What Cycling Gear Do I Need?
Living a healthy lifestyle and getting a fit body involves discipline and grueling workout routines that can really drain the energy out of you. Luckily, there’s one form of exercise that’s not just enjoyable but can also provide you with numerous benefits.
If you like cycling, you’d be surprised with how much your body improves after a few months just by engaging in this activity regularly. However, you also need to ensure that you’re wearing the right gear and have the proper equipment to maximize results.
Cycling Essentials
The countless health benefits you can get from cycling will not be possible if you’re not properly equipped for the activity. To help with that, below are some essentials you must bring every time you ride your bike.
Helmet
Never, under any circumstances, ride your bike without wearing a helmet. No matter how careful you are, one small mishap may cause you to fall from your bike. You must always make it a point to protect your head to prevent injuries.
A durable helmet will ensure your safety on the road. Some cycling helmets also have aerodynamic capabilities and holes at the top to keep your head cool. This feature prevents you from over-sweating and dehydration, allowing you to last longer on the bike.
Shorts
A comfortable pair of shorts is essential when biking. Generally, you have two options when it comes to bike shorts. The first one is tight and hugs your legs, while the other one is baggy. Nonetheless, the baggy shorts will still have some sort of body-hugging part underneath the loose exterior.
Both types of bike shorts have cushions or paddings in the center to protect your private area from the stiffness of the saddle. Using a lubricant, such as lotion and petroleum jelly, near the private area is also a common practice to reduce friction on the skin.
Gloves
Gripping onto the handlebars can quickly cause blisters on your palms. That’s why you always need to wear a pair of gloves when cycling. Most of these have paddings or cushions in the palm area to reduce the impact your hands may absorb when passing through bumpy roads.
Shoes
When you go cycling for short distances, you can wear tennis shoes or almost any other type of sneakers. Your feet and legs might feel just fine after about half an hour of biking. However, cycling for longer periods is a different story.
Tennis shoes or sneakers have soft soles. As such, your feet tend to flex repetitively, especially if your bike’s pedal is flat. This continuous motion puts a strain on your feet and legs and will eventually cause cramps or muscle fatigue after a few hours.
That’s why it’s also a great idea to invest in bike shoes. This type of shoe has rigid soles, keeping your feet steady and preventing them from flexing as much as possible. Wearing them will ensure you can last for hours on a bike without experiencing muscle spasms.
Jersey
There are two major reasons why you should wear cycling jerseys. One is safety. Most of them are bright-colored. This feature makes you visible on the road at night and prevents cars and motorists from approaching too close to you.
The other reason is that cycling jerseys are made of breathable synthetic material instead of cotton, so they won’t get wet and soggy from rain or sweat. The synthetic material keeps you comfortable no matter what your or your environment’s current condition is.
Water Bottle
Make sure that you also have a water bottle with you. Since cycling is a physically-demanding activity, you will sweat a lot. The bodily fluids that seep through your skin are part-water, which means your body will rapidly dehydrate if you don’t replace them.
You can install a bottle holder on the bike’s frame so that you always have drinking water on the road.
Cold-Weather Needs
The weather is very unpredictable. That can be a major concern if you’re on your way home and the rain suddenly starts pouring. Continuing to go biking while getting yourself soaked in rainwater can cause common colds or other illnesses. Make sure that you also bring cold-weather essentials with you.
These include a pair of boots, shoe covers, a waterproof jacket, or a raincoat. While these may not keep you completely dry by the time you get home, they can significantly reduce the amount of rainwater your body receives.
Cycling With the Right Gear
Anytime is the best time to go cycling. Whether you want to ride your bike early in the morning, late in the afternoon, or just past dinnertime, you will receive tremendous benefits from the activity.
That said, you also need to ensure that you’re safe out there. You can guarantee that by wearing or bringing the most important cycling gear items every biker should have every time you go for a ride.
