What clothing...

[Otispunkmeyer]

So I have a bike and I have shoes with clips etc but no cycling gear to wear. I did think that I would pop down decathlon and pick up some shorts and a jersey but when I arrived it seemed that there was more to it than that and some of their BTwin stuff seemed pretty thin to me. But having never worn anything like this before, I don't know if thats how they're supposed to be!

Anyway, what do I actually need for fair weather riding? Think I am pretty settled on having bib-shorts because they seemed much more comfortable and secure than just shorts. But what type of jersey do I want? Do I need an undergarment? gloves? socks?

I tried to do some research and it seems something like the Caratti Sport Bib Shorts @ £40 would be an excellent choice to start out with as they seemed to review very well. BTwin gear gets some good reviews as well, but always with the caveat "for the price".

As usual I left (empty handed no less) wishing that sometimes there'd just be "uh" pair of cycling shorts and "uh" cycling top and you either buy those or you don't! Consumer choice is annoying sometimes!

Any good suggestions for a first timer that won't break the bank?

[SixPotBelly]

Don't buy too much at first. If you don't take to cycling it'll be a waste. If you do, nothing you buy now will fit in three months. Ask me how I know

See if you can get by with a single pair of bib shorts, one jersey and some mitts for now. No underpants under the bib shorts but you can add a base layer under the jersey. If you take to cycling a gilet on top is nice on early start mornings. But it's very easy to get carried away on climbing jerseys, thermal jerseys, rain capes, thick bib tights, thin bib tights, overboots, winter gloves etc and end up with more kit than you'll ever wear. Again, ask me how I know.

Mid-range Decathlon and Wiggle DHB (own brand) stuff is a good place to start. But if you try on premium non-own branded stuff you'll probably like it more, which is yet another way to break the bank. Yet again, ask me how I know.

[louiebaby]

Roadie stuff tends to be fitted/lycra/skin tight. MTB stuff is baggier, and probably stronger so as to not rip on tree roots etc. Commuting stuff is usually between the two.

What are you looking to use your bike, and what kind is it?

I only really know the roadie market:

Top End

Castelli - Lovely, but buy a size bigger.
Rapha - Probably my favourite, but try to avoid the marketting bks.
Assos - Well regarded, but you'll look like a Power Ranger

Mid-range & Commuter specific

Endura, Gore, Altura and others - Will be the mainstay of your LBS I'd have thought. I found my endura bibs to last longer than my Altura ones, and the Altura gloves weren't as good as my Gore ones. My Altura jacket has been very good for commuting in the winter though.
Planet X - Can be a bit variable, but often have useful bundles and sales on.

Lower End

Aldi and Lidl do bike gear approx every couple of months. It's cheap for a reason, but some of it is really good for commuting for the money. The Lidl softshell I got at the beginning of the year isn't very aero, (bit baggy in places,) but great for the money.
I have no experience of BTwin / Decathlon stuff.

[Otispunkmeyer]

Wont be going gung ho yet, plan is to ride once a week with friends (who are big on cycling) and then later maybe commuting (for me) as work is but 3 miles away. Only in fair weather as well for now.

So I was thinking 1 pair of shorts, 1 jersey and thats it to begin with. I don't do excessive kit in anything really. My main sport is swimming and I only have a single pair of fast-skins for that and a handful of training gear. For running and gym work, 1 pair of shorts does all and a few primark vests. Job jobbed. Just wash em regularly.

My bike is a road bike from Ribble, Race 7005 I think. Very nice blue paintwork!

Thanks for the suggestions thus far!

Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Thursday 30th July 11:40

Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Thursday 30th July 11:40

Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Thursday 30th July 11:44

[louiebaby]

With that in mind, I would probably look at something like:

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/BN214PPFSSSB/planet-x...

And see if you can get a set of their merino arm warmers for a couple of quid for slightly fresher mornings. A merino base layer is a good thing to have too, but you can probably get away with using your gym kit for a while:

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLOOMPBSS/on-one-meri...

[ukbabz]

B'twin shorts with the blue pad in are the better ones - they've got these on sale at the moment http://www.decathlon.co.uk/520-cycling-bibshorts-b... which am considering getting (although not sure on the colour!)

The cheap ones B'twin ones aren't really recommended from my experience

[bakerstreet]

louiebaby said:

Roadie stuff tends to be fitted/lycra/skin tight. MTB stuff is baggier, and probably stronger so as to not rip on tree roots etc. Commuting stuff is usually between the two.

What are you looking to use your bike, and what kind is it?

I only really know the roadie market:

Top End

Castelli - Lovely, but buy a size bigger.
Rapha - Probably my favourite, but try to avoid the marketting bks.
Assos - Well regarded, but you'll look like a Power Ranger

Mid-range & Commuter specific

Endura, Gore, Altura and others - Will be the mainstay of your LBS I'd have thought. I found my endura bibs to last longer than my Altura ones, and the Altura gloves weren't as good as my Gore ones. My Altura jacket has been very good for commuting in the winter though.
Planet X - Can be a bit variable, but often have useful bundles and sales on.

Lower End

Aldi and Lidl do bike gear approx every couple of months. It's cheap for a reason, but some of it is really good for commuting for the money. The Lidl softshell I got at the beginning of the year isn't very aero, (bit baggy in places,) but great for the money.
I have no experience of BTwin / Decathlon stuff.

I think its worth adding DHB (wiggle's own brand) to that list. I have found their clothing to be excellent and very durable. I only tend to get other brands if they are heavily discounted or people buy me stuff as presents.

[Daveyraveygravey]

I'd also add Lusso (slightly up from Altura/Endura imho) and Morvelo gear as well. British designed if not always made in the UK.

[Steve vRS]

DHB stuff at Wiggle is good and well priced.

Steve

[Otispunkmeyer]

cheers all!

[drivin_me_nuts]

If you are going to buy a base layer, try a merino one. they are worth every penny and a good one like those made by howies will last a decade.

[lufbramatt]

Aldi was mentioned above, they often sell Crane cycling gear, which is silly cheap for what it is. I found the jerseys to be really good, easily as good as stuff costing 3 or 4 times the price, but the shorts weren't great, with a funny shaped pad that felt like wearing a nappy.

[pembo]

Great sale at Evans cycles at the mo, my mate bought a pair of Castelli bibshorts on Tuesday for £47 then rode 95 miles in them the next day and he didn't complain once (rare!). He did another 40 today and is washing them right now to get them dry for 75 miles tomorrow. I think it's safe to say these are his new favourite bibshorts!!

[caiss4]

I think it's all been said. I started out 6 years ago with DHB and still have the kit so in terms of durability no issue (although the Lycra does go a bit saggy eventually).

As another poster pointed out you'll probably 'outgrow' your first kit before you wear it out!

My kit is now almost exclusively Gore. Good mid-range includes shorts, bib tights, short sleeve top, long sleeve top, waterproof top, gilet, gloves and skull cap. Baggies are Endura for the MTB. Personally I don't use thermal layers; I still have enough of my own

Btw, I ride throughout the year so this gear gets some abuse; haven't bought anything new for a couple of years. Hmmm, that's reminds me I think I'm due something very soon

Edited by caiss4 on Thursday 30th July 18:35

[Black can man]

I find that all that posh stuff's sizing really grating , as a big chap i the sizing thing is a real pain in the botty,

I find the Rose stuff to be correctly sized & great quality for the money. I maybe biased as i own a Rose bike but their own branded clothes are really spot on.

[drivin_me_nuts]

Black can man said:

I find that all that posh stuff's sizing really grating , as a big chap i the sizing thing is a real pain in the botty,

I find the Rose stuff to be correctly sized & great quality for the money. I maybe biased as i own a Rose bike but their own branded clothes are really spot on.

Somewhere, deep in the recesses of the mind, there's a 5xl in cycling clobber just screaming just to be an L!

[Black can man]

drivin_me_nuts said:

Somewhere, deep in the recesses of the mind, there's a 5xl in cycling clobber just screaming just to be an L!

Nothing worse than ordering some lovely kit, eagerly awaiting for delivery then find out it fits your size 10 Mrs better.


My poor old testis's have had some real abuse with me insisting that it will fit !

[drivin_me_nuts]

Black can man said:

Nothing worse than ordering some lovely kit, eagerly awaiting for delivery then find out it fits your size 10 Mrs better.


My poor old testis's have had some real abuse with me insisting that it will fit !

All joking aside, cycle clothing sizing is rubbish. From the stuff i've had over the years, xl = medium in normal clothes, 2/3xl = large.

Sometimes I think they do it just to give us bigger cyclists a complex!

[Black can man]

drivin_me_nuts said:

All joking aside, cycle clothing sizing is rubbish. From the stuff i've had over the years, xl = medium in normal clothes, 2/3xl = large.

Sometimes I think they do it just to give us bigger cyclists a complex!

I'm sure costatoomuch & the likes don't want the bigger chap in their products.

Look at the Rose stuff, i really cannot praise the quality & their spot on sizing enough.


I'll not buy from anywhere else right now for tops & bottoms.

[bakerstreet]

drivin_me_nuts said:

If you are going to buy a base layer, try a merino one. they are worth every penny and a good one like those made by howies will last a decade.

I hated mine. Sent it straight back to Wiggle. I use the Helly Hanson ones and quite like those.

[quote]Aldi was mentioned above, they often sell Crane cycling gear, which is silly cheap for what it is. I found the jerseys to be really good, easily as good as stuff costing 3 or 4 times the price, but the shorts weren't great, with a funny shaped pad that felt like wearing a nappy.

Yeah, but they aren't as good as jerseys that cost three or four times as much.

I have one of their jackets and its alright and certainly worth no more than the £12 I paid for it. I bought one of their jerseys and it was horrible. Sent is straight back and annoyed a few people in the queue because refunds take longer than normal transactions.

I do like their cheese biscuits and their Belgium buns though