Tips on cycle clothing for beginners, those new to cycling, or recently returned. Part of a series – Stuff cyclists don’t tell you. It explains the kit most cyclists use, but you don’t have to follow the group.
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34 Comments
Please bear in mind, it's a basic explanation of the kit most cyclists use, not an exhaustive list of all the options. You're welcome to post alternative suggestions in these comments if you think beginners will find them helpful.
What type of glasses are those?
Hi. Great video. Do you ever use waterproof socks? If so what type and more importantly do they work. I always have a problem on long tours when it rains as I prefer go cycle tours in trainers than I only need one pair of footwear. Cheers
Fluorescent only seems naf until a car slams through you.
My ears are an essential part of my self-defence mechanism when on a bike- I would never have ear pieces in. I rarely ride without bright clothing- sometimes Flo-yellow. If other cyclists think that is 'naff' it's their problem. Both observations not criticism, I love your channel.
I AM one of those new cyclists that covid produced. This is a fantastic channel full of useful tips and explanations. As a new cyclist overheating is an issue, but I'm slowly buying better, more specific kit. It adds up pretty quickly though. i thank you for the effort you put in to these videos.
You need to buy these items overtime or it will get expensive esp with quality name brands like Rapha.
I prefer mountain bike helmets for road biking, for me it provide more sun shade. I prefer comfort rather than speed… It really doesn't effect the speed very much for the average rider. If I were more in to racing or speed than I will use a road bike helmet, but for regular cycling I prefer mountain helmets.
thanks!
I’ve just bought my first bike! I’m trying to get into bikes and be cool when I start
Toe covers and overshoes. Took me a while to understand the importance of them
What about your socks (white, black, other colors) and shoes and cleats (SPD, SPD-SL, Crank Bros., Look, others)?
I wear just jogging shorts. I absolutly hate pads, it lacks too much feedback and feels weird. Plus, jogging shorts are also way cheaper.
Great video and hi from the US! I was in Scotland many years ago visiting family. Beautiful country and look forward to returning one day biking on those great Scottish roads. Thanks for the video!
Just started to ride for the season again and I've got obsessed over all kind of cycling clothes.
Great information. To protect my eyes from bugs and dust and the sun I wear self darkening prescription glasses. they are my only glasses. I gave up on Gortex years ago. My brother and I were on a fast 100 mile 160K summer ride, when we biked into a long hard rain at just above Freezing. The combination of my body heat and the cold rain delaminated the jacket. My son had the same thing happen to his Gortex under similar conditions. I wear a water proof jacket if it is a cold rain. In a warm summer rain I wear a short sleeve wool shirt. Wool retains 80% of its insolation properties when wet. it cost money to get started in cycling. Get out and enjoy the weather , don't wait for a sunny , warm day or you will only get out a few days year. Some of my bike gear goes back to the late 60's Good gear last for ever..
Do you find that your prescription inserts fog up at all? I've been cycling all my life without a pair of proper cycling glasses because of my requirement for vision correction and i don't wear contact lenses.
Thought about getting some inserts made but almost everyone seems to slate them for getting fogged up all the time and not working at all
Simon, your videos are absolutely brilliant and I'm slowly making my way through them all. I've been leisure cycling for donkey's years and your info and tips are really helpful and fun too. I'm a Yorkshireman who's been living in dead flat SW Florida for 20 years and unbelievably, I never thought about the sun getting through the gaps in my helmet and burning my bald spot. It explains the burnt bits on my head lol….never too old to learn eh! Thanks fella, and keep up the good work. Cheers, Paul.
Ps thanks for all the shots of beautiful Scotland too.
Is the front wheel removable?
Beginners need love too, thank you and keep these coming!
the lycra = snobbery is pure misconception, nowadays you can get lycra shorts for less than 10€, if you feel more comfortable on cargo pants that's great, but if you give up the comfort lycra shorts give because you feel embarrassed that's another question
Quite well done. Great advice. Succinct. And for a Brit, you almost spoke English. 🙂
Big thumbs up! I am relatively new and appreciate the info share!
The key to dressing for cycling is versatility. You will warm up as you ride, and quite quickly. Start off a little colder that you would like and Be prepared to remove some items. However in cold weather, the feet and hands need more protection. Over shoes are a must to keep the toes toasty. My tip in cold weather is to wear shoes a size too big. It's the air gap that makes the difference.
I wear a wide variety of clothing and to be honest very rarely cycling specific. I have a middle aged physique and would look silly in skin tight cycling gear. I wear a mix of hiking and golf wear and to be honest modern golf clothing is pretty much bike wear in a different style. I have bought some shirt and trousers from Lululemon as they are super stretchy and yet look quite formal so good for commuting. Only thing I have ever really needed which is cycling specific is gloves – a must in my opinion which you only find out when you go on a long ride without them! I do look a bit odd though on a road bike but I don’t care.
Shorts & t-shirt weather permitting. Don't care what others think.
There's thousands of people who went back to cycling after the pandemic.
You got me in that group of people.
For the bottom part the most versatile option i think is have inner padded liners (shorts) and then whatever suits the purpose on top: any shorts, pants, denims.
what are those glasses?
I carry cleat covers for my road shoes to put on when off the bike for a coffee stop. More grip on the ground and saves wear on the cleats.
I wear as little as possible, and rarely padded cycle shorts, as they breed bacteria which cause staphylococcal infections, particularly around hair follicles. If I get the chance I throw a bit of alcohol hand wash about. Merino tops and undies if I need them but no stinky polyester or "lycra."
At 70 I tend not to give fks any longer.
what was the bag you were using?
What brand are the glasses that you are wearing in the video? I need something similar…….Thank you!!
As someone new to cycling (although some consider ebikes "cheat bikes") late in life, I nust admit that this subject is a bit intimidating. I don't want to spend a fortune on bike gear, but I don't want to suffer either, whether from cold, wet or heat . I am gradually getting my head around what is for what and why, but frankly, I hate going into bike shops to ask for advice. (Che-ching!). So it's a slow and fraught process. Thanks for your realistic videos that spare a thought for the not-so-cashed-up senior cyclist.