Cycling Clothing

Choosing the correct clothing to ride in is very much a personal thing with different people having different tolerances of temparatures and conditions. As a result, choosing the right kit to wear should be a process of trial and error. Try to avoid rushing out to buy all your gear in one go. Instead buy the essentials (helmet, shoes, shorts/bib and shirt) and add to this list as your cycling progresses and you are able to define you needs more precisely.

The essentials - body and head

When riding in cold or variable weather common theory says that you should first try to keep your core body parts (body and head) warm as this is where the body loses most of it's heat from. On your top half there are a large variety of fabrics or tops on the market. The best approach is to wear thin layers that will help trap air in between which will help insulate you. If you get too hot you can peel one layer off. To keep you head warm you should consider investing in a skull cap to wear under your helmet.

Added extras

Rain Jacket

Cyclists only usually tollerate getting caught in the rain once. If descending a mountain or hill in the wet you'll be amazed how quickly you can get very very cold. To avoid such discomfort always carry a light weight rain jacket. The two things to look out for are size (so you can stash in your jersey pocket when not wearing it) and water proofness. The exact quality of jacket your opt for should be decided by the exact requirements you want it for - do you need it to just get you through the odd wet commute home or through a multi day tour (potentially endless rain for days on end!)?

Arm/Knee Jacket

These are great for riding during cooler temperatures (autumn, spring, evenngs, early mornings etc). They simply look like long socks with the end cut off! Their main benefit (apart from helping to prevent heat loss from your limbs) is that they are very compact so can be stuffed into your jersey pockets without taking up too much room. In addition in race conditions if you become too hot you don't have to pull over to remove them - simply roll them down to reveal your skin again!

Over shoes /

Cold feet on the bike is a horrible sensation. If you are riding in winter or early spring/autumn you should consider a pair of over shoes. You simply pull them over your existing shoes and alaign the hole on the bottom with you cleats to allow you to clip into your pedals still. Not only do they helpw insulate by keeping the wind out they will also help keep any moisture away from your feet if riding in the wet.

One quick cheap work around to cold feet is to use sandwich bags. Cold feet are suually caused by the wind evaporating any sweat around your feet, causing rapid localised heat loss. Simply take a sandwich bag and trim down so you can slip the front part of your foot (keep your sock on as normal) into it then place your bagged foot into your shoe. The bag should help prevent evaporation and help keep your tootsies warm!

Gloves

Your average fingerless gloves may not be adequate duing winter. Again consider the temerature differences you'll experiance betwen mountain ascents and descents. Many riders you traing/race out of summer time invest in waterproof full length gloves. These can easily be stuffed into a back pocket if not required on a climb or on the flat. It's better to have them and not need them than the other way round!

Eyewear

As with any outdoor activity if out in the sun for extended periood during summer it makes sense to give your eyes some UV protection by wearing sunglasses. In addition sunglasses provide the cyclist with added protection from insects and road deberis and wind getting into the eyes while riding at speed which can causing streaming eyes or loss of vision. Ordinary sunglasses will suffice for the beginner however the large range of cycling specific shaeds on the market are designed for riders who tend to be in a crouched down position looking up and offer better protection.