so I dont think there any extra protection to warrant short sleeves. Neither one even had a pull. In fact I cant tell now which one of my 3 pairs of Shebeest are the ones I crashed in. But I had me some road rash up my thigh and hip and across my shoulder blades where I had clothing.

I have had some guys come up and touch my lower back when they wanted to chat and I was not real keen on it but when I got a push up a tough hill I was all about appreciating the help. I guess it depends on the circumstance for me.

[OakLeaf]

The fact that a garment is undamaged after a crash is proof that it DID provide protection, not that it didn't.

It's not the same as a helmet, where it absorbs impact and is destroyed. Fabric protects by sliding. Different fabrics protect to different degrees. Skin-tight shiny lycra is the best for sliding against your skin. No thin fabric will protect against large, sharp rocks. Obviously it's not motorcycle leather, but it's some protection.

As far as tan lines... find a nude beach or move to the country. Considering all the other lines (zero tan on the front of the torso; Y stripes on the jawline from the helmet; whatever type of gloves you wear; socks; darker on the tops of the thighs and the backs of the calves than anywhere else; etc. - sleeves hardly makes a difference.

[WindingRoad]

Always interesting to hear what everyone has to say. I also run so I really understand about the heat factor. I usually wear a tank to keep cool because I'm a furnace when I run. I've pondered wearing just a sports bra only but my modesty kicks in and I just can't do it.

We actually had a record low the day of this ride (it barely hit 70) which is why it popped out in my mind as kinda over the top. And yes HoosierGiant it was the raIN ride, I hope you had a great ride too if you were out there. I can see it's very subjective (obviously) on what people consider appropriate cycling apparel. It's kinda funny to think about us considering ANY cycling apparel conservative now that I think about it. Most people that don't ride who drive by us and see us out in our spandex are like "God I wouldn't be caught dead wearing that!!!" Maybe I'm the girl in the car in this particular case?