Clothing for Touring

[carlislemike]

Ok, I have looked through the archive and I need to clear a few things up. I have worn lycra style/material shirts for ages. As I have reached the autumn this year, I need to re address my cycling wardrobe. Do I dig out the old stuff from last autumn / winter or do I chuck all this and just stick to cotton / wool. I have just had two longish rides out along the Kent Coast; all day events. On the first I wore my summer[lycra style] gear with a windproof when the wind shifted direction. On the second, more by chance than design in advance, I wore a cotton tee with a cotton short sleeve over. I felt perfectly comfortable both times but felt more relaxed with the cotton. Maybe it's an age thing, maybe it's too early to decide but any views would help. I do have merino and merino based shirts as well but although very comfortable, they are better for the winter over my base layers and again, I have used cotton tees. Ok, reckon I'm meandering but maybe a few hints from others would spur me into making some sort of decision. all my rides are UK based not to far flung shores, not even Ireland

[eileithyia]

As the temperatures have dipped a bit locally i have resorted to what i did in the spring; 2 lightweight short sleeved cotton baselayers, short sleeved top, gilet and 1or 2 pairs of arm warmers.... haven't resorted to leg warmers yet, but did eye them up the other day to go with my shorts. This gives me some fairly light easily removed/carried items, ie armwarmers can go into a pocket as can the gilet etc.

[richardfm]

... Do I dig out the old stuff from last autumn / winter or do I chuck all this...

Is it worn out?
Did it perform to you expectations?
Do you just like spending money?
Answer these questions and you will have your answer.

[mumbojumbo]

Would never wear cotton unless a social/shopping ride-cold if wet hard to dry and baggy.Merino good and wear instead of cotton in moderate temps.

[greyingbeard]

Tweeds - plus fours, plus twos, flat cap, sports jacket, wooly jumpers, and a rolled up cape on saddle bag.

[mumbojumbo]

Watch this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsD0buu ... l=Dubjax30

Honor Blackman quelle femme

[SimonCelsa]

After a 35 year career in the Merchant navy I took a break last year and spent the entire winter in Northern Scotland as a postman.

My daily attire consisted of base layer, fleece top and polyester jacket. All items of synthetic material and were purchased new for a grand total of less than £50. Funnily enough I have been wearing exactly the same gear during our summer months, removing the jacket and fleece as temperatures dictate. The polyester rain jacket from Aldi purchased several years ago has been particularly effective as a wind blocker.

I would recommend a similar rig for touring. Cheap, reasonably durable, very quick drying.

As an aside, I do also possess Castelli and Buffalo cycling jackets, similarly good products in their own right, vastly more expensive (although I got good deals 2nd hand); but I don't seem to use them much!!

[foxyrider]

Most of the time i wear exactly the same weather appropriate stuff for touring as stripped out day rides - well i might use different shoes/pedal system Keo type usually but spd for touring. I may wear casual clothing for shorter sightseeing rides, ie baggy shorts, t shirt, fleece. From experience i don't use anything cotton or wool (merino excepted) for riding, they may be natural and comfortable but they are also heavy, slow to dry and start smelling quickly!

These days there is plenty of more casual but technical cycle clothing about, using breathable/water repellent/odour repellent/lightweight materials (in combination or for specific use). I started cycling when cotton and wool were the go to materials for summer and winter wear but when theres an alternative i doubt there would be many takers for cotton/wool exercise clothing these days.

So in a few weeks time i'll be swapping thin bibshorts for winter longs, change the base from vest to T and replace the short sleeved shirt for long sleeved jacket. Okay some days i might add or swap out the latter for a rain jacket but thats about it. Whether you buy new is up to you but you do get what you pay for, case in point, the Endura winter bibs that set me back £150 lasted through four winters, the £20 Lidls, whilst warm enough, fit badly and were failing after 1 winter, i'm hopeful that the £50 Decathlon pair will make it through a second year at least. Ditto for jackets and gloves. Oh and don't forget your feet, the best investment i've ever made was £175 on some proper winter cycling boots, my feet have never been so comfortable in winter, no number of waterproof socks, gaiters, overshoes, bread bags etc would have given the same comfort for the last four winters

[carlislemike]

Re last comment, winter cycling boots! Who makes/sells them please?

[scottg]

Tweeds - plus fours, plus twos, flat cap, sports jacket, wooly jumpers, and a rolled up cape on saddle bag.

Here in the Colonies, we have CTC re-enactors.

https://www.outyourbackdoor.com/the-lak ... eed/1205/#

[pwa]

if we put to one side the specialist area of cycle shorts / pads (or no pads), for the rest of our clothing the principles are the same as for the clothing we use for hiking. Stick to thin layers of stuff that wicks and dries quickly. Avoid thick layers. Beyond that it is down to personal aesthetic and budget considerations.

[richardfm]

Re last comment, winter cycling boots! Who makes/sells them please?

I have a pair of these for winter use https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mob ... prod138016

[JakobW]

I find cotton ok, as long as it's not too cold, wet, and windy; fine for high summer, but rather iffier for autumn. Linen's slightly better, but still takes a while to dry. The gear I wear depends on what kind of touring I'm doing: if I'm just going A-B and exploring at my destination, I usually wear full cycling gear and have a change of clothes in my luggage. For more relaxed touring, with as much time off the bike as on, I'll often wear a merino polo with maybe a merino base layer underneath and a mid-weight merino zip cardigan on top as necessary (my beloved Swrve merino track jacket, sadly long out of production). I find this is fine for showers, but if it's really chucking it down I'll put on a rain cape or a jacket, and if it's dry but very cold/windy I might add a windproof or a gilet on top. For the bottom half I usually wear lightweight shorts or trousers over bibs or merino underwear depending on temperature and distance.

[Jdsk]

if we put to one side the specialist area of cycle shorts / pads (or no pads), for the rest of our clothing the principles are the same as for the clothing we use for hiking. Stick to thin layers of stuff that wicks and dries quickly. Avoid thick layers. Beyond that it is down to personal aesthetic and budget considerations.

Us too, same gear as for walking apart from the waterproof top layer and the footwear.
Polycotton, much of it from Rohan. Thin fleece layers.

Jonathan

[Oldjohnw]

I must admit I'm a Rohan man. Probably says something about my age. I also get Alpkit. Walking stuff.