The Guide to the Best cycling apparel

There are plenty of reasons to buy a new cycling apparel set. Maybe you’ve just bought a new bike, your old cycling clothing is worn out, your salary has just come in, or a new cycling season is starting. We could go on for a while! Whatever your reason, buying the right cycling apparel isn’t as simple as it seems. To make sure you’ll be riding in the perfect cycling apparel set, we’ve put together a guide on how to choose the best men’s cycling apparel.

What type of bike do you ride?

First of all, it helps to ask yourself what type of bike you’ll be wearing the cycling apparel on. That way, when you start looking at cycling clothing, you’ll have a better idea of what to look for. A cycling apparel set for long endurance rides needs to meet different requirements than race apparel. Of course, everyone has their own personal preferences and expectations when it comes to cycling apparel, but we’ve listed the key requirements of the three most common cycling disciplines.

Long endurance rides

On long rides, it’s important that the cycling apparel set offers the perfect balance of comfort and speed. Since you often spend long hours on the bike, the jersey needs to feel comfortable and the chamois pad in the shorts needs to provide plenty of comfort. The cycling jersey should also have pockets so you can bring the food you need.

Racing

If you’re looking for clothing for racing, you should look for tight, aerodynamic cycling apparel. Pay attention to the fabric of the cycling apparel: does it have the right amount of stretch, and what material is the product made from? Some types of fabric have up to 10 percent less drag than standard polyester jerseys.

Gravel biking

For gravel biking, it’s important that the cycling apparel stays firmly in place. Because you move around a lot and ride over uneven terrain, it’s recommended to look for cycling shorts with bib straps. Also choose a cycling jersey that stays securely in place; a cycling jersey with a silicone gripper at the hem is a must.

Finding the right cycling apparel

Now that you know what your men’s cycling apparel set needs to deliver, it’s time to start looking. When shopping for cycling apparel, there are still a few things worth paying attention to. Just like with road bikes, you can spend as much on cycling apparel as you want. It’s wise to be realistic about your expectations and the amount you want to spend. If a price seems too good to be true, that’s often exactly the case. Cheap cycling apparel is often less comfortable and usually doesn’t last as long. Investing in a good cycling apparel set is not only better for your wallet in the long run, it also makes every ride more enjoyable. Because let’s be honest, no one wants to ride for fun with a chafing chamois pad or a jersey that keeps riding up.

Check the quality of cycling apparel

Because cycling apparel is often bought online these days, it’s wise to check the quality carefully. In a physical store, this usually speaks for itself, but online it’s naturally harder to judge. To avoid surprises, look at the country where the clothing was made. Almost all major cycling brands produce their apparel in Europe. This is because cycling apparel from Europe is generally of better quality than cycling apparel from other parts of the world. It can also pay off to read the technical description of the clothing. If the information is limited or insufficient, that often tells you enough.

Finally

In short, there are three steps when choosing cycling apparel:

• First, think carefully about the requirements your clothing needs to meet.
• Next, look for cycling apparel that meets those requirements.
• Finally, check the quality of the clothing so you can be sure you’ve found the right price-quality balance.

If you still have questions after reading this guide, feel free to send us a message. Acelera will be happy to help!