Now that you have the ideal bike, you can’t wait to finally start that long-awaited road or mountain biking trip. Not so fast! Don’t be quick to jump on the bike just yet.
Choosing the Right Cycling Clothes
To make sure your trip is comfortable and safe, you also need to have the appropriate cycling wear. Cycling apparel offers the best comfort because it is specifically made for the movements and posture required for cycling, allowing you to fully appreciate your rides.
Cycling Clothing: The Fundamentals
There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to cycling apparel. The most important thing is to choose cycling clothes that allow for ease of movement while also providing maximum comfort. You’ll also want them to be suitable for the season. And if you’re looking to achieve a certain level of performance, consider breathability as well as aerodynamics.
There are some rules, even if no piece of cycling clothing is exclusive to one style of biking. For instance, fitting pieces are necessary for road biking to lessen air friction. Although they may not always feel appropriate when road biking, cycling shorts with a chamois pad are essential for mountain biking and all-terrain road cycling. To cut a long story short, here is everything you need to know to choose the right cycling clothes for both men and women.
Shirts
Cycling jerseys are thin, form-fitting clothing items that help reduce friction. This piece of bike wear enhances aerodynamics and has good breathability. Models with long sleeves also offer protection from the sun in the summer and from the cold in the spring and fall. From the most comfortable to the tightest fit, there are various options available. Your preferences and your goals will determine which option is ideal for you.
Keep in mind that bike shirts for men and women have different shapes. Women’s jerseys are typically curved in shape. They have a broad chest area, a narrow waist, and hips that flare out. The options for men’s cycling shirts, on the other hand, are often more uniform, resulting in a straighter, more rigid shape.
An ideal cycling shirt has a close fit, rear pockets for snacks, and a front zipper to open when it becomes too hot. These features are great for road biking, gravel biking, and cross-country mountain biking. Look for synthetic and technology fabrics that are quick to dry, such as a polyester/elastane combination that is breathable.
Look for cycling shirts with a loose and relaxed fit, UV protection, a light, resistant, stretchy synthetic material like polyester, and the ability to wick away sweat for mountain biking, all-terrain road biking, and hybrid riding. Look for versions with long sleeves to guard against tree branches and other obstacles on wooded trails.
Shorts
Cycling shorts are a must-have item for every cyclist because they are appropriate for all forms of cycling. They have chamois padding, which has many purposes. Whether it is thick or thin, its thickness serves to decrease friction caused by pedalling and pressure points against the saddle. Cycling shorts are designed to be worn next to the skin without any additional clothing. Cycling shorts wick away moisture and reduce aggravating chafing by lowering pressure on the crotch and buttocks, in addition to their aerodynamic advantage.
Look for cycling shorts that have a well-padded, comfortable chamois, decent moisture-wicking and quick-drying qualities, and excellent stretch. Make sure your shorts have silicone bands on the thighs to keep them from riding up when you bike. Make sure your blood circulation is not restricted by the bands.
Bicycle shorts with bibs are an additional choice. With the exception of the fact that they come with suspenders for better hold, they pretty much have the same features as ordinary cycling shorts. Although some people believe that bib cycling shorts are only appropriate for pros, the majority of road cyclists and mountain bikers find them to be the most comfortable kind of cycling shorts.
If you choose a bib short, be sure to examine the length of the straps; they should be the correct length for your morphology. To account for anatomical differences, there are many models for both men and women.
Jackets and Vests
When cycling late at night, a bicycle vest or jacket will shield you from the wind and increase your visibility. A bicycle jacket or vest can also protect you from light rain, depending on the material used. It is a fantastic piece of clothing to have when riding any kind of bicycle.
Look for lightweight fabrics that minimise flapping and block the cold wind, good compressibility, visible membranes or reflective colours, convenience in storage, and optimal waterproofing. Make sure the thermal jacket you select is breathable to prevent getting wet underneath.
Which Colour of Clothing Would Be Best for a Cyclist to Wear?
One of the most popular colours for cycling apparel is and will always be black. This is possibly due to the fact that it is more flattering and helps individuals feel more at ease and unobtrusive. Yet, wearing more brilliant colours when biking may have certain advantages for you, such as making you more visible to drivers.
For shorts, black is certainly the safest choice. Facebook is inundated with professional teams that deviated from black and, as a result, left nothing to the imagination! But feel free to try with colourful tops.
People can easily see high-visibility green-yellow, which shines out well in an urban environment. However, this colour is considerably less visible against trees and fields, making it less ideal for a rural trip. Similarly, while red is visible in the countryside, it gets more difficult to distinguish in traffic’s back brake lights.
Bright and fluorescent blue or pink are both excellent colour choices. There aren’t many things in the natural world that are the same hue as neon orange; yet, some studies suggest that motorists may be overly comfortable with orange since they link it with road maintenance. Grey bicycle clothing is the least favourite shade because, in addition to blending into the grey road surface, it also looks like a poorly washed once-black garment.
