Are you thinking about what to wear for a bike trip to the mountains? Although it can be done in casual clothes, don't underestimate special cycling clothing. It will offer you comfort while cycling, which is worth paying extra. You need to be prepared for the fact that you may be surprised by a sudden change of weather or darkness. Do you know what to wear for a bike ride?
Neck gaiter under helmet
For riding in different weather conditions, it's always good to have a quality neck gaiter, e.g. Viking. It protects your head and ears from the cold and wind and you can use it as a scarf, hat or headband as well.
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It is a minimalist piece of clothing that is priceless when the weather surprises you. And not only in the cold, but also in the scorching heat, when it serves as a sweatband. "
Cycling glasses
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Although mountain bike helmets are equipped with a visor that protects your eyes from the sun, rain or branches, it's worth investing into proper cycling glasses that offer UV protection."
If you reach for polarized sunglasses Uvex Sportstyle 222, your eyes will be protected even from disturbing light reflections.
Also very popular are glasses with multicolour interchangable lenses for different light conditions, e.g. Briko Stardust.
If you ride in ever-changing light conditions, it's worth to invest into high-quality photochromatic glasses. The color of the lenses adapts to the current light intensity and the whole process takes only a few seconds. So you don't have to decide which lenses to put on.
Jersey
MTB jerseys are made of functional materials that offer breathability and sweat absorption. They are made of durable fabrics, so they can withstand falls to certain extent and are a bit larger so you can wear body protection underneath.
Some jerseys feature mesh panels for even better breathability in summer. Pockets on the back are handy for carrying snacks or small useful gear.
There's a huge variety of colours and styles to choose from - entirely sleeveless jerseys or with short, 3/4 and long sleeves. Dainese HG Tsingy is worth checking out. Ladies can choose from POC Reform collection.
When riding in colder weather, you can increase your thermal comfort by wearing a base layer. Mesh shirts POC Essential are perfectly breathable and absorb moisture to keep you warm and dry. For ladies who tend to feel cold, we suggest to take a look at Castelli Flanders.
Gloves
For most cyclists, gloves are a year-round piece of gear. Thanks to their anti-skid surface on the palms, they offer enough grip to hold the bars while the inner padding reduces the pressure on the contact surfaces. If you ride in a rough terrain, you might go for gloves with protective pads on the upper part.
Choose thin gloves for hot weather, for ladies BBB Omnium, and POC Essential for men. We recommend thick unisex "lobster claw" gloves Sealskinz for winter rides.
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If you choose Northwave Active gloves that are touchscreen-compatible, you'll save yourself time while using your smartphone.
Cycling pants with extra padding
Your comfort while cycling is proportional to the comfort of your seating area. Finding the right cycling pants and investing into high-quality padding is worth every penny. There's a huge difference in padding for ladies and men, thus it's not recommended to switch pants between sexes.
Pants for MTB are loose, usually in form of cargo pants of various length to be compatible with knee pads. Pants are usually made of flexible or durable fabrics. They consist of panels of flexible textile, so they can adjust to the rider's movement, and inner shorts with padding.
Have a look at men's pants Briko and ladies' trail pants Scott.
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You can't go wrong with tight lycra shorts suitable also for road cycling - they usually have better designed padding and you can wear loose MTB shorts on top of them.
Cycling warmers
Cycling warmers are priceless for longer bike trips. Thanks to them, you can ride wearing a short-sleeved jersey and shorts, and warm up as needed. You're also saving precious space and weight in your backpack by not carrying spare clothes. Check out Castelli Thermoflex 2 for legs and arms.
Top layer
If you're cycling all year round, having a high-quality jacket is a must have. The offer wi wide and you should consider a number of factors when choosing.
You should have a light and compact wind-proof jacket, e.g. men's Scott Weather Reflect and for ladies FOX Ranger Wind, that you can always carry with you. It'll protect you from wind and rain. For better insulation, pick a jacket with thermal fabric like POC Pro and Craft ADV bike for ladies.
Although the legs can withstand much cooler conditions, the quality men's insulated pants for wet and cold conditions from Craft ADV Offroad or POC Ardour for ladies, can make a ride in rain a pleasant experience.
Pads
Riding on trails makes a risk of falling and collisions higher. If that's your preffered style, than get yourself some pads. Knee pads are a must have, but if you're trying out more advanced tricks, you should add pads for the back, shoulders and chest. Dainese Trail Skins offers all-in-one protection.
Socks
You'll appreciate wearing a pair of good socks, and not only because of the style. Tall socks protect your ankles and shins against scratches, small flying stones and the pedals themselves.
Among mountain bikers who ride in any weather, waterproof and insulated socks Sealskinz are very popular. These socks keep your feet warm and relatively dry, even if your shoes get wet. In summertime, you'll appreciate light and breathable socks POC Essential.
Another option for cold and wet weather are waterproof cycling shoe covers.
Cycling shoes
It is very important for off-road driving that your foot does not slip off the pedal.
MTB clip-in shoes, just like the ones for road cycling that clip into pedals and improve the pedalling, are made for comfortable cycling on rough terrain.
Flat shoes for flat pedals resemble those for skateboarding. Their soles are made of rubber compound that guarantees excellent grip on pedal pins.
If you plan on riding also during winter, get yourself insulated cycling shoes.
Find your own personal style and wear stylish, functional and comfortable pieces of clothing on your MTB adventures.
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