Take a quick glance down the high street of any fashionable inner-city locale and you’ll immediately realise that cycling is just as much about fashion and looking the part as it is about the actual act of cycling. If you’re to get into this popular pastime and a great way to commute to work, you not only need to get yourself a quality bike but also the right cycling gear, of which there’s so much to choose from nowadays. Here in this short yet helpful article, we look at choosing the right cycling gear, which in addition to a snug pair of bike pants includes a cycling jersey and cycling shoes.
Why Wear Cycling Gear?
Unless you’re just out for a short ride, it’s important to wear the right cycling gear for a number of reasons, including the following:
- The right cycling gear keeps you comfortable and prevents you from overheating
- It helps to make you easily visible to drivers and others on the road
- It enables you to store your cash and keys
- You’ll look the part!
For those reasons and many others, it’s essential to invest in high-quality mens cycling jerseys that are comfortable and enable drivers and others to see you easily.
Choosing the Right Cycling Gear
With so many different brands, styles and items to choose from, it’s easy to find yourself somewhat overwhelmed when shopping for cycling gear, especially if you want to look the part and may find yourself prioritising fashion over function!
Shoes are relatively easy to buy, though you should focus on finding shoes that fit comfortably and enable you to dismount from your bike easily. You also need to make sure that the shoes you buy fit the pedals on your bike. You can find shoes in many colours, so if you want to colour coordinate your shoes with the rest of your cycling apparel this won’t be a problem.
Cycling shorts are essential as they prevent chafing (this can be very uncomfortable and prevent you from riding for many days) and provide shock absorption, which is also essential. When shopping for new cycling shorts, make sure that they fit snugly while providing ample stretch so that you aren’t restricted in your movements when cycling. They should also feature a reflective material or patch that enables others on the road to easily see you.
There are more factors to focus on when buying a new cycling jersey than there are with shoes and shorts, however, when you know what to look for you’ll find it easy to buy the right cycling jerseys. Some of the most important factors include choosing the right material and sleeve length, colours that are easy to see in all light conditions, and a suitable hem and zipper.
If you’re to look the part in your cycling gear, both on your bike and off, you need to choose the right apparel by focusing on important features such as comfort, colour and protection from chafing. Take note of these tips to make the right choices about the cycling gear you buy.