Monday, May 2, 2011

I like your jacket thing...

Regarding the subject title, even though it is only five words it took my friend Travis about 30 seconds to say.  I know he was talking about my full-zip short sleeve cycling jersey but was not quite sure how to articulate his thoughts. 

Cycling is broken down to so many categories I can not even list them all if I wanted to.  Not without the help of Google and forum sites such as Bike Forums, Cycling Forums and Road Bike Review at least.  Despite all the classifications and sub-classifications bicyclists belong to I believe most bicyclist can be grouped into three sections: those who wear lycra, those who don't and those who wear some crazy combination of both.  I fall within the third group (most of the time).

I own lycra cycling shorts and jerseys and often wear them.  During the summer commute I wear a cycling jersey and cargo shorts.  Under those cargo shorts are almost certainly cycling shorts.  I have tired wearing a cotton shirt but in coastal Carolina the heat and humidity are nearly unbearable regardless of what one is wearing so I adapt the best I can by sporting a jersey.  Since I am by no means a racer my jersey is not race tight.  It is one to two sizes bigger so I feel more comfortable while riding but do not have to wear heavy, thick, absorbent cotton.  The only reason I wear the cycling shorts under my cargo shorts is for extra padding.  Purists would say the cargo shorts cancel out the lycra due to seams and weight but I have notice no personal difference.  

My girlfriend sometime points out how much I spend on cycling-specific shorts only to wear something on top of them.  It really comes down to the fact that I do not want to walk through my work wearing them.  I'm not fat or grotesque - it is just a comfort level thing.  I usually arrive to work 30 to 45 minutes early so I have time to cool down before throwing on the shirt, pants and tie.  Part of that cool down is standing outside my building finishing off my water.  The other part is walking through my building to a breakroom where I can refill the water, sit by a fan and watch some TV.  I would much rather do all that in a loose cycling jersey and cargo shorts than in a tight jersey and shorts.

In the early Sping, late Fall and all throughout winter I tend to layer as neccessary.  This usually includes a long sleeve Nike compression shirt underneath a cycling jersey.  I was skeptical of the warmth factor at first but was gladly proven wrong.  I also wear some Nike pants over my cycling shorts.  They are semi tight and warm, but not as warm as the shirt.  The constant pumping of my legs provides more heat than the pants can lose anyways.  If it is colder I will throw on a jacket, fleece beanie, or an Under Armor balaklava type thing.  Though I don't wear gloves a lot in the summer, they are on and full fingered once the temperatures drop into the 50s.

As of right now I have some comfortable mountain bike styled Shimano shoes and eggbeater pedals.  This is my main source of frustration during the winter.  I wear wool socks but my feet get extremely cold.  I like riding clipless and don't plan on wearing shoe covers, so I just manage. 

At the end of the day (or the begining of your ride) its all about what you feel comfortable with and how long your commute is.  I am lucky as mine is only five miles, but someone with a 15 mile commute may have a very different opinion about what is comfortable.

Here are some other sites that I have previously read when debating what to wear.  I revisit many sites and frequent forums a bit more often as the seasons transition.  There is always something to learn.