Entries Tagged 'clothes' ↓
January 13th, 2010 — clothes
Am happy with new cycling shoes – Mavic Tourmalet after a long battle to find a pair which fit well.
When it comes to buying shoes I would prefer buying from a local shop than online. I have always had difficulty buying cycling shoes. Partly, because manufacturers have widely different conceptions of what size 12 or size 48 means means.
Different brands seem to use different shoe sizes. I’ve had cycling shoes from size 46 to size 48.
A problem with buying at local shops is that my size 12, is often not stocked. So with reluctance, I looked online. I was fortunate to find one model which did half sizes, so I ended up getting a Mavic Tourmalet 46.5. Evans cycles were quite good because initially I thought the 46.5 were too big so I sent it back to get a 46, but, that was too small so I ended up back with a 46.5 – which is just right even in winter and with hotpads stuffed down them.
I don’t know why it’s so difficult to choose the right pair of cycling shoes. But, one foot is slightly bigger than the other and my feet are comparatively wider than normal.
By the way, if anyone takes size 48, I have a pair of Northwave size 48, which I rode twice before I realised they were too big. I guess I should try sell on ebay..
Tips on Buying Cycling Shoes
- Do try them on.
- Don’t put too much weight on manufacturers shoe sizes – they definitely do vary
- Be aware your feet can expand when they get hot. Also bear in mind, you might be wearing two or three pairs in winter.
- A good fit is more important than any other feature.
The Mavic Tourmalet are a good shoe. They look good and weigh little – just 285 grams for size 8.5. They are well ventilated and have good heels to avoid wear and tear.
Related
November 28th, 2009 — clothes, cycling
There are many different types of overshoes available to reduce the effects of cold feet. For the past 10 years neoprene overshoes have become increasingly popular.
Neoprene overshoes offer:
- Water resistance (but, not completely waterproof)
- Reduce Heat loss.
- Can get quite sweaty as they tend to keep moisture in. (it is a good idea to use talcum powder with them.)
- Sometimes if your feet get very wet, they can become cold later on in the ride.
Therefore, I prefer to save neoprene shoes for when it is wet.
Lightweight Knit Overshoes
I’ve had quite a few pairs of knitted woolen overshoes. These look good and have the advantage of not sweating. However, the problem is that they easily tear and after a winter’s training, they look pretty ragged and so become unusable.
Suggested Overshoes
- Adidas Chrono Booties – aerodynamic and light wind resistant. 80% polyester £12.95
- Altura Neostream Overshoe – neoprene version of the Altura Stream overshoe. £19.99
- Assos Neoprene Overshoes – Top of the range anatomically cut overshoe -£35.99
- Endura Road Overshoe – I have used this for one winter and looks hardly used at all. It is pretty tough and resilient and does job.
July 31st, 2009 — clothes, cycling
Cycling in Wet
As you read this I will be cycling through Ireland. I have gone on a cycling holiday and, undoubtedly, I will also be cycling through some rain…
It’s tough cycling in the rain, but, with the right gear not quite as bad as it looks from inside the comfort of your house.
Cycling gear. Umbrellas not very practical for cyclist
Jeans
Jeans are unfortunately the worst clothes for rain, soon getting heavy and take ages to dry.
Sometimes if the rain is light, there’s a lot to be said for just getting a little wet.
Essential Cycling Rain Gear
Waterproof trousers. For the commute into town, you want to keep your trousers dry, otherwise you will be uncomfortable for several hours at work. You get what you pay for, but, I prefer breathable trousers. Waterproof trousers
Rain Cape. Most rain capes either are breathable and let water in after 20 mins or keep water out but make you sweat inside. Goretex jackets are not as breathable as manufacturers claim, but, is fine for short / non intense cycling. Waterproof jackets
Gillet. Easy to remove waterproof jacket, often sleeveless, useful for slipping in back pocket for longer rides. Useful for keeping wind out.
Other Waterproof Items I also use:
Girters – Is this the right word? I’m not sure. Anyway, my waterproof trousers were a bit short so I bought some ‘girters’ which go from shoe to around ankle. They keep the trousers tucked in and prevent water in the socks.
Plastic bags. You can’t beat a plastic bag in the shoe to keep your socks dry.
Cap. Rain in the eyes, can make cycling difficult, a good old fashioned cycling cap can keep water out.
June 10th, 2008 — clothes, equipment
The great debate about cycling helmets is not likely to disappear. But, when cycling around Oxford, I am often surprised to see alot of people who wear a helmet, fail to wear it properly. If you do make the effort to wear a helmet you might as well wear it properly.
Incorrect Fitting of Helmet
from: flickr
In particular the most common problem is to wear the helmet too far back on the head. If you were to land on your forehead the first thing to hit the ground would be your head rather than your helmet. The other mistake is to wear the helmet too loose. It is suggested that badly fitting helmets can actually cause injury when you fall because they can twist your neck.
Tips for Correct fitting of Bike Helmet
Continue reading →
May 28th, 2008 — clothes
(Weather Forecast for Oxford again)
One thing I would advise any cyclist is never to leave home without a waterproof cape, unless you are 100% certain it won’t rain persistently. During the winter months and often during the summer, I carry a waterproof cape in a bottle cage. I use an old water bottle, cut off the top and sqaush in the waterproof cape. This means it is easy to carry and more difficult to forget. If you are racing, you will need to keep a race cape in a back pocket (unless you are on a real pro team and have a support vehicle)
The ideal race cape is both lightweight, small, waterproof and breathable. Unfortunately, it is difficult to have all characteristics at once; but for a race cape it is best to go for a lighter one, even if it starts to get damp inside after a while. Continue reading →
April 18th, 2008 — clothes
Rapha Cycling prides itself on creating custom designed ‘haute couteur’ cycling clothes for cyclists.
Rapha comes from the legendary French cycling team of the 1960s St Raphael, led by the tempestuous Jaques Anquetil. Jacques Anquetil won the Tour de France 5 times and broke the World Hour Record (except this was never ratified, because Jacques refused to take a drugs test)
Rapha focuses on the traditions of European pro cycling scene, evoking a former era of cycling. It produces many ‘retro’ clothes such as wollen jerseys and traditional cycling caps (which are less common in an era of compulsory helmets) It’s designer label cycling clothes come at quite a price, with some cycling jerseys costing upto £180. It is one of the few cycling companies who regularly advertise in glossy magazines. Rapha also produces its own cycling journal ‘le Rouleur’ which seeks to celebrate the drama and beauty of Road racing.I have to admit, I like Rapha clothes, but, I have never bought any because they are too expensive.
Rapha Clothes
More cycling clothes
March 12th, 2008 — clothes
We wanted to create some custom cycling kit for our cycling club, Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team. We had a relatively modest order of about 8 jerseys, 3 pairs of shorts and other bits and pieces. After looking round, we ended up choosing Impsport, mainly because they seemed the largest company.
The pricing was reasonable and, although it took a while, the clothes were delivered without any problems. The material is fine. The shorts and jerseys are good. The skin suit for time trials was noticeably not as good as my previous skinsuit from MDT. In fact there was a lot of spare material in the arms. I had to ask my friend, bike mechanic and expert sower to double stitch the surplus material up. (I should say, my arms are particularly skinny, so the average cyclist may not have this problem. One thing I liked about Impsport was that there was no minimum order for other pieces of clothing. I got some oversocks, winter training jacket (which is excellent) and long sleeved shirts.
The other thing to watch out for is the sizing. Small is really small, Extra large is not particularly large. I took a jersey for a well fed American friend, and unfortunately he found the extra large too small.
Continue reading →
March 5th, 2008 — clothes
I was always under the impression that wearing a bright dayglo yellow waterproof jacket is the best way of being seen and avoiding cars running into you. However, there has been a report suggesting that motorists give less leeway to any cyclist they think ‘looks the part’. If however, you look unsuited to be on a bike – weird, non cycling clothes, maybe a bit of a wobble, then motorists will tend to give you a lot more room. see – safer cycling at Telegraph
On the way to work I sometimes pass the same lady cyclist. She looks as though she’s pedalling through treacle on a ladies sit-up-and-beg bicycle.
She struggles along wearing a rainjacket over a pleated skirt, and she wears a white helmet which looks like half a large billiard ball attached to the back of her head.
I’ve always thought she was in the wrong gear – mechanically and sartorially – but thinking about it more carefully, she justifies No 1 son’s theory.
Unlike the other cyclists in their helmets, rucksacks and leggings who look the part and merge with other road users in morning traffic at comparable speeds, this lady’s very obvious because she’s slow, looks a bit inept and quite vulnerable. As I pass, I do give her an extra-wide berth so she must have The Look just right. Continue reading →
March 4th, 2008 — clothes
Some of the best cycling clothers I have bought:
- Thermal Base layer. It is vital to get a good thermal base layer which quickly wicks away sweat. There is nothing worse than using a cheap t shirt which keeps your sweat close to your skin. I often wear 2 underlayers to get rid of most sweat. Just avoid using a heavy goretex jacket as these tend to make you sweat alot.
- Arm Warmers. In the UK you can be wearing armwarmers through most of the season. I had difficulty finding armwarmers which were thin enough and didn’t slip down the arms. Lycra makes the best type of armwarmers because they are so quick to dry. I also have some de Feet armwarmers which use a wool based material.
- Cycling Overshoes. Because I have reynaulds diesease, my hands and feet quickly get cold. In particular, I find that it is difficult to keep my feet warm enough. Because of this I am usually wearing overshoes from October through to April. I tend to perfer neoprene. Some people find neoprene makes the feet sweat alot. But, I don’t get that problem. (also keep shoes clean as well)
- Gillet. A gillet is a great invention and a necessity for any cyclist doing long hills. On the uphill the gillet unzips and naturally folds behind the back, giving maximum breathability. On the descent you can zip it up to give great wind protection. Invaluable for anyone likely to suffer from chest problems. Also essential if you go an any cycling holiday to the Pyrenees or Alps
- Winter Training Top. My winter training top is not waterproof but fully breathable with a full length zip. It’s not too heavy, or thick. I prefer wearing several layers, rather than one heavy layer. Continue reading →
February 23rd, 2008 — clothes
Cycling Clothes can often be very expensive for what you get. Unfortunately, cycle shops often sell cycle specific clothes at quite a high price. If you want to save money on buying cycling clothes these are a few tips.
- Buy Out of Stock Jerseys. If you don’t mind keeping up with the latest ‘teams’ in the peloton look for some old team kit that has been discontinued. Apparently Astana and Discovery cycle clothes will be going pretty cheap soon.
- Buy Old Club Stock. Some clubs change their kit design leaving lots of unsold kit in the old colours if you don’t need to race in the latest strip, you might be able to pick up a few old cycling jerseys at a cheap price.
- Pair of Old Socks. It’s amazing what can be done with a pair of old socks. Instead of some expensive overshoes, just cut out a pair of old socks and place over your cycling shoes in winter, will keep your shoes cleaner, if nothing else. Continue reading →
