I’m starting to commute by bike and looking for clothing that can be worn on and off the bike without looking ridiculous. I have a couple of Club Ride shirts bought from the STW store that fit the bill and are great. Unfortunately buying direct is expensive. Are there any UK equivalents? What about lower half clothing?
Where I work doesn’t have a dress code (within reason) and I’ve occasionally worn Endura shorts all day if I have no meetings. So just looking for stuff that has good moisture wicking properties and looks acceptable/is comfortable for daily wear.
Any recommendations greatly appreciated
Tweed os your friend.
From the shooting estates to meetings with ones money man in the city +4s will get you their and back again.
The idea that you need special clothes to ride a bike would make most of the people I see commuting either laugh or look at you with bemusement.
Tweed is a good shout but unfortunately I have no country set friends. @thepodge it may well make them laugh or look at me with bemusement. However, the thought of wearing normal clothes, sweating in them for an hour or so and then spending the rest of the day in them doesn’t appeal. Items that have good moisture wicking properties on the other hand will be comfier and not stink. Thanks for the input though 👍
Merino stuff is good as it doesn't smell
I wear Alpkit Woodsmoke shirts all the time both on and off the bike these definitely fit your brief . But I've just seen the price now, crikey.
My commute is only 11 miles, but no way could I sit in my riding gear. I sweat, get wet from rain and standing water and would stink if I didn't have a shower.
I chuck a pair of chinos/shirt/underwear in the bag and keep shoes at the office...
No shower at the other end unfortunately. Think taking a change of clothes may be the best option tbh. Will look at merino tops too. The Club Ride shirts are ace and don’t smell after riding which is great. Just wish they were a tad cheaper and/or had stock in the UK.
However, the thought of wearing normal clothes, sweating in them for an hour or so and then spending the rest of the day in them doesn’t appeal.
Are we talking an hour of leisurely rolling across open countryside and quiet cycle tracks, barely ticking over, or 60 minutes of bouncing around in the traffic with a heart rate bouncing off the top limit?
I just wear MTB shorts and normal T-shirts, plus a windproof and thin fleece if it’s cold enough. But it’s only a short commute. I’d probably take a spare T-shirt to wear at work if my commute was an hour long.
My commute is 25 mins and I don't shower, not had any complaints yet.
I leave trousers, shoes and deodorant at work. I bring in a fresh shirt each day or, when I do drive in, I'll bring a few shirts in and leave them here. I do always change clothes though, that way if I do get wet coming in its not a problem. Lucky to also have a clothes drying cabinet thing for the odd occasion when cycling stuff does get soaked.
Are we talking an hour of leisurely rolling across open countryside and quiet cycle tracks, barely ticking over, or 60 minutes of bouncing around in the traffic with a heart rate bouncing off the top limit?
Somewhere between the two extremes. I’m also not in the best shape at the moment.
I'd buy separate clothes then.
Yeah, think a change of clothes is the best bet. Just trying to be lazy and carry less 😀
I would stay clear of merino thats absolute madness.
It has many good properties but it takes ages to dry. So you sit there all wet for ages
I’m also not in the best shape at the moment.
Tip top tip, spent the last five minutes of your commute coasting in to work and arrive slightly too cold. If I'm pushing hard all the way to the bike shed I will be dripping sweat by the time I have passed through reception.
I don't have a shower. I have a 6-7 mile commute.
I can't sit in sweaty riding gear all day, even if it looks smart.
I carry a half full pannier - fresh shirt, undies, socks and lunch, sometimes shoes and trousers if I forget them in the car earlier in week etc.
Fresh clothes + good dose of deodorant and I'm good.
The new bike’s an ebike isn’t it? That makes it way easier to adjust your effort vs the weather and your clothing so you don’t arrive a sweaty mess.
That’s correct. Hopefully in the mid to long term it will. Will just take a while to build fitness back up, even with the eBike. Think I’ll leave a pair of shoes at both sites permanently and take trousers, tops, undies and socks in each day.
I commute in t-shirt and shorts, which I work in.
Spray on deodorant is liberally applied if it's warm and I'm a bit sweaty.
Nobody has objected yet....
“The idea that you need special clothes to ride a bike would make most of the people I see commuting either laugh or look at you with bemusement.”
Agreed! But when I used to commute in my work trousers (many years ago) they did wear through on the seat rather fast. Baggy shorts or 3/4 or trousers are a nice middle ground between office wear and Lycra.
Change of clothes for me. Vulpine on sports pursuit otherwise
If it’s a full power one you can soft pedal and let the motor do all the work for the last few minutes whilst you cool down in the breeze. Makes a huge difference!
Tip top tip, spent the last five minutes of your commute coasting in to work and arrive slightly too cold. If I’m pushing hard all the way to the bike shed I will be dripping sweat by the time I have passed through reception
Great advice.
Except my office is up the hill...
Think I’ll leave a pair of shoes at both sites permanently and take trousers, tops, undies and socks in each day.
I used to do shoes, trousers and a towel/deodorant. Because my last commute was ~30 hilly km in an hour, and i didn't fancy lugging any more than i had to. Used to drive in (or do a steady, 90 minute ride) once a week to change trousers and towel.
Great advice.
Except my office is up the hill…
Sweaty minger.
I commute 4 miles each way.
I've always taken a change of clothes.
Current commuter trousers are endura poly cotton jobs- look like smart chinos, fine for 4 miles. Any wicking technical t shirt is fine. Except for one dakine one which stinks
My commute is only 7 miles, but I'm in the habit of getting changed daily. I wear cheap lightweight/wicking generic sports clothes for commuting. I get changed into casual work clothes - sometimes it seems a bit pointless, but often I'm reminded why I do it - sweaty, rain, dirty - and wear and tear because cycling isn't always particularly kind to clothes.
Proper cycling specific rain trousers and jacket and waterproof socks for the winter however.
Keela Roadrunner trousers are an excellent middle ground.
Issued to cycling police, paramedics etc reflective trim and with zip vents, Dry quickly too
(Not that I commute any more but do cycle everywhere)
Any walking trousers and shirt would work. I used to commute in, but not everyday so would leave trousers and a couple of shirts and shoes.
Waterproof pannier from decathlon would carry undies and a shirt if I planned it wrong. It’s such a great way to get to work- just get a plan together and it will be fine. I joined a gym opposite work for showers (and gym
If I drove) but during covid I had a tramp wash at a sink in the loos. It was okay. I also put a foam floor tile in work to stand barefoot and prevent my feet cramping. It was my business though so I could do what I liked. 20 mile each way, on road bike and ebike mix.
Quechua walking clothes from Decathlon are very normal looking. nothing too in your face, and are far better that most expensive cycle clothing to cycle in.
i use their trousers, shorts and shirts. oh,and their fleece tops and a waterproof too.
and can i add, in 37 years of cycle commuting, i never wore cycle clothing. i find it mostly pointless and expensive.
I have a couple of Club Ride shirts bought from the STW store
Got a link?
I wear riding clothes and have stuff that lives in the office - getting rained on and sitting all day with a wet arse is not good.
Office shoes, black jeans live there - take fresh pants socks, shirt (rolled up) in the bag with my laptop
showers in the disabled toilets (one on each floor so I'm not taking the mickey using them) which I'm thankful for - however I don't always shower if I'm clean and not riding daft speed, a towel rub and deodorant can be enough.
My choice of cycle commute attire depends very much on the weather. If it's hot or cold/wet, I'll need cycle kit. But i can just about get away with normal clothing if it's mild and dry.
I do have a lovely pair of Vulpine jeans that I can wear in the office and are also great on the bike.
Got a link?
Doesn’t look like they have any at the moment.
Thanks everyone for the feedback.