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Road Riding Apparel Basics
The first in our occasional series on how to dress for road riding nirvana....
One of the more interesting side effects of developing an obsession with road riding is that quite suddenly, everything matters. Whether it's appraising your once perfectly suitable (but oh so heavy) bike with withering contempt as you squeeze past it in the hall, to laughing nervously along with your friends about how girly it is to shave your legs; suddenly your life begins to change. Nothing satisfies like a glorious day on the bike, but whether your local roads are flat and straight, lumpy or herculean, there are certain apparel basics that you should be aware of to help you get the most out of bike time, and this article will hopefully point you in the right direction. Let's get started.....
The Base Layer Like an Alpine St Bernard, a base layer is your constant long suffering and steadfast companion. What else would put up with being sweated on day after day, and not take a running jump out of the bedroom window en route to the washing machine? Coming in all shapes and sizes, a base layer should be worn year round, as its main job is to regulate your body temperature as the first layer against your skin. The key to an enjoyable ride is to change your base layer with the weather. Warm conditions demand something extremely cooling, like Craft's Cool Superlight Base Layer or the Hincapie Power Core Series, whilst cool conditions allow a little more freedom, so look for something merino like the Hincapie Merino Base Layer. You can also wear merino in warmer weather, but look for a sleeveless super fine blend, as sleeves will feel very claustrophobic after awhile.
Craft Superlight Base Layer
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Hincapie Merino Base Layer
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Hincapie Power Core Base Layer
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The Bib Shorts No road ride can be even contemplated without bib shorts, they are as important as the bike. All road cyclists wear bib shorts, or if they are feeling chic and want a coffee, stylish and close fitting 3/4 shorts. However, we'll get onto these in a later article.
The world of bib shorts can seem initially perplexing. What is that bloody ugly nappy doing in it? It may be unattractive, but that 'chamois' or 'pad' is actually highly engineered, and will safely ensconce your assets in a quite delightful way. The secret to choosing the correct 'bib' for your ride is to think about how much bike time you can afford. As a rough guide, less than 100 miles a week will require a bib around £60-£80 (Try the Craft performance Bib Short), whilst more than 100 miles in the saddle will require a bib costing around £100 - £150. In our opinion, a bib of £100-£120, for example the Craft Elite Bib Short, is the measure of anything on the market in terms of comfort and features. However, great alternatives for putting in serious miles are the Solo Lugged Bib Short, or the Hincapie Signature Bib Short.
Craft Elite Bib Short
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Campagnolo Racing Bib Short
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Solo Lugged Bib Short
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The Jersey Cyclists can wax lyrical about their favourite jersey all day, possibly because cycling is a sport so defined by its history, hence the ever developing 'retro' movement that plays on this love affair. However, that is for another time, right now we are going to dissect your ride and choose the most appropriate jersey.
Like the bib shorts, a jersey is an essential item in your cycling wardrobe (if you haven't already dedicated space for your riding kit, you soon will. Prepare your arguments well against the diminishing space for your better halves superfluous garments). For most rides, we would recommend something functional and well fitting. Coincidentally, these two attributes usually bring along their friend 'style' as well, a welcome addition. By functional, we mean that the jersey should have 3 rear pockets, and ideally a 4th that is zipped for valuables, whilst the front zip should be a good length to aid ventilation during moments of strain. An ideal jersey is fitted around the chest and sides, with arm sleeves that allow ease of movement without restriction. The neck should never feel restricted, and this is where a good zip and zip garage (the material that covers the zip at the top) are ideal features. Try the Craft Performance Logo Jersey if it is your first top, as it does tick all of the functional boxes. Alternatively, try the Craft Elite Jersey or Hincapie Poggio Jersey for a more technical and in-depth approach. For riders looking for a more graphic heavy and emotive approach without losing the basics, try anything from Twin Six or indeed Solo's Classique range.
Craft Performance Tour Jersey
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Twin Six Original Jersey
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Solo Maxwell Jersey
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The Cap A rider's cap completes the look, and worn under a helmet signals to the world that you are serious about the ride. Allegiances to teams long gone, statements of fashion, or functional pieces with scant regard to their origin, anything and everything seems to be the rule of thumb when it comes to caps. However, peel away the culture and a particular rider's habits, and certain constants come through. The first is that the cap is designed to aid comfort and protect the rider from the rigours of the road. Sun, grit or sweat, a good cap will keep these at bay. Secondly, that peak at the front not only looks good, but acts as a shield against the wind, rain or excessive sunlight when the rider's head is bowed. For something so small, it is surprisingly effective, so it is worth searching for a good one. Walz Caps make very well made caps, so try the Racing Stripe Cotton or Racing Wool Caps as a first stop. Solo's Retro Cap is also very popular, as is Craft's Performance Logo Cap which seems slightly thinner and more suited to very warm conditions. A perennial favourite is Campagnolo's Classica Hat, which is both comfortable and stylish.
Walz Racing Stripe Cap
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Solo Retro Cap
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Craft Performance Cap
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The Socks Often overlooked, and often peeled off with a mixture of horror and disbelief at their honking odour, socks are the un-sung workhouse of your new found hobby. Despite their size, the importance of a good pair of socks is hard to overstate. Ever had a hot spot in your foot from inappropriate footwear? It is painful off the bike, but imagine that pain after cycling 100 kilometres in the heat - it can feel like someone is sticking a dagger into your sole. Of course, a good pair of shoes is the most important part of the mix, but get the socks right and you'll be riding for hours.
What constitutes a good sock? Material aside for now, the key is fit. Not too tight, but they must fit without wrinkles or creases on the sole and sides. Low, mid or high cuff, these are style and weather considerations, but be careful of the ankle area which is very sensitive to changes in temperature. For the material, many riders favour merino as this wonder fabric's anti bacterial properties are well known, so good options are Solo's Merino Socks and Hincapie's Crew Cut Wool Sock. In the man made camp, Craft's Cool Bike Sock, Hincapie's Pro Sock and Campagnolo's Heritage Sock are all excellent and worthy of your attention.
Solo Merino Sock
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Hincapie Crew Cut Wool Sock
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Craft Cool Bike Sock
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Well, that concludes Apparel Basics, we hope you found it useful. Next time, the outer layer, and arm and knee warmers.
©Copyright 2008-2009 by Always Riding Ltd.
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