What are the essential cycling clothes for men?

Are you a man, cycling and want to know how to choose your cycling clothes? You've come to the right place. We've got a little rundown of male must-have bike clothes.

The Bib Shorts

Getting ready to hop on your bike for several hours? Forget your favorite jogging suit and invest in a bike shorts, your buttocks will thank you.
The shorts should be put on without underwear, otherwise they will reduce their effectiveness, and should be adjusted to your size.
And, if you are a man, it is important to choose a male model, especially adapted to your anatomy.

Bicycle shorts, usually made of sport lycra, come in 3 lengths depending on the season: short for summer, corsair for the half-season and long for winter.

It is also possible to find strap bib shorts and strapless bib shorts depending on your personal preferences, but it is important to know that the straps give you optimal support and prevent the bib shorts from slipping.
If you opt for a strapless short, make sure that the model you choose has a good elastic support at the waist and thighs so that they do not move during the effort, which could cause very unpleasant rubbing at the crotch.

The shorts are also available with foam chamois pads or gel inserts depending on the model to suit everyone's riding.

In road cycling, shorts are worn tight to promote aerodynamics. And the fabric, especially short shorts for the summer, allows for ultra-fast drying. In the winter, it will be lined with a thermal fabric to help you fight the cold during your training.

Finally, if you practice mountain biking, you will rather prefer an undershort slipped under mountain bike shorts in order to be free of your movements and to benefit from materials more resistant to external aggressions (branches, etc.).

The bike jersey

For the upper body, the bike jersey is the first essential part of a cycling outfit.

Cycling jerseys are designed with breathable materials to wick away perspiration, so you'll be able to ride dry throughout your ride.
In addition, they have pockets on the back where you can slip your personal belongings (keys, cell phone, food during your workout, etc.).

Cycling jerseys come in three versions depending on the season: long-sleeved for winter, short-sleeved for summer and sleeveless when temperatures rise.
In the summer, they will be light and airy. In the winter, they will usually be lined with thermal fabric to keep your body warm.

On the road, cycling jerseys are worn close to the body, like a second skin, to promote aerodynamics, while on mountain biking, looser jerseys are generally preferred.

Technical underwear

Whether in winter or summer, the technical underwear is not to be neglected. Here, there is no question of boxers or briefs when we talk about underwear but underwear.

Technical underwear comes in long sleeves for winter, short sleeves for the mid-season and sleeveless for summer. Thus, they fit under any jersey, whether it's short or long sleeve.

The point of the underwear is to accelerate the evacuation of perspiration to keep your body dry and thus regulate your body temperature. In winter, it will also be useful to fight against the cold.

The thermal jacket

In the winter, to ride despite the low temperatures without being cold, you will need to resort to a thermal jacket.
Depending on the regions where you pedal and the temperatures you will be exposed to, there are jackets that are more or less warm. Some of them are even designed to continue training with sub-zero temperatures.

The thermal jacket is designed to be both waterproof from rain, windproof to combat air penetration, and breathable to wick away sweat.

Ideally, in the winter, to keep your body warm and fight the coldest temperatures, you'll need to don three layers of clothing:

- A long-sleeved technical undergarment;

- A long sleeve jersey;

- A thermal jacket.

The shoes

If, when you bought your bike, you decided to install automatic pedals on it, you will also need to invest in a good pair of shoes - adapted to the model of wedges chosen (road or mountain bike) - that can accompany you for several years.

If you've opted for road wedges, you'll need to check that your shoes are compatible with a 3-point binding. These lighter but generally stiffer shoes make walking difficult. This is a criterion to consider when making your purchase.

If you ride Mountain Bike or want to gain comfort on your road bike, you've probably turned to SPD cleats with a 2-point attachment. Then you'll need to look at mountain bike shoes or check to see if the road shoes you've chosen also fit SPD cleats (not all models do).

Finally, don't forget to slip a pair of cycling-friendly socks into your shoes that will keep your feet dry in all circumstances. In the winter, a pair of thermal socks, along with shoe covers, will also keep your feet warm during your training.

Helmets & Goggles

Head injuries are the number one cause of death among cyclists. So we think it's crucial to protect it by putting on a helmet on every ride you take...even though, in France, helmets are only mandatory until the age of 12.

We also recommend that you ride with bike goggles to protect your eyes from any projections (dust, pollen, gravel, etc.).

Gloves

Like wearing a helmet, wearing a pair of gloves is a must when cycling. Indeed, the hands are often the most exposed in the event of a cyclist's fall: it is therefore necessary to think about protecting them effectively by wearing gloves, which will not have the same characteristics depending on whether they are intended for road cycling or mountain biking.

In the case of road cycling, the gloves must be worn with a helmet

In road biking, we will be looking for thinner gloves in order to have a better grip on the handlebars.
In mountain biking, the gloves will generally be reinforced to limit vibrations and protect you effectively in case of a fall.

In some mountain biking disciplines such as enduro or downhill, it will be necessary to wear long gloves regardless of the season.
In cross-country or road biking, you can resort to light and well ventilated mittens for the summer, more or less reinforced at the level of the palms of the hands according to your practice.

In winter, in order not to be cold in the extremities, you will have to opt for long gloves, more or less warm, depending on the outside temperature. And, for the most frigid, there are even heated gloves.

Men, if you've followed this little guide, you're now ready to swallow the miles safely with the perfect cyclist's outfit. So, have a safe ride.