Ramblings from the saddle - Cycle Fashion

It's often on a bike ride I get ideas for my blog. My thoughts flit and change throughout a ride and I'd be hard pressed to tell you exactly what I think of all the time. But this is one I'm sure many of you can relate to. Fashion.
I'm not talking just about how bikes have changed but more how we dress for the occasion. Take me for instance. I'll commute to work on my road bike. I'll dress in my sky team lycra black helmet blue shoes. But unbeknown to the general populous I am making a fashion faux pas. My shoes are mtb shoes, full treaded with studs included. My helmet also betrays my origins as it has a peak. This is just not the done thing in the world of roadies but it begs the answer,

WHY?

I'd agree it doesn't give as good a range of vision as you have to crane your neck to look further up the road but it seems its been outcast for much more deeper reasons than this.  Roadies v Mtbers, or stiffbacks v dossers depending on which camp you are from. Id consider myself both so care very little what others may think, but come on its got to be better than wearing a cycle cap under your helmet. Who the hell made that seem an acceptable alternative?

Socks.
I should have better things to comment on but the trend for longer and longer socks seems to be to the point of just looking silly, they stretch well beyond 5 inches. I guess to me its like someone wearing socks with sandals, it doesn't look right. Don't even get me started on compression socks. You know the ones that go up to your knees. Think wearing tights but showing your knees. Practical yes, stupid looking.........(?)

 Lycra is another strange thing. To the majority of non cycle folk we look plain stupid its practical implications not considered and they mock us when our backs are turned. Yet we think we look fairly cool in matching regalia, our team or club colours.  There is a trend now that has rebelled over the tight figure hugging clothes.  So here's me again out in the forest dressed in the same kit as before but this time on my mtb.  I'm muddy after a few hours ride and pull into the parking area to have a break.  There is a usual mix of guys there with there bikes making ready to ride.  Baggy shorts, knee and elbow armour, casual jerseys and loaded hydration packs are the order of the day.  These guys aren't riding downhill but are out for the same kind of ride I've just done.  This is these days the more typical kit of the average UK mountain biker.

I feel a little out of place..........

In fairness I will also ride with baggies  when in the company of others but find for most riding that its just not as practical.  But for that one moment I felt like a roadie in the woods and not supposed to be there.  It is very apparent that fashion amongst cyclists is more and more pushed to the corners of which ever style of bike you ride.  Dare you care and just turn up in what you want?  And what if your riding is cyclocross.  Which camp do you ride for? 

I'm tempted to show up on a road club run in my baggies and peaked helmet with Camelbak and see their reaction...........

Talking of which, why is riding with a hydration pack for 60miles acceptable in mtbing and not in road cycling.  Has the branch of off road cyclists evolved so much leaving the unaccepting and slow changing roadies behind.  Or have mountain bikers evolved into a more laxed form of riding, moving away from the heat rate monitors and interval sessions, and their fashion just reflects this?

People do tend to stare if you turn up in a bar in lycra...........

At the end of the day I may baulk at weird fashion (you long socked wearers are marked!) but I shall continue to ride and wear what I want, a hybrid of both worlds.  If you want to mock then do so but just remember I'll still ride fast no matter what.

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