The Best Clothing Choices For Mountain And Road Biking

Mountain biking and road biking have their similarities and differences

, and likewise, the clothing worn for mountain biking and road biking have similarities and differences too. Whatever type of biking you do, your three most important clothing considerations are safety, comfort, and weather-appropriateness.

Mountain biking encompasses off-road biking from gentle towpaths to rugged ascents and descents. Whether you ride full suspension mountain bikes or hard-tail mountain bikes you know that no matter how well your ride absorbs the shocks of the terrain, your clothing should be geared toward your safety and comfort since you almost certainly won't be spending much time gliding over butter-smooth roadways.

You want your mountain biking clothing to "breathe" and to wick away the sweat that you will soon work up. Since mountain biking is more of a warm-weather sport, jerseys and shorts will be the mainstay of your clothing. Lightweight jerseys that include storage pockets for your sunblock stick and energy bars are popular. Many off-road bikers prefer looser jerseys than those worn for road biking. Your shorts should minimize chafing and have reinforcement on the backside and inner thighs.

Even if you go mountain biking in cooler weather, you'll still want moisture-wicking clothing, though you'll also want weather protection and insulation. Most people prefer padded traditional cycling shorts, or baggy shorts with a padded, stretchy liner built in. The outer fabric of your shorts should be durable, because you can count on them getting snagged by the occasional branch or stick. Most biking clothing lends itself readily to layering, which is the key to staying comfortable in cool weather riding.

Comfortable biking shoes are popular since you'll often hit terrain where you'll have to dismount and carry your bike. Good gloves will help absorb terrain shock, and glasses will keep your eyes safe from kicked-up stones and low-hanging branches.

As for road bike clothing, Lycra shorts with padding are essential. You can wear them with tights or leg warmers when it's cold out. Undervests with long sleeves are a good start for cold weather road biking, and like with mountain biking, layering is the key to maximizing your comfort. You'll want fabrics next to your skin that wick away the sweat, even in cold weather, because cold sweat against the skin in winter is brutal! If your jersey has a pocket, you can use it to carry a waterproof jacket that folds up small. That way you'll be prepared for rain showers.

Be sure you take care of your extremities during cold weather road riding, because your hands and feet are first to feel the cold. A racing cap worn under your helmet can help keep your head warm, and cycling gloves with padded palms will protect and warm hands. As for feet, some cyclists buy a second, larger pair of shoes for cold weather riding to make room for wearing an extra pair of socks. Thermal overshoes are also available to help keep feet warm.

And though it should go without saying, all cyclists should wear a helmet. You only get one brain, and you need to protect it. Your helmet must be fitted properly, or else it cannot protect your head properly. So before you kit yourself out from the neck down, make sure you have a top quality, properly fitted helmet.

by: John Trodey

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