Cycling newbies will have likely looked at their more experienced compatriots and wondered why they are wearing some of the clothes that they have on. While accessories like helmets serve an obvious and practical purpose, there are plenty of other aspects of the cyclists “uniform” that may need a little bit of explaining.
Cycling Fashion Pieces
Cycling Bib Shorts
Many people may wonder why cyclists tend to wear special shorts and the answer lies in the comfort of the ride. On longer journeys, people wearing regular sports clothing will find that the ride becomes increasingly uncomfortable the longer that they are on the bike.
Cycling shorts are designed to mitigate this discomfort as much as possible. They are usually made from materials such as Lycra, which allows for more flexibility and less chaffing, while many will also feature a padded insert that offers extra protection for the more delicate areas.
Gloves
Like with many other items of clothing in the cyclist’s uniform, gloves serve a practical purpose as they will generally feature padding over the palms and fingers so that they are protected from blistering against the handlebars and any numbness that could be caused by the constant vibration.
Furthermore, the gloves also provide some protection should the cyclist fall off the bike, which makes them a vital accessory for more dangerous rides. After all, nobody wants to fall of their bike and end up with a “road rash” related injury that could have been avoided.
Cycling Shoes
While most people will probably find that a decent pair of sneakers will do the job on shorter rides, longer rides usually require something that offers a little more comfort.
Cycling shoes are designed to ensure that a cyclist’s feet can breathe when they are riding long distances, reducing the effects of perspiration and ensuring that they don’t suffer from aches and pains while riding. The material used also allows for maintaining a better grip on the pedals, so the rider doesn’t have to worry about their feet slipping when they ride.
Furthermore, the streamlined design and bing clipped in means that many will find that they are able to pedal much more efficiently, which in turn means that they tire much more slowly. This is ideal for rides that require a lot of endurance.
Jersey’s
Again, while a t-shirt or similar item of clothing is generally going to be fine for a shorter ride, many serious riders choose to invest in a proper cycling jersey, especially when they are aiming to be as efficient as possible with their riding.
Like bib shorts, most jerseys are made from a material such as Lycra, which means that they fit to the body and won’t catch against the wind, thus reducing the effects of air resistance on the rider.
Such fabrics are also more breathable that the materials used in t-shirts, which means that the rider can better regulate their body temperature and ensure that they don’t tire themselves out on the road.
Finally, you will often find that cycling jerseys are made using rather bright colours, which is enormously helpful when it comes to increasing visibility and thus ensuring the safety of the rider when they are on the road, particularly at night time.
Sunglasses
Cyclists wear sunglasses when riding, even if the weather doesn’t seem to call for them. While they are important for reducing glare on brighter days, thus improving the rider’s visibility, they also serve to protect the rider’s eyes from weather, dust and anything else that could impair their vision and thus make the cycling less safe than it should be.
If you are a beginner cyclist and just getting in to the sport, drop the board shorts and t-shirt and embrace the Lycra! Cycling fashion is on the rise, make sure you are an early adopter.