It’s that time of year again; what to wear on the bike. I’ve written a few posts about my thoughts. They have been mostly to vent my frustration with my purchases.

My biggest bugbears are the cost, and not living up to promises.

I haven’t been able to test many items, especially the high end offerings so this is again just my appraisal and impressions.

When I started riding it was in normal clothes, shorts, t shirts and jogging bottoms. Being cold and wet was okay-ish. My rides weren’t that long, maybe an hour. I did progress to padded under shorts as fifty mile plus adventures became more common.

During covid I rode nearly every day, so more comfort and practicality was needed. And that was when I bought my first proper cycling apparel. It was bib shorts, jerseys and shoes.

It amazed me how much you could spend. I went for the budget end of the range.

A few years have passed and I have a better understanding of the subject.

I still don’t understand how some companies can charge so much. But I can appreciate for some items it’s worth paying a little more than the absolute minimum.

I’ll start with these.

Bib shorts and tights. The pad and fit are very important. And this is definitely worth paying for, but again not too much. The pad needs to be the right size for you, and not too thick. Some are described as having multiple layers and contours. I just find them likely to move around and get sweaty quickly. Both traits that will cause discomfort as the hours accumulate, another reason for them to have a good fit. Probably tighter than you might expect. I have bought cheap, mid tier and more premium.

The cheap ones disappointed with their fit and quality. The more costly items didn’t impress, I couldn’t understand what extras they provided.

Jersey are easier. I’d say buy the design you like, as long as they fit well and are of a reasonable quality. They are all made of the same material except the very expensive ones. And they tend to be more about aerodynamic gains. I can get to the cafe as quickly as I need to already.

Jackets are problematic. They need them to be waterproof and breathable. Idealy not too bulky too. Here again I have bought cheap, reasonable and expensive, although this was with a big end of line discount. Only two have been able to keep me dry. The first wasn’t expensive but is a full, heavy jacket so not useful until it gets really cold, it’s not very good at venting heat. The other is great value and I remain dry without too much sweating. I even run in it which is when the heat really builds up. The expensive one is wet from the inside and out. The rain gets through easily and I’m soon a sweaty mess. The only saving grace is that I didn’t pay anywhere near full price and it is very reflective. So I wear it during my winter commute to the office when rain is not forecast.

My biggest problem is protecting my hands and feet from the elements. I’ve got a bag of gloves. They go from cheap to fairly expensive. They just don’t work, except the last pair I bought from my local bike shop. My hands are kept dry, and because I could try them on before purchase are a bit too big for me. This means I can interact with the controls and add a second, thinner pair underneath for extra insulation.

And my feet? I’ve tried thick socks, waterproof socks, tin foil, plastic food wrap, overshoes and finally boots.

It’s the boots that, so far, have been the most successful. Although not completely waterproof, they are worth the investment. I don’t think anything will keep out heavy rain; there isn’t a watertight seal around my ankle. So eventually water runs down my leg and into the boot. Overtrousers would solve this but I’d then face the getting wet from the inside problem again.

In conclusion:

Don’t be fooled by the hype.

Don’t spend too much.