Today I...

#wouldrep

I wouldn't know about that Sir...

#moarrep

Today I...am wearing a Christmas jumper and feeling like a dickhead!

Good, you should be

Wearing a jumper or feeling like a dickhead?!

Feeling like a dick for wearing a Christmas jumper

Please, won't somebody think of the children!

Oh I didn't donate...I do my bit for charity elsewhere!

I think I'm missing something

Today was Christmas Jumper Day in aid of Save The Children. Lots of big companies, Archant included, would match your donation if you used a certain code, and wore a silly jumper of course.

Ah right, I was wondering why most people looked like dicks today

Today I realised I really need some comfortable cycling clobber and gloves, any recommendations?

Casual looking or MAMIL?

Dhb is great for the money

Levi do a commuter jean which gets good reviews

Casual and inconspicuous, no fluro! I've been looking at a few bits recently including the Levi's commuter stuff but I've never got on with the fit of levis trousers/jeans though. I was more looking for first hand reccomendations

Depends if you want actual cycling stuff, i.e. having to change into regular clothes after riding somewhere. I've found that anything 'cycle specific' like bibs and leggings and jerseys etc are all a massive improvement on 'regular' clothes when actually going out to ride, but then I weigh up the time/effort for the commute, and usually just go with whatever I'm wearing as it only takes me 12 minutes to be from my doorstep to my desk. If you're not forced to ride in horrendous weather, then I think you'll be fine with just getting a nice pair of gloves or something. I can't speak from experience, but I can't imagine any 'commuter' gear will make any substantial difference if the only difference is a bit of 3M tape...

Perhaps a base layer under all your clothes for warmth, i find that usually does it for me, and some decent socks and gloves

Basically I want some 'normal' clothes I can cycle to work/shop/pub in and not have to worry about stretching the knees/wearing out the crotch of my nice jeans and not have to wear 3-4 layers up top and get too hot/be really uncomfortable. I popped out earler in some nice jeans and 4 layers on top and felt really uncomfortable. I, like you don't have far to commute so I'm not interested in bibs etc.

The 'commuter' gear I've been looking at is reinforced/slightly weather proof so it'd already be an improvement on what I have now, not just some 3M tape ;)

I too heard the commuter gear from levi's is good, but the price i just can't justify, i'd rather buy a few pairs of the same jeans and just wear them out

I tend to invest in good quality jeans, last thing I'd want to do is spend a load of money on them and end up wearing them out in a few months, which is kind of the stage I'm at now. At the risk of sounding like an arse I don't really want to have to compromise 'looking good' just because I want to cycle somewhere, I'm happy to invest in cycling gear too but some brands are unjustifiable

So to re-phrase, I'm looking for some stylish, good quality commuting gear that isn't going to make my wallet cry!

I can agree with you on that, if you find jeans that last longer than a 6 months let me know!

I have worn, and am still wearing, Topman jeans and they seem fine. The crotch is about to go on one pair, but I must have been riding in them for most days for about a year or so? For the sake of £35 quid, they don't look awful, and are somewhat disposable?

I think the stylish/good quality/cheap equation is similar to the strong/light/cheap one, aka pick two of the three!

I want cycle specific rather than buying some more jeans, I have enough of those! Cycle specific gear tends to have extras like weatherproofing, reinforced areas, uses of non stretch materials, zip/waterproof pockets and other bits of the like too.. Oh and 3M tape ;)

That's the sort of thing I'm after. I'm getting the impression that you don't subscribe to the whole 'commuter specific' thing aha, if it encourages me to ride my bike more then I'm all for it.

Think I'll try some Levis Commuter jeans on payday, there's a few places online that do them at a better price.

Sounds like I'm the only bellend wearing bibs to ride to work!!

Cycle specific and reasonably priced don't seem to go together! I love my Vulpine harrington jacket but it wasn't cheap.

What waist size are you? I have a pair of 32" Levi commuter trousers that I've never worn. Suffice to say I was feeling very optimistic the day I bought them!