What to wear Mountain Biking?
- mattwilkinson
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What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby mattwilkinson » Wed Apr 03, 2013 11:19 am
So i've been mountain biking for the last few months, Catching trains to woodend and whatnot.
But i was wondering, what do you wear riding?
Now, I hate sitting on the train wearing lycra...
But then again I don't want DH kit + full face helmet...
I mainly ride XC, what do you wear?
- Ross
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby Ross » Wed Apr 03, 2013 11:51 am
http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/product-d ... OU-SHO.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- trailgumby
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby trailgumby » Wed Apr 03, 2013 12:17 pm
Ground Effect and NZO make overshorts you can put on over the top, which have a high crutch so your shorts don't snag on the saddle (which can lead to results more embarassing than being caught on a train in lycra ).
I tend to wear overshorts more in winter. Too hot in summer, unless you're hunting extra points for Commuter Cup Racing.
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby bychosis » Wed Apr 03, 2013 12:55 pm
- clackers
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby clackers » Wed Apr 03, 2013 1:11 pm
- il padrone
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby il padrone » Wed Apr 03, 2013 1:18 pm
Why???mattwilkinson wrote:Now, I hate sitting on the train wearing lycra...
I and my cycle club-mates do it all the time. Clothes is clothes.... don't be so hung up on image and "what others might think"
Gawd, there's people on those trains wearing moccasins, wearing jeans with the a### hanging out of them, carrying a huge amount of extra blubber - they're all probably jealous of you deep down.
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby Scarfy96 » Wed Apr 03, 2013 3:12 pm
http://www.torpedo7.com.au/products/RAS ... indy-short
And a semi fitted cycling top.
Don't bother with knicks underneath, maybe it is from years of riding a road bike and triathlons with bugger all padding but for < 2hr ride doesn't bother me.
They are stretch fabric so quite snug fitting and not baggy but you have things like pockets and cargo pockets on the side (zippered so great for keys/phone).
Add to that spd recessed cleats on the shoes and I can ride to the shops and pick up a few things and not really draw any 2nd looks but comfortable and functional on the bike and on trails.
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby Shifter » Wed Apr 03, 2013 3:50 pm
I've got a few pairs of the 'shy' shorts mentioned above, my favourites being TLD Skylines, my least favourite being Fox Rangers.mattwilkinson wrote:I mainly ride XC, what do you wear?
Up top I have a number of loose MTB jerserys from various brands in various sleeve lengths. Nothing really fitted.
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby Comedian » Wed Apr 03, 2013 4:06 pm
- London Boy
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby London Boy » Wed Apr 03, 2013 8:07 pm
+1il padrone wrote:Why???mattwilkinson wrote:Now, I hate sitting on the train wearing lycra...
I and my cycle club-mates do it all the time. Clothes is clothes.... don't be so hung up on image and "what others might think"
Gawd, there's people on those trains wearing moccasins, wearing jeans with the a### hanging out of them, carrying a huge amount of extra blubber - they're all probably jealous of you deep down.
It's like wearing hi-viz if you're a tradie, or suit and tie if a *anker (just assume that began with a 'b'). Lycra/Spandex is just what you wear if you want a properly comfortable bicycle ride. No reason to be embarrassed about it.
- wurtulla wabbit
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby wurtulla wabbit » Wed Apr 03, 2013 8:14 pm
Comfort is key ! Drag and efficiency isn't the most important, fun is !
Wheelies, skids, jumps,messing about.
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby ab1981 » Wed Apr 03, 2013 8:28 pm
Wear whatever you're comfortable in, particularly if you're riding for fun and not setting out to beat land/speed records in the bush.
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby trailgumby » Wed Apr 03, 2013 9:45 pm
... which is precicely why I've landed on wearing what is, for all intents and purposes, roadie kit. T-shirts hold too much water (sweat), and as a result get uncomfortable and chafe, and I miss the rear-facing pockets of my jersey. Objects like phones and keys in shy shorts pockets flap around and the slapping of the loose weight on my legs is a distraction I can do without when negotiating tricky technical sections. As for having to undo zips and fish about in tight pockets for gels without slackening pace... forget it!ab1981 wrote:Wear whatever you're comfortable in, particularly if you're riding for fun and not setting out to beat land/speed records in the bush.
There was one girl in our ride group who fancied herself as a bit of a maven. She used to whinge about blokes wearing shy shorts on "her" rides being too revealing. Interestingly, as soon as the ride was finished, she'd (in the blink of an eye, it seems) have changed out of her riding kit into a dress, and touched up the perfume, eyeshadow, replaced the big hoop earrings and fixed her hair. The dress inevitably had a plunging neckine that showcased her... assets.
Ummm ... yeah.. OK...
I gave that ride group the flick when I saw her chasing off other girls who came along occasionally.
- mattwilkinson
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby mattwilkinson » Wed Apr 03, 2013 9:52 pm
I ALWAYS wear it on the road bike, Just like to see what people wear mountain biking.
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby clackers » Thu Apr 04, 2013 12:18 am
- il padrone
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby il padrone » Thu Apr 04, 2013 12:28 am
Exactly why most riders with a lot of experience wear lycra shorts.wurtulla wabbit wrote:I wear a polo shirt. Cargo shorts and cross trainers.
Comfort is key ! Drag and efficiency isn't the most important, fun is !
Lycra never stopped me from doing any of that (though mostly I value the bike a bit more than to do it willfully - except maybe on the MTB)wurtulla wabbit wrote:Wheelies, skids, jumps,messing about.
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby il padrone » Thu Apr 04, 2013 12:33 am
Stuff 'em! Be your own manmattwilkinson wrote:Well, I'm only 14, so you tend to cop some flack wearing lycra!
The only real advantage of some MTB shy/liner shorts is they give you a bit more abrasion resistance for trail rides when you take an 'off'. But they are hotter wear in summer, and can bunch up and get less-than-comfortable. So pros and cons.
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby silentbutdeadly » Thu Apr 04, 2013 9:02 am
The latter combo of Ground Effect or DHB undershorts and the Fast Eddie shorts from Macpac has proven extremely comfortable even during the hottest summer days that the semi-arid interior of Oz can throw at you. Most of the ride specific MTB shorts are too heavily built to remain cool in over the summer but on the upside they are a bit more durable in an off!
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby Chuck » Thu Apr 04, 2013 11:14 am
il padrone wrote:Clothes is clothes.... don't be so hung up on image and "what others might think"
il padrone wrote:Be your own man
An admirable sentiment, one which applies no matter what type of riding you do or how new or old to cycling you are
- rpmspinman
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby rpmspinman » Thu Apr 04, 2013 12:00 pm
^^^ This x 11ty billion. Not like your riding around nude. Your clothed and the padding hides any male definition of your giblets so there is no need to be concerned.London Boy wrote:+1il padrone wrote:Why???mattwilkinson wrote:Now, I hate sitting on the train wearing lycra...
I and my cycle club-mates do it all the time. Clothes is clothes.... don't be so hung up on image and "what others might think"
Gawd, there's people on those trains wearing moccasins, wearing jeans with the a### hanging out of them, carrying a huge amount of extra blubber - they're all probably jealous of you deep down.
It's like wearing hi-viz if you're a tradie, or suit and tie if a *anker (just assume that began with a 'b'). Lycra/Spandex is just what you wear if you want a properly comfortable bicycle ride. No reason to be embarrassed about it.
- barefoot
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby barefoot » Thu Apr 04, 2013 1:01 pm
...says nobody who has ever ridden in purpose-designed cycling kit.ab1981 wrote:T-shirt, boardies and Vans Old Skool flats. Can't beat that kit for comfort!
Maybe socially more comfortable, but cycling kit has evolved purely for the purpose of being comfortable on a bike. Street clothes just can't compare.
I never understood the move in MTB from lycra knicks to "shy" and baggy pants, which happened in the late '90s. However snug fitting they are in the crotch, no baggy pants will ever be as close fitting as knicks, and will always have more chance of snagging on the saddle. That's something I really don't like, so I only ever had a couple of pairs of shy shorts... which I rarely wore, preferring to stick with lycra. I think they eventually went in a Salvos bin.
So, I rode in lycra knicks and a T-shirt for many years. Preferably a wicking synthetic kind of "tech" t-shirt.
Recently, I picked up a couple of jerseys, mainly for riding on the road, but I come to love them, so they're now my default MTB kit as well.
If you're a bit self conscious about riding the train in lycra, wear a pair of lightweight shorts over the top, then stash them in your camelback when you get to the trails. You'll probably get over it eventually, when you're old and shameless like il Padrone and me , but until then, a pair of footy shorts in your pack won't weigh you down any.
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby ab1981 » Thu Apr 04, 2013 11:53 pm
...says nobody who has ever ridden in purpose-designed cycling kit.barefoot wrote:ab1981 wrote:T-shirt, boardies and Vans Old Skool flats. Can't beat that kit for comfort!
I must be in the minority - Riding anywhere up to 500km a week on the road in lyrca, it's nice to get out in the boardies and t-shirt on the MTB. Each to their own I guess.
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby elStado » Fri Apr 05, 2013 12:58 am
- wurtulla wabbit
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby wurtulla wabbit » Fri Apr 05, 2013 1:18 am
Phone, keys sweets etc.
Sometimes wear a small camelback if I am going out for a while but mostly just stuff what I need in the pockets.
To be totally honest , I'll wear pretty much whatever I have on at the time when I take the urge to grab the mountain bike out.
Same with my pink haro bmx !
After all, I am only 41 on the outside !
I will ride casually, just in case I pass the tavern on a hot sunny day.......
Oh dear, a cyclist that doesn't like helmets and look ! He's now talking about having beer too !!!
Hahahahaha.......
- Mulger bill
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Re: What to wear Mountain Biking?
Postby Mulger bill » Fri Apr 05, 2013 7:18 pm
Endura Hummvee shorts or GE Ranchsliders longs and a sports T or jersey depending on what's on top of the drawer full of tops.
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