How to Dress for Road Biking

Road biking can be fun. Unfortunately, it can also be uncomfortable. Wearing the right clothes can make the difference between a great ride and a passable one. By following these steps, you can make sure your cycling rides are always enjoyable.

Instructions

    • 1

      Check the weather before you leave. Just because it's warm and sunny now, doesn't mean it will stay that way. Anticipating the conditions you will be in will help you to remain comfortable during your ride.

    • 2

      Consider wearing cycling shorts. Cycling shorts are special clothing that is padded to protect your tail bone and pelvis while you ride. You should probably wear cycling shorts if you plan to go on a long ride.

    • 3

      Decide if it will be chilly enough to wear cycling pants. Cycling pants are padded just like cycling shorts. If you're going on a long ride, and it's going to be cool, you might want to wear cycling pants.

    • 4

      Choose the right kind of footwear. When you are road biking, safety is important. Make sure the shoes you pick allow you to easily dismount your bike at stop signs or traffic lights. Many people are comfortable wearing cycling shoes that clip on the pedals. Cross trainers and running shoes work well for those who do not want to be physically attached to their pedals.

    • 5

      Get a good helmet. All cycling stores sell biking helmets, and if you go to a specialty store, you can get extra help in choosing the right one. In general, your helmet should fit comfortably, but it should not move once you've snapped on the chin strap.

    • 6

      Choose the kind of shirt you should wear. Consider the weather and the length of your ride. Unless it is a warm summer day, you should probably dress in layers. As you get warmer, you can remove layers. As you work up a sweat, you can put layers back on to prevent getting a chill. Bring as many extra clothes as you can comfortably wear.

    • 7

      Bring a bike light. Okay, so a bike light is not exactly clothes, but it can be extremely helpful when road biking. They help motorists to see you long before you're in danger of getting hit. Although a bike light is most helpful at night, you should always pack one when you go on a ride. You might want to extend your ride into dusk, or you might get caught in unpredictable weather.