Non-cycling cycling clothes

Underarmor and Nike both make some nice athletic shirts that have the same wicking fabric that Jerseys are made of but look..."normal". 😉

Even Wal Mart if you can believe has some shirts that are the same fabric and I swear they are more comfortable...(at least to me) than the Nike shirts. I don't have any of the Underarmor so I can't compare. The Nike shirts are available at Sports Authority for about 20 bucks.....the Wal Mart shirt looks identical and was like 9 bucks.

BillM said:

Underarmor and Nike both make some nice athletic shirts that have the same wicking fabric that Jerseys are made of but look..."normal". 😉

Even Wal Mart if you can believe has some shirts that are the same fabric and I swear they are more comfortable...(at least to me) than the Nike shirts. I don't have any of the Underarmor so I can't compare. The Nike shirts are available at Sports Authority for about 20 bucks.....the Wal Mart shirt looks identical and was like 9 bucks.

I second the walmart stuff. I actually like my 10 dollar walmart shirts more than my $50 bike jersey.

performance max works for me.

lil bunnyFooFoo said:

I second the walmart stuff. I actually like my 10 dollar walmart shirts more than my $50 bike jersey.

Me too. It works as well, is more comfortable...and people don't question my heterosexuality when wearing it. :p

Since I'm still kinda new to cycling (4 months) I still think it's cool to walk around in my jersey and tight shorts.

On our ride today, our group stopped in at Starbucks and we were a small group compared to the many others there, all decked out in cycling clothes. I don't even take off my helmet! (hat head) I'm proud to announce how many miles I'm doing today (only 30 today) when a non-biker asks.
Their eyes get huge and they say things like 'I could never ride a bike 30 miles!!'

Makes me proud. . .
But I can see how some wouldn't want to be like me.

Ginny in Denver

lil bunnyFooFoo said:

I second the walmart stuff. I actually like my 10 dollar walmart shirts more than my $50 bike jersey.

I will have to check out this wal-mart stuff... right now I wear a regular t-shirt when riding.

I do plan on getting a cycling jersey or two, but would only wear them while cycling. I think it is just wierd wering them while I am, say, grocerie shopping or going to the movies.

i wear some of these C9 shirts i get at target that are polyester weave or poly mix to commute or short rides. they have a loose but athletic cut and cost about $10-12. they dry fast and the last one i bought even had a cycling jersey style zipper. i find myself not using padded shorts on any ride under 15 miles anymore (i guess my a$$ is properly molded to the seat after a few thousand miles???)

imagesinthewind said:

I'm proud to announce how many miles I'm doing today (only 30 today) when a non-biker asks.
Their eyes get huge and they say things like 'I could never ride a bike 30 miles!!'

Makes me proud. . .
But I can see how some wouldn't want to be like me.

Ginny in Denver

My friend gave me a *drop dead now* kind of glare when I told him that I did an easy 30 miles yesterday. He has problems doing 1 mile.

I don't know. Just seems to me that being cool in bike clothes is inversely proportional to the distance you are from your bike. Standing next to your bike in cycling clothes...way cool. Walking down the aisle at the local supermarket with the bike outside..way gay.

Thanks for that, chaps. I'll have to check out the wallmart stuff.
I tend to use my bike for ferrying my daughter to school, then going to my local coffeeshop with my laptop for an hour or so's work. I just use regular combat pants and a shirt or t-shirt, at the moment, but it's starting to get colder and I can see a few new items in my wardrobe coming on.
Most of my real cycling clothes are not that bright, so I don;t really stand out, but it's the shorts that make me feel inversely uncomfortable the farther I get from my bike. I also get the feeling that, even if I'm not, people expect me to be sweaty and give me a wide bearth.
I't's funny, though. I've been to Holland, Germany, and especially Denmark, and the amount of cyclists there defies belief. But mostly you don;t see cycling clothes - just normal stuff. Maybe it's because cycling is not so much recreational as practical.

OldSoldier said:

I don't know. Just seems to me that being cool in bike clothes is inversely proportional to the distance you are from your bike. Standing next to your bike in cycling clothes...way cool. Walking down the aisle at the local supermarket with the bike outside..way gay.

Exactly why I use the Underarmor type stuff. Same benefits....less gayness.

:p

Don't own an I-Pod. Don't own a helmet. Never had a Starbucks. Do 175 to
200 a week, when it's not raining 4 days out of 5. I only weigh 126 lbs and
even when I pedal like a demon, don't sweat. Recycled jeans, (cutoffs), a
bright T-shirt, sneakers. What would these people have done 30 years ago?
(Tip: If you walk into a bike shop and 50% of the floor space is devoted to
trendy "bikewear", BEWARE! You are in the wrong place for service, advice,
parts, etc., unless you went there to buy clothes). I was in a grocery store
when a guy wearing a helmet (must not trust safety of grocery stores),
neon colored sprayed on TDF shorts & jersey, came clanking (and I mean
clanking) along in his pedaling shoes. All that to pick up some grub?
WalMart does have some excellent shirts for good price. But one of the
most dedicated bikers I know wears cargo shorts (good ventilation and
lots of storage) and a reflective safety vest. With his backpack and swiss
army knife he's good for a week.

Yeah, I know. FD got long winded again. But this subject didn't press my
button, it STOMPED ON IT. This post is not directed at competitive
cyclists !. And they know who they are.

By the way, the same dayglo orange sweats I use for hunting are great for
cooler days. After all, they are designed to keep other people from shooting
you.

Fritodog said:

Don't own an I-Pod. Don't own a helmet. Never had a Starbucks. Do 175 to
200 a week, when it's not raining 4 days out of 5. I only weigh 126 lbs and
even when I pedal like a demon, don't sweat. Recycled jeans, (cutoffs), a
bright T-shirt, sneakers. What would these people have done 30 years ago?
(Tip: If you walk into a bike shop and 50% of the floor space is devoted to
trendy "bikewear", BEWARE! You are in the wrong place for service, advice,
parts, etc., unless you went there to buy clothes). I was in a grocery store
when a guy wearing a helmet (must not trust safety of grocery stores),
neon colored sprayed on TDF shorts & jersey, came clanking (and I mean
clanking) along in his pedaling shoes. All that to pick up some grub?
WalMart does have some excellent shirts for good price. But one of the
most dedicated bikers I know wears cargo shorts (good ventilation and
lots of storage) and a reflective safety vest. With his backpack and swiss
army knife he's good for a week.

Yeah, I know. FD got long winded again. But this subject didn't press my
button, it STOMPED ON IT. This post is not directed at competitive
cyclists !. And they know who they are.

By the way, the same dayglo orange sweats I use for hunting are great for
cooler days. After all, they are designed to keep other people from shooting
you.

This post makes a hell of a lot of sense....

IS IT RAINING BUCKETS EVERYWHERE ELSE, TOO?
I KEEP GETTING "SERVER MELTDOWN" WHEN TRYING TO CONNECT!

I went with UnderArmor Metal for shirts, Smartsocks from Ebay $10 for 3 pair, But I did go with cycle shorts (Insport RTP Cargo Short) $40 at Nashbar and Pearl Izumi Gel Lite Race Glove from performance.

I find it best to go with cycling gear with where you come in contact with the bike.

Russ B

Ahh, but you see, FD, I do sweat when I put the effort in, and especially when I stop and I haven't got the rush of air to cool me. If I'm in cotton, it gets somewhat uncomfortable and doesn;t look too pretty.
I personally only wear cycling clothes when on a trip on my roadbike. Like I said before, I tend to do most of my cycling around town ferrying my daughter on my everyday bike.
Ideally I'd like to look normal, but have clothes that work well and keep me comfortable - ones that are suited to bikework in ways that are small but effective - pants not so wide or short in the ankle to get tangled in the chain for instance. Anyone point me to any of those, and I'll buy them a drink (well, if they're ever in my neck of the woods.

For Gotte:
This is not a joke. Save your money. Fold your pants over and use one of
those free rubberbands we're always throwing away. I do it and nobody
cares.

Fritodog said:

For Gotte:
This is not a joke. Save your money. Fold your pants over and use one of
those free rubberbands we're always throwing away. I do it and nobody
cares.

after reading your posts in this thread I have a feeling that you look funny as hell riding down the street.

I have found light weight shirts in running stores reduced at good prices. Also have found basketball light weight sleeveless shirts. All in the material that wicks away moisture.