I’ve evolved as a cyclist. I started out like most others — gotta have the kit. Gotta be slick and “aero.” From helmet to cleats. Nothing flashy, but you know…tight and silly.
The cleats were the first thing I dumped. I’m a huge fan of flat pedals and a good pair of shoes now. And the cool thing is, when I say, “a good pair of shoes,” I mean just about anything that makes me comfortable (although I still prefer a stiff sole). And I tell you what — cleats are not comfortable. And let’s throw in those times of grace when I’ve randomly ended up on the ground because I couldn’t unclip fast enough.
Next up…well, the rest of it all. I still need the padded shorts, but really? The pad’s the only thing I do need. So why not just get some padded undershorts and wear something more practical over them? Something that can carry a few things.
And while I’m at it (and since I have the pockets on the cargo shorts I now wear whether I’m riding or not) how about dumping the jersey for something more comfortable up top? The guy I ride with regularly (Albert — the OG of comfortable cyclewear) had given me a button-down collared shirt designed for cycling, and I liked it. Sure, it flowed in the breeze…but that’s something I want. On top of that, why would an overweight old man like me care about aerodynamics?
So now that I’d tried a button-down shirt, how about that Columbia PFG (Pro Fishing Gear) shirt I picked up in the Base Exchange for about 75% off on the clearance rack? Excellent. So much so that I started looking for more, which has led me to a cheap brand called “Bass Dash,” and I’ve ordered way too many. Four…and that’s ALL…for now…but they were on sale — the last two were under 20 bucks apiece! If you know kit, you know that 20 bucks is a steal.
So, that’s what I’m wearing now, and I’m quite happy. They vent well, have roomy short sleeves (I speculate they’re designed for casting), and 50+ SPF UV protection. The collar will even flip up double to protect my neck if I have to…which I don’t.
Really, I’m sold on the fishing shirt for riding. They’re practically disposable for the price, but I won’t have to toss them for quite some time I’m sure…especially since my collection for riding is up around 6 right now. Keep a good rotation and they’ll last.
If you ride casually, you can’t go wrong with this recommendation. If you don’t take me up on it, I will certainly judge you as a wannabe. Because here’s the reality: If you’re reading this (because I am certain Pogacar isn’t reading this), you’ll never be good enough on a bike to be taken seriously in the best of kit. You’re far more likely to just look like an overstuffed sausage.
There are so many advantages in the way I ride over others. Let’s add to them now the glorious fishing shirt.
