Cycling Shorts/Tights - Etiquette?

HeadAboveWater

Lidl have a heap of cycling stuff in store again. That's where I got majority of my cycling stuff.

I really didn't like the padded shorts/leggings, so got a gel cover for my seat instead for when I'm on the longer routes. Def makes a difference.

Strider590

Who give a **** what anyone thinks? If you show them your not bothered, or come back with an unbeatable retort, they'll soon back off.

Similar to this, I do the "man bag" thing, It's a useful thing to have, i've got a phone, a 7inch tablet, my wallet, a torch, sometimes a camera and an umbrella in that bag.
My phone is too big for my jeans pockets, wallets wear holes in your jeans (and get stolen), I couldn't carry a tablet around all day and when it rains I get to not look like a drowned rat.

At first my mates took the p1ss, but to be honest I feel sorry for them, sorry that their lives are so restricted by these false idea's of how a man should act/behave/look. Idea's that are almost the direct opposite to what they were 100 years ago.

So sod em, do what YOU want.

Practicality versus mindless stupidity.

Tish_P

Wear a skirt over them like I do. If your colleagues' lives are dull enough that they discuss other people's commuting clothes at any length, at least you'll really be enriching their conversation.

sdavies13

Thanks all for the suggestions but afraid I'm going to chicken out and wear shorts over them. Once I am more comfortable (and more "aerodynamic") I will consider dropping the shorts :eek:

We are a close knit bunch, some guys in their fifties and some of them I have worked with since I left school! Being a baudy engineering crowd there is quite a bit of ribbing goes on and I know it would calm down eventually but not having really ridden a bike in over 20 years I need to maintain what little semblence of confidence I have, otherwise I might slip back into letting the tube take the strain (and die in my 60s like both my parents or my 50s like my sister).

Cheers all!

zaax

just go commando.

armyknife

Can't stand tight stuff myself; loose fitting jeans seem to cover it for me.

liz545

sdavies13 wrote: »

Thanks all for the suggestions but afraid I'm going to chicken out and wear shorts over them. Once I am more comfortable (and more "aerodynamic") I will consider dropping the shorts :eek:

Good for you - my OH started out wearing baggy shorts over the top of his lycra, as he's not your typical whippet-thin cyclist, but the longer he rides the fitter he gets, and he's certainly shed a few pounds (and the baggies) along the way! Once you get into it you'll not only find your health and fitness benefitting, but you tend to feel much more alert when you get into work, and before long, taking the tube feels way too slow and boring. Good luck!

Marco_Panettone

Cycling (especially commuting) is not about what you wear anyway. It's about being free. Free from the hassle of the herd, free from the financial burden of public transport costs and free from the expense of driving. You're also free from the timetable - you leave when you want to, and take as much time as you want.

It's easy to fall into the "cyclist" tag, when you're just going somewhere. You're the same person, with the same job and responsibilities. Just going somewhere on a bike. There is no "us and them" - just us.

Enjoy the ride, and enjoy the company of your workmates.

sdavies13

Ok, so I rode into work for the first time today (24.3 km) and I went commando. Thought what the hell!

Apart from getting a bit damp in the rain and a bit breazy around the old family jewels I survived!

Walked into the office and after the initial p*ss take things calmed down various colleagues congratulated me on making the distance and not getting mown down by some irate driver.

I also rode home after work (22.9 km).

Fastest journey was the homeward one which took 1 hour 41 minutes to complete, compared to my usual tube journey time of 1 hour 30 minutes.

Hopefully with further practise and gaining familiarisation with potential routes my times will improve and get close to the pubic transport time.

Thanks all for your suggestions and support, now intend to cycle into work each Friday until I then feel fit enough to up the frequency. Here's to losing 19 kg and getting fitter!

GwylimT

Yes no underwear, you are likely to get sore skin, yes you wash them, but as you sweat you would wash them after each use anyway, pants or no pants. I cycle to work virtually everyday, on a Monday I get dropped off and leave a weeks worth of clean clothes at work, I then cycle the other days as I cannot cycle to work and get my clothes there without looking like a complete hobo in a creased suit.