Regular clothes shopping can be hard enough but when you need to shop for specialist clothing it is even trickier and no one knows this better than avid cyclists. The right clothing can make a huge difference to how comfortable you are when riding in any weather conditions, no matter what time of the year it is. Don’t just wear your old trainers and a tracksuit when you get on your bike to go for a long ride, as specially designed cycling clothes are much more practical.
In order to maintain optimum body temperature you will need to layer your clothing from what you wear on your body to your head, your legs and even your hands. You will need to do some research to find out more about what each layer should be made from fabric-wise and what weather you are cycling in will affect how many layers you need as well as what materials you should wear. High quality cycling jerseys can be purchased online for really affordable prices and you can choose between a variety of colours if you are fashion conscious. Some cyclists will choose clothing that is brightly coloured to ensure that they stand out and are easy to see on the roads, while others will go with a more personalised style depending on their taste.
Considerations
When choosing your cycle clothing, you will need to take the following into consideration:
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- How well it fits, as the size will affect things like your aerodynamics as well as comfort
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- The material the clothing is made from, as you will always need to ensure that it is breathable
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- How easy the clothing will be to layer, as this is the key to maintaining a comfortable body temperature
- The design, style and colour, as it is important to feel confident when cycling
It is often well worth spending a little bit more on better quality clothing than it is to pay less and get items that will wear and tear quickly, so always think about the quality of the clothing you are buying rather than just the price tag.
Helmets & Head Gear
One of the most important things to consider is what you will wear on your head. You will need to invest in a good quality helmet to protect your head in the event of an accident and don’t make the mistake of thinking that you won’t have an accident, as even pro cyclists will take a tumble sometimes. Once you have chosen a strong helmet, you will also need to think about other types of head wear, such as the following:
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- Woolly hats
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- Bandanas
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- Head bands
- Lightweight caps
If you are cycling in the winter, then you will likely need to put a beanie hat on underneath your helmet but if you are out in the summer months, you might prefer to wear a bandana to soak up the sweat from your forehead while you cycle.
Hats worn in the winter can help to retain a lot of heat that would otherwise be lost through our heads, while in the summer a cap can protect us from things like sunstroke and they are easy to wear under any good quality helmet.
Protect your Eyes
When you are out cycling, your eyes are open to the elements meaning that it is easy to get something in them from grit to passing bugs. You will need to look into wearing dedicated cycling glasses to protect your eyes from flying debris and if you need glasses to see, then you might be better off wearing contact lenses instead, so you don’t need to worry about the glass smashing into your eyes if you fall off the bike.
Specialist cycling glasses come with different coloured lenses, including:
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- Yellow lenses are good when vision in the night time is limited
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- Clear lenses are good if you are riding on a clear night
- Dark sunglasses are good for filtering out the sun’s harmful UV rays and to reduce glare
Clothing for your Body
There are a few items of clothing that all cyclists should own, including the following:
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- Waterproof trousers, jackets and shoes
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- Jerseys
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- Shorts
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- Bibs
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- Specialist cycling shoes
- Cycling gloves
You will need to have a mixture of short and long sleeved jerseys, so that you are ready to tackle cycling in any weather and you will also need other items to help to keep you warm, such as:
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- Tights
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- Woollen socks
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- Leg warmers
- Arm warmers
Layering up is the key to keeping warm when you cycle in cold weather but if you are an active cyclist, you will find that you can keep warm even in cold wet weather if you wear the right clothing.
Legs & Feet
If you are a keen cyclist, then you will find that wearing special cycling shorts is the best option in terms of aerodynamics and comfort. You will need to ensure that the shorts are padded and female and male shorts are cut slightly differently, so keep an eye out for that when shopping around. You can wear workout legging in UK or tights in cold weather and shorts in the summer and trousers for cyclists often have a high back, tapered lower leg area and a shaped knee for extra comfort.
When it comes to keeping your feet comfortable, you will need to know the following:
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- Cycling shoes usually have hard soles that are very stiff
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- This helps you to better transfer your energy into the pedals
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- It is important to make sure the shoes you choose are well ventilated
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- Racing shoes should only really be worn for cycling, as they are not designed for walking long distances
- You can clip your soles onto the pedals to reduce slippage
Wearing the right clothes from your head to your toes is important when you cycle a lot and you will need to invest in good quality cycle clothing to ensure you are safe and comfortable.
