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Warmer weather and more hours of daylight means more cycling, more cyclists mean less
traffic and less traffic means it's nicer to cycle, it's a win, win situation, we love this time of year. All
this, and you don't have to dress like Scott of the Antarctic to ride to work.
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It's pasty leg season as you begin to start seeing cyclists in shorts again. For all the optimism a few
days of spring sunshine will bring, don't forget that this is the UK, where the weather is never predictable.
Although the chill will start fading, the wind and rain will doubtless hang about, so we'll also begin to be
able to use less bulky clothes that nonetheless retain wind and waterproof qualities. The key words here are
adaptability and versatility, we all know how variable spring weather can be.
Summer sees hotter weather (hopefully!) becoming an issue with the priority being keeping cool and wicking
moisture from your body. Clothes with highly breathable material will make you a lot more comfortable and
more likely to enjoy your riding.Packable water resistant jackets come into their own here too to fend off
the familiar UK summer shower. Smart cyclists always take one with them.
Click on images above for a better view of a typical road cyclist or mountain bike
rider in spring cycling gear…
Tredz guide to clothing for spring or summer cycling
Here's our guide to what should keep you in the saddle, with some examples of each category.
For your feet
A good pair of cycling shoes will
make all the difference to any ride, regardless of the season. If you've never tried proper cycling shoes
before then perhaps now is the time. They'll improve the efficiency of your cycling no-end.
Shoes for cycling needn't be season specific, using overshoes
and quality cycling socks (available from summer thin, to thermal
and waterproof!) one good pair of shoes will do you from the hottest summer days, to the depths of winter.
will really make a difference: windproof,
breathable qualities and a funky design are all important here.
Take your pick:
For your arms and legs
Spring is the time to begin baring your legs again and a great time to pick up
a decent pair of
cycling shorts. You might need some kind of leg or knee warmer at
first, but good shorts will last you through till autumn and for years to come.
Choose carefully, those ¾ length shorts might seem a better
idea if it's still a bit chilly, but you may find a pair of normal length,
lined baggy shorts with legwarmers a better long-term option. The roadies
amongst us are currently downgrading their thick roubaix thermals to their
lighter weight lycras. For any aspiring road cyclists, now
would be a good time to feel the comfort benefits of a proper pair of bib shorts…
Some suggestions:
We've mentioned leg and knee warmers; spring, along with autumn,
are the times when you'll really get good use out of them. Brilliant additions to any
cyclist's wardrobe, they're small enough to fit in a pocket when you've warmed up
mid-ride, and they vastly increase the versatility of many basic items in your wardrobe.
A sample from our range:
For your hands
Although you can now consign the heavy-duty winter gloves to the back of the
cupboard, you'll definitively still want a pair of
cycling gloves
to stay comfortable and in control. Long finger gloves, with weather resistant
qualities are de rigeur until the chill goes, but it won't be too long before
summer-weight gloves and short fingered cycling mitts start showing up.
Check these out:
Cycling base layers and jerseys
For the upper body a quality, wicking
base layer is a
year-round "must have" item for any cyclist. Seemingly magical pieces of kit
that keep you warm in the cold, and cool (and dry) in the heat, a quality base layer is one of the best investments you can add to your cycling wardrobe.
Some 'tried and tested' base layers are:
The layering theory that works so well in winter works every bit as well in
spring; just use less layers. On top of your base layer you can now begin to get
away with just a good quality
cycling jersey. Come summer you can get by on just a short sleeve jersey
(and gain some proper cyclists tan lines into the bargain!).
There is a one huge choice of styles and materials to choose from. Some of our favourites include:
Lightweight cycling jackets
As optimistic as we'd all like to be, chances are that the weather will still turn windy, wet or cold, or all three, so a good quality
cycling jacket is as vital as ever.
Keeping warm will (hopefully) be less of an issue. A lot of cyclists will begin
to start taking out a lightweight showerproof/windproof jacket that packs down
nice and small, to cope with variable weather conditions. If you are using a
thicker or shower proof jersey you may not feel the need for a full jacket and
opt instead for a gillet
(sleeveless jacket!). A more versatile option will be a convertible jacket, one
where the sleeves can be zipped on or off; remember, versatility is the name
of the game when the weather and temperature can be very variable.
Most companies now have a packable cycling jacket. An 'emergency' jacket that
will resist all but the worst weather when called on, but happily live in your
saddle pack the rest of the time.
Some of our tried and tested favourites:
Cycling glasses
Above the neck and below the helmet, now would be an ideal time to think
about some
cycling sunglasses. You can get all types now, from performance
orientated ones that offer interchangeable lenses or shifting tints, to funky
looking things that you'll want to keep on long after the ride. All of ours are BS
Standard etcetc. All will keep that low-lying sun at bay and more likely, keep
the mud, rain and insects out of your eyes.
Take your pick: