For a comfortable cyclic experience, one needs to
have the right clothing and equipment. Just like any other sport, cycling also
needs a particular apparel to make sure one is comfortable during the ride. The
apparel that is designed for cycling and biking is different for experiences
such as mountain biking, road biking, track racing, tandem cycling, downhill
biking, etc. The cycling clothing
usually consists of bicycle shorts
of various types, rain gear, jerseys, helmets, gloves, socks, shoes, base layer
and helmets.
Cycling shorts can be baggy shorts, bib shorts, or
fitted shorts. They help in cycling effectively and with comfort. The cycling
shorts are made of a nylon spandex material that is durable and stretches too.
Apart from this other material such as polyester is mixed to the spandex and
provides breathability. It also protects the skin from friction against the
frame or seat of the bicycle. These fabrics also help in the evaporation of
moisture from the skin and prevent it from chafing or rashes. They also
increase the aerodynamic efficiency by reducing wind resistance. The shorts
usually have a padded stretch liner that helps in prevention of chafing. The
pads can vary in thickness. Fitted bicycle
shorts can either be 4 panel, 6 panel or 8 panel, and help the body to rest
in the cycling position. Based on the body types the number of panels needed could
be determined. The Bib shorts are held by sewn in suspenders or braces unlike
other shorts that are held by an elastic waistband. These shorts are good for
riders who are tall as the suspenders hold the shorts in place from behind. The
regular shorts usually tend to fall down from behind when riding. Elastic
waistbands shorts must be avoided as they hold the body very tightly and can
result in skin irritation and discomfort.
Another piece of apparel worn while cycling is
cycling jerseys. They are either made of polyester or other fabrics blended
with polyester that can help in breathability and are also capable of wicking
away moisture. For layering one could wear a polyester base layer or any other
garment that can provide comfort. Choose jerseys with pockets if you wish to
carry useful things in pockets that you need when you are riding. Jerseys having
zippers in front should be used as one can simply adjust the zipper and control
the ventilation. cycling bibs
Apart from clothing, there are other necessary
components of bicycle clothing. They are
-
Helmets: Helmets should not
be avoided. They help in preventing critical injuries to the head and ensure
safety when one is riding.
-
Gloves: Gloves provide
padding to hands and thus prevent them from getting scraped in a fall or cold
from winter weather. They also help in absorbing road shock.
-
Glasses: Wearing glasses
can protect eyes from dust and bugs,
just like a cars windshield.
-
Cycling Shoes: These shoes
are attached to the bike pedals with the help of clip-in systems. They help in
improving the efficiency of a pedal stroke. Cycling shoes are lightweight but
have stiff soles. For mountain biking, shoes with flexible rubber soles are preferred.
-
Bottles or Bidons: Carry a bottle
to stay hydrated while riding.
