There are few things that will affect the comfort and performance of your bicycling than your choice of clothing. It's no wonder that serious cyclists don't spend much time riding in cutoffs and a t-shirt. Here's the skinny on what cycling clothes are important, and how to choose.
Bicycle shorts for road cycling are designed to fit well on your body when you're in the saddle. So naturally they often don't fit right walking about. Shorts are often made of a number of panels, and the more the panels the greater the conformity to your riding position. An internal chamois provides an extra layer of padding and wicking between you and the saddle: a very important area of concern. Road shorts typically are made of lycra and don't have pockets.
Mountain bike shorts are typically looser fitting than road shorts, although they will often carry an internal short that is more snug and which carries a padded chamois. Mountain bike shorts are made of a variety of natural and synthetic fibers and also typically will have pockets.
Cycling jerseys are designed to breathe easily and to move with you when you ride. Like cycling shorts, they're cut to fit right when you're in a riding position, which is why you'll often see jerseys hanging lower in the back than the front. If a jersey carries pockets, they will typically be on the lower back, so as not to hang down in the front when your body is extended over the front of the bike. Bicycle Jerseys will usually have a fairly generous zipper in the front for those hot days in the saddle.
Bicycle shoes are designed with stiffer soles than running or hiking shoes, so as to transfer more of your pedalling energy into the pedals. They also will often carry internal nuts to allow mounting of cleats that connect to special cycling pedals (referred to as clipless pedals). Gloves will come in either full finger varieties (common for mountain bike riding), or partial finger versions (preferred for road riding). A cycling glove is not a luxury but a necessity. You'll discover that if you ever take a tumble, or need to brush glass off your tires.
We normally don't deal much in cycling shoes, but gloves are a different story. For our current selection of bicycle gloves, click here
A good cycling helmet can be the difference between life and death. Even at low speeds a head injury can be life-threatening or turn you into a vegetable. Make sure you choose a helmet that meets federal standards, is lightweight, and has good ventilation.