How technical cycling clothing supports performance on long road rides

There’s a wide range of technical clothing you can buy for cycling. It’s not just sold to give you the look of a cyclist – there are good reasons to choose purpose-designed technical kit, which we’ll explain here.

Cycle clothing can be expensive, but Halfords sells a wide range of affordable specialist gear that will keep you comfortable, however long your ride.

TL;DR Technical warm weather cycle clothing will wick sweat away, keeping you comfortable, cooler and helping to avoid irritation. Cool weather gear will keep you warmer and reduce windchill, again, while wicking sweat. Technical features include the fabrics used, as well as the seat pad in cycling shorts, designed for saddle comfort.

Cycle clothing is often compressive, which may help avoid muscle soreness and aid recovery, while layering effectively will keep you comfortable whatever the weather.

Moisture management

If you’re working up a sweat when riding, you’ll want your clothing to help dissipate it, which is exactly what technical clothing is designed to do. Cotton will stay damp and feel uncomfortable, but quality cycle clothing is made of synthetic fabrics which are designed to wick moisture away from the skin, so that it can evaporate on the outer surface. It will help reduce the chances of rubbing and irritation as well.

To be effective, technical gear needs to be in close contact with the skin, so it can soak- up sweat as it forms. That’s why cycle clothing such as the Boardman 9 Series bib shorts and Boardman 9 Series short-sleeved jersey typically contains elastane, to help it stretch and conform to your body.

Temperature regulation

Technical clothing won’t just feel less damp and more comfortable, the evaporation will keep you cooler. Clothing designed for hot weather riding will be designed to ensure good airflow too, also helping to avoid heat build-up.

If you’re riding in cooler weather, rather than dissipating heat, appropriate technical cycle clothing will help you stay warm. It’s usually wind-resistant and often insulating too, so the flow of cold air to your skin is reduced.

At the same time, it still needs to stop you getting clammy from sweat, as this will again feel uncomfortable when riding. So cool weather cycle clothing is also made of technical, wicking fabrics that won’t retain moisture.

Compression

Cycle clothing often has an element of compression, so it fits quite tightly, particularly cycle shorts such as the Boardman 9 Series bib shorts.

Research has shown that compression helps to reduce oscillation of the muscles when exercising. This may reduce fatigue and speed up post-ride recovery, helping to decrease muscle soreness. It’s suggested that compression may also help to enhance blood flow and removal of waste products when exercising.

Chamois technology

The seat pad sewn into cycle shorts is called a chamois because it used to be made from a single layer of leather derived from a chamois goat, which was chosen for its softness next to the skin and ability to absorb sweat. The saddle is a major area where excess sweat next to the skin could cause irritation and discomfort.

Modern seat pads are much more sophisticated and comfortable than chamois leather, as well as all-synthetic.

They consist of multiple layers of foam padding to insulate the rider from the saddle and help absorb road bumps and vibration. Different foam densities and thicknesses are used in different areas of the pad, mapped to the pressure distribution on the saddle. Some seat pads also include gel inserts, again helping to distribute saddle pressure more evenly.

The top fabric layer of the pad, which sits next to the skin, is usually bacteriostatic and designed to wick moisture away and reduce friction, to keep the rider comfortable. Cycling shorts are designed to be worn without underwear, for this to be effective.

Layering strategies

Many cyclists choose to wear a lightweight short-sleeved or sleeveless base layer under their cycling jersey even in hot weather. A warm weather base layer is a technical garment that will work with the jersey to help wick sweat from the skin surface and, counterintuitively, may be more effective at keeping you comfortable than a cycling jersey on its own.

In cooler weather, the base layer is swapped for a heavier-weight long-sleeved base layer and takes over insulating duties. As already mentioned, it will have wicking properties to keep you comfortable and avoid clamminess.

It may be paired with a long-sleeved cycling jersey, again with thicker, insulating technical fabric to help keep you warmer.

Windchill can be significant at cycling speeds, so a windproof outer shell will ensure that the heat you’re generating stays with you and isn’t lost. A softshell jacket is another option that, worn over a base layer, combines wind resistance and insulation, as well as offering some rain resistance. For really cold winter rides, adding a long sleeved jersey too will keep you even warmer.

Most cyclists swap to cycling tights in the winter, although wearing shorts with leg warmers is another option. You can purchase cycling shorts made of heavier weight fabric than the summer weight Boardman 9 Series shorts to add warmth.

Finally, in cold weather, don’t forget your extremities. Wear cycling gloves and thicker socks with overshoes, which will keep your feet warmer. You may want to add a cycling cap under your helmet too.

FAQs

What makes premium cycling apparel different?

Premium apparel will be made of high quality fabrics, which are lightweight, close fitting and wick sweat well. It’s likely to look smart too, may have been aero tested in a wind tunnel and shorts will include a premium seat pad.

What should I look for in technical cycling clothing?

Technical cycle clothing should fit closely, be low in weight if for summer use and fast-wicking. In shorts, look for a quality seat pad. Elastic Interface is a premium seat pad brand that’s fitted in many premium shorts.

Does Halfords stock the Boardman 9 Series cycling apparel?

The Boardman 9 Series clothing line is available online and can be delivered to Halfords stores for collection.