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Probably coming up to ten years ago I forewent the baggies in favour of all out MAMIL.
There are now very few rides where I won't have bibs on (shorts or tights) and a lycra jersey etc.
I'm comfortable physically and aesthetically (ooh er Mrs) in lycra and just roll with there is no hiding.
Perhaps it's one too many Radavist articles but I'm thinking of ditching the lycra for off road and embracing a less restrictive approach to on bike clothing. I won't be taking a pair of scissors to any 501s though.
For road riding the lycra will stay.
Anyone ditched the lycra in such an instance and if so, what did you end up with?
Whatever works for you. I find lycra more comfortable and prefer it overall especially in spring/summer. I do wear baggies sometimes though, family rides, some MTB group rides
Never have and never will wear lycra to ride a bicycle*
*apart from undershorts
I could ditch the Lycra bib shorts and top for a pair of baggies and one of those long sleeve tops with no pockets but I couldn’t ditch the aero socks. No point giving up free speed.
I wear bib shorts even if im doing uplift days. They are just hidden under other stuff....!?!
You know it is possible to simultaneously be comfortable, and look cool in enduro pyjamas...
The easiest way to quit lycra is to never start.
Loosen your clothing and your attitude may follow ..
I don't wear lycra on the road either anymore. I think the final straw was the long tight aero sleeves trend. Just, no : ) Seems like there's an acceptable costume for going out for a leisure road ride yet most of us don't race, don't even ride in a road club.
I have a few pairs of simple shorts (Giro, Cafe du Cycliste, Kalf), some looser or MTB style single colour LS tops, tech and merino Ts and LS shirts like the older Shimano Transit or Alpkit Woodsmoke. I swear by the Transit shirt for riding in the heat, beats trad roadie tops for sure. More comfortable overall ime.
Anecdotaly I'd say road riding is a calmer experience in the last 10 years that I've not been dressed as a MAMIL / wannabe Brad Wiggins or whatever non-cyclists think. No evidence but perhaps not looking like that stereotype roadie triggers the worst drivers less.
MTB I'll always wear baggies over bib shorts, gravel it depends how much road there is and if the off-road is likely to be overgrown in places. Prefer ones like Rapha Trail Light and a similar Gore model (both from Sport Pursuit).
Tops I struggle a bit ditching lycra options so I can look a bit of a tit with baggy bottoms and a tight jersey, I don't really like flappy material though and a lot of MTB stuff lacks pockets.
Road I'm always just bibs and lycra top and try not to look in a mirror much
I'm Baggies on the MTB, Full MAMIL on Road and Gravel, Some seem to prefer the Lumberjack shirts and 'fitted' shorts look for Gravel bikes I've noticed, but I kind of feel like if you're going to embrace the curly bars you might as well just use the same kit you do for Road riding.
Baggies on the MTB suit the way you tend to move about more on the bike (IME/IMO).
Ultimately you can wear what you like, part of being comfortable and enjoying a ride is liking what you're wearing and if that means adopting a bit of a uniform to appear less conspicuous to strangers then I don't see the harm.
Thankfully nowadays we don't have to wear a lycra uniform, there are MTB clothes that are not far from "normal" clothes. Same as off the bike I wear trousers (even in summer, to keep off the ticks, brambles etc), a long sleeve top and a check shirt with trainer-like shoes.
Functionally lycra is better whatever you are riding . It's comfortable and doesn't get in the way. Baggies are extra weight, extra friction, and more likely to get caught on undergrowth and saddles - no positives apart from the looks - and you still have to wear lycra underneath them unless you are particularly fond of chafing.
MAMIL (or rather OMIL) on road. Off road I keep the bibs and base layer with baggies over and loose fitting top.
and you still have to wear lycra underneath them unless you are particularly fond of chafing.
I just wear a pair of SAXX boxers from Go outdoors
Functionally lycra is better whatever you are riding . It's comfortable and doesn't get in the way. Baggies are extra weight, extra friction, and more likely to get caught on undergrowth and saddles - no positives apart from the looks - and you still have to wear lycra underneath them unless you are particularly fond of chafing.
This is my view, Lycra just works better. I know it's not a look for everyone, but from a functional perspective it works. If you don't want to wear it due to how it looks that's fine, just don't pretend it's for a functional reason.
Functionally, a thong is better whatever you're riding. It's comfortable and doesn't get in the way. Lycra is extra weight, extra friction, and more likely to get caught on your mangina - no positives apart from the looks - and you still have to lube your taint unless you're particularly fond of chafing.
Functionally lycra is better whatever you are riding . It's comfortable and doesn't get in the way. Baggies are extra weight, extra friction, and more likely to get caught on undergrowth and saddles - no positives apart from the looks - and you still have to wear lycra underneath them unless you are particularly fond of chafing.
Disagree.. fwiw. Padded lycra shorts can be the cause of discomfort on longer rides and .. extra weight or getting snagged? They're not flares : )
You don't need the padded shorts under normal shorts, you just need a saddle that suits you and shorts + boxers that aren't cotton and don't have bad seams. They can breathe and vent better than padded shorts. A bit of chammy cream can help on a long ride like it does with pads, and I'd say the cream makes far more difference than any pads do.
I mean, wear what you like - as always. But I don't think it's a good thing to perpetuate this myth that you have to wear lycra to ride, or that finding a decent combo of shorts and boxers is any different or less possible to finding padded shorts that work for you (apart from a fair bit cheaper).
just don't pretend it's for a functional reason.
Except it is. My experience of long-distance riding says that a pad in shorts is what starts some of the discomforts on longer rides. Padding is for your saddle, let your skin breathe more. Certainly I don't care much for the lycra look but I did it for years, can't say I ever liked it, I just did it because I was told it was necessary (lycra is one of the reasons more people don't cycle, imo).
If anything, I'm heading back the other way, with lycra for all off-road, not just gravel.
wear what you like
😎
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jun/16/naked-cycling-ever-acceptable-rental-bike-nude
^ Skids are for kids ..
I mean, wear what you like - as always. But I don't think it's a good thing to perpetuate this myth that you have to wear lycra to ride, or that finding a decent combo of shorts and boxers is any different or less possible to finding padded shorts that work for you (apart from a fair bit cheaper).
Which boxers don't have 'bad seams'?
Disagree, MTB clothing looks terrible as well
It depends on the mtb clothing. Some of it just looks like regular 'clothing'. It's a bit like saying 'clothing looks terrible as well'. The contemporary middle-aged, slightly pudgy mountain biker looks pretty bad in anything. ymmv.
I mean, wear what you like - as always. But I don't think it's a good thing to perpetuate this myth that you have to wear lycra to ride, or that finding a decent combo of shorts and boxers is any different or less possible to finding padded shorts that work for you (apart from a fair bit cheaper).
Which boxers don't have 'bad seams'?
I've found the Zoo York pack of 5 from TK Maxx surprisingly good.
There is also those pricey 7Mesh padded boxers and the lady equivalent.
I've found the Zoo York pack of 5 from TK Maxx surprisingly good.
There is also those pricey 7Mesh padded boxers and the lady equivalent.
Thanks. I'm generally a convinced chamois user, but for aimless potters during hot spells, I'd happily wear something cooler.
I always use bibs and technical base. Gravel or MTB I'll have baggies on the top and a slightly looser fitting road top. Road then it's road gear.
I'm with STR - decent sports boxers where the seam is not in the middle.
A squidgy pad is unneccesary on a MTB with 2.5 inches of air filled tyres and possibly 4-7 inches of suspension.
Shorts and tshirt in slightly stretchy, breathable material, bike specific ones means they are cut longer at the rear and possibly with the shoulders a bit forward.
If I really cared about performance especially in this hot weather - and cared nothing about my appearance - tri-suits might appeal.
These are the ones I use - SAXX Kinetic
I actually have some Saxx ones - freebies - sat in a drawer somewhere, maybe two pairs. I should ferret them out for a try. Thanks.
A squidgy pad is unneccesary on a MTB with 2.5 inches of air filled tyres and possibly 4-7 inches of suspension.
I guess the argument is that the pad isn't so much cushioning your interface with ground - at least under riding conditions - as minimising pressure/friction between your undercarriage and the saddle. Sure, some of that will be reduced slightly by having a bunch of cushion between bike and ground, but you will still be the same force acting downwards to an extent. Plus bike and saddle fit / suitability are also going to have a say.
Anyone else experience "penis trap" when wearing baggies?
I prefer snug lycra to hold everything in roughly the correct place. This is ruined when wearing baggies over the lycra: there always seems to be an occasion on the ride where my bell-end gets trapped by the rigid material of the baggies. I've tried snugger baggies, and looser baggies. Still happens... my tally-wacker gets nipped.
I only wear baggies as an extra layer of protection when pushing it a bit. At all other times it's just lycra and a comfortable willy for me 🙂
The GRVL bib shorts have a lightweight slim outer attached and are my goto for gravel riding, Gore used to do something similar. No belts, no need to hike up the waistband etc. no pockets mind you.
I've now ditched padded shorts for all mtb rides, I've got seamless bamboo ones for relatively cheap and I wear them with baggies. I'm heading that way for more recreational gravel biking but being slightly tilted forwards makes it a bit less comfortable. My preference is to more fitted baggy shorts anyway so they don't tend to get caught on the saddle nose.
Road and fast gravel I will go for lycra and padding but that's as much for the aero gainz.
Anyone else experience "penis trap" when wearing baggies?
I prefer snug lycra to hold everything in roughly the correct place. This is ruined when wearing baggies over the lycra: there always seems to be an occasion on the ride where my bell-end gets trapped by the rigid material of the baggies. I've tried snugger baggies, and looser baggies. Still happens... my tally-wacker gets nipped.
I only wear baggies as an extra layer of protection when pushing it a bit. At all other times it's just lycra and a comfortable willy for me 🙂
No but I have to be careful it doesn't get caught in the chainring.
No but I have to be careful it doesn't get caught in the chainring.
if mine scrapes on a technical trail feature does it count as a dab?
Disagree, MTB clothing looks terrible as well
I think a fair bit does look rather 'unique'.
I think personal choice plays a lot in this view.
But around that venn diagram I have found a few brands and pieces that are OK. Usually without logos or hugely random bright patterns.
I never wear Lycra, chamois anything like that. On road or off. Admittedly I don’t ride on road much. I don’t get chafing wearing ordinary baggies - Dharco or Endura - and my normal underwear.
Shortly after I bought my first mountain bike (1989) I entered the Birmingham to Oxford charity ride. The day after, I was in the bike shop asking about a new saddle. They said no, you don't need a saddle, you need some proper cycling shorts. Since then, I have worn proper cycling shorts and I have never had any issues - or needed chamois cream.
The day after, I was in the bike shop asking about a new saddle. They said no, you don't need a saddle, you need some proper cycling shorts.
Would I rather be on a 12hr ride with the right saddle and no padded shorts, or the wrong saddle with padded shorts?
100% the former ime. No shorts can make up for a saddle that is the wrong shape or width, but the right saddle can be used w/o padded shorts. Just my experience though and that's likely to be related to the type of discomfort I get (or used to get).
The main thing is it all works for you of course, saddle/short discomfort is caused by different things for different people (pressure, heat, chafing, a combo of two / all, etc)
I recently had a brief spell of wearing lycra shorts on road but didn't find a great benefit and felt like a tit basically riding around in tight pants. Also the pad makes it feel like I'm wearing a big nappy. Could just be that my cheap Halfords padded shorts are rubbish though, the pad barely reaches my sit bone area but if I go the next size up they'll be loose around the waist. As a result I'm basically riding around on about 1mm of lycra between my sit bones and saddle.
I currently ride everything in bamboo boxers with fairly flat/smooth seams, and normal "outdoorsy" material shorts that aren't too baggy or long (Dare2B). It's fine for a couple of hours but wouldn't mind trying something with some light padding, maybe the Alpkit undershorts would be a good place to start!
I've recently taken to just getting on the bike and riding. whatever I'm in I ride in. jeans and t-shirt - small rucksack. If I can be bothered to chuck on a jersey that's in the shed - stuff that's in the small rucksack goes in back pockets. Sure, my arse hurts a bit more than usual, I sweat a bit more...but I'm out and on the bike. No faffing looking for the shorts I want etc.
That's how I rode when I was 12 and that's when cycling was the most fun 🙂
When commuting and for rides under 20 miles I just wear Decathlons own brand breathable boxers under my shorts / trousers.
For longer rides I now always wear bibs with sewn in baggy outer (Sports Pursuit currently have Silvini ones on offer). I can wear these for 80+ mile rides without issue.
