When it comes to bicycling for transportation, choosing what to wear can seem difficult. It can be tempting to "dress for performance," to get geared up like the speed cyclists and recreational riders whose primary goal is to go fast and burn calories. It's important to remember, though, that riding for transportation has a different goal than riding for exercise and therefore doesn't require the same dress code. For example, you're often riding shorter distances, at lower speeds, and generally on neighborhood roads, greenways, or other low-traffic routes. When you ride for transportation, dressing for comfort and dressing for your destination can be much more important.

In other words, don't worry about the spandex - you don't really need it.

It's true that high-performance clothes do a better job of wicking away sweat and can make for a more comfortable ride for long distances. But as a new or occasional rider, a few simple rules of thumb can help you get started for your short shopping or commute rides, and make sure you look good when you get there.

Watch this space for profiles of local bicycle enthusiasts of all stripes to see how they get around town and what they wear while doing it to decide what you'll need for your own bicycle trip.

In the meantime, here are a few sites to get you thinking about what riding comfortably and looking good while doing it:

• Copenhagen Cycle Chic
• "Bicycle" tag on The Sartorialist

Hat tip to The Urbanophile, who introduced these sites through his blog. Know of others? Email us and we'll post a link.