What is your favourite piece of cycling clothing - the item you wouldn't do without?
In winter, it would be my Gore Phantom II Jacket closely followed by an Icebreaker Chase Beanie. Both superb in terms of regulating body temperature.
Ground Effect Ristretto.
Had a pair of Cannondale shorts I really liked. Ripped the arse out of them in Morzine years ago, have never found a pair of riding shorts I like as much as then, Were a lovely light but durable (until then) material.
Nowadays, I have an Adidas Schley jersey that I'm fond of, but above all, Troy Lee Air gloves.
Difficult one! Probably my Assos Roubaix bibtights, they're just great!
long sleeve merino quarter zip tops.
Worn all year round. In winter, maybe where a jacket on top, in summer, not.
3/4 bib knickers, a collaboration between Gore and Assos a few years ago and sadly no longer available these days.
Altura Waterproof shorts. There are no words to describe how nice it is not having a wet sandy arse.
atm gilet.
but winter boots for £/ enjoyment factor
Bright red alfa romeo jersey with massive alfa roundels front and rear
similar to this:
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followed by the recent aquisition of a mavic black softshell which has been great and really versatile
endura humvees
i think - the ones with the zips and pockets everywhere. gotta be pushing ten years old.
infact i might buy a new pair
I have a pair of the Spesh Windtex jersey from about 11 years ago. Wonderfully versatile garment but starting to get a bit ragged around the cuffs nowadays. Be a sad day when they finally die...
My [url= http://www.endura.co.uk/Product.aspx?dept_id=126&prod_id=233 ]Endura FS-260 Pro LS windproof top[/url]
Cross between a jacket and a jersey, light but warm, good sized pockets (one zipped) and a close fit without being skintight. Really versatile, pretty much a 3-season top.
A tatty old grey Pearl Izumi T-shirt which has got holes in, has dubious looking tree-sap stains and is the best fitting, most comfortable and breathable biking top I've tried.
Endura 3/4 singletrack shorts
Also my free (with mbuk) buff
Ground Effects Flash Gordon merino jersey where it most days I am riding throughout the year except when its really really hot.
My 5.10s. Closely followed by my blue 661 gloves.
Endura under-shorts. Lovely padding. Ooh.
At this time of year probably my rapha softshell jacket. A truly fantastic piece of cycle clothing.
There isn't any item of cycle clothing I couldn't get by without though.
assos mille bib shorts
can do 100 mile rides wearing them and not have any discomfort...dont even need chamois cream. All my other shorts i seem to get a sore arse after about 50 miles.
just wish they werent so expensive 🙁
My long sleeve heavy knit on-one merino top. It's the nuts as far as I'm concerned and it was less than £20. I pretty much live in it.
Quite like my 661 Evo ff. It puts me in the right frame of mind.
My colleague would say his Aldi jersey. He wears it 5 days a week to commute and washes it at the weekend*. Bargin at £10.
*He f*cking stinks.
Skins base layer. Wear for about 90% of the year. Excellent wicking and temperature control. Nearly 3 years old and still in very good condition.
3/4 bib knickers, a collaboration between Gore and Assos a few years ago and sadly no longer available these days.
The F.I.Gore, tried to order some of those at the time, looked excellent!
Ahhh ok then & in no order & I don't wear them all together either & I use them on either Roadie & MTB's....a few bits I can't do without...
Rapha 3/4 bibs
Icebreaker Merino midlayer
Euskatel circa 08' L/S top.
Buff
Assos Spring/Fall socks
Rapha Rain Jacket
Sombrio Highline shorts. More comfy that a comfy thing. And really well ventilated, plenty of air whistling around your nether-regions
My collection of buffs, which are mainly mag freebies. I absolutely HATE having a cold neck.
Lusso thermal bib tights which are around 20 years old.
assos mille bib shorts
Yep. Wore the lycra so thin on mine you can see the sun shining.... 😯
Sugoi Gustov shorts brilliant baggies
used to be a gore windstopper phantom but bought a Montaine micro pertex windproof and its way more versatile.
assos mille bib shorts +2
Its the most expensive bargain you can imagine.
Fox Incline Gloves had two pairs for the last 4-5 years and still in great nick*
*Not done a huge amount of riding in the last 12 months
Shimano AM40's
My ancient Buffalo windshirt.
Got to be 3/4length tights for me too, I seem to use them 90% of the time, as they suit such a wide range of weather conditions, road or MTB. Been using one kind or another for 12 years!
Rapha merino base layers. Does everything a base layer should, including fit well, and at £90 for 3 not too bank breaking. Wear em off the bike as much as I do on.
Gore Tool softshell. Done 5(I think) winters of 5 day/wk commuting & roadieing. Looks a bit scruffy now but still warm and still mostly waterproof. Excellent piece of kit.
Oh, and kneewarmers, generically.
My Sombrio shorts, worn them on every ride (bar 1) in the last couple of years including a large amount of falling off and they're still completely fine! I do also very much like my buff.
3/4 bib knickers, a collaboration between Gore and Assos a few years ago and sadly no longer available these days.The F.I.Gore, tried to order some of those at the time, looked excellent!
Got some normal length versions, great shorts and good price too. Spoke to Gore shortly before left bike shop about getting more and they said they weren't actually meant to get to UK market....
a pair of Scott shorts that I have - they're riddled with holes but they've survived years of riding and crashing.
do pads count? if so, my 661 Kyle Straits - they've revolutionised padded riding!
Howies NBL long sleeve merino base layer. It has outlasted all my Icebreaker stuff and is as comfy as ever
gill event jacket
endura singletrack shorts
spesh bg short fingered gloves.
Altura altitude jacket, might not have been the blingiest but it was by far best bit of bike gear I've ever had.
Hummvee shorts are pretty indispensable too.
A Ground Effect Rock Lobster long sleeve 'summer' jersey. It's over 10 years old and other kit has come and gone in that time, but it still gets pulled out regularly no matter what the season. I don't think it pongs too much.
Defeet Merino arm skins.
Sombrio wildcard shorts (the thick herringbone ones. Great All-weather shorts.
Struggling to think of just one item. In no particular order:
Gilet - until I tried one, I had no idea how useful and versatile they were.
My ProBikeKit el cheapo knee warmers - turned all my shorts into 3/4s for very little money, great for commuting on chilly morning/warm evening kind of days
My Bamboo Clothing zip neck long sleeve base layer - as good as my Icebreaker, but quicker drying and doesn't smell of wet sheep.
Baggies for commuting - no more worries about the Fat MAMIL look when getting into the office. Now more Fat MAMIB(aggies)
Endura leg warmers.
Specialized BG Ridge Long gloves
ace
Y'aright, Kato, old chap?
For me?
Buff. Epic bit of kit in all manner of forms. Merino is my current fave.
Troy Lee XC Gloves - as above
Endura BaaBaa
Goretex Phantom II
Endura Singletrack trousers
Sideways merino long sleeved top. Both of them
Troy lee moto shorts and my Rapha merino long sleeve my wife bought me, buggered if I'd spend that much on a cycling top but by god it's good fits me o well....
In general terms, SPD shoes are the most important biking item for me, one that just can't be substituted for anything else.
However, my Icebreaker zip top is definitely the individual garment I like the most. It gets worn year round.
DeFeet Woolie Boolie socks
Lake winter boots
Specialized therminal winter bib tights
And a buff of any description
I love my RockGardn Karma shorts and Oakley fluro yellow gloves.
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Both just feel right when wearing them.
Icebreaker merino chakra zip top. 200 weight. I have 5 or 6 of them and wear them all the time for all the outdoor sports/activities I take part in.
Bike specific, a pair of altura semi-dry 3/4s (waterproof bum panel, normal shorts material elsewhere. Functional and I'm told my arse looks great in them! What's not to like?! 😉
My Decathlon riding shorts. They're fantastic - comfortable, strong and they've got plenty of pockets. I've had other pairs of riding shorts alongside the Decathlon ones, and even the Endura ones costing three times as much aren't as good.
My Nike lycra cycling shorts - bought from Sports Direct - £25. I've spent £000's on gear and they're the best buy by far... Really good fit and pad.
Depending on the season:
Winter - merino wool buff and Gore Alp X waterproof shorts
Summer - Ruu-Muu Violetta cycling dress - feminine, summery, and practical 🙂
A Descent winter top from 1988, still in regular use.
Assos Mille bibs / Roubaix tights / 3/4s
All brilliant. Wore the bib shorts on my 13km commute this morning and it felt as extravagant as rocking up in a Rolls-Royce.
I'm also looking forward to a pair of BiPosto merino boxers from Lab Gear (courtesy of a recommendation on here) with indecent enthusiasm.
My Endura Singletrack shorts are the best shorts I have ever owned, first item to be picked out of the cupboard everytime.
Odlo long sleeve base layer.
Works over a huge temperature range, washes well, stays in shape. 4 years old and still awesome...
My troylee Xc gloves
Paramo Velez smock. Waterproof and very breathable and despite feeling like it will be too warm I don't seem to overheat due to the ace ventilation. Another month or so might see it retired for the warmer months tho'
Ground effect baked Alaska top which I've had for 6 years and is still going strong.