Buying Guides

A large percentage of our body is made up of water, so dehydration can affect how well you perform both mentally and physically. As a cyclist you are often limited to the amount of fluid you can drink and carry and as a consequence don't drink enough. It's important to keep well hydrated by drinking water throughout the day and extra fluid after training.

Cycling shoes that fit well will make a difference on any ride. They should be selected based on the kind of bike and pedals. And they are men and women specific to accommodate for the difference in bone structures between men and women’s feet.

Sunglasses are an absolute necessity when riding in most places in the world, but especially Australia where the sun can be pretty intense for most of the year. Sunglasses don’t just protect you from UV’s though. They’re also great for dust, wind, and anything else the road or trail can dish out.

A great pair of socks can be your best friend on any kind of bike ride. They come in all kinds of lengths and materials depending on what kind of ride you’re going on. Sock length is a personal matter, but most people in the cycling world wear longer socks for both style and comfort.

Leg warmers are a sock-like garment that are worn underneath cycling shorts. What happens some days (particularly on longer riders) is that you start out very cold, but as both you and the day around you warm up, you no longer require all the layers you did when you set out.

The right pair of cycling shorts can give you support and comfort and increase your riding endurance. Shorts come in two main styles: regular lycra shorts with a waistband called knicks, and shorts with a suspender-like design incorporated into them, called bibknicks.

A good cycling-specific jacket can last you years and be useful in a variety of ways. Many cycling jackets can be layered over a jersey for warmth, and often have reflective features for visibility in traffic. A thin jacket can be stuffed into a jersey pocket to prevent overheating.

Gloves are a very important part of any rider kit, whether you ride mountain bikes or road bikes, do commuting or touring. Gloves can be made with full fingers or short fingers and serve a variety of purposes. When purchasing gloves, think about the following things:

Body armour is tough but flexible padding that can be worn on your chest, arms, legs/shins, and even neck that spreads and absorbs the impact of a crash while riding. Body armour is a good idea for mountain bike riders and BMX riders who want to push their limits.