You are hereForums / By Discipline / Mountain (off road) / MTB Gear / What to wear MTB

What to wear MTB


danielschipper's picture

By danielschipper - Posted on 10 July 2011

NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.

I've been back riding for a year now and figure it's time to get some riding gear.

At the moment I ride in board shorts & tee shirts. Now that it's winter that's not too good!

So I'm wondering what people wear and why.... I.e is it for 'fashion' only or are there specific things that improve the riding experience?

Tags
Burt de Ernie's picture

So the only reason you wear lycra is to show your "packed lunch" to your biking buddies. That is way to SUS for me.

Chitts's picture

.... I never said I wear lycra Eye-wink

Pete B's picture

So to sum up this thread,

If you wear lycra, you're an over accesorised fashion victim and if you don't then it's easier to go to the pub after a ride.

Nick R's picture

Hey chitts - weren't you wearing these when we rode last weekend? Eye-wink

Nice knicks

Andy Bloot's picture

Never mind

hawkeye's picture
... over accesorised fashion victim and if you don't then it's easier to go to the pub after a ride.

So that shirt you were wearing on the weekend made from?.... Evil

The funny thing with this thread is that the technical fabrics most of the skin-tight cycling kit is made from is actually polyester, with nary a lycra thread in sight... Laughing out loud

Same as my boardies...

Flynny's picture

and for a serious answer to the winter riding question many light layers are better than 1 heavy one.

Arm and leg warmers are easy to peel off once you get into the trees and start to warm up a bite. as is a jersey or two.

Noel's picture

When it's just a bit cold, a super-thin vest that stops the wind works well.

twotommos's picture

I'm finding this thread hysterically funny....being a lycra man, Rob i was wondering if you would set up a vote count on the site, 3 columns:*Lycra (incl bibs shorts) *lycra and boardies combo * boardies only.....and it would have to be what you wear mostly.....should be interesting I reckon?

Logan's picture

Btw Belgium Leg warmers are the way forward as well...

Madderdog's picture

No one is actually mentioning the obvious just spotting the macho guff and comfort angle. Go for cycling specific baggies that have a stitched in Lycra insert or cycling specific baggies with Lycra shorts underneath. Lycra is more comfortable when riding and shorts need to be tailored to fit comfortably in the riding position. Most importantly when you come off the bike baggies give more protection from gravel rash

ChopStiR's picture

I wear board shorts over my bike pants and i love to wear loose fitting riding shirts. I am currently getting a custom designed shirt made by zerofive. I have also found wearing a rashie can be a good top.

Yarg's picture

Mate,

If you like your pecker in a useable state - and you ride more than 20 mins at a time - you'll go Lyra - weather the "full monty" of bib nicks, Lycra shorts or baggys with the lycra inserts.

For "winter" riding and I use the quotes as I'm a kiwi and you don't have "winter" in Perth, a wind proof or water proof layer on top of your normal top is about all you will need, - with a decent jacket and towel back at the car when you get in.

Yarg

Flynny's picture
If you like your pecker in a useable state - and you ride more than 20 mins at a time - you'll go Lyra

If your old fella is going numb you either have your saddle set up wrong or you have the wrong saddle for you. In either case a bit of padded lycra may offer short term relief but things will accumulate and get worse.

I've been riding for years, done all day ride commando style, never had numbness. Check your saddle dude.

Yarg's picture

Mate,

Nothing ever went numb - just started to wear away - changed to lycra - and according to she who should know - its all in wonderfully good working order Smiling

And yes "Commando" with the lycra - of course . . . .

Yarg

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Best Mountain Bike