Cycling Fashion

I’ve seen a bunch of recreational cyclist out the last couple of weeks and over 90% of them seem to be clad in spiffy cycling jerseys and shorts. I’ve also seen a few other commuters this week and they’re outfitted the same way.

I don’t want to upset those of you who are used to wearing Lycra / Spandex for your daily commute — but I just don’t get it. Fritz kids me sometimes because I tend to commute in a tee-shirt, jean shorts and old tennis shoes. I only rack up 10 miles a day on my commute so it works for me; plus I want people who are driving by thinking they might want to take a crack at bicycle commuting to see me and know that they don’t need to go out and buy a whole new outfit to give it a try. I like this comment from the Rivendell Bicycle Works site:

“In America, cyclers who are otherwise normal wear spandex shorts and skin tight jerseys with psychedelic geckos, skulls & crossbones, wilderness murals, flags and serious-looking bald eagles, and advertisements for the local coffee shop or podiatrist. The message it sends potential riders is that without special clothing, they’ll have a substandard experience on the bike, but of course that’s not true.”

Is there really an advantage to the Spandex for shorter commutes? I truly am interested in your comments.

Now, on the other hand, I was checking out Velorution last night and wonder if these fashions are the anti-spandex. Perhaps it might be a bit cooler in London than it is in my home base. Still, I think it would be a blast to have one of the tweed outfits with the woven reflective thread in the late fall — I’ll bet more drivers would notice me.

Photo from the Velorution site by Giovanni Canitano and used with permission. (Thanks Andrea)