what to wear for commuting

davek said:

And what do people wear on their legs for cycle commuting? Lycra
seems a little inappropriate

Are you going to be cycling far? If so, use lycra. Anything else will chafe
and wear out. I spent my first winter commuting in trousers, which soon wore
out at the [censored].

Quoted message said:

Even a good online shop that
provides lots of helpful information about the products it stocks
would be good.

Primera will not ship something if they don't think it'll fit you (you have
to provide your chest, waist, height and weight measurements when you
register).

http://www.primera-bournemouth.co.uk/

--
Simon

davek said:

I'm looking for something suitable to put on my feet for cycle commuting -
ie shoes that take cleats (SPD-Rs in my case) but that are also suitable for
wearing off the bike, and if they're reasonably weatherproof that would be
good too. Diadora Geko shoes look like they might be suitable and are about
the right kind of price for me. Anyone care to recommend these or anything
else that I should look at?

It was the 'comfortably walkable off the bike' that got me from Look to SPD.
I find the Diadora Chili to be excellent because they fit my feet perfectly.
So much so that I bought a pair as soon as I had tried them on even though
they were over my budget at the time and haven't looked at any others since.

I like stiff shoes when cycling and walking. Any shoe I can bend is too soft
for me. YMMV.

Quoted message said:

And what do people wear on their legs for cycle commuting? Lycra seems a
little inappropriate, but I don't necessarily want MTB trousers with all the
extra bits of padding in odd places. Just something comfortable, close-ish
fitting (appropriate for cycling) and waterproof.

Given your proposed commute, (reference post passim) it depends on whether
you are using one or two bikes. If one then you will want shoes to wear both
ends and on the train. If two bikes then you can do almost anything.
Personally I'd ride in whatever is comfortable for the first leg then change
on the train. Ride the second leg at a slower pace in work clothes.

Quoted message said:

Also, suggestions for where to buy cycle clothing generally would be
appreciated. I don't know of any bike shops within easy reach of me that
stock a good range and since I don't always know exactly what I want I like
to be able to browse. Even a good online shop that provides lots of helpful
information about the products it stocks would be good.

Wear what is comfortable the first day, change en-route and visit a bigger
shop in the smoke..

...d

quote='Simonb'davek said:

And what do people wear on their legs for cycle commuting? Lycra
seems a little inappropriate

Are you going to be cycling far? If so, use lycra. Anything else will chafe
and wear out. I spent my first winter commuting in trousers, which soon wore
out at the [censored].

Quoted message said:

Even a good online shop that
provides lots of helpful information about the products it stocks
would be good.

Primera will not ship something if they don't think it'll fit you (you have
to provide your chest, waist, height and weight measurements when you
register).

http://www.primera-bournemouth.co.uk/

--
Simon[/QUOTE]
Primera are really helpful on the phone too, they know there products really well. Wear lycra, why not ? it's the best thing for the job. I used to wear pretty much normal cycling gear for commuting.

Quoted message said:

And what do people wear on their legs for cycle commuting? Lycra seems a
little inappropriate,

RonHill Bikesters. £11.99 from www.wiggle.co.uk
I wear my Lycra shorts under the bikesters.

Cheers, helen s

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Simonb:

Quoted message said:

Are you going to be cycling far? If so, use lycra. Anything else will

chafe

Quoted message said:

and wear out. I spent my first winter commuting in trousers, which soon

wore

Quoted message said:

out at the [censored].

Hmm. Interesting. I imagined cycling specific trousers would be designed to
overcome those problems. I've got no qualms about wearing lycra myself - I'm
just considering the feelings of the people I'll encounter on the train leg
of my commute. 😉

Quoted message said:

Primera will not ship something if they don't think it'll fit you (you

have

Quoted message said:

to provide your chest, waist, height and weight measurements when you
register).

http://www.primera-bournemouth.co.uk/

Ta. Sounds good. I shall investigate.

d.

davek said:

I'm looking for something suitable to put on my feet for cycle commuting -
ie shoes that take cleats (SPD-Rs in my case) but that are also suitable for
wearing off the bike, and if they're reasonably weatherproof that would be
good too. Diadora Geko shoes look like they might be suitable and are about
the right kind of price for me. Anyone care to recommend these or anything
else that I should look at?

When I used to cycle commute (walk now, having moved much closer) I'd
cycle in SPuD shoes and leave a pair of work shoes in the hospital to
put on when I arrived. Which makes the choice of shoes purely a cycling
oriented decision.

Quoted message said:

And what do people wear on their legs for cycle commuting? Lycra seems a
little inappropriate, but I don't necessarily want MTB trousers with all the
extra bits of padding in odd places. Just something comfortable, close-ish
fitting (appropriate for cycling) and waterproof.

So it "just" has to be comfy, closish fitting /and/ waterproof? IME
waterproof is not comfortable, it's just less uncomfortable than the
alternatives if it's sheeting it down, as waterproof means less
breathable than alternatives.
I just commuted in the trousers I wear at work: Rohan Bags, and would
pull overtrousers on if it was really disgusting. If I was caught in a
burst without the o-ts then Bags dry out with 10 minutes of arrival
anyway, even after a major soaking.

Some folk at the hospital cycle in wearing All The Gear and then change.
I could never be bothered with that, but it does work for some people,
but 5 minutes putting on and subsequently changing out of padded shorts
etc. is 5 minutes I could spend in bed, which I'd much rather do unless
my commute was a big one. I find for short hacks that it just isn't
worth my while changing clothes, but my day to day clothes tend to be
reasonably well suited to cycling with fair freedom of movement and fast
drying.

Quoted message said:

Also, suggestions for where to buy cycle clothing generally would be
appreciated.

In my case commuting clothing was where I bought my clothing anyway.
Rohan have a sale starting this Thursday if their stuff appeals.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

David Martin:

Quoted message said:

It was the 'comfortably walkable off the bike' that got me from Look to

SPD.

Quoted message said:

I find the Diadora Chili to be excellent because they fit my feet

perfectly.

Hmm. More expensive than the Gekos, but I might just have to try a pair
on...

Quoted message said:

Given your proposed commute, (reference post passim) it depends on whether
you are using one or two bikes.

Just the one bike - namely the Edinburgh Contour I ordered this morning. I
see where you're coming from with your suggestions, but I'm aiming to travel
in just the one set of clothes and change at work.

cheers,

d.

helen:

Quoted message said:

RonHill Bikesters. £11.99 from www.wiggle.co.uk
I wear my Lycra shorts under the bikesters.

Ah yes, you've mentioned them before. I expect they'll be good for dry days
but how weatherproof are they?

(btw, you'll love this: on the bikemagic review quoted on wiggle, someone
has put as a 'con' that they don't come in a bib version.)

d.

davek said:

Ah yes, you've mentioned them before. I expect they'll be good for dry days
but how weatherproof are they?

Depends how you define "weatherproof". They won't keep your legs dry,
but OTOH your legs (and the Bikesters) will dry out within a few
minutes. In drizzle they dry out about as fast as they get wet so they
never get truly disgusting, and they move with you so remain comfy in
all but swimming pool conditions.

If you're self conscious about skin tight stuff in crowds they're not
really much different to lycra in that respect.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

davek said:

David Martin:

Quoted message said:

It was the 'comfortably walkable off the bike' that got me from Look to

SPD.

Quoted message said:

I find the Diadora Chili to be excellent because they fit my feet

perfectly.

Hmm. More expensive than the Gekos, but I might just have to try a pair
on...

I'd guess that your feet are different to mine. The reason I first
considered them is that they had a lace up inner with a velcro flap over the
top (and were stiff and walkable). Worth a try anyway.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Given your proposed commute, (reference post passim) it depends on whether
you are using one or two bikes.

Just the one bike - namely the Edinburgh Contour I ordered this morning. I
see where you're coming from with your suggestions, but I'm aiming to travel
in just the one set of clothes and change at work.

You could put a pair of lightweight trousers in the pannier/rucksack and put
them on before getting on the train, having cycled in what is comfortable.
(eg a pair of rohan bags as mentioned earlier.)

I like wearing cycle shorts on the bike but loathe wearing them off it. I
have worn them all day when I forgot the underwear int he change of
clothes..

(then I was commuting 16 miles each way with a shower at work on arrival.

...d

Peter Clinch said:

davek wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Ah yes, you've mentioned them before. I expect they'll be good for dry days
but how weatherproof are they?

Quoted message said:

Depends how you define "weatherproof". They won't keep your legs dry,
but OTOH your legs (and the Bikesters) will dry out within a few
minutes. In drizzle they dry out about as fast as they get wet so they
never get truly disgusting, and they move with you so remain comfy in
all but swimming pool conditions.

And the DXB ones are sort of water repellant.

Quoted message said:

If you're self conscious about skin tight stuff in crowds they're not
really much different to lycra in that respect.

Disagree. The women's ones I have are fairly loose around the hips and bum
in my case (YMMV etc). I felt more dressed in them than in my lycra
running shorts when we went into tea rooms 🙂

Roos

MSeries said:

Simonb said:

davek said:

And what do people wear on their legs for cycle commuting? Lycra
seems a little inappropriate

Are you going to be cycling far? If so, use lycra. Anything else will
chafe
and wear out. I spent my first winter commuting in trousers, which
soon wore
out at the [censored].

Quoted message said:

Even a good online shop that
provides lots of helpful information about the products it stocks
would be good.

Primera will not ship something if they don't think it'll fit you
(you have
to provide your chest, waist, height and weight measurements when you
register).

http://www.primera-bournemouth.co.uk/

--
Simon

Primera are really helpful on the phone too, they know there products
really well. Wear lycra, why not ? it's the best thing for the job. I
used to wear pretty much normal cycling gear for commuting.

Great shop: a real treasure trove. You know it's good when they have loads
of frames hanging off the ceiling. Don't get down there as often as I'd
like, though.

On 19/7/04 4:17 pm, in article [email hidden],

Roos Eisma said:

Quoted message said:

Depends how you define "weatherproof". They won't keep your legs dry,
but OTOH your legs (and the Bikesters) will dry out within a few
minutes. In drizzle they dry out about as fast as they get wet so they
never get truly disgusting, and they move with you so remain comfy in
all but swimming pool conditions.

Having swum through caves in tracksters I can confirm that even in swimming
pool like conditions they are relatively comfortable..

...d

Peter Clinch:

Quoted message said:

When I used to cycle commute (walk now, having moved much closer) I'd
cycle in SPuD shoes and leave a pair of work shoes in the hospital to
put on when I arrived.

Yes, I could get away with this - and indeed I've done it several times
before - but part of my commute involves getting on and off a train. I /can/
manage in my road-bike shoes, but they're not ideal.

It's probably a bit misleading to ask for recommendations for 'commuting'
shoes when what I really mean is cycling-shoes-I-can-walk-in in a more
general sense. And I know that comes under the category of frequently asked
questions, so I probably should check the archives.

Quoted message said:

So it "just" has to be comfy, closish fitting /and/ waterproof?

Hmmm. Well, I have full-length thermal lycra tights that keep my legs nice
and warm and are very comfortable. They aren't waterproof but they dry out
quickly enough. I also have some waterproof overtrousers but they're quite
baggy, especially round the ankle, which makes them not really suitable for
cycling (I've tried them with clips but that doesn't really work for me).

So I guess I'm after something in between - something as comfortable and
warm as the tights but with a less figure-hugging cut and waterproof. Now
you mention it, it does seem like a /big/ ask.

However, Helen's suggestion of Ronhill Bikesters sounds like a good one.
I'll just have to accept a compromise in my requirements. The DXB version of
the bikesters could be a good bet. Or I could just subject my fellow
commuters to the sight of me in lycra first thing in the morning. And maybe
get some cycling-cut waterproof overtrousers for when it's really nasty.

Quoted message said:

Some folk at the hospital cycle in wearing All The Gear and then change.
I could never be bothered with that, but it does work for some people,

I think I'm one of those people. I don't mind changing at work - especially
since they have very nice facilities, including a shower that's better than
our shower at home.

Quoted message said:

Rohan have a sale starting this Thursday if their stuff appeals.

Cheers for the tip-off. I'll definitely check them out.

d.

Quoted message said:

Ah yes, you've mentioned them before. I expect they'll be good for dry days
but how weatherproof are they?

They aren't waterproof, but they dry in what seems like seconds. I ride all
through the winter in Bikesters - in the cold weather I'll have a pair of
long-johns on underneath for warmth and so far, they've been fine when I cycle
in cold or wet.

Quoted message said:

(btw, you'll love this: on the bikemagic review quoted on wiggle, someone
has put as a 'con' that they don't come in a bib version.)

Typing error - obvious, innit ;-)

Cheers, helen s

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in message <[email hidden]>, davek

(') said:

I'm looking for something suitable to put on my feet for cycle
commuting - ie shoes that take cleats (SPD-Rs in my case) but that are
also suitable for wearing off the bike, and if they're reasonably
weatherproof that would be good too. Diadora Geko shoes look like they
might be suitable and are about the right kind of price for me. Anyone
care to recommend these or anything else that I should look at?

And what do people wear on their legs for cycle commuting? Lycra seems
a little inappropriate, but I don't necessarily want MTB trousers with
all the extra bits of padding in odd places. Just something
comfortable, close-ish fitting (appropriate for cycling) and
waterproof.

Wear lycra, carry a pair of Rohan bags (or similar very light trousers)
rolled up in a back pocket.

Quoted message said:

Also, suggestions for where to buy cycle clothing generally would be
appreciated. I don't know of any bike shops within easy reach of me
that stock a good range and since I don't always know exactly what I
want I like to be able to browse. Even a good online shop that
provides lots of helpful information about the products it stocks
would be good.

Whereabouts are you?

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

Due to financial constraints, the light at the end of the tunnel
has been switched off.