How much is too much skin?

[WindingRoad]

I'm curious to get your opinions about what is appropriate cycling attire. I am pretty conservative in how I dress myself so maybe I'm just thinking a bit prudish on this topic? I try to keep as much of myself covered as possible when riding. One reason is, well lets face it, most of us ride with primarily men and I don't want to be sharing my goods with guys I don't know. I had a guy grab my butt on a ride once attempting to "give me a boost" and I wasn't at all comfortable with that. I ask this because I saw a woman at a ride yesterday that was to me very exposed for a ride that started while it was 58 degrees? I was thinking about it over the next 160 miles and maybe it was just exhaustion but it seemed totally inappropriate?

[tulip]

Everyone has different standards. I wear jerseys with sleeves for sun protection and crash protection. I'm not one to go out in a bra (I think it's just plain tacky) but if some people do, that's their choice. If someone bothers you on a ride, tell them to get lost.

[Biciclista]

welll, since you aren't going into specifics, it's hard to answer. I think almost anything goes any more. I think there are bra tops that would be fine really as a top, if you don't mind sunburn and road rash.
I've seen enough guys with transparent backsides on their shorts

for me personally, short sleeve jerseys and shorts are my limits; but I've seen plenty of young gals showing a lot more skin and it does not bother me (unless i start thinking of wrecks!!)

Some guys will be inappropriate even if you wear a burka

[jobob]

Not sure what you're getting at here

Are you talking about "too much skin" in the upper half - chest, cleavage, arms? -- or in the legs?

Or are you talking about form-fitting lycra shorts?

There are a lot of ways you can cover yourself up while cycling, what is appropriate is what you're comfortable with.

Check out the TE online catalog for things like boleros and wrap skirts.

I ask this because I saw a woman at a ride yesterday that was to me very exposed for a ride that started while it was 58 degrees? I was thinking about it over the next 160 miles and maybe it was just exhaustion but it seemed totally inappropriate?

Why exactly did you think that woman was over-exposed? Did you feel she was dressed inappropriately for the weather, or otherwise?

Sorry, I'm a crummy mind-reader...

[WindingRoad]

I didn't want to go too specific because I don't want to offend anyone who may be comfortable wearing less than myself. OK, that's my disclaimer.

I guess she seemed inappropriate b/c it was 58 degrees and she had on a sport bra and short (maybe 1.5 inches below the crotch) cycling shorts. There was the whole display of rubbing on of the sunscreen too in front of a whole bunch of guys. There was more I guess than just the clothes. I swear to you all I'm not being a catty git it just struck me as unnecessarily showy. Standing next to this person while the sunscreen was going on made ME uncomfortable and I'm a girl. Guys around me were wiping their chins realizing I'm next to her during this provocative moment was uncomfortable. Like I said, on that front, I'm rather conservative.

[snapdragen]

I think I understand, it's more about the behavior than the clothing. I've seen a few women dressed minimally for a ride, behaving as if they were in a singles bar. I swear, one woman was wearing a pushup bra! I suspect they would behave this way no matter where they were, or what they were wearing. They are the same ones that show up in full makeup for a century.

Wear what you're comfortable in, ignore the rest. Me? Right now I'd be comfortable in a burka....


snap "not gonna see me in lycra soon" dragen

[kiwibug]

I don't know.. I wear tank tops (made for exercising in) simply because I can't afford any jerseys. I already had these tops from going to yoga and the gym, and so I chose to spend my money on good cycling shorts instead! Sometimes it makes me kind of self-conscious because maybe I look less serious about cycling.. As for cycling in a bra, I wouldn't be comfortable doing that.

[Mr. Bloom]

I think I understand, it's more about the behavior than the clothing.

I really agree with this...but please realize that what looks prudent standing up may look very different "in the drops" and if this matters to you, it's another issue to consider.

[Biciclista]

ah, so it wasn't her lack of clothing, it was the way she was acting. You have every right to be indignant about that, but, where I come from we have people who ride in the nude... okay, with body paint... and I don't think they're being inappropriate...

[jobob]

Wear what you're comfortable in, ignore the rest. Me? Right now I'd be comfortable in a burka....

LOL, snap!

[ilima]

I live in Hawaii, where shortish shorts and tanks are common on women. I usually wear a short sleeve jersey for sun protection. Gotta get me a pair of Coolwings.

Although uncommon, you see the occasional triathlete training in a triathlon-specific bathing suit, typically when she's gotten something new and wants to test it out before a race.

The behavior accompanying the outfit is what makes it or breaks it. While I've seen some skimpy clothing, the women can simply hammer and aren't dolled up or putting on a show while applying sunscreen so I think nothing of it.

[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.