Lycra? On a cargo bike? Apparently it’s a no

Cycling European style

I’ll start this one with a disclaimer. I am not (I repeat NOT) a cyclist and am never likely to be one but Mr D loves cycling of all kinds and keeps at least four bikes in the house (tbh I’ve lost count), including one in the lounge.

The lounge bike is only allowed to be there because…

• It’s a super stylish long tail electric cargo bike that looks good next to my piano
• The lounge is pretty big for two people and one small dog
• He uses it to deliver his Breadbeard sourdough bread (and I love bread)
• It’s so heavy it takes both of us to get it up the steps from the back garden

Until the arrival of the cargo bike and our recent trips to Europe by train, Mr D was, like many riders, a confirmed lycra-wearing cyclist. But cycling fashions, it would appear, change according to which bike you’ve selected for your day’s activities (must be tricky when you have four), and in which country you’re riding.

We didn’t, for example, spot any lycra on the streets of Paris.

Normal transport mode, normal clothes

Cycling lycra and its associated comedic (I mean strategic) padding is of course mostly about comfort but there’s no denying, these weird stretchy garments also have trend and marketing status (as well as being the butt of some rather mean middle-aged-man jokes). Looking at the blade-like shape of some road bike saddles, it seems obvious to me why padded lycra has outlasted its sex appeal (just me?) As a cycling wife, I’m a woman who’s used to sweaty bum pads hanging around the house on their lycra thongs and I understand how unsatisfactory a pair of lycra bib shorts are to fold. (In case you were wondering, we generally share folding duties but Fred the Jack Russell is pretty hopeless at it).

The sweaty lycra thing has made me an unexpected fan of cargo bikes (even ones that have to live in my lounge).

Because apparently, when you ride a cargo bike, it’s a bit like driving a very small car, you wear actual clothes. You know the sort of thing, trousers, shirts, jumpers, flat caps… Well perhaps not the flat caps. Mr D still sensibly wears his cycling helmet when riding his cargo bike. But if you can get flat caps for dogs, I’m guessing you can also get them to wear on top of cycling helmets.

I’m not really sure why this alternative non-lycra dress code has come about but I like it as a statement because riding a bike for everyday life should be as normal as driving (I don’t really like driving either).

But what about the underwear?

We’re all going to have to accept for this section that it’s acceptable to discuss underwear usage. Pants, knickers, kecks, smalls, whatever you prefer to call them, most of us wear them and many of us spend a lot of money on them each year (Miu Miu anyone?) I believe (from my survey of one) that wearing pants underneath cycling lycra is a no-no. This apparently isn’t because of the high risk of visible panty line but because the knicker/lycra interface just doesn’t work.

But my big question is…

Does the no-pants-when-cycling rule also apply to cargo bikes? Surely if you’re wearing normal clothing, you would also be wearing your normal underwear (please don’t feel obliged to tell me what that is for you!) I haven’t yet been brave enough to stop a random cargo bike rider and ask the question and don’t want to offend, so I’m relying on Mr D’s personal experience (he usually doesn’t mind me checking his undie status).

Here’s my thinking on the topic...

If pants were to be worn on a cargo bike, they would have to be the right ones. You wouldn’t want them to ride up or ‘forage’ anywhere they shouldn’t. You would want them to make an unexpected appearance outside your trousers (or skirt if you love a draught) and you wouldn’t want them to get clingy and sweaty.

I was recently sent some Nike Dri FIT men’s boxers to try (I inhabit a weird world). If they had been for me, I would have been pleased. These underwear are lightweight, dry quickly and are 92% polyester with a bit of spandex thrown in for fun. I loved the superlight feel of the fabric and the flat seams. We decided one of Mr D’s cycling delivery rounds would make a good opportunity for an active-but-everyday test.

Here’s what he said about them after the event…

Cycling and underpants… Not my usual combination. But since adding a Synch Longtail ST electric cargo bike to my collection, I’ve changed my mind. Unlike traditional bicycles, the Synch has a long wide motorbike-style saddle, which means I don’t feel the need to wear padded cycling shorts, as I don’t get rubbed in the same way.

The Nike Dri FIT undies fit snuggly. This means my undercarriage stays where it should and I stay comfortable. The lightweight material wicks away any sweat and dries quickly.

They have become my go-to underwear when I use the Synch e-cargo bike.

I don’t know about all the other cargo bike riders in the world but in this household, the answer to the question, ‘Do cargo bike cyclists wear underwear?’ is a definitive, ‘YES!’