When I’m on a ride, by myself or with others, I often go into a convenience store, coffee shop or donut shop … and think nothing of wearing my bike kit.
But then …
After a recent group ride (that I drove to the start of), I went to Trader Joe’s. In the parking lot, I removed my bike jersey and put on a T-shirt, and then covered over my bike shorts with a pair of “regular” shorts. Thank goodness I remembered to bring a change of clothes.
Why?
It just seems strange and a bit weird to walk into Trader Joe’s (or any other grocery store/restaurant/jewelry store/barber shop), after a ride, still wearing my bike outfit. Everyone would look at me, right? They’d be thinking:
*Does he just wear bike outfits all the time?
*Did he ride here; where’s his bike? I didn’t see a bike outside.
*Wow, what legs!
Well, maybe not the last one.
Why do I feel this way? Why does it feel fine to walk into a shop in my bike clothes during a ride, or right after, especially when you’re with other similarly attired people. And yet strange to walk into a store in my bike kit once the ride is over, the group has dispersed, and I’ve driven somewhere else?
Do you have similar thoughts/feelings? Is there something wrong with me/us?
I may have to see someone to talk this out: a cycologist. They would probably ask me to wear my cycling gear to our first session as part of my therapy. Should I wear the one that says I climbed Mt. Ventoux – or would that be too much of an attempt to be an alpha male? Should I wear my Girls With Gears jersey (this is my team in the Pelotonia fund-raising annual ride) or would this be overcompensating? Do I even have a plain jersey anymore? No, they’re all from rides and may all have some sort of subliminal or bliminal message about my psyche. Who knew bike jerseys were such windows into our subconscious. Damn, I think I need to schedule a session with a therapist who specializes in clothing choices and what they mean in order to prepare for my session with the cycologist. I think there’s one in an office right next to the Trader Joe’s.
The Biking France Blog 
Your photo of the ‘1st American Bicycle Race’ is not correct. That photo was taken in 1869 in San Francisco at Mechanics Hall (a riding school). Photo was taken by Muybridge (Pseudonym HELIOS as visible in the original photos) . 1st Race was in 1868 at Gilmore’s Gardens and was likely won by Charles Delmonico. Race was sponsored by the New York Athletic Club. No record of the actual winner has been found. 1st known trophy for an American Velocipede race is of a cup from New Bedford, Mass. and was awarded to William W. Allen on Jan. 21st, 1869. Respectfully submitted.
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