Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
Tenchy, you need the full skin suit, preferably in British cycling colours. Don't worry about the hoots of derision.....
what to wear
- Thread starter tenchy
- Start date
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Wonder Wheels
Active Member
I just wear things that I feel comfortable in (mostly combat shorts). Cycling gloves are good, it means you won't get calluses. When it's cold and rainy I wear a pair of one size fits all elasticy woolly gloves under my cycling gloves.
Christ I sound like such a big baby.
Sunglasses or some kind of eye protection is a must for me, I went along the coast without eye shields one time and for the rest of that night, my eyelid was irritating me, I looked in a mirror and peeled back my eyelid, lo and behold, there was a beetle/bug thing under it. I almost vomited on the spot.
Christ I sound like such a big baby.
Sunglasses or some kind of eye protection is a must for me, I went along the coast without eye shields one time and for the rest of that night, my eyelid was irritating me, I looked in a mirror and peeled back my eyelid, lo and behold, there was a beetle/bug thing under it. I almost vomited on the spot.
sidevalve
Über Member
Just had a thought about the specs. You can get optically clear [ie no distortion] wrap around industrial safety specs [not the daft goggle type] for a couple of quid. Better than sun specs in the dark miserable weather we're having now. Don't look much but cheap enough to stick in your bag for emergencies.
SteveBM
Senior Member
- Location
- Rayleigh, Essex
The best advice I got on clothing was from the font of all knowledge at my lbs...
You need three outfits.
One for cold days (in my case this is padded thermal dhb bibbed tights, thermal compression top and loose long sleeved cycling top)
One for spring days (padded 3/4 length or full length bibbed tights)
One for warm days (padded bibbed shorts and short sleeved top)
Inevitably, you will end up getting more stuff over time.
I use Wiggle and Decathlon as the primary sources of my stuff. Gonna try Lidl on Thursday to see if I can get hold of anything useful.
I've also bought 1 set of replica kit from EBay, Chinese imports - Cheap good quality bibbed shorts and top for £20!
My other "best buy" was Planet X "over-shoes" - these are neoprene things that slip over your shoes and keep your feet warm. Cold feet on a long ride is no fun!
Whenever I go out, my wife and kids always snigger, but once on the bike no-one cares what you're wearing.
I've also had one or two little comments of appreciation from passing cars when riding uphill out of the saddle! At least, I think they were appreciation......
You need three outfits.
One for cold days (in my case this is padded thermal dhb bibbed tights, thermal compression top and loose long sleeved cycling top)
One for spring days (padded 3/4 length or full length bibbed tights)
One for warm days (padded bibbed shorts and short sleeved top)
Inevitably, you will end up getting more stuff over time.
I use Wiggle and Decathlon as the primary sources of my stuff. Gonna try Lidl on Thursday to see if I can get hold of anything useful.
I've also bought 1 set of replica kit from EBay, Chinese imports - Cheap good quality bibbed shorts and top for £20!
My other "best buy" was Planet X "over-shoes" - these are neoprene things that slip over your shoes and keep your feet warm. Cold feet on a long ride is no fun!
Whenever I go out, my wife and kids always snigger, but once on the bike no-one cares what you're wearing.
I've also had one or two little comments of appreciation from passing cars when riding uphill out of the saddle! At least, I think they were appreciation......
MontyVeda
a short-tempered ill-controlled small-minded troll
- Location
- Lancaster... the little city.
whatever I'm wearing... work clothes if i'm going to or from work... casual clothes the rest of the time.
The trouser clip isyour my friend
The trouser clip is
Profpointy
Legendary Member
Perfectly OK, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. If baggy legs, you'll tuck em in your socks (ideally slightly long ones, or cycle clips), else they'll end up in chain. Padded shorts can be more comfortable, but not all are, as not all are well designed. I'd rather a brooks saddle than padded shorts on an average saddle frankly.
That said, and for what it's worth, I do find it convenient to wear "proper" cycle clothes on my 7 mile commute, as they are slightly more comfy, and perhaps most importantly are don't get soggy and horrid if it rains. Cycle jackets are cut for comfort on a bike, have well placed pockets on the back, and can be wind=resistant in a well-thought out way. I've got a quite good hi-vis altura jacket which is windproof fleece & semi-waterproof which though it gets a bit wet in the rain is still comfy. I rather like the 3/4 lengh bib shorts for comfort too.
But you don't need the gear just to ride a bike. After all, I managed just fine for my first 30 years of cycling with ordinary clothes, and twenty years ago used to cycle 10 miles to work in a business suit; admittedly considerd a bit eccentric - but more for cycling to work at all, than for my sartorial choices. Back then only "serious" cyclists, specifically club racers actually bought cycling clothes per se.
tug benson
Survived the Tour O the borders 2013
- Location
- Alloa
where`s the best place to get them 3/4 length bib?
am always worried that when am cycing the traffic behind me can get a full look at my builders bum, i always feel am pulling up my cycling trousers
am always worried that when am cycing the traffic behind me can get a full look at my builders bum, i always feel am pulling up my cycling trousers
Profpointy
Legendary Member
I've just got some DHB ones from Wiggle (Aeron Race) which seem quite good (though only worn them once thus far), but their predecessors also DHB / wiggle (different model) have served me we well for years. Word of warning - bike gear sizing is bonkers, especially DHB. My old DHB ones were "medium" - I'm 6" tall - 12 stone. My new ones are "extra large" and I'm trimmer if anything, and I'm sure I'm no any taller !
PaulSecteur
No longer a Specialized fanboy
- Location
- Walsall, West Mids.
Sports direct have Karrimore padded shorts, usually between £5 to £12 depending on the offers. Should be good enough for up to 30 miles.
YahudaMoon
Über Member
Vicky is looking a bit taekwondo here :/
^^ I still would though......
As for the builders bum issue, I quite often had the same concern hence the long tops. Now I wear bib shorts or tights its nothing to worry about. Until you're happy spending a bit of money on the proper kit a t-shirt or long jumper will be more than ok
Part time cyclist
Über Member
- Location
- Kent
I use a cheap pair of wrap around safety specs from Cromwell tools probably about £3 they ate very good IMHO
Ethan
Active Member
Wear whatever you want mate! If you get into this cycling larky, you'll end up in lycra one way or another 
I started of wearing bastketball shorts any trackies, swearing I'd never wear lycra. Then cheap cycling tights, now I wear castelli bibshorts while 100% commando. Figure that out!
If your comfy then who cares!
I would think about getting some sort of eye protection though. I got a tiny little stone in my eye while traveling 30mph... Spent a good 40/50 minutes sitting at the road side with my eyes watering like niagara falls.
I started of wearing bastketball shorts any trackies, swearing I'd never wear lycra. Then cheap cycling tights, now I wear castelli bibshorts while 100% commando. Figure that out!
If your comfy then who cares!
I would think about getting some sort of eye protection though. I got a tiny little stone in my eye while traveling 30mph... Spent a good 40/50 minutes sitting at the road side with my eyes watering like niagara falls.
