Do you wear proper cycling gear !

[hondated]

Just looking at another cycling forum and its prompted in me the question Do you wear proper cycling gear !
This question to me is quite apt for our forum because I would guess that the majority of us on here choose to cycle for relaxation rather than how fast we can get around a particular route so what we wear is dictated by comfort rather than the need to stream lining our bodies.
Not that with my body stream lining clothing would have a lot of effect.

[mercalia]

no I wear old and sooner or later dirty things. not the posh for me

[tatanab]

I appreciate the comfort offered by modern fabrics.

When I started riding (late 60s) I wore simply old clothing and remember the sweaty shirt clinging to my back during the summer and getting home on a winter's evening to find I had trouble turning the key in the lock due to inadequate gloves.

[robc02]

I find proper cycling gear to be more comfortable for all but short and/or very slow rides.

I occasionally commute (10+ miles each way) in "normal" clothing and find I am sweaty enough to need a change of clothes when I get to work, so I might as well wear "proper" cycling clothing.

[Mick F]

I wear "proper" cycle clothing because it works better. It's better and more comfortable, windproof if you need it, waterproof if you need it, and padded in just the right places, and also seam-proof where you need it.

Back in the old days, I wore "normal" clothes, but I was either riding locally or riding a couple of miles to work and back. By the time I was commuting a dozen miles each way, proper cycling gear was required. Sadly, I came to this conclusion too slowly.

I ride for pleasure these days, and it's no pleasure to be in the wrong gear. Gear-inches as well as gear-clothing.

[reohn2]

I've worn Lycra for 99% of my cycling since I can't remember when,bib shorts,Roubaix arm,leg or knee warmers when called for,decent quality Helly Hanson base layers in winter,Lowe Alpine sleeveless in summer,spring and autumn,and a variety of cycling specific tops,either Lusso or Endura MTB tops.
Specialized or Shimano Cycling shoes,a few diffeerent coloured Buff's or buff alikes,etc.
I find these the most comfortable and frankly couldn't care less what anyone else thinks

[Vantage]

I have a little 10 mile route that I do when time is limited. That's done in normal clothes.
Anything over that and I prefer to put the lycra on. I find it more comfortable for not just the distance and time, but it's better in the weather too. Cooler in sunshine, warmer in the cold and doesn't flap about all wet and soggy in the rain.
I do feel though that no matter how discreet and plain it is, it still looks bloody ridiculous.

[Tangled Metal]

I wear hiking clothing. I have specific items from my large hiking clothing. Craghoppers stretch soft shell trousers in cooler weather works very well for me with sealskinz socks over the trouser. I have a snug fitting fleece from a very good brand that fits me absolutely perfectly as if it's custom made. I wear hiking base layers under this if cold. Buff round neck, thin climbing helmet hat under cycling helmet. Hiking leggings under the trousers if very cold.

Summer is hiking shorts in a very tough, stretchy fabric. Wicking, hiking base layer t-shirts.

Waterproof is a climbing cag in Gore tex active fabric. Being a climbing top it does not ride up when you lift your arms above your head. It's short at the front but scooped back like cycling jackets imhoIMHO. Wind shirts are hiking ones (only hiking kit that's not ideal since it's baggy) and an ALDI cycling soft shell jacket for wind protection when cooler.

I'm planning on getting cycling clothing in the future but only if it offers sufficient benefit over my hiking kit. I'm thinking a vented commuting waterproof and a lightweight cycling windshirt. I might however just get a hiking one made by buffalo. I had one when a kid but grew out of it. When it fitted it worked very well for cycling because of the superlative design.

So for me cycling clothing is all about cost benefit. If something is not working for my cycling, out of my hiking kit, I'll consider replacing it. However without enough benefit I see no reason for specialist cycling kit. I do have good hiking kit (craghoppers trousers are the only budget kit I own bought because they're the only pair of trousers that fit well, is stretch fabric and isn't prohibitively expensive). I'm very tall so trousers are very hard to find fitting my leg. Most that are cost well over £100.

[david7591]

Both. Depends on the type of cycling and weather conditions. Often a mixture.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
I was dragged up from the gutter, even so I wore what I worked in for most of the commuting, but latter used to wear just running shorts and a ruck sack to the white collar office Supposidly there was a company rule that a shirt always had to be worn on site.
It was jeans, nylon socks, trainers nylon shirt, woolly jumper, first waterproof top that wasn't my blazer was a peter storm PU coated nylon jacket in orange. Tesco bags and elastic bands complete the kit

Sweaty feet and back and much more.

I rate modern cycle clothing as much less sweaty and hence dry, windproof, designed for the job.
I would only not wear cycle clothing round the block to test the bike.

Back when Colin Lewis retired to his shop in preston paignton, he and his club mates were the only ones with bottles and tight clothes.
And all us no hopers wouldn't be seen dead in that stuff.
But times have changed and its fashion, not that an inside out sock, jumper, and sandal wearing twit ever worried about fashion, I wear it because its comfortable and stays put, and its also dirt cheap too.

Until about five years ago I mostly wore a T shirt but even this is not as good as a cycle top for keeping dry, cool and warm, lighter too.
I don't think anyone bats an eye lid at a lycra wearer today.

Back in the seventies and even eighties hiking gear would raise more than a frown if you popped into a café or pup, not that it ever stopped me, I would travel 500 miles on a train after coming off the moors without changing my shorts t shirt and boots, smelly as I would of been

[Heltor Chasca]

Last year I bought some cycling specific kit and although I mainly wear civvies most of the time, I now wear padded shorts or longs when I ride all day.

This year I got merino underwear for work. That's a revelation. And this weekend I used a jersey with kidney pockets. Brilliant. What's taken me so long? I doubt I'll always be in 'Number 1s' though, as I do the school run in my work clothes and I do like just hopping on the bike without glamming up...b

[Psamathe]

Cycling gear: I wear lycra shorts (padding important for me - but I feel an idiot in them and would rather something else if I could find something else wth as effective padding). Also a helmet (normally). Also full fingered cycling gloves for warmth when necessary.

Non-cycling gear: I wear a manky old lose sleeved sweat shirt thing and/or a cotton T-shirt, manky old squash trainers, some mountaineering sun-glasess (whatever the weather - for eye protection as they have plastic lenses). Plus a warehouse/roadworks hi-vis vest when top is dark.

Ian

[bainbridge]

I'm a MAMIL but break up the online with some endure shorts over the top and a windproof jacket or t shirt.

[hondated]

Thanks everyone for your responses to my question. As for me when I am on my racing bike I tend to wear lycra shorts for some reason. But when on my Tourer I wear Ron Hill Tracksters in the Winter with padded shorts underneath and in the Summer I wear mountain bike shorts with padding underneath.
As for tops that's where I do have a problem as due to my big belly proper tight cycling tops are not a good look at all.
When it comes to jackets I have yet to find one that meets my needs for warmth, weather proofing and cut.
I do agree that reasonably priced specific cycle clothing is the way to go but boy some of the jackets you can buy that might meet my needs are a lot of money.

[PJ520]

I've worn Lycra for 99% of my cycling since I can't remember when,bib shorts,Roubaix arm,leg or knee warmers when called for,decent quality Helly Hanson base layers in winter,Lowe Alpine sleeveless in summer,spring and autumn,and a variety of cycling specific tops,either Lusso or Endura MTB tops.
Specialized or Shimano Cycling shoes,a few diffeerent coloured Buff's or buff alikes,etc.
I find these the most comfortable and frankly couldn't care less what anyone else thinks

+1 but for an old bloke with prostate issues bibs would be a nightmare.