The other night, Priscilla and I set up a time where she would meet me at the trail head for a night ride. I got to the destination and started to get ready. As I was gearing up, she rolls in on her bike. Usually she’s dressed in some sort of cool jersey with a pair of shorts or skort, but this time she was wearing her skort and a simple cotton t-shirt. No hydration pack, just a water bottle on the frame and a cute smile.
I don’t know what it was about the cotton T, but I liked it. Maybe it was the “girl next door” look or something, but I liked how she looked like just a regular person riding a mountain bike. Usually when I see a person in a fancy jersey with its big bright colors and logos, it gives an aura about them that they are “serious” about riding or it even ups their credibility by sight. Or it tells me that they spent over $40 for a shirt.
I realize there are benefits to wearing a dry fit type of jersey since we all know that they pull away moisture from your skin. However, when I see a person wearing just a cotton shirt with a pair of biking shorts, two things speak out. 1. Newbie 2. This person is soooooo good at mountain biking that they are confident about their abilities and don’t care for the “look” of the sport.
Perhaps I’m looking way too much into this. But personally I’d rather wear a cotton shirt when its a bit cooler. It helps keep me warmer than a polyester shirt.
Cotton will keep you warmer than a synthetic…until it gets wet. Then, they suck.