Taylored cycling jacket ?

I started a new Job position on a bank close home. I am a cyclist and the office is only 10 blocks away which is too close to go by car or bus and a bit far to walk. So a bicycle is perfect for my daily commute. However I have to go to work on suit and tie and my bikes have all a sportive setup ( low handlebars ) so I have a bit of a problem when I ride on a suit jacket, the jacket would need more room at the back to allow me the right position. On the other hand I don't want to wear a blousy jacket ( my jackets are all well fitted ) What to do then ? option 1 : leave the jacket at work and ride to a normal cycling jacket and change when I get in the office option 2 : have suits made with a "cycling cut" something like this Rafa tailored jacket, it has more room on the back like the hunting jackets and also can be closed up in the neck area. what do you think about? are there other options avaliable ? link http://www.rapha.cc/tailored-jacket

Well, if you can spare the cash for the Rapha jacket, by all means, please do. I've thought about finding a tweed hunting jacket or similar with multiple flap pockets and a sporting, trim look. I'd figure a way to add buttons so I could fold up the front, similar to the Rapha.

Option 3: don't hear a thundering herd of hooves and think "zebras".

Buy a cheap bike, that you won't mind locking up outside if you have to, with a really upright riding position. Problem solved.

That jacket is bad ass. I mean, really well thought out.

Walk. It's not too far.

Assuming you must stick to a road bike (although I would not want to wear a suit with any type of bike personally) I would suggest carefully folding your jacket and storing it for the very short commute. Get a good backpack or a pannier or whatever and you'll be good to go.

Do they have a changing room? It may make more sense to wear a "commute" change of clothes and leave some at work? I guess it depends if you get sweaty too.

It is close enough to not make me break a sweat (even though there is some little climb at the beginning ).

walking is possible for sure, but It takes me 12-15 minutes to walk and only 3-5 to bike ( each way), I prefer to go by bike and like that I can go home for the 1 hour lunch break, I'd loose half of the time walking.

the only problem of leaving my suit jacket at work is that I'd have to wear the same everyday which is not good.

I could maybe bring the jacket on a messenger bag though. I have a nice leather one that does look good with a suit.

I have commuted by bike for years (back when only grumpy guys with beards did it). Rapha makes incredible bicycling clothes and you pay for it. But I recommend a closet at work with jackets and suits that you can change into. You never know what you will run into or over on a ride, and it pays to have clean clothes at work.

Keep riding, and remember that the biggest drawback from bike commuting are the endorphins. While everyone else is groggy and sullen in the morning, you will be flying high.

Shooting jackets work very well for biking with their throat latches and action backs, so if you can have suits made like that (and they won't be too weird/casual for your job) - go for it. Maybe get a suit made with a "normal" jacket and a "cycling" one?

Originally Posted by Daddy-O

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I have commuted by bike for years (back when only grumpy guys with beards did it). Rapha makes incredible bicycling clothes and you pay for it. But I recommend a closet at work with jackets and suits that you can change into. You never know what you will run into or over on a ride, and it pays to have clean clothes at work. Keep riding, and remember that the biggest drawback from bike commuting are the endorphins. While everyone else is groggy and sullen in the morning, you will be flying high.
great first post ! welcome to the forum Daddy-O

Originally Posted by imageWIS

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That jacket is bad ass. I mean, really well thought out.

Yeah: +1. I could really do without the rapha pink, though.

Originally Posted by imageWIS

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That jacket is bad ass. I mean, really well thought out.

Originally Posted by james_timothy

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Yeah: +1. I could really do without the rapha pink, though.
did you notice the back pocket detail ? truly thought by cyclists for cyclists

FYI, a Timothy Everest bespoke coat for the co-founder of Rapha:

http://permanentstyle.blogspot.com/2...y-everest.html

While I like the Rapha jacket as a cycling jacket, not sure I'd want to wear it to the office once I actually got to the office. Secondly, as someone else suggested, I think it'd be easier to pick up a nice inexpensive commuter bike with an upright riding position than retailor my wardrobe just for riding. I'm considering one of the Gary Fischer's, an Abici or Pashley. Options here in the states are limited but you've got tons of great options there in Europe. When I used to live in Berlin, it seemed liked everyone commuted by bike (well, at least in the good weather anyway).

We've recently moved offices to downtown here in SF and I'm considering riding myself (it's about a 30-35 min ride vs. a 30-35 min bus ride - my boss does it everyday (he lives a few blocks away, so same commute)). I'm in a similar situation and I'm looking for the second bike option (all I have now is a steel road bike which doesn't cut it for the ride to work). And besides the jacket, your pants will be an issue with the small saddle on a road bike (at least for me - I've got a sell italia flight version and I can't imagine riding on it in looser fitting wool trousers).

Lastly, there's a clothing company in NYC that makes street clothing (not suits, but nice trousers, jackets, etc.) that are designed for riding, but look like streetwear. Can't recall the name at the moment; I'll try and find the link.