Proper Clothing - recommendations?

[Dunk76]

Went out on 10km climb yesterday evening - I've worked out a local route which has only 300m downhill and 9.7km uphill.

72f and without much in the way of wind, just wearing knee-length shorts and a T-Shirt and my Giro Lid.

It broke me, if I'm honest - Legs were fine, I just cooked... I think I expended as much energy trying to keep cool as I did pedalling the bloody bike. Woke up this morning feeling hungover as I'd obviously not rehydrated enough before going to bed.

So, can anyone steer me in the direction of some correct clothing?

I'm getting a roadie soon to go with the ATB, so that'll take on duties for this sort of nonsense. Worth going for the full lycra (branded or otherwise) or the halfway house stuff?

[anonymous-user]

all depends how much you can afford and want to pay. at the lower end, dhb stuff from wiggle is good quality and comfy. brands like altura are also worth a look. endura stuff is also nice but a bit more expensive... then you are into brands like shutt, assos and rapha which is very nice, merino wool, well made, comfy but £££££

on the road bike i always wear lycra bib shorts which are much comfier and dont dig into your waist and a good wicking top, on the mtb, i wear, erm, lycra bib shorts and a good wicking base layer type top. helly hansen lifa stuff is reliably practical. i dont really care about this whole "baggy look", i do look a bit of a tool on the trails in lycra but it works for me and comfort is more important about style. i cant afford to have two "bike wardrobes" and spend more time on the road bike so tend to get more road orientated clothing...

[markoc]

I'm not sure baggies would look right on a roadie - but I just got myself a pair of Bontrager shorts and am seriously impressed with them. Removable liner and "baggy" short - and they are blooby brilliant. OK they were £60, but you get what you pay for.

If you're going to go lycra, then go bib shorts. It will make sense.

[anonymous-user]

sounds like you need more / bigger water bottles on your list too
maybe a camelbak or hydrapak

when its hot and hard going, its hard to drink too much

[Dunk76]

Thanks for the steer guys.

Lug round a 1 litre bottle in the cage as it is - which I normally wind through quite quickly anyway.

Camelbak certainly on the list for the roadie

[eightseventhree]

You could also try Decathlon for clobber . . . i have been getting there stuff for a few years now and more than happy with it.

they also do a "rockhopper" hydration pack for 12.99 with bladder. . . quite a bargin!

Edited by eightseventhree on Monday 12th July 08:26