Road Cycling

and I don’t get the petty tribalism exhibited by some

It’s hysterical. After quite a few Sunday rides chatting with friendly roadies, i’m back to being 100% ignored by them now i’m on the Parkwood, even when riding the exact same lanes last weekend… I laughed lots as i was blanked on 3 occasions.

Yup, gawd knows we get abuse from all other quarters, why the internal crap? Just ride bikes. Do it however you want and enjoy it.
Doesn’t matter if you have drop bars, flat bars, SPDs, platforms, 23cs, 5″ monster trucks, 26, 29, 1 ring, 3 rings, whatever, it’s good just to get out there 🙂

Sometimes people might not wave because they think you won’t wave back. Lots of people riding mtb on road won’t be avid cyclists and in my experience people who aren’t don’t wave back so much. I just acknowledge everyone and end up getting blanked by all sorts of people.

lycra just works. no one pays any attention if you’re on the bike.

However last night on the way home from a ride, speaking to the wife and she needs a snack, i’m thinking ‘that’s ok , i’lll stop at a petrol station’

no she wants a bloody mango.

so there i am, 9:30 in big tesco, looking for a mango dressed in full lycra and dessert boots. people were definatley looking! 😯

A road bike that fits well is none of those things.

+1 a well fitted road bike can be ridden in comfort for hours without stopping. Sure footed, lively and fun. If it’s not doing those things you almost certainly got the wrong fit.

Which admittedly can make buying used a bit trickier.

Just make sure you check the mirror if you’re wearing lycra, I thought mine was fine (was probably a bit old) but one of my mates was sitting (eye level) at a sportive rest stop as I stood in front of him and gave me a right row for how much (or little…) I had on display!

Just make sure you check the mirror if you’re wearing lycra

That’s half the fun of wearing lycra, surely? 8)

Lycra – It’s Niiiice

@OP – Just ride what you like to start with. If/when you start to get annoyed by things flapping [now now] then get some a bit snugger. Was, rinse, repeat.

I think I’m changing. I keep seeing people on road bikes, and you know what, they don’t look that bad (if they are semi fit at least).

Shaving the legs on the other hand, just out and out wrong.

Shaving the legs on the other hand, just out and out wrong.

Try it, you might like it 🙂

I wear the same on the road as I do when I’m out on the trails getting all gnar and overtaking all the safety pad wearing enduro types.

So yes full lycra on and off the road.

For ages for the plain simplicity I did have SPD on all of my road bikes the same as my mtbs, to be fair my Bontrager XXX XC Shoes are as stiff as road shoes anyway. However, I have now got some road shoes as they are wider and give more of stable platform.

Shaving on the other hand is utterly morally objectionable.

I’m five years in to my switch. Annual mileage has gone from 400 to a Zwift inclusive prediction of 6000 this year 😀

Leg hair and SPD’s are non negotiable mind you 😉

Embrace the shave lads, it makes the guns look so much more impressive 😉

Bikes are ace, wear what you like. Do consider taking the peak off your mtb helmet if you’re wearing it while riding a bike with drop-bars – it’ll save you some neck ache.

Take up running it gets you fitter in less time.

I’m five years in to my switch.

You had Toe Clips and V brakes 5 years ago? 😕

and those socks!

get yourself a nice retro steel racer.

it will be comfortable, look different, you can take your time on it and get away with a more casual look.

Nothing stands out more than someone on a road bike in baggies…

I’d never be unpleasant, but they do mostly fit a certain “off duty MTBer” archetype:

Sweat drenched T-shirt, rucksack full of God knows what, baggies clearly not enhancing comfort as they keep shifting about, normally attempting to push too tall a gear… Basically not enjoying being on a road bike because they’ve got the ‘uniform’ all wrong.

I Live a good 40 minutes to 1 hour drive from somewhere in the Peaks or Llandegla the other direction

The first thing I thought when I read this was Yep, Altrincham sucks.

Anyway, why on earth are you bothering about what clothes to use if you’ve only got 400 notes to spend.

Spend all the money on the bike and wear whatever you normally ride in.

The Seamons mob did give me a second look ” we don’t normally get people out with the half dayers in baggies”

But who gives a toss

400 quid can get you a more than adequate ‘training’ bike IME.

I’m not really keen on terms like ‘training’ and ‘winter’ bike, unless by winter bike you mean a proper foul weather bike with appropriate tyres and mudguards, etc… not your old Specialised Venge…

Fact is, £400 (even new, if you shop around) will get you a perfectly decent bike. My main bike for the past 5 years was £300 second hand with approx 150 miles on it, and I love it. Important thing is that it’s a good fit, geometry you like, etc… Road bikes are simple machines.

As for clothes. Wear whatever you like. I’m happy riding in not so baggies. And realistically, as long as they’re not huge, they don’t make a real noticeable difference to aerodynamics so long as you’re not racing. Once you get down on the road bike, they tend to hunch up pretty tight anyway. Have ridden at the front of many rides with them. ignore the haters. Get a proper jersey with pockets though…

Get a touring/adventure bike, wear what takes your fancy and just enjoy riding your bike and the freedom to go wherever.

Guy martin manages baggies on his rx9 on his commute to work with camel pack as well….so must be cool. Personally I’m 50 % mtb 50% Road and love both, I do wear the appropriate gear for each baggies then lycra as I do feel each makes for more comfortable riding. I did find after starting on the road did make me a quicker off road.

You had Toe Clips and V brakes 5 years ago?

and those socks!

Yes! Did the Maxx Exposure SDW overnighter on that rig two weeks after that picture 😆

I had only been riding again for 50 days prior so used the bike I had.

Wear what you like, ride what you like. Just be sure that both clothes and bike are a good fit.

A comfortable well-fitting road bike is a joy to ride. And I never blank a cyclist on any bike – Richmond Park excepted (too many!)

My first race bike was a used TCR for £400. It was a fabulous bike and I still run the groupset on my winter bike. Fit is everything though.

I still see myself as primarily a mountain biker however 100% of my 1100 or so miles this year has been on the road bike. The reason is that I’m mostly based in London these days and where I live, just on the edge of Essex, the road biking is pretty good with lots of quiet lanes nearby. I’ve also only really got space for 1 bike down here at the moment, however hopefully that’ll be changing soon and I can get a mountain bike down.

In the 6 months or so I’ve been back using a road bike I’ve not quite made it to the shaving legs stage (and hope never to do so) however have already joined a club, bought a lot of lycra (even some Rapha, God help me!), including copious amounts of club kit, and even a couple of sets of carbon wheels. Already doing lots of 50+ mile rides, done my first metric century last weekend and am already planning working my way up to 100+ mile rides. I’ve not entered any Sportives yet (and am still struggling to see the point) but am thinking about an Audax or two and even maybe a couple of the club TT’s.

When I’m back in Edinburgh I revert to type and nearly all my riding will be mountain biking!

Epilation ftw. Shaving is nowhere near as efficient. And of course road cyclists are used to the pain 😉

Mrs Tired hates it. And the fact that her husband is an emaciated food hoover! People sound surprised that I eat 10 days of food a week.

Road cyclists are always hungry. You’ve been warned.

Road cyclists are always hungry. You’ve been warned.

I’m on 3,500 cals a day, still really hungry.

Epilation ftw

Road cyclists are always hungry. You’ve been warned.

road riding turns fish and chips with a pie on top into a recovery snack to keep you going till dinner.

SPD’s are non negotiable mind you

Ah but have you tried SPD-SLs?

They are nicer you know.

😉

As others have said, buy the bike and wear what you want. I prefer lycra as baggies flap, but I have no opinion on what other people wear, and would probably put baggies or jeans on if I was riding to the pub (although often I’ll just carry them and put them on when I get there).

£400 is plenty for the bike, if you get into it you can start with nicer tyres which will make a big difference (before going full carbon everything).

Ah but have you tried SPD-SLs?

They are nicer you know.

Indeed they are. SPD’s on the mountain bike, SPD-SL’s on the road bike for me.

Road cyclists are always hungry. You’ve been warned.

Adds a certain satisfaction though when you spend all day gobbling everything in sight and remain stick thin – much to the dismay of your colleagues who are fighting slowly losing battles against expanding waist lines 😀

I now commute on a road bike instead of my MTB, and I still look a little like an off-duty MTBer but I got some Boardman shorts which are quite tight enough to not flap around. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in, you’ll find what works best.

I fear it’s only a matter of time though before I go full lycra.

chap rode a few times in my roadie club. Different riding position on road than mtb:
– Cotton t-shirt riding up his back.
– Shorts rather than bibs.
– Baggies slipping down revealing the muffin-top and the beginnings of a hint of crack.
The perfect storm for making me feel revolted and violated as I was forced to shove my face 1metre from his rear and hold his wheel as we rode 2-by-2

There are a couple of folks that come along to rides for the club I’m in with baggies and rucksacks. I’ve never managed to figure out what’s actually in the rucksacks though.

Adds a certain satisfaction though when you spend all day gobbling everything in sight and remain stick thin – much to the dismay of your colleagues who are fighting slowly losing battles against expanding waist lines

It’s a dangerous balancing act though. Much like pro footballers who you see ballooning after retirement, it’s easy to keep munching when you’re off the bike for some reason. I broke my wrist 18 months ago and put on 8Kg after 3 months. 🙄 😯

Thanks everyone for the input. I def like the sound of eating what you want as a nice by-product of cycling.

Still, shaved legs on a man? Not having it to be frank.

I know some people who regularly drive for hours to get to/from mountain bike rides. They put some serious mileages on their car from just getting to and from rides alone.

Yeah, I do that. Last year I must have done a few thousand miles travelling to/from rides. It’s been a bit more hectic this year, and just plain can’t get out. At least if I get a road bike, I can just go out during mtb downtime.