Taking Your Clothing up a Notch

While clothing doesn’t qualify as a bike component, it is an important factor in improving your riding experience. Cycling shorts are made of stretch­able material that moves with you as ride your bike. Many biking shorts have panels of material to hold their shape and prevent the material from bunching up. Shorts with eight panels are popular, but basic shorts with four panels will usually suffice. The chamois or crotch liner in cycling shorts greatly improves comfort and performance. Its design helps reduce impact on key pressure points and wicks away moisture. Another advantage of cycling shorts is the fact that you don’t wear any undergarment, which elimi­nates extra material and eliminates seams that can cause chaffing.

If you’re looking for a different look or style, try bib overalls designed for cyclists. Bibs are preferred by many bikers because of the increased comfort with the elimination of the waistband.

Biking jerseys are another must in the wardrobe of any biker. Designed with special fabric, they wick away perspiration and dry quickly. They fit snug to your body, which reduces wind resistance. And they have pockets in the back for easy access to your iPod or energy bar.

A major factor when it comes to clothing is also visibility. To safely ride on the road, even during the middle of the day, you need to be extremely visible. Wear a neon-colored windbreaker, a bright cyclist jersey, or a reflective vest.

If you commute or go on long-distance rides, wear layers: arm and leg warmers, windbreakers, and sometimes a base layer, and a cover layer of jerseys. Another extremely basic and handy clothing item is a pant-cuff tie or clip, to keep your pant legs from being stained by your chain if you’re riding in street clothes.

Embracing Your Inner Geek with a Cycling Computer

A cycling computer is a great addition for your bike. Most computers tell all sorts of interesting stats about your ride, such as how fast you’re going, how far you’ve gone, your average speed, your max speed, and the time of your ride. Some computers even give you temperature and altitude readings. Others allow you to download the information to a personal computer so that you can track your riding statistics over time.

A cycling computer is like having a personal coach along for the ride. You can set goals for distance and time, and then it’s off to the races. The com­puter tracks your progress as you bike, and you may find yourself racing against the clock.