MTB Baggies

[ChrisF]

Just sit at The Dairy Shed on a Saturday morning and watch the middle aged lycra clad cyclists roll through after devouring a slice of carrot cake, 2 muffins and a chocolate Sterri Stumpy to replenish their reserves after having nailed Supertubes, and you'll have all the reasons you need to wear baggies.

Uhm .... you just described me ... lycra and all ...

[boxerulez]

Uhm .... you just described me ... lycra and all ...

Could be worse, you could be the guy at Spar.

[ChrisF]

Could be worse, you could be the guy at Spar.

Hiehie ....

 

 

Few years back I was that guy at the Spar ... pack of chips in the one hand, chocolate slab in the other, while carrying bag with more sweets and carbs .... with an XXXL shirt not tucking into my shorts .... at least I did NOT wear lycra then ....

 

 

 

Now I am about 12% body fat, but darned if I can get rid of that last bit of boep .... still working at it though.

Edited September 16, 2020 by ChrisF

[Mntboy]

And yet MOST people on the trails still wear lycra ....

 

So are baggies a new fasion trend, or are there real practical benefits ?

 

 

 

I am getting a pair of baggies later in the year (gift from a friend) .... so really wondering about the real world benefits ....

 

 

PS - actually surprized at just how many people are asking "why use baggies" .... obviously more than just me wondering about this ....

Pockets FTW imho. I have gotten away from having to have a larger Camelbak/Hydration Pack just because of pockets. I found myself being able to stash everything from energy bars, cash, house keys, cards (checque and activity) and cellphone in them. Also like a few posters have mentioned you look less like an plonk wearing those and more like a regular human being. 

 

So yes there are definite practical benefits to them. Same can be said for a trail shirt as well.

[arendoog]

And yet MOST people on the trails still wear lycra ....

 

So are baggies a new fasion trend, or are there real practical benefits ?

 

 

 

I am getting a pair of baggies later in the year (gift from a friend) .... so really wondering about the real world benefits ....

 

 

PS - actually surprized at just how many people are asking "why use baggies" .... obviously more than just me wondering about this ....

Baggies are warmer in winter .Knee warmers just look dof .I can go shopping in my cycling gear when i return from a trail .I don,t shave my legs and wearing lycra with unshaven legs looks dof .Enough pockets for keys ext .Nobody can judge your abilities under baggies ,so you surprise the lycra -lot when you pass them at high speed .Imagine Roglic winning the tour wearing baggies .That would be epic .The most important reason is not why you should wear baggies ,but why you should not wear lycra

Edited September 16, 2020 by arendoog

[DR ◣◢]

I said it in the thread about clipless vs flats. 10 years ago this would have gone in a very different direction.

[Jewbacca]

Benefits are all in the mind... Some would say the benefit of a camel back is that they don't have to stash their pockets.

 

Like anything, comfort and image are the main driving factor behind baggies.

 

The influence of DH racing also can't be ruled out as it is UCI illegal for DHers to race in lycra.

 

So MX pants turned to MX shorts turned to specific MTB baggies during the industry boom.

 

I wear baggies some days, cut off jeans some days, lycra some days.... depends on which bike I am riding where, how long or how far.

 

It doesn't matter why or what the perceived benefits are really. Like anything, it is personal preference and a level of comfort that allows one to feel confident on the bike. Confidence translates directly to relaxation, better riding and wider smiles.....

[Heinrich Hattingh]

A pair of cut off skinny jeans...???? Unfortunately Mtb shorts have become incredibly expensive. The new 2021 range is even crazier where shorts alone (without an inner) is R3k already for the nice stuff.

[Heinrich Hattingh]

Yeah, I always say look good, feel good, ride good! Nothing wrong with some nice kit!

Benefits are all in the mind... Some would say the benefit of a camel back is that they don't have to stash their pockets.

 

Like anything, comfort and image are the main driving factor behind baggies.

 

The influence of DH racing also can't be ruled out as it is UCI illegal for DHers to race in lycra.

 

So MX pants turned to MX shorts turned to specific MTB baggies during the industry boom.

 

I wear baggies some days, cut off jeans some days, lycra some days.... depends on which bike I am riding where, how long or how far.

 

It doesn't matter why or what the perceived benefits are really. Like anything, it is personal preference and a level of comfort that allows one to feel confident on the bike. Confidence translates directly to relaxation, better riding and wider smiles.....

[Mojoman]

A pair of cut off skinny jeans... Unfortunately Mtb shorts have become incredibly expensive. The new 2021 range is even crazier where shorts alone (without an inner) is R3k already for the nice stuff.

Sadly anything that whiffs of cycling is hyper expensive now....I have 3 x pairs Indola shorts....2 x are an older heavier type of material with nice side pockets and a zipped front pocket (bought for cheap)...one still has the original inner...the other has had the inner removed and I now recycle old and worn lyrca under it....the newer pair was the newer and cheaper Indola option (still R1000 odd)...the material is a lot thinner...the cut is not all that nice, the waistband feels wrong and to be honest I just wear these when I ride with people so I don't look so scruffy like......Not an all day riding pair....

 

But ja....baggies for me are better as they last longer, out on a ride they don't get caught on bushes etc or rip easily in a fall and you can still look casual when you stop at a pub or a cafe etc on a ride....(and if you are a guy its a lot easier/quicker to have a pee)

[PSYCHOsmurfZA]

Benefits are all in the mind... Some would say the benefit of a camel back is that they don't have to stash their pockets.

 

Like anything, comfort and image are the main driving factor behind baggies.

 

The influence of DH racing also can't be ruled out as it is UCI illegal for DHers to race in lycra.

 

So MX pants turned to MX shorts turned to specific MTB baggies during the industry boom.

 

I wear baggies some days, cut off jeans some days, lycra some days.... depends on which bike I am riding where, how long or how far.

 

It doesn't matter why or what the perceived benefits are really. Like anything, it is personal preference and a level of comfort that allows one to feel confident on the bike. Confidence translates directly to relaxation, better riding and wider smiles.....

I always wear baggies and camelbak even if i just go ride 10km, i bought the stuff im gonna use all of it all the time 

[PhilipV]

I absolutely wear baggies for the image.

 

I don't walk around in lycra in my every day life, so so I don't wear lycra when riding.

Okay I lie, I wear lycra under my baggies.

 

But I don't want to look like the middle aged man who walked into a bike shop saying "I have no clue, but here's my credit card, please sell me one of every thing."

 

For most of my shorter rides (<2hr) I just wear my normal clothes, undies, baggies and t-shirt. Lycra not required.

 

But maybe I'm just bitter and disenchanted by what the road and mtb racing culture has become that I don't want to be associated with that.

Edited September 17, 2020 by PhilipV

[rushcarbon]

Bjorn. Hi. www.indola.co.za & call 021 4223397. We have the solutions. C ya at the trailhead. Philip.

[Wayne pudding Mol]

I absolutely wear baggies for the image.

 

I don't walk around in lycra in my every day life, so so I don't wear lycra when riding.

Okay I lie, I wear lycra under my baggies.

 

But I don't want to look like the middle aged man who walked into a bike shop saying "I have no clue, but here's my credit card, please sell me one of every thing."

 

For most of my shorter rides (<2hr) I just wear my normal clothes, undies, baggies and t-shirt. Lycra not required.

 

But maybe I'm just bitter and disenchanted by what the road and mtb racing culture has become that I don't want to be associated with that.

I hate the fact that I find my bibs more comfortable than baggies with inners - I even prefer the comfort of my bibs without baggies but I still wear them over my bibs

 

I just don't like the lycra look and my daughter and wife take this p!ss out of my lycra look which doesn't help

 

Each to there own but I like to look as close to normal as I can - except on race day, then I'm kitted and I need to be aero to maintain my mid pack status

[PhilipV]

I hate the fact that I find my bibs more comfortable than baggies with inners - I even prefer the comfort of my bibs without baggies but I still wear them over my bibs

 

I just don't like the lycra look and my daughter and wife take this p!ss out of my lycra look which doesn't help

 

Each to there own but I like to look as close to normal as I can - except on race day, then I'm kitted and I need to be aero to maintain my mid pack status

Totally agreed. I'm yet to find a liner that is as comfortable as a bib. So I ride baggies that come without liners. Except for the spez baggies that came with a swat bib liner. That swat bib is amazing.

[Wet Ears]

Benefits:

i) Don't look like a chop

ii) Pockets to hold cash, cards

iii) Because inners are sewn in they don't slip down like cycle shorts under baggies would - saves you having to wear a bib

iv) Hellavu lot easier to have a pee break