Comments on: What to Wear: Bike Commuting Clothing Essentials

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:08:14 +0000

Frankly, I’m surprized people think wearing work clothes on their commute is “frugal.” I have no interest in destroying my good work clothing by wearing it on my 18 mile round trip commute. Sweat, wet weather, and general wear and tear would make that into the MOST expensive choice of apparel ever. Also, I like a padded butt. I wear basic black padded spandex cycling shorts (from years of spin classes), a sports bra and a regular t-shirt. wool arm warmers or a long-sleeve wool shirt are added when it’s colder. When those spin shorts wear out, I might get some “mountain bike” style shorts to make errands on my way home a little more fashionable, but I figure for now when I’m carrying my helmet, all sweaty and spandexy, people get it.

By: Caspar Grummen

Caspar Grummen — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:59:08 +0000

I cycle in regular exercise clothes. Because:
1. I sweat awfully
2. I need to wear good clothes for my job, so sweat stains, water marks or bad smells are an awful idea.
3. I can’t justify cycling clothes on my salary.
4. Aside from work clothes and gym clothes, most of my wardrobe is skinny jeans. Please don’t try cycling in those.

By: Chrehn

Chrehn — Wed, 18 May 2011 20:10:17 +0000

Even in a Naked Ride I wear my gloves and helmet. My gloves protect the palms of my hands if I am unlucky enough to fly off my bike and slide down the road on my hands and knees, it can make for a really bad day. I wear my helmet to hopefully prevent someone from having to spoon feed me for the rest of my life, in case I have a really bad bounce.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 06 May 2011 23:26:27 +0000

Wear anything or nothing. Just ride. It feels good.

By: Stacey Moses

Stacey Moses — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:39:54 +0000

Hmm… I’ve lived on the east coast for many years and have seen more than a few people wearing technical gear, which includes spandex, on their commutes. I’m not saying that it is a necessity if you have figured out a way to arrive comfortably and appropriately at work in non-technical gear (which I also see plenty of), but I think that it is dangerous and inaccurate to attempt to categorize the type of people that wear a certain style of riding gear by their orientation or demographics.

Sure, certain areas adopt certain general trends. You’ll certainly find less spandex in Amsterdam than you will in parts of the US. But, I think that it is these kinds of general statements that drive people away from activities altogether, which doesn’t benefit anyone.

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:16:21 +0000

Most places I’ve lived (west coast, NY city, Guatemala), people wear regular clothes to cycle. Regular clothes meaning relatively inexpensive clothes you can work or go for a walk in. Obviously when it’s raining a shell is necessary over those regular clothes, and layers are important for temperature comfort. When it’s cold, a face mask (balaclava) and more insulating layers are necessary – the sweater and long underwear keep you warm at work, too.The only people I know who still wear lycra to bicycle are gay men and people in the midwest. (I’m currently living in Wisconsin, and *everyone* here is suprisingly into the old lycra fad.)

By: Joseph

Joseph — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 13:16:25 +0000

I have often debated this very subject for my ride to work. I have co-workers who ride in “regular” clothes who are much better riders than I am. However, I have found that I prefer bike-specific gear for my 32 mile round trip commute. Not to mention, I sweat a lot when I ride. I always change when I arrive, but it’s much nicer to change out of clothing that wicks away the sweat rather than my cotton and denim. Even in the snow, I prefer technical gear.

By: Leo H.

Leo H. — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 05:46:09 +0000

Frankly, I find it ironic that someone can say they ‘need’ clipless bike shoes but wouldn’t be caught dead in lycra.
Especially if you’re not riding certain types of recumbents, clipless shoes are an expensive excess whether you’re in lycra or khakis.

By: Leo H.

Leo H. — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 05:19:28 +0000

I was able to obtain used cycle gear from a person who yard sales his finds. I have ridden in regular shorts in the summer for mile long jaunts, but any longer than that, I prefer cycle clothing or sport synthetic clothing. I live in a hot climate and I can’t go anywhere without ending up with a two or three mile long steep hill climb. I have no interest in doing that in a suit or in jeans and a t-shirt.

I also prefer to appear like I’m more than just some ‘schmo’ riding my bike and feel I get more respect by not looking and acting like the folks who tool around on a bike because they’ve lost their driver’s licenses.

By: Smart Cycling: A Review | Commute by Bike

Smart Cycling: A Review | Commute by Bike — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:03:03 +0000

[...] world of commuting or recreational riding. There is useful information on choosing a bike and the right gear, there is a discussion of rules of the road, and there are interesting pointers on handling your [...]