prat?

[Jezston]

Shave NOTHING.

I only cut hair once it gets long enough for potential opponents to be able to grab hold of it.

Beyond that and you are not a man.

 

[ian turner]

Really? That would make you a very funny mummy.

OK then: Real women wear lycra as well.

According to that interview with Victoria Pendleton in Cycle Active Real women
ride step through bikes and worry about looking stylish
Real cyclists wear lycra

 

[oldroadman]

Baggy shorts, short sleeved plaid shirt, backpack and BMX helmet usually...

If its a bit chilly when I go out I wear zipoff trousers lol

I don't think I could do lycra; I've got good legs (apart from the scars and tattoos ) courtesy of karate I think but I've got a beer belly I can't shift and I think lycra would look wierd. Looks odd on an MTB IMHO anyway.

I've toyed with wearing my Ronhill trackpants but when I get hot and sweaty I don't like stuff on my lower legs and arms. Likewise thought about running tops but none of them fit at the moment think I need to go on a diet...

Correct! Not so much a diet as healthy eating (lots of fruit and veg, and a little protein), and plenty of riding. The equation is simple Kcals out = kcals in, no change. Kcals in less than kcals out = weight loss. Every pro knows this, which is why early season training can be tough if you "do an Ullrich" in the between seasons break. 150km on an orange, anyone?

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

I would not let it bother you. Having said that I wear some Ronhill running shorts that I cut the liner out of over my cycling shorts. I just cannot be arsed with the ribbing I would get at work. Then again the Ronhill's are so thin that you hardly know you are wearing them, they were also cheap. Prior to this I was using some Altura Mayhem baggy shorts, but with my skinny legs I looked like MC Hammer and felt like a prat in them also. I am fine now with my current setup.

 

[abo]

The equation is simple Kcals out = kcals in, no change. Kcals in less than kcals out = weight loss.

The equation is simple but when there are BBQ's and beer around sometimes it doesn't add up

Need to up the riding

 

[MGBLemonrider]

Just back from a quick 2 mile round trip to drop a prescription off. Lycra bib longs and cycling short sleeve jersey, SPD shoes on a MTB!! I didn't bother with helmet or my normal hi-viz ankle straps. I try and cycle as quickly as I can so it makes sense to wear sporty clothing which is comfortable and wicking.

I know what you mean about wearing Lycra on a hybrid, most normal people gently pottering around would be in normal clothes. But it's your ride and you owe it to yourself to be comfortable, and there's nothing more comfortable than proper purpose built clothing. You might not want to go the whole hog with a cycling top as you don't need the really long back you need for drops, so I'd suggest a sports top. I used my British Lions one, modern material and a good length. I'd imagine football ones are similar and could go for traditional cotton rugger tops if want a bit more warmth - would hardly warrant a second glance. If you wore a footy one you'd get abused for your choice of team rather than your legs!


Later I'll be commuting on my drop bar. Lycra shorts, Bright yellow night vision short sleeve top, Hi-viz ankle straps and helmet. I will look like a strange misshapen mushroom, but its comfortable and practical.

 

[hotmetal]

If I'm off to the shops on my hack I wear normal clothes.
If I'm out in the woods on the Jekyll then I wear one of my usual jerseys for cycling (same on or off road) but baggy cycle shorts
If I'm out with the club on my road bike I wear one of my usual jerseys and bib shorts or full length depending on weather. The only trouble with riding to work is that you have to leave your bike outside and walk in wearing the full WWF outfit, which you have to admit, does look somewhat comedic. Comedy factor is multiplied by x10 if you have a beer belly though.

My mountain bike mates made some comments about full Lycra but to be honest
a) I don't care so long as it's comfy, and
b) I reckon you look more weird on a bike with the "wrong" gear. I think I'd look silly in full Lycra pottering to the shops on my hack or caning the trails, but also pretty odd riding a carbon race bike in jeans.

Guess what? The most ribbing I've ever had about cycling gear was from the oh-so-fashion-conscious road riding club who seemed to take exception to the fact that I took my Camelbak when I first went out with them, because my tools were in my bottle cage and I only had one cage. Why the hell not? It's good enough for mountainbiking. Oh I see! Mark Cavendish doesn't use one… silly me, I didn't realise I'd entered the TdF…! Actually, the roadies are by far the most bothered about fashion that I've come across. What's that you say? Dust caps still on your valves? Oh, how amateur!

Girlfriend was quite keen to see me in shorts, and was actually quite disappointed that the chamois pad actually obscured some of the (to her) desirable detail. And I definitely don't shave… apart from anything else, where do you stop?

 

[abo]

And I definitely don't shave… apart from anything else, where do you stop?

Hah, where *do* you stop??? Just above the short line? To the crotch? Full brazillian???

argh, pass the mind-bleach

 

[hotmetal]

LOL Mind bleach! Love it! Also how itchy would it be if you shaved your erm, naughty bits? I reckon it'd be more comfortable riding the TdF in jeans than shaving yer old chap area.

What is that all about anyway? (legs I mean, not any further up, that's up to the individual). Is it to do with aerodynamics? weight saving? not having to pick hairs and gravel out of injuries? Completing the BDSM look? Genuinely interested cos I really don't know. (Not that any argument is likely to start me shaving my legs).

 

[Adasta]

What is that all about anyway? (legs I mean, not any further up, that's up to the individual). Is it to do with aerodynamics? weight saving? not having to pick hairs and gravel out of injuries? Completing the BDSM look? Genuinely interested cos I really don't know. (Not that any argument is likely to start me shaving my legs).

Several reasons, from what I can gather.

A couple of the main reasons are that cyclists receive massages (with oils) after stages to help their muscles to recover. It's much easier to massage skin that isn't covered in hair. Also, if you fall off your bike, it's easier to treat and dress a wound that doesn't have hair near it, or in it! Think back to those times when you have got a friction burn on your leg from falling on astroturf and you can see the benefit of shaving your legs if you come off your bike going 40mph+

I don't shave my legs.

 

[phaedrus]

I find it kind of sad that the significant other of the OP is so negative and unsupportive. How would she react if she asked your opinion on a piece of clothing she was thinking of buying and you said "Don't be ridiculous, you're much too old/fat/skinny/short/tall to wear that!", and laughed at her? Not nice.

Brush it off and wear lycra shorts if *you* want to wear lycra shorts.

 

[Sonofpear]

I have to admit when I tried Lycra shorts and jersey for the first time I thought what the hell and had a little giggle at myself. But like others have said it's like having the right tools for the job and I couldn't care less what people think. The mrs thinks its quite fetching.
Since I started riding I'm finding myself browsing websites for hours looking at the new kit to build up my wardrobe. The mrs says I'm worse than a woman haha

 

[VamP]

I went from being self-conscious to spending an hour in Sainsbury's in my road bike gear in about one week. Mind you I'm shameless.

GF went from ''you wear lycra shorts, you can forget about sex'' to ''mmmm'' in about the same timeframe.

Just wear them.

 

[youngoldbloke]

IMO if you want to look a total prat wear cargo shorts on a road bike. Sorry - just wear cargo shorts full stop. WTF are those pockets FOR? Shaved legs and proper cycling shorts just LOOK BETTER, and are more comfortable and functional.

 

[abo]

IMO if you want to look a total prat wear cargo shorts on a road bike. Sorry - just wear cargo shorts full stop. WTF are those pockets FOR? Shaved legs and proper cycling shorts just LOOK BETTER, and are more comfortable and functional.

Keeping stuff in! Each phone, my ipod and my wallet have their own pocket