How Much SLOWER Are Normal Clothes For Everyday Cyclists?

What do you usually wear when you go out for a ride? Are you team full-aero lycra, or do you prefer the casual baggy look? Let us know down below! 👇

I catch MAMILs that fly past all the time at the same intersection stop lights regularly. The gains aren't worth anything.

What about on a 1994 Iron Horse MT400 with a basket on the front? Is there a specific reason why this wasn't tested?

In the last 6 months I've converted from cargos and trainers to a leotard bib and the proper top with 3 pockets . Definitely better.

Worth pointing out that the opposite is true here, too, that baggier clothes can get you a harder workout for the same distance and time (which we obviously knew, but still). But not a bad idea to train in baggies and group-ride or race in lycra. Again, feels like we knew that, but worth considering.

More to the point, do you want to be mocked for diving headfirst into the MAMIL (middle-aged man in lycra) stereotype with shorts tight enough that people can tell your religion? I'm not paid to win cycling competitions, and I don't do laps so a few seconds here and there make no difference… but I do have to live with myself and not die of embarrassment every time I go out on the bike.

But if you’re in your skin suits, wouldn’t you have to wear a backpack with your suit in it? and wouldn’t that cause more drag with a backpack? Unless you have some job with your own personal washroom and office seems unreasonable

I'm not wearing cycling clothes beacuse they look dorky and I don't like changing

also if I can't feel my keys and phone and my pocket at alll times, i hey anxious

Everyday cyclists aren't concerned with speed … we don't want to be associated with the douchebags who wear
"Cycling gear" … we are not even "cyclists" we're just people riding bicycles

I take a pretty huge issue with this video. Been thinking about this for years (riding a bike for abt. 25-30 years). Been also recommending to all my friends, relatives, family members – NOT to indulge in the stupid theatre of wearing stupid lycra. Let me explain. Have about 20 bikes – in all wheel sizes, frame materials (except for Ti), with all the latest kit on the planet on some of them. Have also built tens of bikes both alone and with my son (who is also huge in riding bikes – plus does other sports on extremely regular basis, plays basketball almost every day).

First I though GCN would totally fake and "nudge" any results regarding this – after all, they would be hugely interesting in peddling (pedalling?) any over-priced bike stuff – like useless clothing – or any other bike industry scams – and I was right.

First. It takes a tremendous amount of time (and looking in the mirror, but most of you boys probably see that as a positive) to put on all that race stuff. Everything. Socks, bibs, trousers, clipless shoes, helmets, glasses, gloves, all other crap (a helmet is not crap though). Why do you bother – and how much of that is just "being seen" as some sporty McShport superboi – is unclear. I would wager about 70% of that dressup is just that.

Second. What is often (always) forgotten in these "training day equipment" videos – is that you're not running against a clock – on a training day. You're not (I'm not – and if you are – sorry for you) – running against some numbers on a training day or casual riding day. You're riding for yourself. In many aspects – the harder you ride on a training day (ie, the less special/aero crap is helping you) – the better you become on a race day. Nobody rides for a number at the end of that riding route/trail. We ride because we train ourselves. And training has to have hardship. Which is literally the opposite of all the "very special equipment". This does not concern a race day – because then – you literally are running against a clock. So be your best then, incl. anything that can help you (within reasonable limitations of course, so no crazy drugs)

Third. Bikers often misunderstand their importance on the road – and even more – in relation to bikers which are dressed in bright lycras. For me – have, as I said, 20 bikes and about 4 cars (depends on which is the current project car) – and I always stick to the right side (normal EU) of the road as much as I can. Remember – nobody is supposed to care about your health and safety more – than yourself. Nobody is supposed to tolerate you taking up an entire car lane – when there's a huge traffic jam of cars, buses, lorries behind. Nobody is forcing you to be a moron. I always try to be nice (ie, stick to my side of the roadside) – and have never caused any trafficjams/arguments with cars – because I also drive a car – and I know what as$holes bikeriders can be. In many countries, the position of the bicycle on the road – is also stipulated by traffic laws (read up!). And no, you're not suddenly more important than tens of people behind you – just because you wear bright lycras and imagine yourself to be some "super shport boi". You're not. Let people drive and they will let you ride. You have no priority on the road. Your health and safety is ONLY your concern. Not everyone's around you. You don't pay road tax. Car purchase price. Maintenance. Repairs of the car. You don't buy fuel. It's ok if you have just spent 10k on a new bike – it's ok – but it's your problem. Not everyone else's. I always try and let the car pass as easily as it can as soon as I hear it. It has more wheels. It needs more space. It probably has more people in it. It uses more resources – from every point of view – to even be here. So no, nobody cares if you've just ridden 10km and cannot contain yourself. That is only and exclusively your problem. And once again – your health and safety – is exclusively in your own hands. People arround you don't have to be obsesssively nice towards you – just because you wear lycra and think you're a very special boi. You are not.

Fourth. How inconvenient can it be – wearing a lycra and looking like a ballerine – when you don't even have a pocket to put your phone and your keys in? Yes I will wear a lycra on a raceday. No I won't bother putting it on for half an hour (just because it would give me minus 20 seconds on my trail) – because I'm not a super shportsboi (and that crap costs massive amount of money – I much rather invest in a new better fork instead). Voila. Easy to understand. Sorry for the rant (not really).

Reluctantly, I went for the cyclic clothes. I just need the male support. I usually ride with mountain bike shorts with a liner. And flapping clothing gets very annoying. The bright colors are a plus for visibility.

Why look like a person when you can look like a race car? Advertising is the #1 pursuit of the 21st century. Everything else is just details.