THE BODY
Ok you can cycle in whatever you like, its up to you and as Ive said before lycra is not my option at all. You will see all the racers on their drop handle machines, bum in the air, kitted out in the stuff but Im not into that. I class myself as a leisure rider, a tourer if you like, and I want to ride in what I’m comfortable in. That doesn’t mean to say lycra doesn’t have its place. My lycra undershorts help to hold me in and stop bits wobbling. lol. There are however , some handy bits of cycle wear that are worth buying.
- Cycle Jersey
Theres so many designs to choose from that help you stand out from the crowd if you want to. They are normally polyester and extremely light. They won’t keep you warm, although some say they are windproof. The best bit about them are the pockets in the back. In these you can slip your phone, your keys, some chocolate.
All the above I just had to have……..Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon-their best album in my humble opinion and one that featured heavily in my teenage years (and beyond). Then the musical instruments one was a no brainer too AND then I found the last one – a homage to the Beatles! As you can see the first two have three pockets in the back. The 8 days a week one is useless for storage as no pockets. Its called a lightweight wind jacket. Ive only ever worn it in the summer. The company selling these is great with some cool designs. Cycology.
2. Body Layers
During the winter I have continued to cycle with temperatures down to 4C. If theres no wind and theres some sun, I’ll still go out. On these days it’s so clear you can see for miles, but you’ll need to layer on those undergarments. At first I layered up way too much and ended up sweating like mad and then getting cold. After a few attempts I think Ive more or less sorted it. I bought a Berghaus Voyager Tech long sleeved shirt that is really light and has good wicking properties. So thats my first layer, then I got a long sleeved merino wool top that goes on next. Its lovely and soft and thin. Each fibre naturally helps regulate body temperature, transports sweat away as a vapor, and cancels out odours. Then comes the piece de resistance a thermal jacket. The Endura MT500 Freezing Point Jacket. Not cheap at just over £100, but worth every penny. It may not look much but believe me it is a thing of beauty! I spent, literally, months researching winter jackets, trawling through reviews and cycling clothing websites before deciding on this and I couldn’t be happier with it. Its really lightweight, got ripstop body panels, with Primaloft GOLD insulation (whatever that is, its good). Stretch soft-shell panels on back and sides and massive zipped vents under the arms. Couple of front pockets and a tiny hidden one inside. There’s reflective trims and its got a water repellent finish. The hood fits over a cycle helmet when the rain sets in. Ive only worn it once and its just what I wanted.
3. Legs
I wear shorts and trousers over some undershorts. I have bought specific cycling shorts but not trousers. These are the Nukeproof Nirvana shorts. They’re really lightweight, have an adjustable waistband, ventilation holes and a handy little bag clipped into the pocket for sunglasses or whatever you want to pop in it. I have purple pair too.
My go to trousers most of the time are a pair of really light Technicals with a soft waistband and roll up to three quarter legs if I want.
Ive also got walking trousers that I use for cycling. These are Nordwand Trousers Women Wine Red from Revolution Race.
They are so comfortable and really good value. They are not waterproof though. So I bought some winter waterproof trousers. They are fantastic quality and really comfortable but so warm Ive only worn them once.
Northbound Gear Adventure Water Resistant Pants
4. Head.
I can remember being quite resistant to wearing a helmet in my youth, but never go out without one now. I’ve had a few falls, where my head had hit the ground and Im glad I had a helmet on. Theres so many cool helmets out there now, in many different styles. I opted fo one from Giro, with a MIPs safety feature. The Mips® safety system features a low-friction layer inside the helmet that allows multi-directional movement of 10-15mm on certain angled impacts, intended to help reduce rotational force to the head. It has been shown to lessen the rotational force to the head.
Its a lovely light airy helmet and at a reasonable price. I like the style and the removable visor. The wheel at the back helps to adjust the fit.
I always wear glasses when cycling. Theres nothing worse than your eyes streaming with the wind or getting flies, dirt, or any other flying debris in them.
Then theres the fabulous “Buff” for around your neck. These tubes of material are great. You can do all sorts with them. You can have them just around your neck to help soak up the sweat, pull them up at the back and over your head under the helmet or use it as I have below, which keeps your nose warm and flies out of your mouth!
5. Feet
I always wear a thick pair of socks (any old socks) and a pair of Adidas 51o mountain bike shoes, which although stick to the pedals like glue, which is why I bought them, I don’t find them very comfortable. Its probably just me, because they come highly recommended, but I get numbness in the balls of my feet after a while! I have worn trainers and don’t get it then as they have more cushioning.
So there we have it, for what its worth that is Part 2! Part three will be about the bike.