On Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at 2:53:10 PM UTC-4, Sir Ridesalot wrote:
Some here disparage everyone who dons any bicycling specific clothing. I don't get why they do that disparaging.

I wear regular clothing a lot of times if I'm going short distance and/or running errands. However for my longer rides I wear bicycling shorts and a jersey. The jersey pockets are used a lot to hold things like a spare bottle of water in t he middle pocket, my wallet in an outside pocket and often my Canon PowerShot SX120 IS camera in the right outside pocket. With those pockets everything I'd want on the ride is easily to hand and the jersey doesn't flap around like a lot of clothing does. The shorts are just plain comfortable on long rides and the chamois is a real blessing to have.

If a person chooses NOT to wear bicycling specific clothing then that's their choice but they shouldn't disparage those who do wear bicycling specific clothing.

Some say that many bicyclists who wear Lycra and/or bicycling jerseys are snobs. Well, some who DON'T wear bicycling specific clothing are just as snobbish in their own way as they t ake verbal potshots at those who do wear Lycra.

Ride what you like and wear what you like but you shouldn't put others down just because their choices don't match yours.

That goes both ways.

Some accuse me of disparaging bike clothing, which is weird, because I often
wear it and have said so many times.

As I've said dozens of times, people are free to wear what they want. And we
should be free to discuss advantages and disadvantages. But what seems weird to
me is the idea of never riding a bike without first changing clothes. And I do
know people who are that way.

I also disagree with people who claim one should never ride unless wearing a
garish jersey or jacket. It's yet another "Danger! Danger!" exaggeration.

As I've said, my general habit is for utility rides, easy rides under 10 or 15
miles, slow rides with newbie friends etc., I just wear normal clothes. For
longer rides or rides where I intend to exert myself a bit more, I'll wear bike
shorts and a cycling jersey. I know which "civilian" clothes work OK on the bike,
and I avoid those that don't.

- Frank Krygowski