Practical cycling wear
What to wear if visibility and comfort are your priorities
"I used to look at people on Beach Road and think it was ludicrous riding up and down wearing lycra. I never ever thought I would be one of those people." Kate, triathlete
You don't have to wear special clothing to ride a bike. In Europe, where cycling for transport is more prevalent, people just wear their ordinary clothes, dressing for their destination rather than the ride.
However, as you start to get into riding, you may find that visibility and comfort will become a higher priority. Outlaying lots of money at the start is not necessary. Just build up your cycling wardrobe gradually. Who knows, you may even become addicted to... lycra.
Helmet
This is the only thing you must wear, or face a $50 fine. By law, Victorian cyclists must wear a helmet that has been approved as meeting Australian Standards (look for the sticker inside the helmet. This applies everywhere, be it on the road, bike path or in a park.
Your helmet should fit comfortably and firmly. Adjust the straps so it cannot be tilted in any direction.
Being seen
The more you ride, the more you'll want to be noticed by motorists. Plain, bright colours such as white and fluorescent yellow, green and orange are best. Red is not very visible, especially when it's dark. The more you ride at night, them more you'll want to light yourself up like a Christmas tree with reflective clothing. Some vests even come with built-in flashing lights, giving you extra presence on the road.
Rain jacket
A brightly coloured windproof and waterproof jacket will keep you snug and highly visible at night and on cold days. These often have zippered cooling vents that you can open up as you get warmer, and pockets in the back. A well-designed bike jacket will have an extended tail, a hood that's big enough to go over a helmet, reflective strips and snug neck closure.
Cycling gloves
When your hands are warm, you're warm all over, so a pair of gloves in winter makes riding much more pleasant. Fingerless padded cycling gloves in the warmer months will stop you getting sunburnt and will absorb shock from bumps on the road.
"I always, always wear gloves. It just makes me feel safer in case I fall off." Kate, triathlete
Eyewear
Wearing sunglasses will protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. It will also protect your eyes from airborne dust, pollen and insects, and from being dried out by the wind. Clear or yellow tinted glasses are good for low-light conditions. Some glasses have interchangeable lenses for different light conditions, and some can have prescription lenses fitted into them.
On the bottom
"I was given those shorts with the padding in them, but I always hated how they looked. I usually just wear three-quarter leggings." Michaela, Year 12 student
Cycling knicks are not for everyone, but they are far and away the most comfortable thing for cycling bottoms because they are designed so that there will be no irritation or chafing from seams. Never wear underpants with your knicks. (Don't worry, no one else does, and you'll be much more comfortable for it.)
If lycra isn't your thing, shy shorts are a good alternative. They combine the comfort of chamois knicks in a pair of less revealing shorts.
"When I was touring in Vietnam I wore shy shorts and a bicycle top. It's a bit of a cultural thing ... the Vietnamese aren't really into tight lycra." Michelle, cycle tourist, Vietnam
Tight-fitting jeans with thick double seams are not recommended, as they get very uncomfortable on all but the shortest trips.
On top
Whatever your style, you need to be dressed warmly enough at the start of your ride, and be able to regulate your temperature as your body warms up. Wearing layers helps you to do this.
A base layer made from a modern fabric that wicks away moisture is ideal, as it will keep you warm and dry. Bike jerseys are good for this reason, and their sleek design also helps to cut down wind resistance.
Lycra arm and leg warmers are easy to adjust or peel off while you're riding. You can also wear extra layers such as a wind vest with a mesh back.
"I wear a long-sleeve thermal underneath my jersey and I have a spare jacket that I tuck into the back of a bum bag." Pyrou, endurance road rider and mountain biker
Footwear
"When I toured in Tasmania I wore Blundstones. Not only are Blunnies good enough for riding, they're very good for walking up hills - we did a lot of that in Tassie." Trish, cycle tourist
For novices, ordinary flat pedals in comfortable shoes works well. However, once you start to get into longer rides, you might like to try toe clips, which don't require special shoes, or clipless pedals, which do require specialist bike shoes.
When you're pedalling, you're not only pushing with one leg, you're lifting up with the other leg. The advantage of toe clips or clipless pedals is that they harness the power of the lifting action, so you've got more power and you go faster.
For clipless pedals, also called cleats, you will need special shoes to fit onto your pedal. Cycling shoes have rigid soles to transfer power into the pedals.
"When I first got into mountain biking I found that I could actually jump higher with cleats - they made a difference doing jumps and stunts and twirling around! The first time I went with them I got a few bruises and cuts because I forgot to click out of them. But as soon as you get used to them, there's no going back." Pyrou, endurance road rider and mountain biker
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