Base Layers
Base layers are without doubt the most important factor when selecting clothing that will keep you warm and dry in all conditions. Sitting snugly close, and in direct contact with your skin they carry sweat away from your body via a process commonly known as "wicking".
When the moisture has moved away from the skin it is transferred to the next layer of clothing. Providing the next layer is breathable the moisture will then be transferred away.
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Cycling Jerseys
Cycling jerseys are available in a multitude of different styles and materials to suit your riding style, riding conditions and personal style.
Road racers wear traditional short sleeved jerseys, with rear pockets to carry a choice selection of essential items from energy bars, to spare tubes. The close fitting design of the road jersey gives a full and unrestricted range of movement and also aids with wicking of moisture from the body. Mountain bike race jerseys follow a similar design, with similar features but with a slightly looser fit.
Most mountain bikers, though, will opt for one of the more casually styled jerseys available that offer a relaxed look and feel. Whether you ride cross country, downhill or just to work and back there will be a jersey suitable for you.
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Cycling Jackets
If you're cycling in the UK then you will know only too well that you can't trust the weather from one minute to the next. In this day and age that's not a big problem any more due to the existence of some fabulous modern fabrics. In general there are two types of cycling jacket, windproof, and waterproof, and there are many that combine the properties of both. Many Waterproof jackets employ the famous fabric developed by WLGore - 'Gore-Tex', and there are a lot of different versions of this micro porous membrane material that effectively prevents rain water from getting in but allows moisture vapour and sweat to escape. Many jackets have many venting options such as pit zips, packets with a vented backs and even removable sleeves to help cyclists manage their core temperature during a ride. Staying dryer makes you more comfortable allowing you to enjoy your ride rather than it becoming a chore. Other features can include hand warmer pockets, a map pocket, a stow able hood or arm pit zip vents.
Wearing a heavier waterproof jacket isn't always going to be ideal if the weather isn't so extreme, so it's a good idea to have lighter wind proof jacket in your cycling inventory as well. And while wind proof jackets will not keep you from getting soaked like a waterproof jacket can, they can still keep you dry to a degree in a short light shower. This makes a lighter wind proofs jacket a good choice for riders or commuters where their lighter weight and lower bulk than most totally waterproof jackets make them ideal.
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Cycling Shorts
Protecting the main contact area between bike and rider, shorts are definitely the most important clothing item to consider when assembling your rider's wardrobe.
All cycling shorts are padded with an anti bacterial chamois liner, with an anatomical fit; this will offer protection between rider and saddle, not only in terms of comfort, but also hygiene.
Now, that's the important part covered, the next area to consider is the styling, which can differ greatly depending on you riding type, style, and personal preference. For road riding, lycra shorts are standard, with the option of wearing bib type shorts that have shoulder braces to help keep them in place. This also minimizes the pressure around the stomach, as the shorts are secured around the shoulders, not the waist.
Many mountain bikers, however, prefer the more relaxed look and comfortable feel of baggy cycling shorts. Many of these types of shorts do have an inner liner that includes the padded insert, but the outer shorts are casually styled and many have a multitude of pockets for storing those essential spares and energy items.
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Overtrousers
Thanks to the glorious British weather, riding in winter can be a rather wet and cold experience, and if you have no choice but to ride your bike, for example on your daily commute to work, getting wet and spending the rest of the day wet just isn't an option. Most cyclists already have a waterproof jacket, as covered above, but investing in a good quality pair of waterproof trousers is also essential. In essence, Waterproof trousers are leg wear that fit loosely over your existing cycling shorts or tights or even over your casual everyday clothing. They are often constructed from the same type of material as waterproof cycling jackets, and most include a multitude of features.
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Bib Shorts/Tights
An often overlooked area in terms of warmth and protection from the winter elements is the legs - but it's vital you keep the powerhouse of your cycling machine warm to it going! Specific cycling tights and bibs are available, but with many options, and many differing levels of technical specification out there it's vital the right choice is made. A great deal of cyclists go for ‘bibs’ that have integrated braces, but non-bib designs are also available. Padded versions feature the same type of anatomically fitting pads that are used in cycling shorts - unpadded versions are available for adding another layer over your existing padded cycling shorts.
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Arm/Leg Warmers
Arm and leg warmers are as the name suggests worn for added warmth when in cold and chilly conditions. Essentially they are just tubes of Lycra fabric that fit over your arms, legs, or knees, and they can be slipped easily on or off as the temperature increases or decreases. They are small items which can easily be stashed in pockets or in saddle bags. Most Leg warmers have tacky rubberised grippers on the upper thigh to keep them from slipping. More High-end versions can be wind proof or are cut ergonomically to make them more accurately fit the shape of the rider's body.
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Cycling Shoes
Unlike a normal shoe, cycling shoes incorporate a system that locks the rider to the bike pedals, increasing the effectiveness of the rider's pedalling action and power transfer to the drivetrain. This involves the use of a specific type of pedal that works in a similar way to ski bindings - the cleats on the bottom of the shoes clip directly to the pedal.
There are several different types of cycling shoe that vary in design according to their intended use - road shoes are light weight with incredibly stiff soles to maximise power transfer. Soles on road shoes are solid with no grip - they are exclusively for use on the bike so these features are unnecessary.
Mountain bike shoes on the other hand do have rugged, grippy soles as getting off the bike is sometimes necessary, and mountain bike racing shoes are lighter with stiffer soles. As usual a variety of different cosmetic designs are available to suit your taste.
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Overshoes
Keeping feet warm and dry can be a hard job for cyclists - water and cold air attacks from all directions. Overshoes are wind and/or waterproof covers which fit over your cycling shoes, forming a direct barrier between the elements and your bike shoes, trapping air inside your shoes which consequently allows the heat from your feet to warm the trapped air and keep your feet warm. In general, budget overshoes use neoprene, whilst more expensive ones use a waterproof micro porous membrane such as Gore-Tex. Purely wind proof versions are also available, which often use a rubberised Lycra material. Neoprene overshoes won’t actually keep your feet totally dry like Gore-Tex will as neoprene isn’t waterproof - you do get wet shoes and potentially wet feet, but neoprene does trap air and allows it to remain warm - in the same way as a wet suit for scuba diving. Most overshoes use zips or Velcro to secure themselves over your shoes and many have some sort of reflective material for safety during those dark winter rides.
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Gloves
Cycling gloves serve many purposes - your hands take a lot of punishment from wind and rain, and from friction between them and the handlebar grips. And in the worst case, if you fall off, they need protection from contact with the ground. Gloves also help you to grip the handlebars better - sweaty palms and rubber don't mix well.
For summer riding on the road, fingerless "mitts" can be useful for keeping cool, and other useful features such as incorporated sweat wipes and various differing fabrics to provide extra grip are available. Off road riding is a different story though, your hands need more protection, and fingerless gloves aren't really an option. Typical off road gloves offer extra protection across the knuckle and palm areas.
In the cold of winter keeping your hands warm is essential to help maintain control, gloves are available that offer thermal protection and well as being either windproff, waterproof, or a combination of both.
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