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Cycling Clothes - an Overview
I see two types of cyclists on the road - those wearing specialized cycling clothes, and those wearing regular street clothes when cycling. (The former include a subspecies that looks like a moving billboard.) I started riding in cut off Levis and running shoes. Now I never ride except in cycling clothes made for this purpose.There are several principles that you must think about when dressing for cycling in most any weather and any location. Whether cycling in Chicago or Portland or Washington Dc or Detroit the elements to watch out for are the same. I ride in Boulder County Colorado. In the morning in the summer we often start rides with the temperature in the 60's and end with temps in the 90's. Oh yes, it will often rain in the afternoon for a few minutes. We need clothing that is easily adjustable for all these conditions. The first principle for bicycle clothing is layering. If the weather is cold or wet, don't choose a thicker material but add more layers. This system makes it easier to adjust to changing temperatures and heat from your body without having to carry a complete set of cycling clothes for every temperature range. It is faster to adjust your clothes by opening a zipper or taking off a layer. Bicycle riding requires much more attention to just your clothing - too warm is just as bad as too cold. Another principle is tight fitting. A baggy jacket not only acts like a braking parachute but also lets cold air get closer to the skin, which makes the wind feel much colder because sweat evaporates directly from your skin. A last principle of bicycle clothing is to keep your skin dry by transporting sweat to the outside, where it can evaporate without cooling the body too much and without soaking the clothing. Wet clothes are cold clothes.
So, do the advantages justify the expense and peculiar look of specialized bicycle clothing? If you ride more than a couple of miles a day, and have a high-performance bicycle (as opposed to a gaspipe clunker), definitely. I find riding in regular street clothes uncomfortable, and often painful. It would take away much of the fun of riding a bicycle. If you want to buy just one piece of specialized cycling clothing to try, get padded cycling shorts. They don't have to be Pearl Izumi, a $30 sale pair will do nicely as long as you get the right size. Clothing is an exception, it seems that end-of-summer sales go down to half as much as spring and summer prices. So save your money and buy accordingly. Content by Thomas Driemeyer, www.bitrot.deEdited by Reg Gupton, gupton@growthseminars.com
 World Jerseys Men's Black Widow Brew Cycling Jersey Need a cycling jersey? Want something with a little style and class? The Black Widow Brew Cycling Jersey from BDI might just be the perfect jersey for you. Made with a Polyester, Drysport Wicking Fabric.
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