Dress for Success

When I first began riding, I didn’t go far and the weather was always warm. So it didn’t matter what I wore. Usually I just grabbed the first t-shirt and pair of shorts I could find. Once you start going longer distances, or when the temperature drops, you learn very quickly just how important the right clothes can be.

The first thing I changed was my shirts. Cotton shirts were fine at first, but on longer rides on warm days they would be absolutely soaking wet. More than once I would take off a shirt and wring it out; I could have watered my azaleas. So I found some shirts that weren’t cotton. I first tried an Under Armour heatgear loose shirt. The difference was remarkable. The shirt didn’t hold sweat like my standard cotton t-shirts. It helps a little with heat management as well because the sweat tends to evaporate. I received an Under Armour heatgear compression shirt for Christmas that first year of biking. What made it really fun was the Batman logo on the chest. I wear it often.

Sporting the Batman shirt after a ride.

 
The tight fit does even more to wick the sweat away from your body and let it evaporate. Plus, and I can’t emphasize this enough, the Batman logo looks really cool. If you don’t understand that, you probably never read Batman comic books as a kid. You also probably don’t know who Adam West is. Too bad for you. I have a few other heatgear shirts, some fitted and some loose. I personally recommend the tighter ones because they seem to get rid of moisture faster. Dicks is a good source; they carry a variety of shirts at decent prices.

Eventually I tried a biking jersey. They are made specifically for bicycling. They wick away sweat, usually have full or partial zippers and the handy pockets on the back. Those look weird but are very convenient when riding. You can carry keys, your phone, snacks, almost anything. I was able to do without a jersey for awhile because I would carry a small child’s backpack with the supplies I needed. But the jerseys make the backpack unnecessary. I wouldn’t recommend a jersey when you first start out because they are a bit pricey. I bought my first one from REI. I used my member dividend, a coupon and waited for it to go on sale. They also make great gifts, but you should try them on to let your friends and family know what size you prefer. Some people like a looser fit. I prefer tighter.

The “fashion” question I get most often from friends and coworkers is whether or not you need the tight, padded shorts. The answer is…probably, and eventually. I started out wearing regular gym shorts and ran into the same cotton and sweat issue I did with t-shirts. So I switched to non-cotton and it got better. I didn’t need the padded bike shorts at first because I wouldn’t go very far. It didn’t take long for my inner thighs and butt to be very sore after rides. But your skin toughens up fairly quickly and the seat on my bike is designed for comfort. It prevents a lot of the rubbing that causes the soreness. Eventually, though, I needed to try a pair of bike shorts. That shopping trip was quite an adventure.

Bike shorts have pads right on the spots that get sore. That’s the plus. The minus is how they look.  They are designed to be tight, and let’s face it, most people shouldn’t wear shorts that tight…me included. There are even some shorts that are part of essentially skin-tight unitards. I took one look at those and just walked away. Fortunately I found biker shorts that come with an outer shell that looks like regular shorts. Problem solved. Assets covered. I tried them on a ride and they worked great. Actually, they worked okay the first time because I wore underwear. Hint: don’t do that. Underwear worsens the friction that causes discomfort in your sensitive areas, regardless of the kind of shorts you wear. Plus, bike shorts are designed to be worn without underwear. Bottom (no pun intended) line: if you start taking rides that are longer than 8-10 miles, invest in a pair of bike shorts.  

The layered look on a cool, not cold ride. Note the lack of ear
muffs and the ice on the water.

When you get in the habit of biking, you don’t want to stop when it gets cool, or cold. You learn very quickly to dress in layers and to avoid cotton at all cost because it holds moisture and makes you colder. The best thing is to start with a base layer, like an Under Armour coldgear fitted or compression shirt. On top of that you put another long sleeve layer like a non-cotton sweatshirt or hoodie. I have some polypropylene underwear left over from my army days that works great. It’s thick and warm and it doesn’t absorb moisture. Your outer layer should be wind-resistant, like a windbreaker. I received a quilted riding jacket as a gift and it’s perfect. It’s thick and the quilting holds in your body heat while the outer shell is wind-resistant. Windsuit tops or jackets also work well. I would start adding layers any time the temperature drops below about 63 or 64 degrees. It may seem like overkill, but when you ride you’re going at least 10 miles per hour and often faster (I average 16-17 on a really good ride). Your speed creates a cold breeze on you and you need to protect yourself. If it’s in the 50s or low 60s, you may need only two layers.

For your legs, a pair of padded tights are ideal. They offer the same protection as the padded shorts mentioned earlier, plus they keep your legs warmer.  If you try windsuit pants or sweatpants, they will move around and cause friction and discomfort. Stick with the tights. Your legs may be cold at first, but they contain the largest muscles in your body, muscles that will be working very hard during a ride. They’ll warm up.

Finally, when you’re riding, the wind you generate will affect any exposed skin. So don’t expose much. If you do, it will get so cold it stings or burns in the wind you generate. Get a pair of good athletic gloves, again, not cotton. Pay a little more for the better gloves because you need the use of your hands while you ride. They also come with special material on your pointer finger that allows you to operate the touch screen on your smart phone. You should also get a pair of ear muffs. I like the ones that wrap around the back of your head because they don’t interfere with the fit of your helmet. Wear tall socks that reach up over the bottom of your tights, again, so no skin is exposed. You’ll be glad you did.

I haven’t talked about shoes, but that’s a whole different discussion. If you don’t use the shoes that clip to your pedals, most any comfortable athletic shoes will work. Keep in mind: they will get dirty, especially if the concrete is wet or muddy.

This can all add up to a significant hit on your wallet. However, the right clothes are worth every penny whether the temperature is in the 90s or the high 30s. I noticed that I mentioned the Under Armour brand several times. They make great products, but there are other companies that make good clothing too. You can find good stuff at Dicks or REI. If you time your purchases with their sales and use their rewards, you can reduce your cost even more.