Casual cycling clothing is essential for short journeys, especially for bike commuters who don’t need to be dressed head-to-toe in cycling gear. Some cycling pants look like streetwear, making them suitable for urban destinations. These styles have cycling features like stretch fabric and a cuff on the chain-side pant leg that rolls. To help beginners get started with road cycling, a guide covering all types of cycling clothing from head to toe has been created.
To stay comfortable on casual rides, choose lightweight, breathable, and bright clothing that doesn’t restrict the movement of your arms and legs. Avoid wearing clothes with thick and bulky seams, which can rub and make you sore. Additionally, don’t wear anything with too tight a waistband. For casual rides, consider wearing a resort shirt from Ostroy, which is both comfortable and breathable.
To save on bike clothing, consider wearing outdoor or athletic clothing that is breathable and moisture-wicking. On the bottom half, aim for joggers, cropped trousers, or shorts that are soft against your skin and give a little. Keep an eye out for materials partially made of materials that don’t leave you dripping with sweat or soaked through from the rain.
Summer road cycling clothing includes helmets, chamois shorts (or bib), shoes, cycling jerseys, road cycling sunglasses, gloves, and socks. Wearing pieces that don’t leave you dripping with sweat or soaked through from the rain is important, and starting with key pieces such as helmets, cycling jerseys, bike shorts, and shoes is essential.
📹 What To Wear For Cycling? Cycling Kit Vs Casual Clothes
You don’t need lycra or special kit to go for a bike ride. In fact you don’t need to look like a cyclist at all, and the best cycling …
What to wear if you don’t have cycling shorts?
Bike pants, tights, and warmers are essential cycling gear for cooler temperatures. Some come with built-in chamois, wind protection, and windproof panels. Tights are less weather-protective but more aerodynamic. Some cycling pants have streetwear features like stretch fabric and a cuff that reveals reflective trim. These pants can be worn off the bike. Bike jerseys are stretchy, breathable, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying, with a form-fitting aerodynamic cut.
Casual shirt styles also exist that look different from traditional bike jerseys. These items are designed to blend in with urban environments and provide a comfortable and stylish cycling experience.
Is biking in jeans uncomfortable?
To cycling in jeans, opt for jeans with stretch, avoid wide and flared jeans, and opt for tapered and skinny jeans. Choose gusset jeans for added stretch and a comfortable rise, as they can be replaced if ripped. Opt for moisture-wicking fibers like COOLMAX™ for a more breathable fit and less frequent washing.
By getting used to biking in jeans, you can bike almost anywhere, even during bad weather, faster than the bus or driving during rush hour. Parking is also a breeze, and cycling opens up most of your wardrobe to cycling, making it more versatile.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest denim trends and special deals. Once you get used to biking in jeans, you can enjoy the benefits of cycling, such as faster transportation, parking, and a more versatile wardrobe.
Can I ride a bike in jeans?
Cycling in jeans is a fun and easy activity that can be enjoyed by adults. As a child, riding bikes around the neighborhood required a bike with coaster brakes, a backwards hat, jeans, and a T-shirt. No layers of lycra or carbon parts were needed, as the freedom of two wheels and a trusty pair of jeans were enough to enjoy a cruise. As adults, we can still enjoy the thrill of cycling in jeans, even if we don’t have the same level of comfort and safety.
Do I need a cycling jacket?
Jackets are essential for new cyclists to build their wardrobe all year round. Layering with cycling jackets is a great way to protect yourself from wind and rain in cold conditions. The best way to layer up is with a base-layer, which is made from close-knit fibers that trap in warmth and help keep you dry by moving moisture away from the skin. This combination of clothing ensures a comfortable and effective cycling experience.
What do cyclists wear under their shorts?
Wearing underwear under your bike shorts can cause chafing and moisture retention, so it’s best to avoid wearing underwear when in the saddle. Choose shorts or liners that fit snugly but are comfortable to move around in, ensuring the fabric doesn’t shift against your skin while pedaling and doesn’t cut off circulation to your legs. Wash your shorts in the washing machine on a gentle cycle with cold water, line dry them, and wash them after every ride. This will ensure the longest life of each pair and prevent seams that may chafe while in the saddle.
Can I wear normal clothes to cycling?
Long, flowy garments, particularly jeans, can be uncomfortable on bikes in rainy weather. Tight, non-stretch items, such as skinny jeans, also restrict movement. For those who value cycling time in the morning and evening but want to wear normal clothes, polo shirts are a great option. They are light, airy, dry quickly, and universally accepted. Polo shirts are available in various styles, from cheap to chic, and are suitable for both morning and evening wear.
Can you ride a bike without a jacket?
The author has been wearing the same-sized kit since the age of 16, and has accumulated motorcycle gear that covers various weather conditions. However, they have experienced the danger of gravel rash while riding in a T-shirt on a 26C summer day. The law does not provide much guidance on the amount of protective gear needed beyond a helmet, but suggests “suitable clothing”. A lightweight enduro jacket is considered “suitable clothing” if it doesn’t provide the same protection as full leathers with an airbag. The choice to wear armour or not is a personal choice, and the law has little to say about the amount of protective gear required.
Does cycling shape your legs?
Cycling can build leg muscle by targeting hamstrings, glutes, quads, and calves, as the legs are responsible for most of the work. Strength training in the gym can help build leg muscle, while indoor cycling classes can be intense with resistance and standing exercises. The type of cycling you do can also affect the definition of your leg muscles. Sprinting on a bike can build bigger muscles, while endurance cycling is likely to build leaner muscle.
Both indoor and outdoor cycling are effective ways to burn calories, as maintaining a good speed on a bike requires a lot of energy, whether it’s rotating a heavier flywheel, turning up resistance, or riding up hills or rocky terrain.
Can you wear a hoodie while cycling?
A cycling hoodie is a versatile and comfortable post-race or post-ride gear that can be worn on the bike. These Italian-designed apparels prioritize comfort, fit, performance, and durability, with most designs made from soft fleece for warmth and comfort throughout winter. They are ideal for downhill riding but not ideal for road cycling due to lack of aerodynamics. The best cycling hoodie should have a generous layer of soft fleece for warmth, an adjustable hood for different weather levels, and pockets for easy storage.
Santini Italian-designed apparel is known for its premium quality materials and fabrication processes, ensuring durability and longevity. However, it is not recommended to wear a hoodie while cycling due to its lack of aerodynamics. The best cycling hoodie should be a generous layer of soft fleece and an adjustable hood for different weather levels.
What to wear when cycling casually?
For casual outings, wear a T-shirt, leggings, sneakers, and sunglasses. Layer a sweatshirt or bike basket for colder days. A backpack is essential for extra storage. Stay hydrated with a Stanley tumbler and quencher carry-all. Countryside getaways can be achieved with neutral-colored pieces, but choose materials that aren’t wrinkle-prone. Countryside outfits can be paired with a Stanley tumbler and a matching quencher carry-all. Style Meets Story shares recommendations that we love.
📹 Is Cycling Clothing Worth It?
Should you wear lycra on a bike? Conor explores the differences between specialized cycling kits and more casual cycling attire.
I am still fairly new to cycling. I have four cycling jerseys, and a waterproof upper layer for training/racing. My saddle is pretty comfy for me, but I am looking into some comfy cycling specific shorts. When cycling with a local group on a casual loop, I dress more casual and loose. If there’s a competitive edge to the ride, I may lycra up. When commuting to church or work, I take the weather into account and generally pack a quick change of clothes. I guess I try to find a balance between social expectations and comfort, because no one wants to look homeless or like a nutter just because they’re commuting by bike.
I started wearing lyra for comfort but the added bonus was (I was 20kg heavier at the time) that it apealed to my sense of humour! I always feel like putting lycra on puts me in my cycling mindset. My daughter has bought me so jerseys that are humerous, she has a similar sense or humour to me, that makes it more fun. I’ll never be fast and at 69 it’s all about enjoying the ride and aiming to do a century ride again this year despite surgery for lung cancer.
I ride everywhere in my regular MTB attire. Don’t even have a proper drop bar road bike. Just picked up a $500 hybrid a handful of years ago, did some upgrades, and made it into my road/gravel bike. The most important thing to me has always been: Don’t matter what you got or don’t got. Just get out and ride. 🤘
I like the article here, but it reminds me of the one you guys made comparing MTB-style flat pedals and clip-in ones: “Yeah, the results show there is no significant difference, really, but Lycra kit is totally better, just because that’s what I happen to be accustomed to.” I absolutely love road/gravel bikes, am a fan of road racing, don’t own a car, go almost everywhere by bicycle, complete 4-hour rides on a fairly regular basis, and do at least 1-2 weeks of unsupported touring every summer. I think I reasonably qualify as a person who is unreasonably enthused with cycling. I have never worn Lycra, even while racing (OK, it was cyclocross). While I’m riding on my gravel or endurance road bike, which are the only bikes I ride because I’m way too old to ride what Pogacar rides, I pretty much always run MTB flat pedals. And mudguards. While wearing carpenter’s pants and a wool sweater, or walking shorts and a T-shirt if it’s warm out. I can literally, sincerely ride all day dressed that way and be totally comfortable. If other people want to wear Lycra, though, that’s great; I just want to see as many people as possible out there on their bicycles.
I suprised no one is talking about wearing wool. Smart wool, merino. It can keep you warm and can keep you cool if a thinner one. Doesn’t smell when sweat and dries fast. One of the best casual tops you can wear and many look good. Also, can get some that are designed for biking or hiking for more movement and pockets.
My hybrid goes like this. Flat pedals with precision 7 basketball shoes (grippy/stiff). bib shorts and aero jersey/nike compression pro. Slim bum bag to cover the crown jewels. Allows me the flexibility to pop into coffee shops, walk down the highstreet, visit supermarkets with ease, but still average 20mph on flats in zone 2
There is a middle ground that is seldomly mentioned in that debate, but that I have made my summer wardrobe: Board shorts and MTB jerseys, finished with MTB shoes and low-cut bike socks. They let sweat evaporate quickly, are available in casual designs, feel comfortable to wear off and on the bike and the material is more aero than cotton. Additionally, living at the sea, no one looks at me funny for wearing board shorts and I can hop in and out of the water whenever I want, since they dry quickly and don’t have a woven in sponge in the bottom. Conor’s T-shirt seemed excessively baggy, by the way. MTB tops often have an elongated back, so you don’t have to go super baggy. I go lycra in the colder months, though.
I just did 300km across Hokkaido in 3 days with something like 900m of climbing on day 2. Went with a bunch of roadie friends who had state of the art bikes and full lycra. I showed up with an underarmor gym shirt and some basketball shorts (no padded cycling shorts) on a 50 year old steel bike. I was always at the back of the pack, but I did complete the ride and actually earned a lot of respect from my friends.
after riding in shorts and a t-shirt for a long time, I bought cycling shorts and jersey and love them. The shorts help the back side and the man parts. The pockets in the jersey are great. I have a step through frame as it’s the only type that fit me so getting a bidon out of the cage is a pain as there isn’t a lot of room to put it out.
It depends on the purpose I think. Yes, you can use lycra for your daily training routine (and way more comfortable in the way absorbing sweat and additional bearing with bib shorts) if the saddle is thin enough. But at the same time, casual clothing is also acceptable for daily routine as commuting, go to work, etc. if want to save some time for not changing your clothes. I think the most important thing is wear your safety equipment properly and ride safely
Having done road, MTB, touring, as well as primarily utility biking for the last few years,.I have completely stopped wearing anything bike specific save for gloves, the little hats, and occasionally bike specific flat shoes. I used to do the kit thing but I always found it uncomfortable and impractical. No shade to those who like it or ride competitively where I am sure it is an advantage. However as a multidi but casual rider I don’t find it helps. And I’ve ridden enough now and know my butt and saddle shape even the padding is more in the way than it is useful. For me. Your results may vary.
I do use cycling shorts, but if I’m going into town or I know I’m stopping somewhere, maybe a fete or shopping centre, I’ll use my mtb (sorry to swear on this website) shorts, baggy, but still has padding and look like normal shorts. Additionally, I’ve taken off my clip less pedals and fitted flats, that way I can wear trainers as well. I use my bike as a primary transport and not for racing.
I dont think you designed the experiment properly, also, you are not analyzing the results properly either. To have some resemblance of “credibility” you need to, at least, include FTP in the equation. Looking just at the time says absolutely nothing. You could’ve pedaled harder on the first one just because legs were fresh, by chance, wind could have been calmer on that one, I mean, the list goes on.
If you just want to check on the aerodynamic difference of casual vs lycra, find yourself a nice long but not steep descent and roll down it – no pedalling – and check your time at the bottom. (Same for rolling resistance testing – same bike, same rider, same slope, same weather conditions, same clothing in this case. Repeatability is key here.) For me, Lycra all the way. Took some time to get used to it (and the chamois creme even longer), but now… it just feels natural.
Back in the 80’s, I had a relatively loose fitting Look style jersey that attracted bees. However, my favorite shirt was a Campy tee with rear pockets, and was neither loose nor tight. I don’t see this sort of cycling gear any longer. MTB gear seems to be a decent option, though still $$. Cycling shorts or liners are always useful and comfortable, since they can serve a purpose not related to being sleek.
It’s just about wearing suitable clothing for what you’re doing imho. The first ride I felt a bit ridiculous because it was new to me, but after that the mindset grew that I am just wearing appropriate exercise clothes like you would wear with so many other sports. If I go out to train/ride I change into something fitting, but if it’s just a trip down to the store or a short ride to a friend I’ll just wear casual clothing.
There is a good halfway house, some of the running kit that has good seat wicking and shorts with lycra inners. The stuff I have been using over the last two years for my very sweaty commute in Singapore is from UA, works really well, I don’t feel self-conscious wearing it, and it has little invisible (unless you look for them) reflective strips on the back, front, and sleeves (for when I am brave enough to tangle with Singapore drivers in the evening)
So nobody thought to address the issue of road shoes when you said that if you’re wearing casual clothing and you want to stop somewhere you won’t feel out of place? Listen, cycling kit may seem weird, but the design has a reason. As you pointed out, the shorts keep a man’s twig and berries in one secure place, and the pad in the shorts helps keep you from experiencing a lot of pain in the ass (pun intended). The pockets on the back of a jersey hold lots of stuff without fear of it falling out. The issue shouldn’t be whether or not to wear lycra or cycling specific kit, but how much you should be paying for it. Do yourself and your wallet a favor and buy the Chinese bib shorts and jersey combos for $25-$30 for the set. I have a dozen or more sets and they’re all wonderful and last for years. Sure, sometimes they sleeves aren’t tight enough, or the shorts are a bit too long, but none of that matters in the grand scheme of things. They’re comfortable, they do the job and they look great. I’m not trying to save 3 watts with my clothing, and if you are, you’ve missed the point of riding a bike.
I’m wearing cycling shorts/pants and non cycling specific top. For me cycling shorts/pants are essential, they give much more comfort. While top cycling clothing provides only back pockets, and significant increase in price, and usually you cannot wear it anywhere else except cycling. For example I hate cycling rainwear, since it usually don’t have hood. So regular hiking/sport clothing works great for me here
I have a road bike and an upright city bike. I hate wearing normal cloths on my road bike. It feels uncomfortabhle and restrictive however I am perfectly happy on my city bike in normal clothes. I never ride very far in my city bike and usually take in for local trips where i need to be in normal cloths at my destination. For longer trips i take ny road bike and wear bike clothes and take normal cloths in a back pack to change into when i arrive.
This is the beauty of riding a velomobile: I can wear whatever is comfortable and it won’t impact my aerodynamics. Heck, if you ride with the full hood you can wear very little. Just be sure to plan a discreet place to climb in and out so you don’t terrify your neighbors, especially when they see how white your legs are 😂
I have two kits: padded lycra bib shorts, cotton t shirt, backpack, street shoes, toe clips and straps, for commuting and errands. The t shirt covers to crotch when walking. And padded lycra bib shorts, tailored, sweat wicking jerseys with back pockets, and cycling shoes with slotted cleats, for long fitness rides. Always wear cycling gloves for grip and hand protection in a crash. Lycra shorts last a few years. Cotton street short and blue jeans wear out in the crotch in a year and leave hot spots in the crotch.
What a terribly done test. GCn please next time you test something like this, keep all other variables THE SAME. We see Connor moving from drops to hoods, changing position, sitting down, standing up, etc. Pick the position, ideally on hoods, seated for the whole duration of the test! Also tell us the power numbers! Time is nothing without knowing how much power he pushed. This was just a waste of time honestly, we learned nothing.
He got a Boardman bike on the Cycle To Work scheme, discovered he really enjoyed it. Started perusal the Tour de France highlights on ITV4, worshipped at the altar of Wiggo and Froome-dog. Goes out every Sunday in full Sky replica kit… Get your hedge cut Get your fuckin’ hedge cut Get your hedge cut Get you fuckin’ hedge cut Stop analysing Strava And cut your hedge Half Man Half Biscuit Every time a bell rings 2018
I commute 12 miles (19.3km) in casual clothes. It’s fine. I’m not trying to get all speedy (I average about 13/14 mph). When I go for longer rides (30+ miles) I’ll wear padded shorts and a a cotton mix t-shirt but I’ve done 60 miles in cargo shorts. (Winter is a TOTALLY different story) It’s fine. I even wear boxers. I must have a small peen because I don’t really have problems with my bits being loose.
The first problem here is that not all cyclists “want to go faster”. Yes, the racing types will want that but for the majority of recreational cyclists the priorities are as follows: 1. Safety (being VISIBLE) 2. Comfort 3. Practicality 4. Price. So, a lycra shirt is better than a cotton one as its more comfortable and dries quicker. The pants are different. I rarely wear the tight pants although the padding is more comfortable, I’m missing pockets and comfort. Same goes for the bike. I certainly don’t agree with the expensive carbon bikes being ridden as a form of recreation. WTF? Yes, lighter will be faster uphill but c’mon – recreation is about health and enjoying life. A normal and quite a lot cheaper and also safer bike is much much more useful that a 3000€ monster. Unless you’re just bragging – then I think it’s okay. When I was younger I used to race people uphill for the fun of it, the more expensive, the more fun. Usually with a 400€ mountain bike, I’d destroy most people (except the racers of course). The most fun were the 4k€ characters with 10 kilos too much on their belly. I also had a second-hand Peugeot road bike from the 1990’s that I got for 100€. I am a lifelong cyclist, now on e-bike, which ios absolutely the top choice. You can pedal as little or as much as you want and just enjoy. Take the racing out of cycling and it’s way more fun. Let Pogačar do the racing.
I find a standard cotton t-shirt keeps me drier than a lycra or 100% polyester jersey. There is better air flow next to the skin, thus cooling & drying me off. Riding in southern California as I do most often, the air is pretty dry (30-40% humidity) and often warm. I have to unzip the lycra jersey to not overheat. The back pockets are nice, but I barely use them. In high school in the 1980s, I rode back & forth to school, 3 miles each way, in traffic (i.e. “flat out” to avoid getting run over) in a t-shirt & jeans, with a massive 12-15 lb backpack. You get used to it.
I started riding in 1980 at age 15. Cycling clothes were everyday clothes which I still ride in 99% of the time now 44 years and 360,000 miles later. For me riding was never about speed. I do have Pearl Izumi padded cycling shorts, but only ever wear them on days when I ride more than 200 miles and still not every time at that depending on if I had ridden a lot immediately prior. I wear cargo shorts and a t-shirt. Oh, and I also ride in sneakers (no click in pedals) 99% of the time. I did get into the bicycling specific shoes and click in pedals for the several years I did the National 24-Hour Challenge back in the mid-10s. Actually, rode a PB 415.5 miles. I tried getting into wearing gloves, but I haven’t since the mid-80. Not being well up the financial ladder, along with getting into riding well before Greg Lemond / Lance Armstrong eras, I really never wanted to look like a cyclist. Ah, but I do love my cycling specific winter riding jacket.
So, cycling attire: contribution to aerodynamics ZERO. Not really a surprize and especially for probably 90 plus % who ride bikes (even semi seriously to seriously). Contribution to comfort 100%. Of course clothing that is specifically designed for an activity is going to be more comfortable than a substitute. Try swimming in jeans versus a swim suit.
IMO cycling kit isn’t practical for daily riding/commuting. It looks weird off the bike and just makes riding complicated. For the average person who cycles as a means of transportation I’d say casual clothes are the way to go (look at the Netherlands), but if you’re out for a workout – throw on the Spandex!
I have a polyester allergy and it’s just not worth the risk/ rash. So, no. No kit. (I’m so slow it would look ridiculous anyway.) Generally, it’s all merino, all the time, and slim-fit cotton shorts. I do have a couple of pair of padded bike shorts (one pair merino; one a nylon blend) and they are great for rides over about 45–50km. Sadly, the chamois is poly, so have to wear them over cotton underwear. Sacrilege, I know.
Lycra is just more comfortable and there’s plenty of affordable options. I order full kits online that look cool, are funny and cost only $60 CAD. Have a few custom jerseys from my club that were $150+ and besides the bigger pockets don’t notice much difference. Also, kit should be accumulated over time. You can get one nice set each year no need to do it all at once. When I commute to work on my hybrid though I just wear anything to sweat in.
Quoting stupid sexy Ned Flanders: “Feels like I’m wearing nothing at all.” Lycra is all about comfort. You don’t really feel it. You don’t really feel the sweat. It’s not even a contest. I’ll let the more serious guys worry about aero and shaving off seconds, but the comfort of lycra is just unbeatable.
When I first starred commuting by bike to work, I swore I’d never wear lycra. A couple of weeks commuting in office clothes convinced me otherwise. A jacket feels horrible in a riding position – it’s tight across your back and under your arms. Ordinary trousers and underwear chafe like crazy. You sweat. A lot. And it doesn’t dry. Leather-soled shoes are hopeless for riding and have no grip on flat pedals. Add in rain to increase the misery threefold. Lycra feels so much more comfortable, it breathes, it moves with you, it stays warm when wet and dries quickly. I’m old, so I don’t care about what anyone thinks I look like.
I do several types of sports and I’ve come to the conclusion that there are usually some very good reasons why there’s a specific kind of clothing for every kind of sports. They’re just the most functional and comfortable respectively. Also, coming from ballet I don’t think it’s weird at all for men wearing tight clothes 🤷🏻♀️
Lycra vs casual? Maybe this is a false dichotomy. I wear MTB shorts and a Nike DryFit shirt. The shorts have the same padding as racing shorts, are just about as comfy as casual shorts, look just like casual shorts and, like them, have nice pockets (some with zippers!). The Nike shirt fits about like a racing kit and it handles perspiration about the same.
I usually wear cycling shorts, but a standard wicking tee shirt or quarter zip long sleeve rather than a cycling jersey. Cheaper, still plenty comfortable and moisture wicking (I wear those microfleece quarter zips constantly in cool weather, even to the office) and they do seem a little more normal in off bike contexts, especially if paired with gym shorts instead. As for keeping things in place down there, synthetic boxer briefs man. No reason to have things moving around even in daily life.
For me, lycra feels much more aerodynamic on descents that casual wear. I usually wear loose-fit jerseys on my MTB, but even then I can tell my jerseys acts like a big wind sail on fast descents (like when I happen to be descending on tarmac). But on a road bike, my local routes are extremely hilly and I reach speeds of 38 – 39 MPH on descents. Aero is everything at that speed.