Biking clothes on the Rhine

If you're using a race bike it's a bit different but otherwise you'd see Germans riding their bikes in everyday clothing. Thus moving from their bikes into town, office ... More importantly, they'll be equipped with rain pants and jackets in case the weather turns. May can be nice, but not always and most of the time few Germans would run around (or bike) in shorts that time of year.

Most European casual riders are not into the American style of spandex favored by many Am casual riders. I have seen club riders as a group in typical spandex racing style of clothing. And they don't clump around in shoes with cleats. What you suggest for riding is OK, not great, but OK but I would carry long pants and a shirt with a collar to slip into when off the bike. And ditch the bike shoes.

Maybe to clarify a little bit.

These will be more like mountain bikes than skinny tire bikes. We're not into the "hardcore" biking scene with the spandex and other stuff. We don't even own that kind of stuff. :-)

Hi Travis,

I would ask the good people at REI. They have bike clothes that aren't spandex and I think would be what your looking for.

All the best, Monte

I'd go with shorts about the knee or below, or long pants and a polo/collared shirt, and you'll be fine. You may want to consider the trekking pants that convert to shorts. May can be cold in the morning and warmer in the afternoon. Plus you can always put the legs back on if you're going somewhere you don't feel comfortable in shorts. Also, Capri's are big over here in the summer. We ride, all the time, dressed like this in the Tri-border area and fit right in.

I would wear whatever you would wear on such a ride in Texas. I'd want cycling shorts, under my clothes, for a 30-mile ride, but it's not essential.

Similarly there is plenty of good-looking technical clothing--I own a very handsome short-sleeved shirt made of technical wicking sun-blocking polyester. Depends on when you will go and how much of a sweat you might work up.

I would also recommend wearing whatever clothes you wear when riding at home. I would also recommend a hybrid or street bike instead of a mountain bike. I've been riding there before, and there are miles of separate bike lines that are paved. You will also be biking on some roads with other cars. A mountain bike will be much harder to pedal, and much slower. You'll end up expending way more energy than you would with a hybrid or road bike.

My husband and I cycled the Mosel and part of the Rhine in July,2007. On warmer days he wore a nice t-shirt and a pair of khaki cycling shorts that look like regular shorts from the outside but have the spandex with the padded seat underneath. On cooler days he wore a long-sleeve button-up shirt and pants with zip-off legs. I wore either a pair of capris or zip-off pants with my padded bike shorts under. I had a t-shirt, a dressier 3/4 sleeve cotton shirt and a light sweater. We also had waterproof windbreakers. All of our clothes were easy to handwash after a day of sweaty cycling and would dry overnight. The only thing I'd change for next time is that I'd take a skirt for when I wanted to be a bit girlier.

We didn't look out of place while riding, nor did we feel uncomfortable visiting churches, castles, museums or eating in casual restaurants. We didn't go to any fancy restaurants, but that's not really our style anyway. Packing light enough to travel by bike can be challenging, but it's such a rewarding way to travel that I don't mind the inconvenience.

I'm glad we bought paniers that could zip-off the frame to reveal backpack straps. Whenever we wanted to sightsee, we just locked up our tandem, put on the backpacks and away we went. It was easy to carry everything with us or check it if the museum had a baggage check.

Enjoy your trip!