Stuff that works....

"Stuff that works, stuff that holds up
The kind of stuff you don’t hang on the wall"

..from Guy Clark's "Stuff that Works"


I recently had a conversation with a newly converted road bike rider who had just given up his hybrid, but was still wearing baggy shorts and a cotton T-shirt. I had just met the guy. He had picked up his very fine new road bike that day and was the friend of a friend. New guy was making some hard and fast declarations of his intent to never wear lycra bike shorts. He seemed a good sport and I gently chided him by replying, "Bullshit!! If you're still riding in a year, you'll be wearing spandex and a jersey. I'll put down a fiver on it."

How could I be so absolutely certain of the future of new guy's wardrobe? Simple. It's the stuff that works. There is a good reason why about 99% of all road cyclist wear lycra shorts/bibs and wicking jerseys with pockets in the back. It's the same reason that riders usually opt for clipless pedals at about the same time that they move to bike shorts. Those things are made for the purpose and have evolved into the best solutions to the problem at hand, whether it be for comfort or for the purpose of improving power and efficiency, they all boil down to improving performance and enjoyment of the sport.

Some gear decisions are not quite so black and white, but there are still strong arguments to be made for specialized gear. Mountain bikers usually opt for hydration packs instead of bottles, for instance, though some roadies roll with a CamelBak. The difference? Many modern mountain bikes lack a place for more than one bottle, bottles can easily fly from cages on rough terrain and a bottle on the frame is often covered with mud and dirt. On top of that, there aren't many fire stations or convenience stores at which to grab a water refill out in the woods. The hydration pack offers large capacity for water and gear, but can be hot and and heavy on the shoulders on a long ride. I also like being able to carry both sports drink and water in their respective bottles on the bike. On a far less practical note, a roadie with a CamelBak and visored helmet just won't rack up many style points.

You can call me conformist, but there is a reason that bowlers wear smooth soled shoes and golfers don't. It would be kind of fun to have them exchange shoes and then play their respective sports. For wintertime boating, nothing beats my Goretex drysuit. I resisted for years and then kicked myself in the ass for having spent so many days on the river, soaked and chilled to the bone, but determined to keep playing. When considering gear, look around and see what works. It's not a brand thing, but a matter of having the best tool for the job.
There will always be contrarians, deviant souls determined to prove the masses wrong by insisting on riding in cargo shorts and flipflops while chanting, "You don't need all that stuff....just keep it simple......", while their asses chafe and the voices in their heads are telling them to put the tin foil back in their helmet....
These folks typically don't ride for long or, if they do, they acquiesce and quietly slip unnoticed into the fold of the anonymous masses of people with good sense and better bibs.

Try not to go too far out of the mainstream when kitting up for a new activity. There is a reason that it is mainstream. Off-the-wall stuff usually ends up in the back of a closet, so it's a good idea to look around at the gear that is being used by the people who use it the most. That's the stuff that works.