Cycle clothing is one of the easiest ways to enhance your enjoyment of cycling.
Wearing the right clothing enhances both comfort and safety. Fashionably designed, it's no longer all about skin-tight Lycra, or about woollen and acrylic jerseys that are impossible to wash properly ... modern fabrics and the influence of many kinds of leisure clothing designs are bringing us clothing which is both practical and attractive in environments other than the "purely cycling"

There are three basic layers in cycle clothing for the upper body to think about.

In addition, you need to consider the lower body, feet and hands.

The base layer goes next to the skin, so needs to wick persiration away quickly, then spread it over a wide area to allow it to evaoprate quickly, so cooling the rider and keeping them comfortable

The intermediate layer, which on warm days is the outer layer, needs to "breathe" well, to allow evaoporation, and in all but the very warmest climates, should cover the back to the waist at all times to prevent chilling of the lower back and kidneys.

The shell layer will need to breathe as well. In the case of waterproof shells, we therefore recommend breathable fabrics like WindTex, or GoreTex, so that perspiration can escape, but rainwater is kept at bay.

A good pair of properly designed, cut and sewn cycling shorts, with an insert, will do more to prevent saddle soreness than almost anything else the rider does, once the bike is correctly set up. They no longer need to be skin tight lycra, as many "baggy" designs are now available that are correctly designed and fit well.

In cooler weather, tights, leg warmers or other longs are a must - they will protect the delicate knee joints and long muscles from chilling, making the ride - and post-ride - much more comfortable.

Shoes are a matter of choice, and will depend on the type of cycling that you do and whether you want to use no clips, clips and straps or clipless pedals. It is generally best that they have a fairly rigid sole and support the instep well, though - this will make pedalling more comfortable and efficient.

Gloves in the winter, or track mitts in the summer are a good idea - they will protect your hands from everything from wind chill to gravel rash if you are unlucky enough to take a tumble.

Take a look through the clothing in our on-line shop - you are sure to see something that will suit your needs, or contact us for more information.