What Essential Bike Clothing Do I Need?

Specific bike clothing is not necessarily essential for enjoyable family cycling, but it can make a difference in terms of comfort when you begin to embark on longer rides. It is also a great excuse to spend some extra money in the stores. These days, cycling clothing can be picked up very cheaply in lots of places. Aldi regularly do bike specials and their bike clothing is surprisingly good quality for the price. Other good outlets can be found online, including Wiggle and Evans.

But what bike clothing do I really need?
If you are reluctant to splash out a large amount of cash on bike specific clothing, the only really useful piece of kit you should consider buying is a pair of bike shorts or leggings. These can make cycling far more comfortable due to the special pad that is integral to the garment. This thick piece of padding is designed to cushion your delicate parts from the pressure of a bike saddle. Men's and lady's shorts and leggings contain padding in different areas for obvious reasons.

You might be put of buying padded shorts and leggings after seeing some scary lycra sights out and about, but do not assume you are doomed to look like a sausage on a bike once you don a pair of padded shorts-there are lots of different styles available, many of which include loose-fit shorts that would look okay on the average beach.

For winter cycling, a pair of bib tights is a good idea as these protect your lower back from cold drafts and water splashes. They do not look very elegant, but there are occasions when you have to put vanity to one side in the name of comfort!

Another piece of useful bike clothing is a cycling specific rain coat. It is very easy to think when you head out for a bike ride and the sun is shining brightly that it is unlikely to rain, but Murphy's Law predicts that a torrential downpour, along with a puncture, is pretty much guaranteed once you are twenty miles from home with no jacket or a replacement inner tube.

There are loads of bike specific jackets to choose from. Have a look at all the features and read the product reviews before you buy one. Some are a lot more expensive than others, but this does not necessarily mean that they have better features than the cheaper products-half the time you are only paying for the brand name. Make sure you check things like how many useful pockets the jacket has, plus how waterproof it is. Ending up soaked to the skin on a long ride is no fun at all.

Waterproof overshoes are very useful for winter. Not only will they keep your feet dry, they will also keep them warmer. Knee warmers and arm warmers can also help to keep the chill out once the temperature drops. A thermal hat to wear beneath your helmet is also a handy item for winter cycling.

Gloves are an essential bike clothing item throughout the year, although you will need full fingered gloves when the weather gets colder. Always check to see if the winter gloves you like the look of are waterproof. Many brands are not, and this can prove to be very irritating as your hands are the first things to feel the cold.
And if you are of a mind to spend lots of cash, there are lots more stylish items of bike clothing you can invest in. Once the Tour De France comes round, you can even invest in a full replica kit to support your favourite team. You might not have the phenomenal sprinting power of Mark Cavendish, but hey, you can still look like him from a distance!

View the original article here