Cycling UK Forum

Ayesha wrote:Take a ride from Woking to the seaside.

If your backside hurt like hell and was red raw when you got home, you should have worn some insert shorts.
If you was too hot, OR too cold, you'll know what to do next time.

As I may have intimated I don't have any problems with being hot, cold, or having a sore butt, including when I've ridden to the seaside.

The only problem I have is being sweaty, sometimes I've gone out when it's been cold, wearing more clothes than I obviously would if it was 20 degrees, no problem at all, but when I stop at the tea shop for twenty minutes and when it's time go home my shirt is horrible and clammy.

So not really cold or hot, but how to keep dry.

I ride for health, commuting and pleasure - and for all scenarios I recommend a pair of long Tesco shorts, a T shirt with the name of a band or a witty cartoon & slogan, some pants, socks and trainers. A 14yr old waterproof jacket complements the ensemble.

Personally, I think most cycle wear confers next to no benefits to most wearers and is nothing more than snake oil.

A good idea is to post a Tee shirt to the cafe a week before you ride there. Make sure the covering letter explains why you've sent it.
When you get to the cafe, change into the dry Tee shirt and throw the horrible clammy one in the bin.

Either this or "man up a bit".

Jerseys tend to have pockets, collars (and zips of varying length); base layers generally don't (but there are exceptions). Which reminds me, I like a zipped, snug fitting, tall collar on whatever base layer, windproof fleece or jacket I'm wearing - hate having a cold neck. The late lamented (by me, at least) Parrot brand really understood this
And merino base layers / jerseys work for me 'cos I hate washing clothes

I sweat buckets (I know, too much detail ), even when it's cold out. I do two things to help reduce the clamminess of my inside layer...
multiple light layers; once I warm up, I can shed the top layers
technical layer on the inside to 'wick' the sweat away

I wouldn't consider wearing cotton underneath it all. Cotton just soaks up the moisture. Not only is it uncomfortable, but if I get stuck somewhere in the cold (puncture, or whatever), it won't keep me warm.

I wore cotton t-shirts for cycling for years. I had one cycling jersey, only worn whilst touring in warm weather. Otherwise, I wore normal clothes. If I went more than about 5 miles, I wore cycling shorts. It's only in the last 8 years or so that I've discovered the benefits of technical base layers.

Its all very personal, but start with safety, then move to comfort. Helmet, eyewear, then a rainproof hi-viz jacket, which should have a drop down back and long sleeves for when you're on your bke.

then you think comfort and start with what is next to your skin. It needs to wick moisture away and not cause irritation or rub. A technical or merino base layer (vest/underwear) will wick well, which one depends on the individual. I love merino because it performs well, can be worn a number of times between washes and does not smell. Its naturally anti-bacterial and natural. It is maybe a bit warm for the summer, but then man made fabrics tend to make me sweat anyway as they don't breath aswell. Technical fabrics also have a habit of smelling really bad, but they are generally cheaper, easy to wash and dry very quickly. Bamboo or similar fabrics could be the compromise between the two.

I have tights for winter, but rarely wear them as I'm not comfortable in them. I feel more relaxed in baggies and the majority of the time wear a pair of baggy, zip-off cycle trousers as they can adapt to the weather/situation.

oh and I also tend to get cold ears so I have a buff, which is fine enough to fit under my helmet.

Happy cyclng

10032083 wrote:Its all very personal, but start with safety, then move to comfort. Helmet, eyewear, then a rainproof hi-viz jacket, which should have a drop down back and long sleeves for when you're on your bke.

We discuss the safety benefits (or otherwise) of helmets over there ----> viewforum.php?f=41

I find shorts completely impractical for cycling or anything else in this country except for all but a few days if we get a hot summer. I have been known to wear them while on tour in more southern latitudes, and even on the homeward leg of the tour, but then it's back to longs until after the first few days of the next foreign tour.

I now wear Decathlon base layers all the time as t shirt or vests. They are the £5 ones and bought when they have a deal on. It does not matter how much I seem to sweat the seem to dry instantly and do not hold much water even when washed.

I prefer to wear proper trousers so use the Endura ones similar to theses.
I have also found that some of the outdoor trousers have a cycling trouser type crotch, in that they do not have the seam in the middle. I am now starting to use these more especially on the bike with a hockey stick type of chain guard.

I you get a saddle with a "love channel" then normal trousers are normally OK for utility cycling. A Brooks B17 is another story altogether for most normal people.