Mark Tranchant wrote:
> I'd appreciate the valued opinion of any of you esteemed urcers as to
> the usefulness, completeness and accuracy of this bit of my site.
I'd pin down what you mean by "very short and easy" before extolling the
virtues of cycle shorts. I fairly regularly ride 6 or so miles to
Broughty Ferry for one thing or another and I never bother dressing up
in cycle clothing for the job. I wouldn't characterise 6 miles as any
sort of epic, but OTOH it isn't "very short" IMHO.
There's plenty of clothing which isn't cycle specific but works okay on
a bike, and if it means not having to faff about changing at the other
end then it can often be a Major Win. "Cycle" had an article called
"Lycra Free Cycling" a while back, pointing out that utility cycling
doesn't require anything special to get where you're going.
Similarly, "always dress in multiple thin layers" is a bit over the top
for a lot of commute cycling. Quite a few cycle commuters put on their
business suit, get on the bike and get to work perfectly okay in it, and
then get off the bike and start work.
In summary, I'd downplay the degree to which "proper" cycle clothing is
regarded as a no-brainer. I have plenty of the stuff, but don't bother
with it on many shortish utility trips because it just isn't worth it
IME. For a long day out, absolutely, but 5 miles? I just can't be
arsed, especially if I'm doing the sort of speed where I don't sweat so
I don't arrive all sticky and sweaty. In many cases the only effective
difference between walking and utility cycling is the cycling goes
quicker for the same effort. People don't dress up in special walking
gear to dander down to the shops, and similarly cycling doesn't really
require anything out of the ordinary as long as there's freedom of
movement to turn the pedals and nothing that will get caught. Amsterdam
is a showcase of utility cycling with dozens of bikes passing you on any
street, and it's quite unusual to see the inhabitants cycling in
anything other than Normal Clothes unless they're all togged up for a
Serious Hack on sports equipment.
Onto Technique, you seem to have forgotten to recommend Cyclecraft...
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net
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