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A recent temperature spike in the Big Apple sent me rummaging through my closet looking for warm weather gear. Although I’m a huge fan of Lycra bike shorts from a comfort in the saddle standpoint, I am not a huge fan of putting my super tight shorts on display. As a commuter this is especially important. The last thing I want to do is strut through a lobby full of coworkers with skin tight Lycra in full effect.
One of the most common jokes I get when I talk about cycling goes something like, “So how do you like dressing like a ballet dancer?” I have to admit that in the past I bought into the standard bike issue skin tight clothing, but daily commuting has changed me for good. The answer to the Lycra “problem” is simple: knickers.
There are plenty of specialty cycling knickers available, but most of them cost a small sized fortune. I stumbled across a New York Times article (free registration might be necessary to view the article) on bike knickers and the common theme I found is that most of them cost more than I paid for my daily commuting bike. They range from $85 to $165 in price. The companies featured (links take you to product pages) are Rapha, Swrve, Chrome, Bicycle Fixation, and Swobo. Here is a picture from the Swrve product page to whet your appetite:
My point is not to break down the technical specifications of each pair, the NYT article already has that covered. It is clear that all of the knickers are high quality and well designed and if you don’t mind spending the money they are sure to do the trick. My problem? I mind spending the money.
While the merits of a gusseted crotch and articulated knees are undeniable, I have found that I don’t necessarily need those features in a pair of knickers to propel myself through New York City traffic. My venture into custom knickers began with an old pair of cotton slacks that were not fit for prime time anymore. I loved the weight and feel of them and I thought, why not chop them into knickers? Behold, my first pair of hacked knickers.
Now the fact that my wife is a fashion designer certainly did not hurt. She can hack a pair of knickers faster than you can change a flat tire, and she even adds her own stylish tweaks to boot. But you certainly don’t need professional quality. You can just do your own hack job with scissors and leave the rough edges, or you can go to the local dry cleaner and have them do the job for less than $10.
I recommend going with a light cotton knit that dries quickly, but experiment and find what you like. If you don’t have any old pants in the closet that will do the trick, head down to the local Goodwill and you are sure to find something that will work. I have not rocked just Lycra bike shorts in over three years and don’t plan on doing so again. I’m officially a “hack knicker” guy and have several homemade pairs - and the price can’t be beat.
10 comments for this entry ↓
1 Ryan // Feb 20, 2008 at 8:05 am
Because I’m an argumenative hose nozzle, I’ll use this space to offer a counter-point:
Knickers may be great if you live in a ‘progressive city’ but here in Knoxville TN, “the buckle of the bible belt”, that style of pants are called Capri’s and only girls wear them. I’m sure they are comfortable but for me to walk into my office in those would be much worse than showing up in full lycra kit.
When I bike commute I usually wear lycra shorts with baggy shorts over them, or plan to arrive well before my co-workers/clients. As for cost-effective bike clothes I am hooked on cycling clothing manufacterer called Aero Tech Designs. http://www.aerotechdesigns.com
They make everything right here in the USA and although their website looks like a kindergardener put it together, their products are top quality at a great price. I prefer the “Pro Shorts” to the standard ones but I own both and either will get the job done. I only ordered one jersey from them to try it out but it is awesome and I hope to order 3-4 more before summer. I know I basically just wrote an Ad for them here, but I promise my only affiliation with them is as a satisfied repeat customer.
2 Bren // Feb 20, 2008 at 9:32 am
Matt wears girls pants!
3 Matt // Feb 20, 2008 at 10:17 am
Ah, it’s nice to have tangible evidence that I live in a place that is progressive and actually honors diversity rather than fearing it. =) Heck, I have seen naked people in NYC and most people don’t give them a second glance.
Ryan, I hear what you are saying about the baggy shorts, but for people who really “live” on their bike and ride to bars and other “social stuff” after work, baggy shorts are just not going to cut it in most cases. I don’t wear bike jerseys when I ride any more either, but I’ll save that for a future entry.
The knickers have the appearance of something a bit more formal, but at the same time are perfect for riding. Here, you can definitely get away with them and actually, I have gotten several positive unsolicited comments - but mostly because of the tweaks my wife adds.
4 Joshua // Feb 20, 2008 at 11:54 am
I can’t say I’ve ever bought a pair of actual knickers, but I’ve always tended to gravitate towards longer shorts. Maybe it’s because “normal” length shorts don’t go near my knees, since I’m about 6′9″. Maybe it’s just that I like to be unusual. Anyway, living in Indiana (rural Indiana, on top of that), I haven’t had negative comments. The closest have been when a friend remarks about my “capris,” which I counter by referring to them as “man-pris.” And then a good laugh is had by all.
5 Ryan // Feb 20, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I guess the idfference is urban vs. suburban living. Where I live EVERYONE owns a car and drives it everywhere. It is hard for me to immagine living in a city where using a bicycle as a primary transportation method was viable.
I don’t think NYC, Portland, or Chicago are in any danger of Knoxville overtaking them as a bike mecca anytime soon. (Although it would be cool if it did!)
6 Matt // Feb 20, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Yeah Ryan, our government has done such a good job jumping into bed with oil and car companies that mass transit or human powered transit is not viable in 99% of the country. I was just like you when I lived on the west coast - car dependent for the most part because of urban sprawl and public reluctance to fund mass transit projects.
I can’t tell you how nice it is not to have to take care of a car on a consistent basis. I have met some VERY dedicated people though. A friend of a friend who lives in North Carolina sold his car last year an relies completely on a bike . . . and his commute is 20 miles . . . one way! Now that is dedication.
7 Alec // Feb 22, 2008 at 11:16 am
Hey Matt,
I didn’t see any tech specs on the NYT article, and I would love to hear or see what your wife did. Could you post or send some close ups on the crotch and seat (not yours, the pants) and any tips you have. Thanks.
SF East Bay - 20miles a day.
8 Jared // Mar 3, 2008 at 5:01 am
I’ve been keen on the DIY knickers for a long time. I live in Huntington, WV and I’ve never gotten any comments any worse than what my co-workers give me for riding a bike in the first place. I’ve found that old work pants make really nice riding knickers. The fabric is usually some sort of stain resistant blend, the seams are fairly non-abrasive, and you can pick them up at thrift stores or dirt malls used for less than $5 in a wide array of colors.
9 Adam Tabib // Mar 19, 2008 at 10:03 am
I ended up doing the same thing about a two weeks ago and just happened to find this site today. Good work on the knickers and the rest of the site…
http://addicted2wow.blogspot.com/search/label/Knickers
I added velcro in place of buttons for easy access and a internal pocket for my camera. Future plans involve silver reflective fabric on the rear pockets.
10 DIY Bike Knickers: More Detail » BikeHacks // Apr 2, 2008 at 12:02 am
[...] to subscribe to the RSS feed. You can also subscribe to BikeHacks by email. Thanks for visiting!In a post a while back I wrote about how I love the concept of bike knickers, but I do not love the thought of departing [...]
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