I posted in the wanteds but I'll try here too...I'd like to give mtn biking a try and as a now recently unemployed fulltime student I must be more prudent in my cycling gear purchases so I thought I'd see if anyone my size(ish) - 37 Euro - has an old pair they'd sell me.


many thanks,

-bk

Sorry mine are bigger and don't know of any others but I will keep my eyes and ears open for you on that... You never know, since many of our visitors end up leaving some of their cycling gear here when they come visit - often they need more space in their suitcases going back home for all the Swiss chocolate

Looking forward to meeting you sometime soon hopefully for a bike ride and/or a run!

At 300frc a pair i am guessing no-one will leave them behind.

OP I have a friend, of a friend who as just started to work for MTB, and she can get a discount on them, i have no idea how much cheaper they would be, but i can ask for you if you like

Think you might be mixing up MBT and MTB there Sutter!

I have seen some discounted new shoes in quite a few cycling stores recently. Depending on what type you want you may pick up a new pair fairly cheap.

There ya go size 37 for 89CHF, I use specialized ones myself and find them quite good.

Duh sutter lol sorry (btw MBT are very good for cycling, or other sports)

warning: rant mode on

why does everyone always need specialised cycling gear ? Why not just go in shorts, tshirt and normal shoes ? All this special lycra or whatever its called stuff, i don't see the point. I think its a southern europe kind of thing where you have to be decked out in all the professional gear even when you are just a beginner, like you cannot cycle without all that stuff. Try cycling in Holland in lycra gear, everyone will laugh at you

I would agree that if you are going on a leisure ride you don't need all the gear. If you are going on long rides (as the OP) does then the gear is recommended because you will get chaffed in normal shorts and shirts that don't dry quickly. And cycling shoes are a must in my opinion as your cycling efficiency is improved. Once again, it all depends on what you are doing. I am an advocate of simplicity in life, but some gear really helps out.

I cycled a lot in the Netherlands when I lived there... but you know: no mountains. I am a rather cost concious person, but a good pair of shoes do make sence if you really want to do mountain biking: they have the right profile to give you immediate grip when you "nearly fall off the bike" and need to stand on loose ground on an upward trail. So they have teeth like fooball shoes, but are low enough to make you cycle well. I think this thread is not about the famous pink spandex of other forum mebers... some things are for safety, not fashion.

Think you'll find that it is nigh on impossible to get the cleats attached to an MBT shoe. Not exactly great for pedal contact!

Dude... There is cycling and cycling.

Granted if your going for a ride down to the shops you don't need to get decked out, but if you are going out for a full day of proper riding then having the right gear makes a lot of difference.

For starters normal shoes only allow you to push on the pedal which is not an efficient method of cycling, proper cycling shoes attach to the pedal and allow you to "pedal circles" you use more muscles more efficiently and this makes a difference if you are going to cycle for more then a very short distance.

Cycling shorts have a padded, shaped and specially designed crotch/butt area. Try cycling 100km or so in a pair of ordinary shorts and then see if you think you don't need cycling shorts!

I see people doing all sorts of sports under prepared with the wrong clothing, at best it can be uncomfortable at worst it can be dangerous.

I agree if we go for long bike rides then it as to be Cycling shorts (for added padding for the bottom) We went Cycling on sunday i had normal shorts on, and wow did my bottom pay the price on Monday

Plus there's nothing worse than the fat determined to lose some pounds, decking themsleves out in Lycra, sorry.

You won't be going so fast that the lycra will shave a couple of seconds off your time, gets some shorts and a t-shirt.

the lycra doesn't have much too do with shaving off time.

Even a bloody amateur like me is faster on the road with the right bicycle equipment, I imagine it's the same for mountain biking. Think what you want but in the end, it's not your money, right?

What does it do then? I can't help but think they're not the most comfortable of garments, are they better at mopping up or something?

I always thought they were a streamlining thing, like shaving the legs.

I say fair f**ks to them for getting off their a$$ and getting out and doing something. Like has been said before, having the proper equipment for the job makes it much more comfortable and enjoyable, therefore it will help with staying motivated rather then complaining of a sore ass and feeling really horrible because the sweat is making cotton t-shirts uncomfortable.

If you want to ride, the right equipment makes it a much more enjoyable experience even if you are a few kg on the plus side.

It all depends on how long you're riding for and how serious you are. I don't bother with any special clothing for riding to and from work or around the city. This morning I rode to work in Birkenstocks, jeans and a t-shirt.

However, for longer rides the right gear makes a world of difference. Cycling shoes have cleats on the bottom that allow to to 'lock-in' to your pedals.
I think they're the greatest thing since sliced bread, and old-fashioned toe clips aren't nearly as good. For mountain biking especially it's good to be locked into your pedals so your feet don't fly off them.

Regarding specialized clothing, when you ride for several hours padded shorts make a BIG difference. They don't have to be lycra (ask any serious mountain biker) but I find lycra to be more comfortable. And my cycling tops have a zip on the front that I can undo if it gets too hot, pockets on the back to store things for quick access while on the move (such as food, sunglasses, etc.), and it's made of a close fitting material that wicks sweat away from my body pretty effectively. I get a lot of grief from my colleagues at work because they think I look like a dork in all this gear, but I don't care. It's not supposed to be fashionable, it's supposed to be functional. You certainly don't need this gear if you don't do much riding, but I ride a lot (I'm planning on riding close to 200km tomorrow) and to me it's worth it.

The Dutch can laugh at me all they want.

Heather

Shaving legs isn't for aerodynamics, its to stop the hair getting into your cuts when you crash.

The lycra is a generally a wicking, breathable material that is much more comfortable when you sweat then cotton and it reduces the chill when you stop sweating too.

Plus it avoid chaffing impact as it hugs the leg and hips. If you ride in normal shorts for hours on end, things rub the wrong way.

It also doesn't bunch up like regular shorts and shirts would. Cross-country skiers also dress in spandex for this reason. They certainly don't go fast enough for aerodynamics to be a factor, but it's just a lot easier to move around in clothing that fits you like a skin, as opposed to clothing you're swimming in.

Heather

PS-Getting back on topic, I've also offered the OP a pair of old cycling shoes that I have kicking around and don't use anymore. So that's taken care of.

I stand corrected.