Dealing with the weather on your cycle commute

There’s no getting away from it, at some point every cyclist has to deal with the weather. The rain is most cyclists’ number one weather foe. Some cyclists deal with it by not cycling in it; others deal with it by dressing appropriately, gritting their teeth, and peddling through it. If you want to join the latter camp, then you need to buy good waterproof apparel. While the commuting cyclist can, in the main, get away with wearing his or her everyday clothes to ride to the office in, when it comes to dealing with inclement weather, clothing that’s been designed and manufactured specifically for cyclists is the better option. For example, a jacket designed to be worn when cycling will be longer at the back than the front. This is so that when you’re bent forward cycling and the jacket rides up your body, your lower back won’t be exposed to the elements. Similarly, a good quality waterproof cycling jacket will not only prevent you from getting wet, but will wick moisture away from your body when it starts heating up so you’re not left sweaty, and will be equipped with ventilation zips to help keep you cool. As with cycle carriers, most cycling clothing is designed with reflective piping to help you stay visible when it gets dark. Waterproof and windproof jackets and pants can be folded up and stored in your carrier for use in bad weather.

One item of cycling apparel that’s especially useful if you’re cycling any real distance is a pair of padded tights or shorts. These are made from Lycra and fitted with padding in the seat to provide comfort and cushioning when in the saddle. These are particularly useful for the cyclist who sometimes finds that riding leaves him or her feeling a little numb in the derriere.

While you can quite happily cycle in your regular working clothes or leisure wear, good performance cycling apparel will last longer, make your ride more comfortable, and protect you better. And there’s no need to worry about looking as though you’re competing in the Tour de France (you should be so lucky!); most cycling clothing is discreet without flashy logos or symbols.

If you want to buy good quality cycling apparel, some brands to look out for are Altura, Campagnolo, Descente, and Pearl Izumi.

Read more: work facilities for cycle commuters

The cycling commuter

The recession, global warming, or your ever increasing waistline… whatever your reason for wanting to trade in your four wheels for two and start cycling to work, don’t wait any longer. Ask anyone who’s recently made the switch and they will tell you that they wish they had done it sooner. There could be one small aspect of cycling to work that’s holding you back though – the thought of how you’ll look, and feel, once you get to your desk after cycling the four or five miles to the office. Some people never get to reap the many benefits of commuting to work by bike because they believe that it’s impossible to do so without having to spend their day feeling sticky and uncomfortable, in clothes that are creased and grubby. But all it takes is a little know-how and that can easily be avoided.

Read more: Dealing with the weather