You don’t need special clothes to ride a bike. It’s most important that you are comfortable and visible.
Comfort
Experiment with fabrics and cuts that suit your body and the way you ride.
Tops: Merino knit will keep you warm in winter (even if you get wet) and cool in summer. It also doesn’t tend to get smelly. We can’t explain it – it just works for lots of people. It can be expensive – shop around, buy at sales.
Jackets: Layers will keep you warm and give you flexibility. A wind proof jacket can keep you comfortable in light showers and cool breezes. A good waterproof jacket with a hood is highly recommended if you are commuting by bike.
Bottoms: Bottoms can be sensitive. Try knicks or padded undies under skirts or baggy shorts and long pants. Try pants with a bit of stretch in either the fabric or cut. Low cut pants tend to get lower as you lean forward. A-line or pleated skirts give you room to move.
Shoes: So long as your pedals have a nice wide and flat base you can comfortably cycle in most shoes. If you’re heading out for a long ride shoes with a stiff sole can be more comfortable and are more energy efficient. Watch out for slippery soles, you don’t want to slip off your pedals. And it’s prudent to cover up your toes.
Visibility
Dress to be seen. Avoid blending in with the road. Bright yellow-green has a high visibility – that’s why you see so many cyclists wearing yellow jackets and vests.
Ive just taken up cycling again and would love to join a club and yours sounds great. But Im so embarrassed about wearing lycra. To turn up to a ride and see everyone in lycra seems intimidating to me. Can you please tell me what the situation is with your riders?
Our group wears a mix of clothes. Some will wear full lycra, others will wear shorts and cycling shirt, and some others will wear everyday clothing. What’s most important is that you are comfortable (both physically and within yourself). On the shorter rides (20km and under) you probably don’t need anything special. But for longer rides you might consider investing in some ‘shy shorts’. On the outside these just look like regular shorts but they have padded nicks underneath which can help reduce both chaffing and pressure. I hope that helps and that we see you on one of our rides. You would be very welcome, no matter what you wear.