One advantage to sport cycling clothing…

pool

It works as a swimming attire.

Guys can just wear swim trunks on the bike, but a woman’s bathing suit seams are totally in the wrong place for that. Street clothes don’t work well as swim-wear. Changing into a swim suit when you’re all sticky from a ride is more trouble than it’s worth. But spandex shorts and a lycra jersey work great! I went straight from the bike to the pool.

I feel so much better now!

12 replies
  1. rodney
    rodney says:

    Yes, I agree. Rode up to Wekiva Springs State Park a month ago and took a dip. Water was excellent and didn’t have to use my swimmers.

    Of course, about 1/3 the way back everything was dry!

    • LisaB
      LisaB says:

      “But then you change before getting back on the bike, right?…”

      Nope. You drip dry, then hop on the bike and ride. A little chamois butter and body glide prevent chafing and other “discomforts.”

    • Jesse
      Jesse says:

      My favorite (half off topic) is riding up to Cady Way Pool, swimming with the kids, and then riding home just in my baggies. Not even a shirt. Man, it feels like I’m on the beach. But in reality, I’m only on a boat.

    • Keri
      Keri says:

      When I first started doing the ride to Blue Springs, I was worried about chafing so I would apply diaper rash cream or chamois buttr after swimming. But after a while I stopped doing that… out of laziness and… figuring the chamois wasn’t really any wetter after swimming than it was from simply riding that distance (~80 miles RT) on a humid Florida day. I haven’t had any problems.

      With a good chamois (Castilli is my favorite) I can ride 100+ miles with no chafing.

  2. Kevin Love
    Kevin Love says:

    Keri wrote about:
    “…when you’re all sticky from a ride…”

    Kevin’s comment:
    It has been a long time since I’ve gotten sticky from a ride. Even last August when the temperatures soared way into the 30’s and the weatherman noted that it was hotter in Toronto than it was in Orlando.

    I just don’t ride on my Pashley like I’m racing in the Tour de France. I arrive at work, wearing my nice work clothes, calm and cool and collected.

    Or take a look at the photo of middle-aged lawyers cycling to court in Copenhagen in their suits and ties. I don’t think they are getting very sticky. Photo at:

    http://www.copenhagenize.com/2009/04/strangely-positive-article-on-cycling.html

    • Keri
      Keri says:

      It’s not heat, it’s humidity. On a summer morning the temperature may be in the high 70s, but I’ll be sweating before I get the bike unlocked.

      And I bet I ride exactly the same casual pace you do most of the time. This has nothing to do with exertion, Kevin. I get just as soaking wet standing outside having a conversation for 20 minutes as I do riding my bike for 20 minutes.

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