So I'm not cycling in ordinary street clothes/chic

[jelee1311]

Wow I've never cared what other people think about what I wear.I try not to judge other people (if wearing the complete HTC Columbia kit makes you go faster more power to ya).though I do have a coworker who is a new rider& got the shoes Lance wears because they are so light he will go up hills better to which I said just shut up and ride. I like helmets cuz I like my brain and they have saved DH life at least 3 times.

[KnottedYet]

"Knot, I'm callin' BS on this, you're gorgeous."

Make-up is my friend.

The first time someone at a make-up counter taught me how to fix my eye, I nearly cried. It was so amazing to see it be "normal!"

Over the years the bone has smoothed out a bit. It used to be much more prominent than the other eye. The nerve damage has eased off, too. It used to make me nauseous to touch it, and parts were numb and some of the muscles in the brow were paralyzed.

Yeah, I laid it on thick about my face. It's not really that bad anymore. But, LFMF.

Helmets all the time, every time (even on my Xootr). I don't want to do that again.

[Geonz]

I, too, sense that people are "nicer" when I'm not in spandex, but usually that's when I'm riding my big ol' Xtracycle with the Flash Flag sticking out the side, too. I was in full Safety Regalia including a vest when I went by where Xtreme HOme Makeover was happening with a whole block cordoned off... but I'd have had to go down a nasty busy street to go around it... but the guy guarding the site let me right by and I realized I looked all kinds of "official."
Another time I was in my rain gear and a child referred to me as a police officer to his mom.

I never had any sense that I should worry about what people thought of me based on what I wore -- so I had to learn that stuff in some work and social settings, but I don't worry about it when it doesn't matter. It's more satisfying to demonstrate my riderly prowess in casual clothing anyway :P