Off the back of the Decathlon tread, what would you say are your cycling wardrobe essentials. Not the obvious stuff like padded shorts, the stuff that a newbie wouldn't think to buy but you consider essential?
As a starter, and I accept this is from a road perspective:
Arm and knee warmers. Perfect for "in between" days and when it starts of cold but warms up.
Baselayers. In a variety of weights.
Gilet - always good, unless it's really raining hard.
Overshoes - the cheap planet ones so your disco slippers become winter boots....sort of. Cheap because if you get more than a couple of winters out of them, that's pretty good.
A buff for wearing under my helmet.
Liner gloves.
I wouldn't say arm and knee/leg warmers are roadie stuff, they are just very useful cycling kit.
A couple of buffs, overshoes, spare gloves.
If you've driven to your ride then a full set of warm clothes back at the car ready to change into when you finish. On a similar note, something warm and/or windproof to put on when you stop or need to fix a mechanical.
Lightweight caps for warm weather and a thermal cap which covers the ears when it's cold.
One of these...
You can stand in it in muddy car parks to change out of wet gear and it keeps your feet dry and then you can throw all your wet kit in it to keep your car dry.
ear covering headband and neck warmer. Great for winter.
Toe covers for your shoes is another one. They live on my road shoes 3 quarters of the year and are great under full shoe covers for extra warmth in the winter.
Bib shorts and jerseys with pockets.
Waterproof phone case, mainly protects against sweat in the jersey pockets. I use a Rapha Clutch Bag...
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Another one, for me, is a decent winter jacket. Once you find one that fits well and works for you, I pretty much ride exclusively in it for 3-4 months of the year. Currently using the Rapha Core Winter Jacket, which was only £60 in their sale. It's waterproof on the front, so saves carrying a water proof for light showers etc.
Combined with a buff (as the collar is a bit short on me), it's fine for 4-5 hour rides in winter.
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One of these....
For when your fat, little inactive ass is too weak to lift your bike onto the overly tall, jacked up car that you bought for no good reason because you are stupid.
Waterproof phone case, mainly protects against sweat in the jersey pockets. I use a Rapha Clutch Bag…
i have a tesco zip lock bag. i wrote rapha on it in sharpie so my roadie friends didnt disown me.
Waterproof phone case, mainly protects against sweat in the jersey pockets. I use a Rapha Clutch Bag…
i have a tesco zip lock bag. i wrote rapha on it in sharpie so my roadie friends didnt disown me.
Clear plastic pencil case for me.
Essentials?
I don't have any of the stuff listed I don't think.
Essentials for me are proper cycling shoes with a stiff sole. thats one thing that made a big difference to me when I started using them. Proper cycling tights made a marginal difference. I like a proper cycling softshell as well.
Check you have gloves that are windproof and waterproof for the winter months, thought I'd brought such a pair with me to Prestatyn, but they were sodden more than once this past weekend.
Shoes that have extra space for thick socks and still have some space to reduce how cold your feet get on nippy days.
Buffs are mega useful - can be worn for warmth in winter, and sweatbands in extreme heat
Decent winter gloves and boots - Generally if my extremities are happy then I'm happy
Tiny packable windproof - Emergency layer, gets carried on pretty much every ride, all year
Castelli Perfetto - Go-to garment from November until April. Pretty much every roadie I ride with owns at least one!
Arm warmers
Knee warmers
Mesh back Gilet
Buff
All look slightly weird and unnecessary but once you’ve used them essential. Also a bargain as they effectively turn your summer kit into winter kit for all but the coldest days. (Add a cheap t shirt base layer under a summer shirt)
i wrote rapha on it in sharpie so my roadie friends didnt disown me
You are Donald Trump's cycling twin and I claim my £5!
Waterproof socks for winter, they will let water in eventually but warm and windproof.
lunge
Subscriber
Waterproof phone case, mainly protects against sweat in the jersey pockets. I use a Rapha Clutch Bag…i have a tesco zip lock bag. i wrote rapha on it in sharpie so my roadie friends didnt disown me.
Clear plastic pencil case for me.
Waterproof phone for me - plastic is the work of the Devil, don't you know?
DeFeet WoolieBoolie socks
Cut-down RAF surplus goretex shorts
Lightweight softshell jackets (I have a few)
Road jersey with windproof front & arms (Endura Jetstream 3 is my fave)
Those silly roadie caps. In winter, and with road helmets not having a peak, they're invaluable for keeping rain off your face and glasses.
I'd also recommend decent overshoes. As a perpetual sufferer of cold feet, even in winter boots, these are usually the best method of keeping my tootsies warm.
Gilet is also a good shout.
I'm also a big fan of 3/4 bibs. Full length are pften too warm and normal bibs don't cover your knees, which in cold weather really hurts. 3/4s are the sweet spot and are great for 1-2 hours in even really cold conditions.
Pogies / bar mitts, for winter. Make a big difference to keeping my fingers warm, nicer than bulky gloves.
Rainlegs, for wet weather commuting. Great for keeping my trousers dry, less faff to put on/off than overtrousers.
Waterproof phone for me – plastic is the work of the Devil, don’t you know?
it is a hemp phone ?
Those silly roadie caps. In winter, and with road helmets not having a peak, they’re invaluable for keeping rain off your face and glasses.
I just bought a GTX one for when it's raining. Also keeps your head warm as my roadie helmet has too many vents for winter.
plastic is the work of the Devil, don’t you know?
I also found I kept putting my finger nails through the bag whilst stuffing it in my jersey pockets riding along (I take a lot of photos whilst riding along). Hence upgraded to the Rapha Clutch bag...
the one thing a cyclist can buy to make winter better is MUDGUARDS.
Currently using the Rapha Core Winter Jacket, which was only £60 in their sale. It’s waterproof on the front, so saves carrying a water proof for light showers etc.
Why is it waterproof on the front? When you're leaning forwards, y'know, say, riding a bike, particularly a road bike, your back gets a lot more rain than your front.
the one thing a cyclist can buy to make winter better is MUDGUARDS.
+1
Why people persist without mudguards I do not know, for both road and general XC biking about. There are so many good designs now. I get it if your racing or at the very vanguard of shredding the gnarr but for everyone else?
Mudguards. Massively antisocial riding or commuting on road without them.
Mudhugger on the mountain bikes as well. Rear mudhugger will cope with pretty much any sort of riding - not just Bimbling .
Why is it waterproof on the front? When you’re leaning forwards, y’know, say, riding a bike, particularly a road bike, your back gets a lot more rain than your front.
Depends which way the wind is blowing. I guess two reasons, 1) your back is likely to be more sweaty due to lack of wind and 2) waterproof fabrics don't breathe so well, so 50:50 split is a good compromise. Personally I love it, ridden in the rain in it and very happy with the performance. Pretty much all I'll wear from now till March. Got a good review on road.cc as well:
https://road.cc/content/review/232710-rapha-core-winter-jacket
Fair points.
+1 for the trusty Ikea bag, to be found in car boots and hallways everywhere there is a muddy rider.
Me, its a slimmed down waterpoof wallet for the essential Credit/Octopus card, ID Card and some cash that goes with me on every ride.
Stolen goat ride pac for me, too many holes in ziplocks, or the cheap plastic wallets breaking.
Felt expensive for what it is, but been great to use.
Why is it waterproof on the front?
Front collects rain as you whizz along, back dries qucikly through bodyheat.
Sealskinz socks.
Dry summer days excepted they are pretty much the only bit of kit I always use.
Dry feet = happy rider!
Good socks, merino for me, good gloves, Defeet Dura gloves are a personal favourite for Spring/Autumn and a good chunk of winter and a gilet. And it doesn't hurt to have a couple of buffs at hand. It's a case of trial and error when it comes to cycling clothing, I rarely wear a jacket but some guys I ride with wear them for nine months of the year. Tried overshoes but never thought they worked for the kind of riding I do but that's not to say they're not perfect for others.
Had to chuckle at the IKEA bag as I hadn't thought about how much mine gets used until you posted that.
3x Black Rapha Core shorts plus Gore knee warmers
2x Roubaix Bib 3/4
Merino short and long socks
Various base layers
Short and long-sleeve club jerseys plus a roubaix Rapha 500 Core jersey for posing (pockets too high to actually use!)
Club Gilet
Mavic hardshell rain coat
Endura race clear race cape
Gloves in four thicknesses - I have to wear them for my palms - including merino liners
Helmet liner for seriously cold nights (remember to put the helmet on!)
Buff in fetching colour to match club kit
Defroster boots for spds and Sidi boots for KEOs
Castelli Toe Things for down to freezing (see socks)
Waterproof cover for phone, card, money and a key
Mudguards
Fixed wheel bike
A pair of gloves for each temperature range! My cupboard has a stack. Pulled out the old Cannondale 2-7deg pair this morning as the 4-10deg 100% Briskers were getting a bit chilly. I feel the cold more than I used to, but hate it if hands are too hot.
Warm socks - One One Thickies are good.
I go from overshoes to Goretex boots when the weather gets properly cold.
And switch from leg warmers to softshell trousers too. I would've said Merino leg warmers until I got the trousers.
Helmet with a peak, so you don't have to get one of those daft roadie caps 😉
Wrist sweatband for snot purposes
