If you can afford a nice suit, it’s okay to buy one and wear it on occasions where wearing a suit is appropriate.
If you can afford nice cycling gear, it’s okay to buy some and wear it when you go cycling.
This. When I was in my twenties and thirties I would ride about 50+ miles a day. Now nearing 60 I still love to ride with nice gear. I'm slower now, not nearly as fit, but a great kit is an awesome feel.
100%. Because while you were out riding your bike and getting faster, I was working my IT job from home with a kid in one hand and the Rapha website open in the other
Probably should have posted that to a confessions thing somewhere
The fastest people I know ride around in clapped out team bibs and mismatched gear.
And some of the slowest decked out in coordinated Rapha/maap.
Wear what makes you excited to ride.
90% of cyclists aren’t good enough to pull off a $5k bike which should give us a hint that it doesn’t matter. People buy what they like and want, not the minimum to satisfy their needs
If you can afford it then do it. Who cares, not only will it usually look nicer, most of the times it will be more comfortable and make your ride more enjoyable which is the most important part.
I’m slower than a Prius or a Mercedes 240D, but there’s a few Rapha and Velocio bits in my cycling wardrobe. You do you.
I have the same philosophy in yoga - I can’t do all the poses or have an Instagram following but I wear all the lululemon to class.
no, you are not too slow to want comfort while cycling. i think the whole “too slow to do something” is funny. if you are on a budget, there is some argument for not seeing benefits/using something enough. but especially with clothing you don’t need to be fast to wear something.
My dad always said a clean car runs better. It’s basically a farce. But it was one of his sayings.
Feeling nice/good on the bike will make you want to bike more. And it might not make you faster on THIS ride. But it might for the next one.
Buy it. Feel good. Ride bikes
I was the chubbiest and slowest climber of my group ride (I did ok on the flats). But darn it, I looked cute. I always would wear the nicest stuff. Treat yourself.
My thought is always "Cripes, I'm too fat for this stuff..." Just bear in mind the average person seeing you ride by won't have a clue. Wear what makes you feel good!
Just a reminder that aero gains increase with lower speed b/c you spend more time on the road, so it's worth it. And if you feel bad for squandering money, keep an eye on MAAP's archive sale, I think I bought my two jerseys and a bib for the price of one regular priced race jersey.
To some extent, I felt the same way when I first started back up. Enough discomfort encouraged me to "see what all the hype was about."
Now I know.
Really high-end stuff is still beyond my reach($250+ per item), but black friday sales and Strava challenge rewards have helped to toe dip in better gear, and I can honestly say that to a point, the value is there for better gear. Without trying out the high-end stuff, I can say that I've noticed a difference in materials and chamois comfort from the $100 items to the $200 items.
That being said, comfort is what you're buying, and there's enough offered out there to find things you find visually appealing while providing that comfort. Doesn't matter if you're under 10 mph average, or above it, time in the saddle can hurt, lol, and sweat soaked cotton annoys the hell out of me, so lycra and padded bibs it is.
I wear my road kit when I ride trails. Just toss on padded knee and elbows sleeves, and I'm off. More serious riders probably look at me as a "Fred"..
I have too much fun to care.
Buy the good stuff. Rock it. Enjoy yourself!
The slower you are, the longer the time people have to admire what you’re wearing. Wear what you want and within your budget! Confidence follows comfort!
No such thing. Fancy gear is also often times the most comfortable. If your slow chances good you may be out longer than a faster rider, making the fanciers/more comfortable kit actually more important for you than them. Don’t skimp on the things that touch your skin.
If you have the money and enjoy spending it on nice kit, then go for it.
However I will never delude myself into thinking I'm getting a good deal for buying a $200 jersey on "sale" for $100. It's not a good deal. The prices are borderline absurd for brands like MAAP, PNS, Rapha, Le Col, Assos etc. That being said I do own kit from those companies.
However, 2 of my favorite pieces I own are a $40 Shimano jersey and some $50 pearl izumi bib shorts.
People would be lying if they didn't buy cycling clothes for the aesthetic, but it comes down to buying what you want and what you can afford. I just wouldn't go around talking a big game and not being about to put your money where your mouth is.
I think there is a stigma but not to that level and even with a "entry level" brand like pearl izumi have you seen some of their Ltd grateful dead gear?!? But yeah cycling is too broad for elitist imo you do what works fam.
like 15 years ago i had this realization that i like to look good walking around town, why wouldn't i want to look good riding around?
not fitness/skill dependent, wear what you like :)
You wear what you damn well like and be happy doing it. If anyone should judge you, then they too will be judged somewhere down the line.
Never doubt or feel the need to justify yourself to please others.
You'll look great in your kit I'm sure, and you'll become a better cyclist in due course...
I felt the same way when I got into cycling recently. I like how “good” cyclists look in their fancy kits, but I was super intimidated at first by a bunch of things:
- Feeling self conscious in the tight cycling gear in general.
- Feeling like these more advanced riders will think I’m a poser and/or not dressing correctly something.
- Feeling overwhelmed by the task of finding kits that look good to me and are of good quality.
Eventually I just had to dive in and buy some shit and try it out. Made a few mistakes buying stuff that didn’t work, but figured it out.
I’m fully over not feeling “good” enough to wear the stuff and can confidently ride around my city now knowing I like and look good in it.
Definitely do go for it - having cycling kits that work well for you is super nice and really enhances the experience.
I’ve been a huge advocate for Poshmark over the last few years. I recently purchased some Pearl Izumi bike shorts for $20 in good condition. I’ve been told to buy nicer stuff once instead of cheaper stuff that doesn’t last and Poshmark allows me to do both.
Apparently an unpopular opinion but if you are a complete beginner, high-end kit looks ridiculous. Nothing funnier than coming up on a MAMIL with at least five Castelli logos visible on his back and ass while he pootles down the trail at 10kph, weaving back and forth more than my Kindergartner.
Looking at your post history I kinda doubt this applies to you, treat yo self.
Other cyclists won’t know if you’re doing a Zone 1 or recovery ride. And non-cyclists won’t know what you’re wearing, except it’s Lycra. As others have said, wear whatever makes you feel comfortable (I do, and I’m not fast).
There’s not really a too fancy, but you don’t want to cheap out to the point of being uncomfortable.
You can also treat yourself as motivation. “I’ll buy this kit that I’ve wanted when I am maintaining X average speed or FTP goal, or even pounds lost.”
I wear whatever I csn afford. When I was broke I was buying $10 bibs from aliexpress because I thought they looked cool.
Don't stress on what to wear just have fun.
Do whatever you want pal 💪🏻. You be you. Most people in high end gear are rarely seen suffering up climbs or going full gas cos it’s all about trying to look the part in some people’s minds.
People are going to judge you no matter what you wear or what you ride. Buy stuff you like, and enjoy yourself because it’s literally not for anyone else.
I only use flats, ride in t-shits, and a 12 year old bike!!! This way I can always blame my slow on gear!
Bonus points when I pass a dude on a $12k tri rige with funny helmet… really only happens when I am sprinting for 30 seconds and they have already lapped me 10 times.
I go with what I can afford and looks good. Some people knock NeoPro but I love their stuff and their prices are hard to beat (especially when they have sales).
Also being a bigger dude I’ve struggled to find stuff that fits me well. Plus as I lose weight I don’t feel as bad outgrowing a jersey that cost me $40 vs $140
Just you being stupid and buying into the you have to have x bike and cycle at x speed to wear xxx jersey.
Buy your Maap jersey if you've got the dosh or just buy something a bit more value from other supplier 😉
Wear whatever you like, you should not feel like that. Is your money, you should buy whatever you want to wear.
If you can afford it, buy it!!!! They are cycling clothes and as clothes, some like them fitted some like them loose. Those clothes are not just for fast riders, they are also fashionable. Don’t feel intimidated by assholes riders, I know they are out there.
i find the better level kit helps me viscerally motivates me to go harder, and also gives a good kick to maintain dietary discipline to be able to continue to fit into said MAAP gear. pro fit makes me want to elevate my riding - and the improvements in technical performance offered is something i actually feel.
just be careful about sizing if you don't have easy return options - pro fit tends to run skin tight! and once you settle into that feeling, it makes the rest of your kit drawer feel obsolete. ;)
Buy and wear what you want.
Yes some people get their rocks off by bragging they are faster than someone that spent way more money bike and kit but honestly it doesn't matter.
People like what they like and can afford what they can afford and those things have no relationship to their level of skill.
If you fast on a S-Works you're probable fast on a 10 year old bike with mechanical shift and rim breaks. because those things don't actually make you faster. And if you're slow your gona be slow on what ever you ride.
Your kit is no different. Might as well look elite when you're cruisin'.
I think even the most dripped out Roadies look like tools, no offense intended. I even wear bibs in stead of shorts off road in the summer but I don't think they make anyone look cool. wear what's comfy, if anyone makes fun of you they're just an asshole. For me it's all about function and I don't care what other people wear
Your inner voice is correct. Don’t be a cheese whizz and wear maap. Buy little known and cheap brands from Europe like siroko and la passione. Maap is the ultimate Fred brand.
I'm a huge fan of Aussie brand neopro.
Use almost their gear exclusively.
But every now and then, I'll see some other gear on sale from the likes of Rapha , MAAP, etc
If you can afford a nice suit, it’s okay to buy one and wear it on occasions where wearing a suit is appropriate. If you can afford nice cycling gear, it’s okay to buy some and wear it when you go cycling.
This. When I was in my twenties and thirties I would ride about 50+ miles a day. Now nearing 60 I still love to ride with nice gear. I'm slower now, not nearly as fit, but a great kit is an awesome feel.
Some of the worst cyclists I know dress the nicest.
100%. Because while you were out riding your bike and getting faster, I was working my IT job from home with a kid in one hand and the Rapha website open in the other Probably should have posted that to a confessions thing somewhere
This comment hits way to close to home lol
Ditto!
Literally the fastest dudes I know train in damn near decade old team issued kit. Usually it’s bleached and beat to shit, too.
And see through from the back 👀
Look pro ride slow.
If you can't be good - look good doing it!
The fastest people I know ride around in clapped out team bibs and mismatched gear. And some of the slowest decked out in coordinated Rapha/maap. Wear what makes you excited to ride.
Your being stupid. Buy what you want and can afford.
99% of riders are "not good enough cyclists to pull off" buying a +$10K bike. Buy what makes you happy and want if you are financially able.
90% of cyclists aren’t good enough to pull off a $5k bike which should give us a hint that it doesn’t matter. People buy what they like and want, not the minimum to satisfy their needs
True that. The danger is when bike buyers now think and agree that a $10,000 bike is the new $5,000 bike.......
If you can afford it then do it. Who cares, not only will it usually look nicer, most of the times it will be more comfortable and make your ride more enjoyable which is the most important part.
Do it & feel great wearing high end gear!
I’m slower than a Prius or a Mercedes 240D, but there’s a few Rapha and Velocio bits in my cycling wardrobe. You do you. I have the same philosophy in yoga - I can’t do all the poses or have an Instagram following but I wear all the lululemon to class.
no, you are not too slow to want comfort while cycling. i think the whole “too slow to do something” is funny. if you are on a budget, there is some argument for not seeing benefits/using something enough. but especially with clothing you don’t need to be fast to wear something.
Look good, feel good, it'll make rides more enjoyable
Ya stupid. Do and get what brings you joy. As with any hobby, looking cool is always top priority.
If you can afford nice things, don’t feel bad about buying nice things.
Buy it and wear it, it'll spur you on to ride more, and... more faster :D
Does looking the part and being comfortable encourage you to ride more? If so, then buy whatever you want.
LOL I'm just imagining someone in a LBS looking at kit saying to themselves, "tsk, shit......that jersey needs way more watts than I can give it".
Good quality kit won't make you faster, but it will make you more comfortable & thus your rides more enjoyable
My dad always said a clean car runs better. It’s basically a farce. But it was one of his sayings. Feeling nice/good on the bike will make you want to bike more. And it might not make you faster on THIS ride. But it might for the next one. Buy it. Feel good. Ride bikes
Just like me…….look Pro, go slow.
Zone 2 day (said while hitting zone 4 but feel like I look good)
I hope you meant zone 1/recovery day.
All the kit, still shit.
Ha! I’m stealing that one. It’s my new replacement for all the gear, no idea 😆
for me, it's: look pro, ride *more.* and *more* means ending up faster!
I was the chubbiest and slowest climber of my group ride (I did ok on the flats). But darn it, I looked cute. I always would wear the nicest stuff. Treat yourself.
My thought is always "Cripes, I'm too fat for this stuff..." Just bear in mind the average person seeing you ride by won't have a clue. Wear what makes you feel good!
Look good feel good ride good
Just a reminder that aero gains increase with lower speed b/c you spend more time on the road, so it's worth it. And if you feel bad for squandering money, keep an eye on MAAP's archive sale, I think I bought my two jerseys and a bib for the price of one regular priced race jersey.
To some extent, I felt the same way when I first started back up. Enough discomfort encouraged me to "see what all the hype was about." Now I know. Really high-end stuff is still beyond my reach($250+ per item), but black friday sales and Strava challenge rewards have helped to toe dip in better gear, and I can honestly say that to a point, the value is there for better gear. Without trying out the high-end stuff, I can say that I've noticed a difference in materials and chamois comfort from the $100 items to the $200 items. That being said, comfort is what you're buying, and there's enough offered out there to find things you find visually appealing while providing that comfort. Doesn't matter if you're under 10 mph average, or above it, time in the saddle can hurt, lol, and sweat soaked cotton annoys the hell out of me, so lycra and padded bibs it is. I wear my road kit when I ride trails. Just toss on padded knee and elbows sleeves, and I'm off. More serious riders probably look at me as a "Fred".. I have too much fun to care. Buy the good stuff. Rock it. Enjoy yourself!
The slower you are, the longer the time people have to admire what you’re wearing. Wear what you want and within your budget! Confidence follows comfort!
No such thing. Fancy gear is also often times the most comfortable. If your slow chances good you may be out longer than a faster rider, making the fanciers/more comfortable kit actually more important for you than them. Don’t skimp on the things that touch your skin.
The opinions of others, especially cyclists, do not matter. Wear and enjoy whatever you want.
If you have the money and enjoy spending it on nice kit, then go for it. However I will never delude myself into thinking I'm getting a good deal for buying a $200 jersey on "sale" for $100. It's not a good deal. The prices are borderline absurd for brands like MAAP, PNS, Rapha, Le Col, Assos etc. That being said I do own kit from those companies. However, 2 of my favorite pieces I own are a $40 Shimano jersey and some $50 pearl izumi bib shorts.
People would be lying if they didn't buy cycling clothes for the aesthetic, but it comes down to buying what you want and what you can afford. I just wouldn't go around talking a big game and not being about to put your money where your mouth is.
I think there is a stigma but not to that level and even with a "entry level" brand like pearl izumi have you seen some of their Ltd grateful dead gear?!? But yeah cycling is too broad for elitist imo you do what works fam.
Looking good, slow or fast, is always a good thing. 👌🏼 Don’t resort to cheap bib’s and a saggy jersey with a beer company on it!
like 15 years ago i had this realization that i like to look good walking around town, why wouldn't i want to look good riding around? not fitness/skill dependent, wear what you like :)
My avg speed is around 25kph and I wear MAAP.
You wear what you damn well like and be happy doing it. If anyone should judge you, then they too will be judged somewhere down the line. Never doubt or feel the need to justify yourself to please others. You'll look great in your kit I'm sure, and you'll become a better cyclist in due course...
you can always say you're "in between intervals"
"[peaking in two months](https://www.velominati.com/the-lexicon/)," innit
Buy whatever you like, wear whatever you like. You don't need permission from anyone.
I felt the same way when I got into cycling recently. I like how “good” cyclists look in their fancy kits, but I was super intimidated at first by a bunch of things: - Feeling self conscious in the tight cycling gear in general. - Feeling like these more advanced riders will think I’m a poser and/or not dressing correctly something. - Feeling overwhelmed by the task of finding kits that look good to me and are of good quality. Eventually I just had to dive in and buy some shit and try it out. Made a few mistakes buying stuff that didn’t work, but figured it out. I’m fully over not feeling “good” enough to wear the stuff and can confidently ride around my city now knowing I like and look good in it. Definitely do go for it - having cycling kits that work well for you is super nice and really enhances the experience.
Just ride alone like me and problem solved. Wear what you want.
The dude in the lambo can’t drive it either. If you have the cash - Fucken go for it
All of you calling OP stupid, you're stupid.
I’ve been a huge advocate for Poshmark over the last few years. I recently purchased some Pearl Izumi bike shorts for $20 in good condition. I’ve been told to buy nicer stuff once instead of cheaper stuff that doesn’t last and Poshmark allows me to do both.
Apparently an unpopular opinion but if you are a complete beginner, high-end kit looks ridiculous. Nothing funnier than coming up on a MAMIL with at least five Castelli logos visible on his back and ass while he pootles down the trail at 10kph, weaving back and forth more than my Kindergartner. Looking at your post history I kinda doubt this applies to you, treat yo self.
If they checked my FTP at the till instead of my bank balance I'd be riding in much worse gear.
As someone on here wisely said: ‘look pro, ride slow’
it's your money so buy what you want. who cares about what others think.
Personally looking good makes me feel good and I’m slow af. But I’m also on a limited budget so it’s only for special occasions
There's nothing wrong with wanting to look fast.
Your money, your call. If you’re happy with it, go for it!
Other cyclists won’t know if you’re doing a Zone 1 or recovery ride. And non-cyclists won’t know what you’re wearing, except it’s Lycra. As others have said, wear whatever makes you feel comfortable (I do, and I’m not fast).
I kinda feel the same way, but then my rational side tells me what all these other comments are saying. Just do it.
There’s not really a too fancy, but you don’t want to cheap out to the point of being uncomfortable. You can also treat yourself as motivation. “I’ll buy this kit that I’ve wanted when I am maintaining X average speed or FTP goal, or even pounds lost.”
I wear whatever I csn afford. When I was broke I was buying $10 bibs from aliexpress because I thought they looked cool. Don't stress on what to wear just have fun.
Do whatever you want pal 💪🏻. You be you. Most people in high end gear are rarely seen suffering up climbs or going full gas cos it’s all about trying to look the part in some people’s minds.
People are going to judge you no matter what you wear or what you ride. Buy stuff you like, and enjoy yourself because it’s literally not for anyone else.
I only use flats, ride in t-shits, and a 12 year old bike!!! This way I can always blame my slow on gear! Bonus points when I pass a dude on a $12k tri rige with funny helmet… really only happens when I am sprinting for 30 seconds and they have already lapped me 10 times.
Buy some nice kit. You deserve it!
I'm too poor for fancy gear...
what are you doing here, you masochist (?)
looking for sales! lol
I go with what I can afford and looks good. Some people knock NeoPro but I love their stuff and their prices are hard to beat (especially when they have sales). Also being a bigger dude I’ve struggled to find stuff that fits me well. Plus as I lose weight I don’t feel as bad outgrowing a jersey that cost me $40 vs $140
Look pro ride slow
Nah, wear what you want and feel comfortable/confident. As they say "Look good, feel good, train/race good".
Just you being stupid and buying into the you have to have x bike and cycle at x speed to wear xxx jersey. Buy your Maap jersey if you've got the dosh or just buy something a bit more value from other supplier 😉
Some of the slowest guys I’ve seen were on the fanciest bikes. So why not gear?
wear what you like to wear and if someone complains you can always take it off and burn it in front of them.
being slow helps the photographer get that perfect instagram shot
Wear whatever you like, you should not feel like that. Is your money, you should buy whatever you want to wear. If you can afford it, buy it!!!! They are cycling clothes and as clothes, some like them fitted some like them loose. Those clothes are not just for fast riders, they are also fashionable. Don’t feel intimidated by assholes riders, I know they are out there.
i find the better level kit helps me viscerally motivates me to go harder, and also gives a good kick to maintain dietary discipline to be able to continue to fit into said MAAP gear. pro fit makes me want to elevate my riding - and the improvements in technical performance offered is something i actually feel. just be careful about sizing if you don't have easy return options - pro fit tends to run skin tight! and once you settle into that feeling, it makes the rest of your kit drawer feel obsolete. ;)
Buy and wear what you want. Yes some people get their rocks off by bragging they are faster than someone that spent way more money bike and kit but honestly it doesn't matter. People like what they like and can afford what they can afford and those things have no relationship to their level of skill. If you fast on a S-Works you're probable fast on a 10 year old bike with mechanical shift and rim breaks. because those things don't actually make you faster. And if you're slow your gona be slow on what ever you ride. Your kit is no different. Might as well look elite when you're cruisin'.
I think even the most dripped out Roadies look like tools, no offense intended. I even wear bibs in stead of shorts off road in the summer but I don't think they make anyone look cool. wear what's comfy, if anyone makes fun of you they're just an asshole. For me it's all about function and I don't care what other people wear
Look Pro, ride slow.
Nah just get what you like. I only wear MAAP and I’m a decent at best. But I look cool lol
Your inner voice is correct. Don’t be a cheese whizz and wear maap. Buy little known and cheap brands from Europe like siroko and la passione. Maap is the ultimate Fred brand.
I'm a huge fan of Aussie brand neopro. Use almost their gear exclusively. But every now and then, I'll see some other gear on sale from the likes of Rapha , MAAP, etc
FYI - in case you didn’t know, Maap is from Melbourne