Here’s some guidance for men on what to wear when riding a bike. And that’s whether you’re training for a marathon or just switching up your commuting style!
You finally did it. You made the decision to get fit and bought a new bike. Or, you took that old, dusty one out of storage.
Perhaps you made that classic New Year’s resolution to be healthier and more active. Now you’re biking on weekends. Or you’re biking to work instead of taking the train. Or maybe you signed up for a triathlon. Good for you, by the way.
You might not think it’s important but what to wear while biking is the next thing you should consider. Well, the next thing is to make sure you have all of the proper protection (please wear a helmet!). But after that, you should certainly consider your outfit.
You wear a suit to work, you say? This doesn’t apply to you? Actually, anyone getting on a bike should read on.
You don’t want to ruin those trousers on your way to the office. I’ll help you conquer that ride or commute, fully prepped and looking great!
What To Wear Riding a Bike
Let’s take a look at some common situations when you’d be on the saddle, and talk about what to wear biking in each.
What To Wear Biking: Commutes or Short Rides
Perhaps you’re going to a nearby grocery store or meeting friends at a park just five minutes away, or simply going for a lesiurely ride by your lonesome. If so, you can simply wear your normal clothes. Of course, you should also wear a helmet.
However, I’d still recommend going for protective and cool clothing. You may not work up a big sweat, but you still want to be comfortable. And in hot weather, it may not take long for you to start to break a sweat, even a slight one.
Go for chambray instead of denim, seersucker and jersey on extra hot days, and linen. Long-sleeve jerseys are perfect for warm but windy days.
Go for shorts or pants with stretch in them. A lot of brands make stretch chinos and stretch jeans these days, Mugsy, for example. Then top it off with a short-sleeve, button-up linen shirt.
If you’re biking in the evening, don’t forget to put something reflective on, perhaps a reflective windbreaker. Or you can attach reflectors to your bike, pads, and helmet.
Speaking of windbreakers, let’s talk about what to wear biking in cold weather. An actual biking jacket might be best since a peacoat isn’t always the most mobile.
Otherwise, a hooded, down jacket with a windbreaker exterior will do.
Merino wool outerwear is also a good option because it can keep you warm while also expelling any sweat. Try a stylish Merino zip-up over your shirt.
You can also wear warm boots, especially ones with a rubber outsole or shallow lugs, so you can grip the pedals.
Should I Bike in My Suit?
Again, if your commute is quick, all you need to do is add protection to your outfit, even if it’s a suit. I recommend keeping your jacket in your office so it doesn’t get wrinkled during the ride.
Keep your tie in your commuter bag and put it on when you get to work. A full shirt and tie can be pretty uncomfortable during a bike ride.
If you know you’ll work up a sweat, even a little, try to wear more casual clothes and change when you get to the office.
Also, particularly pricey suits, especially those in lighter colors might not be a good choice. You don’t want to risk getting grease from your bike gears on your trousers and ruining your nice suit.
As far as shoes go, if you don’t want to risk ruining your dress shoes, you can find some good hybrids. I think Amberjack makes good dress shoe hybrids. And depending on your office’s dress code, you can check out their slip-ons and boots, too.
What To Wear Biking: Training
You don’t always need to wear super technical clothing when training. However, if you’ll be on the saddle for extended periods of time, you should at least have bike shorts.
Road bike shorts are padded in such a way to prevent chafing between your legs. They cushion the proper bones to prevent discomfort, with pads sewn right into the saddle area so it’s thicker, more comfortable, and energy returning.
They’re also what to wear to spin class or if you’re training indoors on a cycling track.
Mountain bike shorts, on the other hand, are looser. You’ll be bouncing up and down more than you would be on a track. And you’ll be experiencing a more varied terrain. Both, however, are necessarily moisture-wicking.
Otherwise, for quick or moderate training sessions, you can find shorts that are comfortable and moisture-wicking. Most gym shorts will do.
Again, are you training indoors or outdoors?
If you’re outdoors, you, of course, want to consider the weather. If it’s cool or raining, make sure to wear something light, not bulky, but lined. Bulky jackets may restrain your mobility, which is a safety hazard.
Try a jacket with a polyester shell that can handle weather but doesn’t restrict movement, with a fleece lining. You might also consider a stretchy and durable nylon fabric, which is excellent in staving off wind and light rain.
Importantly, you want moisture-wicking materials so you don’t get clammy. The more comfortable you are during your ride, the less distracted and more focused you’ll be. You’ll then be more productive and far safer as well.
Serious Riding: Marathons and Tough Trails
For extra long rides and more serious cycling, you’ll need everything. Don’t skip out, or you’ll find yourself uncomfortable with several miles or hours left to go.
You’ll need bike clothes and gear that focus on three important qualities:
- Comfort
- Functionality
- Temperature regulation
Let’s start from the top, meaning your head. Again, a helmet is non-negotiable.
If you’re outdoors, you’ll also need cycling glasses.
Unlike regular everyday sunglasses, cycling glasses are designed to stay on your face. You want a pair that will stay in place even when you’re making quick head turns. Of course, you don’t want them to be uncomfortably tight, either.
Go for lenses in rose or amber tints. They offer a bright vision field, even if there’s little to no sunlight. They even up color contrast, making for better visual awareness.
For your shirt, you definitely want to avoid most cottons. They soak up sweat, which means you’ll get damp and clammy during your ride. Go for proper biking jerseys, which are usually made of polyester fabrics that wick sweat away from your body, providing breathability.
The best jerseys are constructed with paneling. This allows for optimal fit since the panels serve as armor-like sections made to perfectly accommodate the contours of your body.
This also prevents wind drag since there’s no extra flapping material that will slow you down. Even if you aren’t going for speed, you don’t want the extra weight. The aerodynamic construction makes for a smoother, more comfortable ride.
Again, on colder days, you want a proper cycling jacket, one that isn’t bulky, allows for a full range of motion, and is reflective.
Next, you’ll want biking gloves.
They’ll provide grip when your sweat makes the handlebars slippery. Plus, the friction from extended grippage can callus your hands without gloves.
As mentioned, you want proper cycling shorts. Bike saddles, even the best ones, aren’t naturally comfortable, especially for guys. So not only will road shorts or mountain biking shorts provide temperature regulation and performance, but padding and energy return as well.
Road Biking
Road cycling is exactly what it sounds like — biking on paved roads. It’s the most common form of biking. And since you’re actually sharing the road with cars, cyclists often have to obey the same laws as motorists.
If you’re a practical road biker, you can of course, use any style of bike. Any working bicycle will do if you’re riding ten minutes from your house to your office.
However, a dedicated road bike is lighter, with thinner wheels, and drop handlebars which allow you to position yourself in a more aerodynamic way.
That being the case, you want clothes that help with your overall aerodynamics as well.
Road jerseys are especially stretchy, and of course moisture-wicking and breathable. They’re much more form fitting than mountain biking jerseys. Which leads me to my next topic.
Biking Kits
A cycling kit is the full standard issue uniform worn by professional bikers, or even just serious enthusiasts.
A biking kit includes:
- A helmet
- A cycling jersey
- Bib shorts
- Biking gloves
- Socks
- Cycling shoes
If you bike often or bike long distances, I recommend considering at least parts of a biking kit. I know that some men are insecure about the form-fitting nature of kits, but they’ll really help you on your ride.
At least consider wearing a road jersey for commutes and exercise.
They feature a long cut in the back so that you’re fully protected when you bend down low. Their full-zip and close-to-body cut also help with ventilation and air resistance. They’ll help you stay cool, dry, comfortable, and efficient.
And of course, you always have to wear a helmet.
Choosing a Helmet
The most important thing about choosing a helmet is that it fits properly. If it doesn’t fit you, it won’t properly protect you, and the discomfort will be distracting.
Beyond small, medium, and large, different helmets have different shapes. So if a particular model doesn’t sit comfortably snug on your head, it may be due to that.
A lot of American helmets are rounder than their overseas counterparts. Meanwhile, Italian brands tend to make narrower designs.
Recreational helmets offer excellent protection and moderate weight and ventilation. They’re great economic options.
Road bike helmets are the lightest option, and feature sharp, aerodynamic silhouettes. And finally, mountain bike helmets are well-ventilated and have extra coverage on the back of your head in case you fall back during an upward ride.
What Socks and Shoes to Wear Biking
Before we get to the shoes, let’s talk about your socks.
Just like the material of your shirt and shorts, most bike socks are made of nylon or polyester. This is because they dry quickly and grip well. You don’t want socks that constantly ride down as you move.
However, if you don’t want to go the synthetic route, you can also go for merino wool socks. Get ones made especially for cycling. They fight odors and wick sweat naturally.
And finally, you want good cycling shoes. They are, after all, the foundation of the ride.
Go for ones with lightweight construction and smooth outsoles. Many cycling shoes feature ventilation, which will partner well with your moisture-wicking cycling socks.
Stiff soles also help facilitate energy transfer from your foot to the pedal, which helps you pedal more efficiently.
Clipless and Clip-in Riding
Clip-in shoes feature a cleat attached to the sole that clips into the pedal. Confusingly, the terms “clip-in shoe” and “clipless shoe” are used interchangeably.
Having your shoe essentially attached to your pedal has loads of benefits. Your foot is always in the optimal position on the pedal. This ensures efficient power use, you have more control, and you’re able to utilize the entire pedal stroke seamlessly.
These are particularly useful on off-road rides where you may encounter rocks and natural divots. They’ll also help you maintain your consistency over potholes.
There are three parts to the clip-in system: Your sole, your cleat, and your bike pedal. There are two-bolt clip systems and three-bolt clip systems. Of course, you must ensure that every component is from the same kind of system. A two-bolt sole can’t attach to a three-bolt cleat.
Biking Clothes: A Breakdown
Here’s a breakdown of cycling clothes, from the least serious to ones for the most high-intensity rides:
- A proper helmet
- Light, comfortable clothes, perhaps linen or synthetic pieces
- Protective outerwear, like merino zip-ups
- Grippy everyday shoes
- Cycling glasses, especially with a rose or amber tint
- Polyester or nylon cycling jersey
- Cycling jacket with a protective shell and efficient lining
- Reflectors
- Proper biking shorts
- Moisture wicking socks
- Proper cycling shoes that are lightweight and well-ventilated
FAQs
Do you still have questions about cycling clothing? No problem! Here are some answers to common questions. Many of them are quick distillations of everything we covered here today.
What Clothing Do You Need for Biking?
You’ll need moisture-wicking pieces, properly padded shorts for either road biking or mountain biking, and grippy biking shoes. Of course, you should always wear a helmet.
Can I Wear Normal Clothes When Cycling?
For quick rides, there’s nothing wrong with just wearing your everyday clothes. Again, wear proper protection and opt for moisture-wicking garments, especially on hot days.
What Are the Benefits of Cycling Clothes?
Proper cycling clothes offer function, comfort, and temperature regulation. Many also provide UV protection for outdoor cycling.
Conclusion: Ride in Style and Confidence
Truly, these clothes will be helpful for non-serious riders, too. The more comfortable and productive your clothes are, the more fun the ride will be.
Even the simplest garments prove that it’s important to consider what to wear while biking. A simple moisture-wicking shirt can make all the difference, after all.
And as always, safety is of the utmost importance.
What do you wear when cycling? Do you prefer biking indoors or outdoors? Let me know in the comments!
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