Cycling UK Forum

My thoughts about "why jeans" – the OP's reasons might be very different! But I also ride round town in jeans a fair amount. It's because jeans are the ubiquitous, invisible, legwear, unobjectionable if they're even noticed in virtually all non-formal situations. And although they're not good for long rides, they're fine for riding round town; in fact they even have a minor advantage over most other trousers, which is they don't flap so much, due to the heavier, stiffer fabric. The various walking trousers mentioned might be more comfortable and perhaps harder wearing, but, depending on setting, the outdoorsy look is sometimes out of place. It's a matter of dressing for the destination not the ride.

Bmblbzzz wrote: ↑1 Apr 2024, 7:01pm The various walking trousers mentioned might be more comfortable and perhaps harder wearing, but, depending on setting, the outdoorsy look is sometimes out of place. It's a matter of dressing for the destination not the ride.

Rohan Bags/Stretch Bags aren't really "walking trousers", they're general purpose do-anything trousers. I wear them at work (where I'm expected to be moderately smart), I wear them at play, I wear them for slumming around. There's nothing much about their appearance that screams "outdoorsy!"

In fact one thing I generally don't use them for is hiking (I prefer something a little lighter for that, and/or with a DWR treatment if it's likely to be damp), though as jack-of-all-trades trousers one certainly can go for a pretty serious dander in a pair. And I can ride for a few hours in them too, and dress up or down.

Pete.

I think non-outdoorsy people would identify them as outdoorsy, with their big zipped pockets and the little dangly clip thing. Or maybe they'd look more like workwear. Or something else. Doesn't really matter what – simply the point is they're a particular look, which in certain circumstances might not be quite right, whereas jeans are so ubiquitous as to be generally invisible. But they might suit the OP's situation perfectly. Only they know!

My problems with rapidly wearing out the crotch on jeans, disappeared after I changed to wearing stretch jeans. My damage was always concentrated in the area where all the seams joins together. Putting strain on the thread and the jeans fabric for every pedal rotation, will prematurely weaken them, so that any abrasion effect will be compounded. A little stretch seems to reduce the strain quite a lot. YMMW.

Bmblbzzz wrote: ↑1 Apr 2024, 10:16pm I think non-outdoorsy people would identify them as outdoorsy, with their big zipped pockets and the little dangly clip thing. Or maybe they'd look more like workwear. Or something else. Doesn't really matter what – simply the point is they're a particular look, which in certain circumstances might not be quite right, whereas jeans are so ubiquitous as to be generally invisible. But they might suit the OP's situation perfectly. Only they know!

Well, up to a point, Lord Copper...
There is quite a lot of breath in that "particular look".
Here's three pairs of trousers, based purely on look pick one as the odd pair out. I think most people would choose the top pair, not the bottom one.

Also, I mentioned Stretch Bags as they're my personal faves, but Rohan and others in the same area make a wide range for folk who can't bear to have e.g. visible zips on pockets. Jeans are included, though unlike plain cotton denim they wear harder, weigh less, dry quicker and move better.

Ostentatiously outdoorsy trousers:


Rohan Stretch Bags:


Black Jeans:

interestedcp wrote: ↑1 Apr 2024, 10:27pm My problems with rapidly wearing out the crotch on jeans, disappeared after I changed to wearing stretch jeans. My damage was always concentrated in the area where all the seams joins together. Putting strain on the thread and the jeans fabric for every pedal rotation, will prematurely weaken them, so that any abrasion effect will be compounded. A little stretch seems to reduce the strain quite a lot. YMMW.

Not only reduces abrasion wear, like you say, but makes riding more comfortable too because the fabric moves with you as your legs bend instead of being dragged over leg with every pedal stroke..

Pete.

Get a kilt. Traditionally, nothing is worn under it.

cyclop wrote: ↑31 Mar 2024, 5:35pm Out of interest,why jeans?

If you spend some time with non-cyclists, you'll find they're really quite popular!

pjclinch wrote: ↑31 Mar 2024, 1:57pm

seanpk wrote: ↑31 Mar 2024, 12:46pm I use cycling shorts a lot - road and off road but I also do a lot of miles on my 'day' bike in jeans and subsequently they wear out in the crotch before the rest of them is ready for the bin! Patching has been tried and is OK but can be uncomfortable. Just bought a couple of pairs of replacements pairs of jeans and they are expensive.

When I was a teenager back in the 80s I wore jeans because everybody did and I told myself they were really comfy and hard wearing... but they're not, and since giving up on them over 30 years ago I haven't missed them.

https://www.inkl.com/news/alpecin-deceu ... 024-season

mattheus wrote: ↑2 Apr 2024, 10:16am

cyclop wrote: ↑31 Mar 2024, 5:35pm Out of interest,why jeans?

If you spend some time with non-cyclists, you'll find they're really quite popular!

If you spend some time with cyclists you'll find they're really quite popular.

However, look around and there's lots of stuff that's popular because it's popular which in turn perpetuates its popularity rather than because it's actually a great choice for the job at hand (e.g., 2 tonne SUVs as urban runarounds, Donald Trump as president of the US, etc.). Heavy low-tech cotton workwear from the 19th Century as general purpose leisure wear in the 21st is arguably such a case.

Pete.

mattheus wrote: ↑2 Apr 2024, 10:20am

pjclinch wrote: ↑31 Mar 2024, 1:57pm

seanpk wrote: ↑31 Mar 2024, 12:46pm I use cycling shorts a lot - road and off road but I also do a lot of miles on my 'day' bike in jeans and subsequently they wear out in the crotch before the rest of them is ready for the bin! Patching has been tried and is OK but can be uncomfortable. Just bought a couple of pairs of replacements pairs of jeans and they are expensive.

When I was a teenager back in the 80s I wore jeans because everybody did and I told myself they were really comfy and hard wearing... but they're not, and since giving up on them over 30 years ago I haven't missed them.

https://www.inkl.com/news/alpecin-deceu ... 024-season

I suspect that the actual cotton denim component of that kit is not particularly high, and that not many people would mistake a "double denim" skinsuit for a pair of jeans and matched jacket...

Pete.

pjclinch wrote: ↑2 Apr 2024, 10:26am

mattheus wrote: ↑2 Apr 2024, 10:20am ...
https://www.inkl.com/news/alpecin-deceu ... 024-season

I suspect that the actual cotton denim component of that kit is not particularly high,

Indeed. I for one was very disappointed

My Regatta workwear trousers wear very little with cycling and they cheap and everyday.