What To Wear Cycling
Your adventures on two wheels will vary an awful lot over the course of the year, whether that's experiencing new MTB trails or road routes, one thing's for certain - the weather will test you all year round. That's why it's important to wear the right gear for the right climate. In this guide, you'll discover all of our cycling clothing recommendations for cycling in the summer, winter, rain and dark.
Cycling: What to Wear
If you plan on cycling in the warm weather, you'll work up a sweat significantly faster than normal. That means you'll need to keep cool by regulating your temperature with the help of some breathable or sweat-wicking cycling clothes. Breathable gear helps ventilate built-up heat, whereas sweat-wicking fabrics to help direct sweat off of your body and quickly dry your clothes. If you're cycling in 15 degree heat, you'll really start to feel the benefits of wearing the right gear, but it's important not to forget hydration too - so water bottles are a must regardless of the clothing you wear. Read on for some of our quick-fire summer cycle clothing recommendations:
Save the layering for the colder weather. For now, you'll want a stylish short sleeve cycling jersey to serve as your outer layer, allowing your arms to feel the breeze as you peddle along. You could also consider wearing a vest if the weather allows for it, so that your whole outfit will give you unrestricted range of motion and less room for friction.
Just like your jersey, you'll want to go for the shorter length option for your legwear, so skip the leggings and opt for a pair of padded cycling shorts to help out with your performance. Shorts are fantastic for ventilation in general, but they're even better at keeping you cool when you're travelling at speed. If you haven't already got a decent pair of shorts, you can learn more about the benefits of shorts and what features to look out for over on our guide to choosing the right cycling shorts.
Next up is winter cycle clothing, which is all about layers layers layers. A lot of personal preference is involved in layering up, so go with whatever you feel the most comfortable in. For many, that'll be their usual cycle jersey with a jacket worn over the top, for others it's wearing base layer sets underneath long-sleeve jerseys and choosing cycle leggings over shorts. It's also worth putting some mud guards on your bike to prevent muddy water from kicking up off your tyres onto your clothes. Check out our winter cycle clothing suggestions below, or discover more over on our guide on what to wear cycling in the winter.
Cycling jackets are designed with plenty of different uses in mind. Here at Dare 2b, we offer both water resistant and windshell cycling jackets, both of which feature vented mesh to allow airflow.
__Long Sleeve Cycling Jersey__ Nothing new here - jerseys will always be the go-to underlayer for cycling, but for the colder months you should wear a long sleeve jersey if possible. __Optional: T-Shirt + Base Layer Combo__ Wearing a base layer underneath a t-shirt is an alternative to a long sleeve jersey. Base layers are often designed with sweat wicking properties just like cycle jerseys, so you'll still get to make use of the quick-drying technology to prevent nasty wind chill from built-up sweat, all while making sure the wind doesn't come into direct contact with your skin thanks to their long sleeves. __Cycling Trousers / Tights__ Cycling tights will out-perform shorts in the cold weather if your goal is to keep warm, though it's still fairly common to see cyclists wear shorts all year round thanks to the ventilation they offer. Your legwear will come largely down to personal preference, but either choice is fine as long as they're padded and comfortable enough for you. __Gloves__ Cycling gloves don't need an introduction - they're a cycling essential unless you're a fan of callouses and poor grip. They'll help keep your hands warm, but they're more important in helping you keep your balance whilst cycling in the less than desirable conditions.
