Bike Clothing Guide: What to Wear Cycling

Bike Clothing Guide: What to Wear Cycling

Clothing made specifically for cycling offers many benefits, including comfort, safety, and improved performance. This guide will explain the overall benefits of cycling apparel and the key pieces you'll need to maximize your biking experience. 

Why Wear Cycling Apparel? 

There’s a question we should answer before diving into details: Why wear cycling-specific clothing instead of more general activewear? There are many reasons, but here are the major ones: 

  • Performance: A cyclist makes contact with the bike at three main touch points: the hands/wrists, rear end, and feet. Cycling apparel is designed to support the rider at these touch points, enhancing performance and allowing you to ride further, longer, and more effectively.

  • Comfort: Unlike cotton, which absorbs sweat and becomes wet and heavy, cycling apparel is made of synthetic fibers designed to wick sweat away, offering high breathability to keep you cool, dry, and comfortable. Some apparel offers additional stretch, enhanced heat management, and patterns that allow the clothes to move with the body. 

  • Safety: Cycling apparel is often designed with bright, easily visible colors and reflective patterns that make it easy for drivers and other cyclists to see you. In many cases, cycling apparel also features SPF protection to block out the sun’s harmful rays, and it’s often made of abrasion-resistant materials to protect riders (especially mountain bikers) from branches or debris. 

These are only the most significant features that make cycling apparel an instant benefit when you’re on two wheels. Now, let’s dive into the pieces of apparel that should be part of any cyclist’s inventory.  

3 Must-Have Cycling Apparel Items 

Whether you’re riding in cold or hot temperatures, on off-road paths or city streets, here are the three must-have pieces of basic apparel that we recommend.

Cycling Jerseys

Cycling jerseys and tech-tees provide performance, style, and comfort for the upper body. They come in short- or long-sleeved versions, allowing you to adjust your clothes depending on the weather. There are even sun sleeves that can be worn with short-sleeved jerseys to provide additional protection against the sun. 

Aside from the breathability, sweat-wicking properties, UV protection, and high visibility we’ve already mentioned, cycling jerseys boast a lot more features depending on the specific category.

Road Cycling Jerseys 

These jerseys are designed with performance in mind and are typically made of stretchy fabrics, fit snugly, and have an athletic look. They’re designed to come down further in the back to provide greater coverage as the rider leans forward on the bike. They also have pockets in convenient locations (often the back of the jersey) for keys, a cell phone, wallet, etc.  

Typically, road cycling jerseys include a collar to protect your neck from UV rays and wide-cut shoulders to provide a more accommodating fit for the arms-forward riding position. Unique jersey materials and aerodynamic designs help cut down on wind resistance, allowing you to ride smoothly regardless of wind velocity. Finally, most road jerseys include a stretchy hemline around the bottom and the sleeves to keep the jersey in place, while the hems often feature grippers that make them stick even more. 

Mountain Biking Jerseys 

Like road cycling jerseys, mountain biking jerseys are made of breathable, moisture-wicking materials. They sometimes feature a zipper for ventilation, though mountain biking jerseys often have half zippers instead of a “full-zip,” which is more frequently found on road cycling jerseys. It’s less common for mountain biking jerseys to have numerous pockets, though you can typically find mountain biking jersey options with one or two pockets for convenience. 

The main difference is that mountain biking jerseys fit a little looser than road biking jerseys, accommodating movement on rough, uneven terrain. They typically feature longer sleeves and are made of abrasion-resistant materials to protect the rider against branches and debris.  

Recreational Cycling Jerseys 

These jerseys are designed to be comfortable and practical, making it easy to take a break from riding and stop off at a coffeeshop or brewery without needing to change clothes. Recreational cycling jerseys (sometimes called club fit jerseys) have a relaxed fit that’s longer in the front than road cycling jerseys. They typically feature pockets and zippers to optimize comfort and convenience over athletic performance. As the name suggests, recreational jerseys are the perfect choice for casual riders who want to get the most out of their ride but also want a more relaxed style and fit. 

A Word About Gravel Jerseys 

One of the most rapidly growing subcategories of cycling apparel is gravel jerseys. Just as gravel riding encompasses a wide variety of terrains and skill sets, gravel apparel is meant to conquer everything from paved trails to rugged off-road singletrack. In other words, it’s somewhere between road and mountain biking apparel, with options for both tight-fitting, performance-geared gravel jerseys as well as looser, baggier apparel.  

Whichever style of gravel jersey you prefer, you’ll still get breathable fabrics, a comfortable fit that’s meant to move along with your body, and even some additional pockets for added convenience.  

Cycling Bottoms

It’s crucial to have supportive apparel for the lower body, whether that’s shorts, bibs, skorts, or tights. Their padded support and performance-enhancing features will quickly make you realize the benefits of cycling-specific apparel, especially after riding in the bike saddle all day! 

Shorts and Bibs 

Like cycling jerseys, shorts are usually made of stretchy, form-fitting fabric to easily move with the body and maximize comfort and performance. Cycling bottoms also wick sweat away and have high breathability, minimizing friction and chafing. Finally, they often have grippers on the legs to keep them in place while riding. 

Shorts and bibs are similar, but bibs have integrated suspenders that come up over the shoulders, holding them in place without a waistband. Properly fitting bibs should feel almost imperceptible when you ride, providing support with no tugging, binding, or chafing. 

Baggies 

Another option if tight-fitting cycling shorts aren’t your thing is “baggies,” i.e. baggy shorts. Sometimes called “double shorts” because of the padded liner inside, baggies offer the casual fit of activewear while still providing the comfort and support of cycling-specific shorts or bibs. They typically include a crotch gusset to eliminate seams that might snag as you move around on the saddle, a drawstring or belt on the waistband to prevent the baggies from slipping down when you’re riding, and panels in the design that allow the shorts to move with your body without binding or moving out of position. 

Liner Shorts 

Liner shorts are another option for lower-body support while riding. They’re meant to be worn underneath other clothes, like casual shorts or pants, for cyclists who want an outer bottom layer, either for added warmth or aesthetics.  

Liner shorts are designed to be worn against the skin and are sometimes called cycling underwear. They can be especially helpful since some cycling bottoms don’t come with a chamois (see below), so liner shorts provide that extra comfort and support you need on the saddle.  

All About the Chamois 

Most cycling shorts, bibs, skorts, liners, and baggies have a chamois (pronounced “sha-mee”), which is a padded insert that provides comfort and reduces friction between the rider and the saddle. Chamois (or shammies) come in different thicknesses, with the thicker chamois especially useful for longer endurance rides. A chamois usually has antimicrobial properties to reduce odor and bacteria. When buying cycling bottoms, make sure they come with a chamois or be prepared to wear liner shorts underneath! 

Learn even more about cycling shorts/bibs at our Cycling Shorts Buying Guide, including information about our 30-Day Cycling Shorts Satisfaction Guarantee. 

Cycling Shoes and Socks

By incorporating the use of cycling shoes and socks, you'll improve your pedaling efficiency, gain stability, eliminate unnecessary stress on your hips, knees, and feet, and likely go faster while exerting less effort. Cycling shoes allow the energy from your feet to be transferred to the pedals more effectively, while cycling socks are thin, snug, and moisture-wicking, keeping your feet comfortable during those long rides.  

The world of cycling shoes (and the pedals they’re compatible with) can be a little daunting. That’s why we have our Cycling Shoe Buying Guide, which will lead you in the right direction for all your cycling footwear needs! 

Cold-Weather Cycling: 4 Apparel Items to Add 

Cycling-specific jerseys, bottoms, and shoes/socks have a huge impact on your riding experience. But what if you’re cycling in colder weather and need to keep yourself protected from frigid temperatures and inclement conditions? 

Read on to find out the four pieces of cycling apparel we recommend for cold-weather riding.  

Base Layers

If you bike in colder seasons, it's all about layering. Pairing your jersey with a base layer increases your comfort range by keeping your core temperature regulated.  

Base layers do a great job of pulling moisture off your skin and creating a micro-climate to help keep you dry and comfortable. Just like arm warmers, base layers come in a vast range, from lightweight, airy mesh designed for the hottest summer days to thermal long-sleeve options for riding in the coldest temps.  

Cycling Jackets and Vests

Like base layers and jerseys, cycling jackets and vests help keep you warm, dry, and protected from the elements. But when it’s time to lose the extra layer as the temperatures rise throughout the day, cycling jackets and vests fold up small so you can store them in a jersey pocket or bike bag. 

Cycling jackets and vests include many of the same features as jerseys, like breathability, wind and water resistance, pockets, and visibility. Many also feature stowable or detachable hoods designed to wear over your helmet and zip-off sleeves that quickly turn your jacket into a vest!  

Cycling Pants, Tights, and Leg Warmers

Just like the shorts and bibs mentioned above, cycling pants and tights provide warmth, comfort, and protection for your lower body. (It should be mentioned that pants and tights don’t always include a chamois, so they may have to be worn outside of cycling shorts or bibs.) Unique fabrics and materials offer both insulation and breathability, while a snug but adaptive fit is made to accommodate your bodys movements on the saddle.  

When the temps are below 60, it’s a good idea to add to your leg protection with a pair of knee or leg warmers. Like arm warmers, these keep you warm but can easily be removed if you start to get warm. The difference between knee and leg warmers isn’t huge: if you run on the warmer side, go with knee warmers; if you tend to run a bit colder, then get leg warmers. 

Cold-Weather Cycling Gloves

It’s easy to forget about your hands while you’re on your bike, but they take a lot of abuse from the elements while riding. Excellent wind protection is essential, and it’s better to use insulated cycling gloves since you can always take them off if you get too warm. Nothing ends a good ride faster than cold hands! 

Cycling gloves come in both fingerless and full-fingered options—not surprisingly, the colder the weather, the more likely you’ll need the full-fingered ones. 

Protection from the wind and cold is only one of the benefits of cycling gloves. They also offer comfort and support for your hands and wrists, which do a lot of work clutching the handlebars and (in some cases) shifting gears, while also protecting you from branches and debris. If you often feel numb or painful in your hands or wrists while riding, we highly suggest a good pair of cycling gloves, no matter the temperature! 

Want to know more about cold-weather cycling, gear, and apparel? Check out our blog post on What to Wear Cycling in Cold Weather.

Don’t Forget These Cycling Accessories 

Now that we’ve laid out the general reasons to wear cycling apparel and the specific items that should be part of your ensemble, let’s quickly cover a few important related accessories.  

Always Wear a Helmet! 

It sounds obvious, but wearing a bike helmet is a must! It’s the single most important thing to wear whenever you ride.  

ERIK'S has helmets designed specifically for mountain bikers, recreational riders, and road cyclists. Many are equipped with advanced technologies like MIPS and ANGi, which provide extra support in the case of a crash. Additionally, our Sena helmets offer Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to communicate hands-free while riding. 

In other words, there are lots of styles, features, and fits to bike helmets nowadays, but we have our Bike Helmet Buying Guide to help you find just the right one! 

Protect Your Eyes While Riding

Biking gives us the awesome experience of soaring through the natural world around us. Unfortunately, that experience also makes us vulnerable to dangerous UV rays, as well as debris swept up and blowing around in the air 

Sunglasses from Oakley or Tifosi are an easy way to keep your eyes protected; they also provide wind and bug protection to keep the tears away and maintain your field of vision. In colder weather or if you're doing some hardcore mountain biking, goggles can be worn for extra protection. We have high-quality goggles from Giro, Anon, Dragon, Smith, and other top brands that will keep you safe no matter how extreme your excursion gets. 

High-Quality Apparel to Fit Any Budget

As you'll see when shopping for bike apparel, there can be a wide range of price points for seemingly identical items. If you dig a little deeper, though, looking at materials and features, you'll discover some big differences. 

Generally speaking, when you spend more, you get more—more engineering and innovative technologies, that is. You get better materials that will transfer moisture away and keep you comfortable. You get better-designed padding that will support you more effectively and lead to less discomfort. You get garments that are cut and fitted to move with your body. For the performance-motivated rider, you get materials and designs that are more aerodynamic, reducing drag as you ride your bike. 

All that said, we're proud to carry cycling apparel to fit any budget. Wearing any kind of cycling apparel will lead to a better ride than not wearing cycling-specific clothing, so shop our selection online or stop into your local ERIK'S to see what apparel we have for you! 

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