If you’re amongst the untold thousands of cyclists who’re taking to the saddle for your commute to work for this first time, then the world of bike clothing can seem a bit confusing. Seat pads, windproofing, breathability, waterproofness, retention devices, wick-ability, reflectivity – there’s lots of off-putting jargon out there. Although you can definitely jump on a bike without any specialist kit, your safety and comfort can be enhanced by picking up a few key items that will make your bike commute the best part of your day.
The first thing we’d suggest is a helmet. Our helmet range covers all bases, but if you’re looking for something to replace the cheap thing that’s been hanging in the cupboard for years then you’ll find modern helmets like our brand new Urban Luminite and PissPot are a leap forward in terms of fit, comfort and looks. Fully certified (EN 1078:2012 + A1:2012, both of lids feature a rear retention device to dial-in the fit, the Urban Luminite is slathered with highly visible reflectives, whilst the PissPot is available in a totally reflective finish that lights up like a beacon in headlights.
Waterproofs for cycling balance two elements – they need to be protect you from rain of course, but of equal importance is their breathability to prevent your perspiration collecting on the inside of the jacket that you’d get with a regular waterproof jacket. Our two commute jackets – the Urban Luminite 3 in 1 (available for women and men) and Urban Luminite (available for women and men) are both fully waterproof, fully featured jackets that keep you dry and visible on tough city streets. Make sure you check out the 3 in 1 - a combo of waterproof jacket and insulated gilet can be worn to suit the weather – cold / wet / cold and wet.
Once you have your top half sorted, protect your legs with some waterproof trousers with Urban Luminite Pant and Gridlock Trouser – waterproof and breathable – and designed with cycling in mind.
Glove up – nothing makes a commute more miserable than cold, wet hands. Our revamped Deluge (waterproof and insulated), Strike (waterproof and low bulk) and Windchill (windproof) will get you through right through a winter of riding. Find them all here.
If you don’t want to dive into full on cycling apparel, then we can still help improve comfort with our Engineered Padded Boxers (available for women and men) that can be worn under regular clothing for a more comfortable ride. Made using a seamless “engineered” knit, there’s no awkward seams to rub and chafe and feature a specially made padded insert that puts just the right amount of cushioning between you and the saddle.
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