Cycling is a sport that has a lot of mechanical issues. The bikes, the tire changing, the shifting, the braking, there is just so much to learn. Another concern in cycling is finding the correct clothing to keep you comfortable. There are several different concerns. We need to dress for the weather, and also for comfort on the bike.
The most important thing to remember in cycling is that when dressing for the weather, layering is the most important thing to keep in mind. I like to start with an undershirt that wickes away moisture. It is a guarantee that you will sweat, and the best thing you can do is to try and keep that wetness off your skin. If you have wet clothing against your skin, you will feel cold if the wind tarts to really chill you. Long sleeve jerseys are great if its definitely going to stay cool, but if is not really cold out, it might work better to have a short sleeve jersey and then use arm warmers which you can remove when the temperature comes up. That goes for leg warmers too. You might be tempted to wear tights, but this limits you and adds additional padding to your chamois area. It’s always nice to keep the same chamois thickness and so using your normal shorts and leg warmers makes a lot of sense unless it is so cold that your water bottles are freezing. Knee warmers are my normal choice since I don’t like to ride in super cold temperatures. The great thing about knee warmers, arm warmers and leg warmers are that you can jut take them off and put them in your back pocket. There is not much space taken up after they have served their purpose.
As far as jackets go, I really think that a vest is one of the most crucial pieces. It will keep the wind off your chest, and yet you can still go hard and not get too overheated. Windbreakers are great at the start, but they tend to hold in a lot of the heat and then its hard to regulate your temperature when you are going hard. I do like to have a windbreaker for times like descending long roads that are in the mountains. You could also use a rain jacket for that kind of descent.
The other issue in dressing is to find a bike short with a chamois that is comfortable. Let me just say this, I know it goes against the intuitive idea, but thicker is not always better. My suggestion is to find the thinnest chamois you can tolerate. A lot of times, the thicker chamois end up bunching up and rubbing in different spots. This friction can cause some really painful saddle sores. Also, try and be aware of where the seams are in the shorts. You can become sore if the seams aren’t positioned right for you. Also make sure the legs grippers are not too tight for you. Definitely pay attention to fit in the store because everything will be magnified out on the road.
My last tip is that once you figure out what works for you, stick with it. Your body gets accustomed to what you use, and it will help you stay comfortable out on the road.
Happy shopping!
2 responses
1 Doug // Jan 27, 2009 at 7:47 pm
I ride in the northeast and we need real winter clothing here! Especially when its below 30 degrees- which it has been for most of January! I start with a base layer on my torso, then a pair of bib tights with a built in chamois. I agree that wearing tights over shorts is not optimal because you then have two layers of fabric that rub against each other. For spring and fall I have knickers, which keep my knees warm. I usually wear a long sleeve Jersey with fleece inside. Then the outer layer is a thermal jcaket, For my feet, I broke down and bought Gaerne Polar Comp shoes a true winter shoe. A summer shoe and neoprene bootie never kept my feet warm.
The most important thing in winter is to keep your core warm and let out the perspiration at the end of a long climb. Many riders overdress so they are warm at the start but then quickly over heat. I try to dress so that I am cold at the start, because it will typically get warmer as the ride goes on. There are exceptions though. We’ve had some days here where the temperature drops as a cold front moves through. So its important to check the weather forecasts!
2 Rickie Rainwater // Feb 20, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I enjoyed reading your article. So far, my favorite shorts are between Assos xl size and Hincapie xl size. I have a new pair of the most expensive Hincapie H2 shorts, but they may too hot for summer. The Assos FI mille shorts seem to have a better camois, but I have yet to try a xl size which I believe should fit me better. I have a set of large and they are just that too small. I have had a hard time feeling comfortable with several riding shorts when considering my male gender. My layering technique is a poly type thin insulated hunters tech top long sleeve, a t shirt, or long sleeve t shirt cotton, jersey and possibly a heavey rain/wind breaker. I cut off a pair of poly thin hunters tech long underwear bottoms, with out the seat and crotch to make leg warmers that fit and stay in place under my riding shorts. If need be, I can put tights over these, but usually like to ride as lightly clothed as possible. Slightly cool to start is ok as the effort of riding will heat me up. I also wear leather full finger gloves on real cold days and possibly a thin toboggin under my helmet and overmy ears. The poor man’s winter riding out fit.
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