[Closed] Why do people wear baggy shorts?

So you're saying that anyone who does less than 100 miles a week is not a real cyclist now, as well as people who wear baggies? What next; those who use Camelbaks rather than water bottles can't class themselves as a true cyclist?

Not that it matters, but I do nowhere near 100 miles a week. I ride at the weekends only because (a) I work from home so have no need to commute (and even if I did go to the office, it's a 90 mile round trip) and (b) I work 10+ hours a day, meaning that I'm knackered when I finish. I only ever wear baggies because I can't see the point in lycra (what are the advantages then?) and yes, I have a Camelbak. I also never ride on the road unless it's required to get from one trail to the other. I also quite often ride in the Surrey Hills. Oh, and I am in mid-Management in IT, working for an Investment Bank.

By your standards then, I'm not a real cyclist, I'm just riding for the image. Is that right?

prezet - Member

I wear baggies so I don't make you lycra guys feel jealous about my incredibly large appendage.

I do it for YOUR self esteem - you can thank me in beer tokens

You are assuming we would look at your crotch? This would lead me to think that you (secretly) want us to look at it.

I'm a bit of a fat knacker and tend to just wear lycra these days.
It's much more pleasant in the wet, rubs less, dont have to pull them up every ten minutes and I really, really couldn't care less what anyone else thinks.

I wore baggies for years off road and I really have no idea why.
Fashion I suppose.

My partner reckons I scare small children, but, like Binners, she's much more self aware than I am.

I'm hung like a baby rabbit/sweetcorn anyway, so really have nothing to hide 😀

Remember:

[img] [/img]

That's my camelbak, that is. I have probably got a canoe in there somewhere.

I'm just ordering some winter tights....go me!

[b]Its more comfortable?[/b]
No it isn't!
see, we're not all the same! I pretty much hate padded shorts (other than ones with the absolute minimum amount of padding) too, but some knobber will no doubt tell me these are an absolutely essential requirement to do a certain number of miles. 🙄

prezet - Member
I wear baggies so I don't make you lycra guys feel jealous about my incredibly large appendage.

I do it for YOUR self esteem - you can thank me in beer tokens

You are assuming we would look at your crotch? This would lead me to think that you (secretly) want us to look at it.

You'd look at it. It'd be hard to miss it. And you'd love it. 😀

I think the phrase that came up earlier in the week "Pony trekkers on wheels" applies

I'm not sure why people think mileage is some indicator of being a 'real' mountain biker (whatever that means). Mincing in your lycra for 100s of miles a week round roads or boring flat bridleways proves nothing other than that you like wearing lycra. 🙂

No I bet you don't, because just splashing about would be for losers - every time you do anything you do it to the MAX!!! Serious business!!!

Going for a splash about would be for those with kids to entertain or "entertaining" a group of swedish 20 somethings in a private pool with champagne bar. Sadly no kids and my frolicking with the ladeez days are long gone. That leaves club training sessions or lane swimming in a public pool. Harding max rad action but actually involves proper swimming and proper swimming in baggies is crap.

i wear baggies because lycra looks naff

its as simple as that really

unless you spend your time locked in a basement waiting for ving rhames and bruce willis to tumble down your stairs, there is no reason to dress like a gimp

however if you are so inclined just head over to www.spandexguys.com (nsfw) and have some fun

convert earlier;

[img] [/img]

stopadoodledoo - I think the correct term for people like yourself is "weekend Warrior", think I read it on the internet somewhere so it must be true 😉

By your standards then, I'm not a real cyclist, I'm just riding for the image. Is that right?

Thats what it sounds like judging by your last post. 10+ hour days? What are you playing at? You should be racking up the miles in your quest to become a true cyclist.

Saddle bag, pfft have you no shame?

And here's me thinking you were championing lycra's practicality.

GO JAMIE!!!! YAY!!!

[img] [/img]

wwaswas - your promised when you took that, that it was just for you for special times and you would not share. I feel violated!

did 185 miles last week in Baggies and "silly trainer types" but then again i would want to be considered "proper".

I only ever wear baggies because I can't see the point in lycra (what are the advantages then?)

Lycra, lighter, more aerodynamic, doesn't flap around etc. So if your racing it is a no brainer. Have you ever seen a speed-skier or a top end swimmer wearing flappy clothing, and even at 15mph aerodynamics do start to figure, why waste energy, ride further, ride faster, ride more.

For non racing, it is more comfortable, no extra seams to rub, in hot weather less clothing layers is usually a good idea, for riding move back off the saddle nothing to get caught up on the nose of the saddle. Closer fitting clothing doesn't tend to attract thorns as much,

Then there is less to wash when you get home, less layers mean less trashing of the washing machine, etc.

[i]I feel violated! [/i]

[i]You[/i] feel violated?

I'm the one who had to go into google images and search for mankini!

My eyeballs are still suffering.

Its more comfortable?
No it isn't!
see, we're not all the same! I pretty much hate padded shorts (other than ones with the absolute minimum amount of padding) too, but some knobber will no doubt tell me these are an absolutely essential requirement to do a certain number of miles

To be fair everyone's the same, and you're different. I truly can't think of anything worse than a hundred mile + road ride in casual clothing. I find it miserable for 2 miles. As previously stated you must have a crotch made of cow hide to not have your scrotum dripping blood after 5+ hours of all those seams...

Jerseys aren't lycra anyway, I don't really get that, with the possible exception of a skinsuit, which is totally different anyway. A good fitting jersey keeps things in your pockets in place, so they don't knock around. I've never had my neck chafed by a jersey, often carry a full bottle in my jersey pocket too.

My comment re things in baggy shorts 'weighing you down' was a genuine query, although perhaps I phrased it wrong, I meant more that it's bouncing up and down with every pedal stroke. I know when I've worn overshorts and put things in the pockets they absolutely do my head in.

End of the day, does anyone actually ride for the image? At the end of the day, we are a bunch of adults riding around the woods on bicycles and be that wearing skin tight gay glothes or baggy dude clothes, we look like utter belms to each and every person out there who doesn't ride a bicycle for fun. Remember, if you think you are cool, you most definitely are not.

Stopadoodledoo - Member
So you're saying that anyone who does less than 100 miles a week is not a real cyclist now, as well as people who wear baggies? What next; those who use Camelbaks rather than water bottles can't class themselves as a true cyclist?

Not that it matters, but I do nowhere near 100 miles a week. I ride at the weekends only because (a) I work from home so have no need to commute (and even if I did go to the office, it's a 90 mile round trip) and (b) I work 10+ hours a day, meaning that I'm knackered when I finish. I only ever wear baggies because I can't see the point in lycra (what are the advantages then?) and yes, I have a Camelbak. I also never ride on the road unless it's required to get from one trail to the other. I also quite often ride in the Surrey Hills. Oh, and I am in mid-Management in IT, working for an Investment Bank.

By your standards then, I'm not a real cyclist, I'm just riding for the image. Is that right?

You've been well and truly sprung there Jason 😉

To be fair everyone's the same, and you're different. I truly can't think of ..... Blah blah

but just to humour you, it depends what's in your pocket, where the pocket is and how it's constructed (and the rider for that matter)

Trying to "pretend" now you had to search for it and didn't take it yourself this very morning is fine - but I know different. The Mankini "hammock" still smells of you!

You'll be making your own dinner tonight!

End of the day, does anyone actually ride for the image? At the end of the day, we are a bunch of adults riding around the woods on bicycles and be that wearing skin tight gay glothes or baggy dude clothes, we look like utter belms to each and every person out there who doesn't ride a bicycle for fun. Remember, if you think you are cool, you most definitely are not.

EXACTLY! so why are people so wrapped up in what they look like, we are cyclists, the average member of the public regards us as a bunch of freaks, lycra or baggy neither is a good look. Hence i wear lycra because it does the job better.

Spot on Stopadoodledoo. Riding bikes is about as 'cool' as bumming dogs.

And if you think any different - and clearly some people on here do - then.....erm... then.... you probably bum dogs. Or summink. So there! 😛

End of the day, does anyone actually ride for the image?

Haze - Member

Saddle bag, pfft have you no shame?

And here's me thinking you were championing lycra's practicality.

I am, but saddle bags? Well I suppose so if you must.

mrmo ive done a few races and i can guarantee that my wearing baggies has not affected my finishing position

my baggies are perfectly comfortable, they dont rub or overheat, they dont get caught on the saddle or any other of the perceived disadvantages you have concocted

best of all i dont look like a gimp!

Baggies+padded boxers NOT lycra for MTB. Too sweaty to have lycra undershorts and the baggies, padded boxers are [i]just[/i] right. I like that my baggies are more durable, I wouldn't fancy a tumble in lycra and then have to get home with my cheeks out.

Lycra for the road. At least the riding position conceals the ermm... unborns and boomstick.

Maybe pure XC suits lycra alone but for more burly riding it doesn't.

I find it miserable for 2 miles.

Really? I ride 5-6 miles to work and back all the time in regular clothing and it's absolutely fine.

I don't regularly ride for 5+ hours but I have done in the past in my regular clothing and it was also fine.

I think the thing people aren't admitting here is that they like dressing up in the lycra because it makes them feel like a 'proper' cyclist (and therefore superior to non-'proper' cyclists).

[i]My comment re things in baggy shorts 'weighing you down' was a genuine query, although perhaps I phrased it wrong, I meant more that it's bouncing up and down with every pedal stroke. I know when I've worn overshorts and put things in the pockets they absolutely do my head in. [/i]

have big bag of jelly babies in the front pocket of my fox sergeants, tis fine, never notice them. And the map pocket on endura shorts actually works well for maps.

There is nothing more satisfying then overtaking a "look how speedy I am" lycra-wearing chopper while wearing baggies.
This is a true fact.
Lycra doesn't mean you're quick, it just means you think you're quick. It also means you're dressed like a complete 'tard.
Another true fact.

I meant more that it's bouncing up and down with every pedal stroke

I can understand that on a road ride but find it much less of an issue on the mtb.

But then my mountain biking only really gets as far as a 15-20 mile blast around the woods and in the pub for an hour or two.

End of the day, does anyone actually ride for the image? At the end of the day, we are a bunch of adults riding around the woods on bicycles and be that wearing skin tight gay glothes or baggy dude clothes, we look like utter belms to each and every person out there who doesn't ride a bicycle for fun. Remember, if you think you are cool, you most definitely are not.

Exactly. Image is nothing, we arent cool, we all look like bellends etc.

So why do you worry about what people are going to think if you wear lycra shorts?

End of the day, does anyone actually ride for the image?

Yes, vast swathes of people on this thread!

There is nothing more satisfying then overtaking a "look how speedy I am" lycra-wearing chopper while wearing baggies.

But the thing is, the baggy wearers have to try sooo hard to do it.

my mrs looks cool in her "Ripley" tops 😀

njee20 - Member

End of the day, does anyone actually ride for the image?

Yes, vast swathes of people on this thread!

And Hora.

I ride 100 miles + per week, most on the road (commuting), and wear baggies on both my MTB and my road bike 😯

Yes, vast swathes of people on this thread!

Are you including yourself in that?

I bet all the lycra-lovers also shave their legs - 'for practical reasons' of course.

mind you i wonder if we can match those who are wrapped up in the image with those who write have a dump on every thread about saving weight?

Really? I ride 5-6 miles to work and back all the time in regular clothing and it's absolutely fine.

Yeah definitely, I find it horribly uncomfortable, like I say it just chafes and what not, and I sweat like a pig in a normal shirt, which then get saturated, and less comfortable.

I recently had about half a dozen blokes on full sussers, all armoured up, let me (a vision of lycra jeyness, complete with roadie cap and helmet) go first on the way into Energy at Afan. When I said I might get in their way, one responded, 'no mate, you look fast!'

So if you wear lycra people think you are fast, even downhill (which, for the record, in not particularly) 😉

Wear what you like folks. I live near Afan and ride round there all the time in lycra. Nearly everyone else wears baggies but none of them throw rocks at me or owt.