Cycling

Wearing the right cycling clothing when out on your bike, whether for leisure or commuting is essential for your comfort, not to mention safety. Cycling clothing has been designed, as the name suggests, for cyclists. In the early days of my cycling life, I was happy in a tracksuit. I ignored the inconvenience and negative aspects of cycling in a tracksuit. Like the bottoms flaring out and catching on the chain, gradually being snagged into holes.

It wasn’t until I bought myself some cycling trousers that I realised how uncomfortable cycling in a tracksuit was. The cycling trousers I bought were a perfect fit and had reflectors built into them. Designed by cycling experts they zip up tight against the bottom of your legs preventing any chance of them connecting with the chain.

My next clothing purchase was a cycling shirt and zip up top. I had never felt more comfortable when riding my bike when I was kitted out in my new cycling gear and realised what I had been missing. The days of tracksuit cycling were well and truly over. The amount of different cycling trousers available is amazing. You can get thermals for the cold weather and lightweight for when the sun comes out.

There’s nothing worse than cycling when you’re cold. I know this from experience. Since I started wearing the right cycling clothing, being cold is a thing of the past. Today I would never consider getting on my bike without the proper attire. The thought of riding a bike in a tracksuit brings me out in a cold sweat.

Apart from the comfort gained in wearing the correct clothing for cycling there’s also the safety factor. As I mentioned earlier, the trousers I bought came with excellent built in reflector stripes sewn in and being seen is a cyclist’s main defensive weapon. Because the clothing keeps you warm, you are not adjusting your position to avoid chilly breezes, as I frequently did when wearing my tracksuit. This can cause you to swerve in the road.

Don’t underestimate the importance of wearing the right clothing on your bike to keep you safe. It’s not just about having the right bike and ensuring it is well adjusted to fit you, it’s also about wearing the right clothing. If you are warm and comfortable, when riding you will be more alert to the road rather than thinking about your cold legs. And the bright colours of many cycling tops will ensure you are seen.

Today there’s a huge selection of cycling clothing to choose from, all reasonably priced and much of it very chic. You can ride your bike and be safe and fashionable. Once you’ve purchased your bike, get down to the clothing section and invest in some good cycling trousers and tops. They last for years and you’ll come to love them that much that you won’t contemplate cycling without them.

Paul has been cycling for over thirty years, he is a keen leisure and commuter cyclists and like to encourage people to get a bike and discover the joys of cycling. He is the author of the blog http://www.defensivecycling.com where he discusses all aspects of cycling, especially how to stay safe. Call into his blog for more tips. He also welcomes guest posts from people who would like to share their own experiences.