By clothing-bag, 18/09/2022

Everything You Need To Know About Cycling Clothing

Jerseys, shorts, shoes, socks, helmets and caps. So many options to choose from and you have no idea where to start?

We've all been there (and trust us, it's always going to be just as hard to choose), so we decided to put together a guide to help you figure out what matters in your next riding outfit.

If you're short on time, these are the questions we'll answer in this article:


For each Discipline

In general, what matters when buying cycling clothing is your comfort. As you move from one mode to another new needs like speed, security and style appear, but don't let that limit your options. After all, the best kit is the one that makes you feel the best.

With that said, it's time to explain what you'll want to wear with each discipline and the advantages that each specialized piece of clothing gives you


Essential Accessories

Depending on your riding style, you will need different types of clothing, but in general there are some key accessories that cannot be missing from your repertoire

Think about your safety, comfort and personality above all else, with that in mind everything else will flow naturally. At the end of the day, this is the basics for all cyclists no matter if you ride in the mountains, the city or the road.

Helmet

It goes without saying, wherever you ride a helmet is the best investment you could make in your safety and could save your life if the time comes.

Luckily, brands have a huge range of helmets for every discipline. Aerodynamic on the road, tough in the mountains and convenient for the city.

If you would like to know more about which helmet to choose for your specific mode of riding, this is the guide for you.

Glasses

Changes in light and discomfort from the sun are problems for cyclists of all kinds, and the solution couldn't be easier. Get good glasses that go with your helmet and light will be less of a problem on your way to enjoying your bike to the fullest.

Jerseys and T-Shirts

They don't have to be specialized jerseys unless you ride the road, but we all like to have a little color and fabrics designed for cycling wherever we ride. A good jersey with waterproof and grime resistant materials will do wonders for your performance by giving you the comfort to ride without limits all day.

This is your chance to fill your kit with prints and details that speak to the world about your personality and style while you take it upon yourself to show them what it's like to ride the right way!

Gloves

If you ride in the city you will surely think that gloves are superfluous. But after years of riding day in and day out, you'll come to appreciate what it's like to have your hands covered and comfortable. Cycling gloves help keep your hands warm in cold weather, absorb road vibrations and make your rides less tiring.

You don't have to go into too much about the benefits you will have on the road or in the mountains, those are very obvious if you think about what would happen to your hands if you fell while riding at full speed. The gloves come with or without fingers, and include good grip and padding to make life easier on the bars.

Raincoats

You're in the middle of nowhere and it starts to rain heavily, what do you do? If you have a waterproof jacket the answer is easy, you continue riding as if nothing had happened.

In addition to protecting you from water and grime while riding, raincoats also make you visible to drivers on the road thanks to their reflective materials, so they should be one of the first things on your clothing list when you start riding oh really.

Everything You Need to Know About Clothes of Cycling

If a jacket seems like too much for you, you could also get a vest that gives you the same benefits without overwhelming you in so much heat (we'll talk about the clothes for each temperature below).

Shorts

Now we enter the field of more specialized garments. The shorts and leg warmers can help you a lot in comfort because they have padding that not only helps you ride with more comfort in the saddle, they also prevent friction that could irritate you in the long run. They can be useful in the city to protect your normal pants, or on the road to be your protective layer against the wind and rain. You can find them in all kinds of varieties according to your discipline and each one fulfills a different purpose.

Base Layer

If you plan to ride in cold weather, a base layer helps keep you warm without adding bulk or restricting your movement. And the best thing is that they are discreet, to hide under your clothes and you can customize what they have on top to your liking.

Shoes

We have already talked a lot about shoes for all types of cyclists in past articles. You can get them with cleats if you want better power transfer or with a focus on comfort if you plan to walk in them.

Look for something that's easy to clean, hard to dirty, so you can pedal comfortably and walk if you need to. The rest depends on your tastes.

If you want to read more about what makes one type of shoe stand out from the others, check out [our ultimate guide to choosing the right shoe.]

Caps and Bandanas

Finally, an accessory that we take for granted many times and appreciate little. Bandanas and hats wick sweat away from your face, protect you from the sun, and keep your head cool. All this fitting comfortably under your helmet! if that's not efficiency, we don't know what is.


Temperature

The first thing to consider when dressing for riding is the temperature. If the weather is good you can wear your most colorful clothes and go cycling in style. But if it's freezing outside, this is not the time to worry about fashions, your priority is function and staying warm. There is nothing worse than going out for a ride and freezing on the bike.

The general rule is to think "How am I going to feel in the first 15 minutes of the trip?", after a while your heart will start working and the blood flow will take care of regulating you, but if you are too hot or cold from the first moment, your trip will not last even 10 minutes.

So to decide, think about how long your walk is going to last, how hard you are going to push yourself, and if you are going to stop by for a coffee after you finish. All this gives you a general idea of ​​the type of clothing you should wear. The priority when riding in cold weather is keeping your core dry and warm. Cold climates in Colombia usually mean fog and maybe rain, so another important point to keep in mind is the color of your clothing, the more visible it is, the better. A good outfit with reflective colors (And some good streetlights) go a long way to keep you safe and that you can enjoy your tour without problems.

Here's what to consider when dressing for the temperature.

More than 15 degrees: A Normal Kit, you are in the perfect area to go riding.

This is the ideal climate for cyclists, you don't need to worry too much about specialized or waterproof clothing (although we recommend packing a raincoat in your gear in case it starts to rain). A light base, socks, jersey and gloves. You don't need anything else to ride comfortably.

To choose a good foundation in this temperature, keep in mind the shape, size and thickness that are most comfortable for you. Sleeveless base layers are perfect for keeping you warm without being too bulky or overheating when the sun comes out. As the temperature drops, stick with a short-sleeve base, it still offers you some warmth without being as bulky as long-sleeves. But if you think it's going to take a nosedive, it's best to wear a long sleeve to take advantage of that extra warmth when you need it most.

A good base layer will keep you warm, and every drop of sweat it absorbs will be worth gold in comfort. To choose the best one, you just need to look for something that cools you down, wicks away moisture, and doesn't feel like you're wearing a blanket under your sweater. Surely you can get a base of Merino Wool, cotton or a combination of both and synthetics.

Between 5 and 15 degrees: Cover up a bit

It's not that cold, but as you pick up speed, you'll feel every degree of difference in the wind. It is better that you wear a vest or jacket, they are light, convenient and easy to store if the sun is out. If you want to wear an insulated vest in the coldest climates, it will fit right out of the blue without overheating you. The key point is to keep your core at the ideal temperature.

You might also want to get some arm warmers and a cap or bandana to keep you warm, 10 degrees might not sound so bad, but throw in the rushing currents and you'll soon realize what a difference they make to your health. performance.

Lastly, you should protect your hands and feet with long gloves and shoe covers. There's nothing worse than numb fingers shifting or frozen feet while pedaling.

Below 5 degrees: Batten down the hatches!

This is the time to cover yourself from head to toe. Get thermal clothing, jackets with a high collar and good coverage. The golden rule is to find garments that are well insulated, waterproof, and easy to remove or wash; the less skin left exposed, the better. And in the event that one of your tires gets a flat or some other mechanical failure, you'll appreciate that extra heat in the middle of nowhere.

Another thing you should get if you're going to be riding in the cold is thermal underwear for athletes, some good socks and base layer that become your second skin and make you feel the same as if you were riding on a sunny day.

Be very careful to keep your extremities warm: gloves and neoprene shoe covers, hats for the cold, and everything that can help you ride with all the comfort, if you freeze halfway, your knees will give out , your fingers are going to get numb and the migraine that you are going to get from the cold is something that we would not wish on anyone.

Bajo 0: Forget it!

Stay asleep or ride a simulator, today is not the day to go pedaling.


Tips for Keeping Your Cycling Clothes Clean

Who doesn't love brand new clothes? There is nothing better than a cool and comfortable jersey or shorts, especially with cycling clothing, where details like those are miles and hours apart. Over time, your kit can lose its sharp colors, stretch, break and end up in the drawer of rags that you never wear. We wouldn't wish that on anyone, that's why we have these tips that will have you riding for longer with impeccable clothing.

Keep in mind that these tips are an appetizer based on our experience, but nothing beats reading the label of your specific garments and following their instructions to the letter.

What You Should Never Do

Softeners are not made for high-tech clothing, so many waterproof, stretchable, and aerodynamic textiles would wear down with such harsh chemicals. The same goes for soap, a little is all it takes. Read the label of your clothes carefully, what it says on the detergent bottle will almost always be too much. The best balance is warm water and a little soap.

And finally, the most important advice we want to give you. NEVER give your riding clothes to another person, no one else is going to give it as much importance as you: not your mother, not your wife, son, daughter, friends or neighbors. Take care of washing your clothes with the care they deserve and it will give you years of comfort when riding.

Style

Everyone has their style and way of expressing themselves, what really matters is that you feel good when riding and give it your all. But, with that being said, here are some things to keep in mind to make the most of the world of possibilities you have when it comes to combining riding gear.

Rule #1

Style and comfort are everything. If you look amazing you will ride with more confidence to break your records.

Having a minimalist look is fine, but what's the point if you could fill your color and graphics kit with a lot more style points? If it shows that you planned and were careful with what you wear, it will show in your performance.

It's okay to wear black glasses and a white helmet, with white sneakers and everything like a chessboard. But it pays to break the rules and get creative with the clothes we wear. Performance and design come first, but you have a world of styling possibilities.

Rule #2: If in doubt, See Rule #1

List of rules for your kit:

If you want to turn heads when riding, you'll need to keep a few things in mind:

Measure your kit on this scale, 20 style points for each item that meets.

1.Quality

2.Durability

3.Comfort

4.Visibility

5.Style

Number 5 ends up being the most important, quality clothes, you can get them from anyone; but only you decide what you like and it makes you look good.

With that in mind, here are some things you should check out the next time you're shopping for riding gear.

And at the end of the day, use what you use, wherever you ride. You already have the chance to win with us for being one of ours.


Knowing all this about riding clothes, we can confidently say that you have everything you need to choose your next look. Now is the time to add kilometers to your counter, and remember to share all the photos you can on our networks!

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