All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

The spandex is comfortable while riding, and wicks sweat away better, and is more aero. Same with shaving. but shaving is mostly negligible, and only done by people who are way too aggro about their performance.

 

Ppl shave their bodies in order to say they shave their bodies

 

To be fair, I make fun of any guy who shaves their body.

I get the aerodynamics (for road cycling) of spandex but I just cannot understand why you would wear it for a leisure ride on a mountain bike. Competition I totally understand. Nowadays, I would say I see more people mountain bike riding in "comfortable" and casual clothing than in spandex. This could be a regional fashion thing too.

 

My new rig. 2020 Specialized Epic HT Pro. Upgraded brakes to XTR, front hub to DT Swiss 350, BB to Chris King, seatpost to S-Works.

 

For me its about which bike Im riding. If I'm doing an XC race or riding my race bike for training or even just fun, I'll wear spandex, Im actually most comfortable that way. If Im riding a trail bike I wear baggies. Thankfully baggies these days have gotten a lot more slim. No matter who you are or what type of riding you're doing, having baggy clothes get hung up on part of your bike is not fun, especially your saddle. Hell, take a look at DH racers, even they are wearing very form fitting gear these days.

 

That thing is an awesome looking rocketship. Congratulations!

 

oh when I see people mountain biking in spandex, I assume they're just Roadies taking their hardtail out for some training. I don't think I've ever seen someone in spandex riding a Trail or Enduro bike, its always either a hardtail, or an XC FS.

 

Epic looks great. GF has a newer FSR - they are ridiculously light.

 

I love 80s paint schemes. Good looking bike

 

Specialized know what they are doing when it comes to painting their bikes haha

Personally I am way more comfortable in spandex. During the summer I’m wearing a baggy jersey and a bib with a hip pack. Call me a nerd or whatever but that’s what I’m comfortable in haha.

 

I have a bunch of their older jerseys (not full front zipper) and they fit me well and seem to last forever.

 

Spandex wearer here. Also a shaver. Most of my riding buddies have already had multiple treatments for Lyme disease and I have hairy ass legs. No way for me to do a post-ride tick check unless I shave my legs. I use a clipper so have stubble but it allows me to see ticks and remove them.

 

I’m from Alabama so I understand the tick and chiggers issue. You know what works best? Pantyhose! I learned that in infantry school from an instructor. Try it and let your freak flag fly. Lol

 

All the time. But I do throw a chain around them if I am in a crowded campsite area like the Party Ditch at 18 Road. If you mean leave them on the rack and go into town in your buddies truck / long term unattended: Hard no.

 

Just don't wear spandex and ride a DH bike. I did it once for a bet and man, those hecklers were ruthless.

LOL, I'm just picturing you at the edge of the treeline on Benning, all the NCOs whispering about you behind the water buffalo "OMG, he actually bought it, sure is the newer softer army"

 

Ha, I can imagine it now. Full face helmet, no other pads, all spandex. You'd look like one of those fluffy dogs that gets shaved for summer but they leave the fur on its head hahahaha.

 

Speaking for myself, I had to have my arm shaved when I got my tattoos but I never left it like that. It's not an option not to prior.

You'd dig my collection..includes bright yellow, orange, green, purple

 

Haha, well the guy that sold me on them was wearing them so I "believed" him. It was at Camp Geiger in 2001, but pretty much the same pine trees and critters as Benning. What was probably more hilarious was me going into the Jacksonville walmart and buying 5 pair of pantyhose. lol

 

As a NCO and former 11B grunt, I can actually vouch for the pantyhose trick -- it's been used by real trigger pullers for decades to ward off both chiggers and chafing.

Only fobbits and REMFs would laugh.

 

Hard no here. Spandex is not more comfortable than a good pair of baggies and a jersey. If I’m going to do something where I’m looking for comfort, it’s loose fit. Personal preference.
As for performance, it’s just a carryover from roadies. If the wc dh racers aren’t in spandex (where tenths sometimes separate leaders), there’s no gains to be had on a MTB. Form fitting, sure.

Yeah man, summer time I’m buzzing the forest that grows on my legs too (not shaving). Mostly to clean off the mud and scabs from pedal and branches.

Last summer I saw a dude in Leogang that looked like Hasselhof’s twin (in his glory days) in full pads, all bright spandex, on an electric dh bike. I so wish I took a pic. So goddam Euro.