Because the pros...

[Guest Kalahari ou]

I can't see the benefit of Lycra. My baggies are extremely comfy, even on long rides, and any aerodynamic advantage it gives must be negligible at best (talking mtb here) and zero for anyone but a pro.

I can understand the benefits of a 29er for the xc mad majority of SA riders, but I'll stick with my 26er thanks.

I went from clipless to flats and I haven't found a reason yet to ever go back to clipless.

 

This baggies you refer to...

Are these any other pants than lycra... or are there specific baggy mtb pants?

[Dusty]

I suspect whatever you wear, whatever pedal you use, you are still a follower influenced by someone or some other factor. The exception being if it's something completely unique.

[Tumbleweed]

I suspect whatever you wear, whatever pedal you use, you are still a follower influenced by someone or some other factor. The exception being if it's something completely unique.

 

Ja, most things have been done before. Some people try so hard to be different, that they are all the same anyway.

[rouxtjie]

I suspect whatever you wear, whatever pedal you use, you are still a follower influenced by someone or some other factor. The exception being if it's something completely unique.

winner winner chicken dinner....good post

 

Everyone is following someone....gravity crew follow their heros(they think they are against the grain but then they are all wearing skateboard shoes, baggies and mx gloves...full face helmet at the mtn bike park optional), marathon boys(lycra, weight weenie helmet and bottles), roadies have their kit...SS'ers well anything goes there.

 

Live and let live.

[Face Plant]

doping?

[Butterbean]

Because we are like any participants in any other sport in existence.

 

We do what the pros do because it makes us think that if we do it, we may just be able to perform like they do.

 

Why do golfers spend 6k on a driver? Cause they think they'll drive it like tiger!

 

Why do you spend 18k on a top of the line carbon frame? Cause you can. But actually cause you think it'll make you a better performer.

 

Pros ride more than anyone. So its sometimes safe to assume they've tried everything there is, and found their kit the most effective.

 

 

Maybe?

[Reg Lizard]

Wearing, doing, whateva that the pro's wear & do is part of the fun...when in Rome, do as the Romans do :-)

[Tumbleweed]

Wearing, doing, whateva that the pro's wear & do is part of the fun...when in Rome, do as the Romans do :-)

 

Orgies and feasts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

I wear a lycra shorts under my baggies. The baggies with built in lycra are uncomfortable for me.

 

As for whether you are a follower, I suppose we all are. Unless you invented something you are generally following, it's just how it is.

I believe this all stems from the age-old 26er vs 29er debate ultimately. On many Hub threads S.I.R Maxxis is a big advocate for staying away from a 29er otherwise you must be a sheep, following the crowd, beind led by the devil. Real men ride 26er's is the ultimate message generally.

 

Does it really matter what you ride, or what you wear while riding?? The point is to get out there and ride and in doing so we are all entitled to do it how we want to.

[jmaccelari]

I suppose you can also eschew clipless pedals for platform, gears for single speed, freewheel hubs for fixed, disc brakes for cantilever...

 

How far can this "I don't want to be in the in crowd" mania go?

[NotSoBigBen]

You are talking about road. Road has a certain pedigree and immense history. The etiquette you speak of.

 

Mountain biking is the bastard step child of road racing. The rebellious evolution of the sport with the fathers of the sport like Tom Ritchey, Joe Breeze and Gary Fisher throwing themselves down mountains on clunkers. True invention, true freedom!

 

So 'rebellious' they had to have a rule to tell them not to wear skinsuits?

[pista]

I wear a lycra shorts under my baggies. The baggies with built in lycra are uncomfortable for me.

 

 

+1

[BrianMTB]

I don't think it has anything to do with "following the pros" as it does just conforming to a sport-type. I don't wear Lycra on the epic because the pros do, I wear it because 8 hard cycling days in a row would give me chafing of ...epic proportions if I wore anything even slightly baggy.

 

If you play tennis, chances are you use a graphite racquet with an oversized head. You probably also wear modern tennis shoes and moisture-wicking clothing. The pros happen to do the same. If you want to play with a wooden racquet, running shoes and a cotton t-shirt that is your prerogative. Chances are you won't enjoy the game as much and all other things being equal you would probably lose to a similarly skilled opponent.

[RocknRolla]

Other than the sole purpose of turning us all into sheep, the pro's are also good for the technological development of our sport's equipment. In the search to get the competetive edge, the manufacturers are all keen to get the pro's on them, so that us sheep can all buy the new technology down the line.

 

If it was not for the pro's and the bike and equipment manufacturers, we would all still being riding clunkers down the hills and in the veld.

 

I understan mr maxxis's search for MTB zen, but in your advocacy of pure riding, are you not also wanting to get more people to see riding as you do?

 

The thing about riding a bicycle is, it's you, and the machine beneath you in the end, although in some people's minds they require the latest and greatest to perform better, and if they have the cash to splash, let them - it gives the manufacturers cash to develop the next generation of awesome bike accessory, frame geometry, suspension magafter etc...

 

 

[MtbBarbie]

Agree with BrianMTB, don't think its fair to say people wear lycra or ride 29ers because they're sheep. Its their preference? Just like its yours' not to?

[nickc]

One of the coolest Pros out there in his baggies !!