Hi I'm fairly new to cycling and have a willier road bike. I'm after advice on comfortable clothing and where to buy it. Bib and tights/shorts and tops.
I have decent shoes and a helmet so now I need good clothing.
Any advice would be a good help
Regards Dan
I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my SM-J320FN using hovercraft full of eels.
New to cycling and after clothing advice
Re: New to cycling and after clothing advice
What's your budget, in terms of what you are willing to pay for a single pair of shorts and for a jersey? Decathlon is a good place to start as they have ranges from budget to top end and each range is good value for money.
Sherwood CC and Notts CTC.
A cart horse trapped in the body of a man.
http://www.jogler2009.blogspot.com
A cart horse trapped in the body of a man.
http://www.jogler2009.blogspot.com
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eileithyia
- Posts: 8399
- Joined: 31 Jan 2007, 6:46pm
- Location: Horwich Which is Lancs :-)
Re: New to cycling and after clothing advice
As above, what is your budget and perception of what you wish to buy. As with anything, cheap and cheerful will do the job, but cut and quality of lycra in the more expensive shorts means they may last longer...
Decathlon, Wiggle, Evans will all have budget ranges of shorts; you want to be certain they fit well and the gripper is sufficient that the shorts do not ride up during cycling... not comfortable believe.. I had one pair once, where the lycra must have been cut differently on each leg and one leg twisted up while riding... not nice.
Tops again personal choice, but as long as it fits you, pockets are reasonably accessible and big enough to take what bits of kit you may wish to carry in them.
On a personal level over the years, as kit has improved, I have turned into a bit of a clothing snob.. it has to be right and look right.... it is all too obvious when abroad who the Brits are, scruffy ill-fitting kit, often with poor / past it's sell by date lycra that is saggy.... saggy thin opaque shorts and tops with bulging pockets sagging down when they are heading into cafes...
At least the saggy over extended tops cover the almost see-thru bits on the shorts...
Decathlon, Wiggle, Evans will all have budget ranges of shorts; you want to be certain they fit well and the gripper is sufficient that the shorts do not ride up during cycling... not comfortable believe.. I had one pair once, where the lycra must have been cut differently on each leg and one leg twisted up while riding... not nice.
Tops again personal choice, but as long as it fits you, pockets are reasonably accessible and big enough to take what bits of kit you may wish to carry in them.
On a personal level over the years, as kit has improved, I have turned into a bit of a clothing snob.. it has to be right and look right.... it is all too obvious when abroad who the Brits are, scruffy ill-fitting kit, often with poor / past it's sell by date lycra that is saggy.... saggy thin opaque shorts and tops with bulging pockets sagging down when they are heading into cafes...
At least the saggy over extended tops cover the almost see-thru bits on the shorts...I stand and rejoice everytime I see a woman ride by on a wheel the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood. HG Wells
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rmurphy195
- Posts: 2199
- Joined: 20 May 2011, 11:23am
- Location: South Birmingham
Re: New to cycling and after clothing advice
Why bother with special clothes, apart from headgear and maybe shoes?
Helmet -£30 will get you a good comfy helmet by Giro, Specialised, Garneau (Evans sale) - a peak is useful to help keep the sun out of your eyes. Light colours are cooler in sunshine. One with the little"dial-in" adjustment are very handy and easy to adjust.
Shoes - depends on whether you have clipless pedals - if not, I wear some comfy Clarkes shoes with stiff soles. Useful if you are getting on and off the bike a lot, or pedalling over to an NT property or somesuch.
Craghopper kiwi shorts/trousers/shirts or similar (eg Regatta) do the job, with maybe a gilet on chilly days. I use these for day-to-day wear anyway (they last for years). My Craghopper shorts have zipped pockets, useful for change, keys etc.
Waterproof - got a nice yellow one with reflective strips and taped seams, that folds up small, for about £30 - "Dare2B" is the make, might have got it from Decathlon. I also have a slightly thicker, breathable Helly Hansen one for Winter (nowadays worn over a long-sleeved shell jacket which I got half price). The HH cost about £15 from Bicester Village when it was a proper bargain place (original price of the jacket was £150. For your waterproof you do need one with a long tail to cover your back when bent over.
If you live anywhere near Brum then visit the shops in Resort World at the NEC - the "big name" ones are outlets for out-of-fashion stuff at half price - even the Regatta and Nike shops! And we got free samples from the chocolate shop last time we were there)
Helmet -£30 will get you a good comfy helmet by Giro, Specialised, Garneau (Evans sale) - a peak is useful to help keep the sun out of your eyes. Light colours are cooler in sunshine. One with the little"dial-in" adjustment are very handy and easy to adjust.
Shoes - depends on whether you have clipless pedals - if not, I wear some comfy Clarkes shoes with stiff soles. Useful if you are getting on and off the bike a lot, or pedalling over to an NT property or somesuch.
Craghopper kiwi shorts/trousers/shirts or similar (eg Regatta) do the job, with maybe a gilet on chilly days. I use these for day-to-day wear anyway (they last for years). My Craghopper shorts have zipped pockets, useful for change, keys etc.
Waterproof - got a nice yellow one with reflective strips and taped seams, that folds up small, for about £30 - "Dare2B" is the make, might have got it from Decathlon. I also have a slightly thicker, breathable Helly Hansen one for Winter (nowadays worn over a long-sleeved shell jacket which I got half price). The HH cost about £15 from Bicester Village when it was a proper bargain place (original price of the jacket was £150. For your waterproof you do need one with a long tail to cover your back when bent over.
If you live anywhere near Brum then visit the shops in Resort World at the NEC - the "big name" ones are outlets for out-of-fashion stuff at half price - even the Regatta and Nike shops! And we got free samples from the chocolate shop last time we were there)
Brompton, Condor Heritage, creaky joints and thinning white (formerly grey) hair
""You know you're getting old when it's easier to ride a bike than to get on and off it" - quote from observant jogger !
""You know you're getting old when it's easier to ride a bike than to get on and off it" - quote from observant jogger !
Re: New to cycling and after clothing advice
So what is wrong with
?!opaque shorts
Re: New to cycling and after clothing advice
Decathlon sell decent tops at decent prices. If I'm going to wear a cycling specific top, I like one with a full length zip - not only handy for controlling body heat but also much easier to get on and off. I like the cycling socks from Aldi (if they have any with a long enough 'leg' - they do vary and I'm not keen on socks that barely cover my ankles).
I don't go much for padded shorts/bibs - this is very much a personal thing and padding is a subject that some folk on bulletin boards seem to get dogmatic and intolerant about. I find that padding holds the sweat too much - and that for me causes more problems than an absence of padding. IMHO backsides for cyclists are like feet for walkers - some folk have issues and others don't - but most feet give gyp when the activity is new and most folk suffer less when their feet are accustomed to the distances - same for the backside of a cyclist.
I do avoid underpants that have seams in the crotch or are cut high up to the crotch - I wear microfibre boxer underpants like the ones sold here.
I also avoid trousers with heavy seams in the crotch, and look for something that dries quickly and doesn't restrict movement. If I wear cycling specific leg-wear, I wear something on the lines of the 'York' tights sold here.
For a jacket, I managed to get at a very cheap price, an Altura Varium waterproof jacket - I don't think they make them any more but it is good. I don't know what I would have got if I didn't get a good deal on it (iirc, full price at the time was about £130). I would have probably gone for something cheaper like the Altura Night Vision Waterproof Jacket.
I also have a decent Aldi winter jacket that is very breathable on the back but windproof and fleecy on the front.
I don't go much for padded shorts/bibs - this is very much a personal thing and padding is a subject that some folk on bulletin boards seem to get dogmatic and intolerant about. I find that padding holds the sweat too much - and that for me causes more problems than an absence of padding. IMHO backsides for cyclists are like feet for walkers - some folk have issues and others don't - but most feet give gyp when the activity is new and most folk suffer less when their feet are accustomed to the distances - same for the backside of a cyclist.
I do avoid underpants that have seams in the crotch or are cut high up to the crotch - I wear microfibre boxer underpants like the ones sold here.
I also avoid trousers with heavy seams in the crotch, and look for something that dries quickly and doesn't restrict movement. If I wear cycling specific leg-wear, I wear something on the lines of the 'York' tights sold here.
For a jacket, I managed to get at a very cheap price, an Altura Varium waterproof jacket - I don't think they make them any more but it is good. I don't know what I would have got if I didn't get a good deal on it (iirc, full price at the time was about £130). I would have probably gone for something cheaper like the Altura Night Vision Waterproof Jacket.
I also have a decent Aldi winter jacket that is very breathable on the back but windproof and fleecy on the front.
Disclaimer: Treat what I say with caution and if possible, wait for someone with more knowledge and experience to contribute. 
Re: New to cycling and after clothing advice
rotavator wrote:So what is wrong with?!opaque shorts
lolz. I like mine to be good enough for an air-raid black-out.
Disclaimer: Treat what I say with caution and if possible, wait for someone with more knowledge and experience to contribute.
Re: New to cycling and after clothing advice
rmurphy195 wrote: Why bother with special clothes, apart from headgear and maybe shoes?
If you're going to take that approach, don't bother with the bike- only headgear either!
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
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eileithyia
- Posts: 8399
- Joined: 31 Jan 2007, 6:46pm
- Location: Horwich Which is Lancs :-)
Re: New to cycling and after clothing advice
rotavator wrote:So what is wrong with?!opaque shorts
You want your **** on show???? It's not a pretty sight......
I stand and rejoice everytime I see a woman ride by on a wheel the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood. HG Wells
Re: New to cycling and after clothing advice
I think you should check what opaque means
Or are the fashionistas on the continent wearing translucent or transparent shorts?
Or are the fashionistas on the continent wearing translucent or transparent shorts?
Re: New to cycling and after clothing advice
eileithyia wrote:rotavator wrote:So what is wrong with?!opaque shorts
You want your a**e on show???? It's not a pretty sight......
Well if you wear opaque shorts it won't be
Re: New to cycling and after clothing advice
I've seen a few b*ms through very worn out cycling shorts. I've told the occasional person too. It's only ever men! Are other men too polite to say or do they just comment behind their backs! I agree, it's not a pretty sight! 
Re: New to cycling and after clothing advice
Lilyf wrote:I've seen a few b*ms through very worn out cycling shorts. I've told the occasional person too. It's only ever men! Are other men too polite to say or do they just comment behind their backs! I agree, it's not a pretty sight!
I followed a woman with a large buttock and pretty see through tights in London the other day. May not have noticed her at all but for the fact that she committed the cardinal sin, in my book, of passing me very close without so much as a bell or call.
edit - "bottom" is the ever effective robot censors word.
mods - is there a test bit of the forum where we can test out its hangups?
Sweep
Re: New to cycling and after clothing advice
Sweep wrote:mods - is there a test bit of the forum where we can test out its hangups?
You can use the test area. Or just post something we are likely to moderate.
“In some ways, it is easier to be a dissident, for then one is without responsibility.”
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
Re: New to cycling and after clothing advice
Vorpal wrote:Sweep wrote:mods - is there a test bit of the forum where we can test out its hangups?
You can use the test area. Or just post something we are likely to moderate.
thanks vorpal
will maybe try the test area, when i have some spare moments, for what will look like a post by a teenage touretts case.
Sweep