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The coolest biking gear for lockdown miles
Unleash your inner cyclista with our roundup of the best kit to wear on your bike during your Government-sanctioned daily exercise.
One of my favourite things about lockdown (yes, there are some) is seeing so many more people out on their bikes. If you’ve rediscovered your love of all things two wheels, embrace it as the excuse it so clearly is to stock up on cool new gear.
Yes, I know, cool and cycling gear don’t usually go hand in hand, but things have moved on a tad and cycling shorts are, literally, in Vogue. (Seriously. Glossy eds were going mad over them last season) Whether you’re a Lycra lover or a more laid-back type we’ve rounded up the best-looking, quirkiest and most unique gear out there. It’ll all totally make you faster up hills.
Best for: Bargain bike chic
Neon yellow cycling shorts, £12.99, H&M
Safety never looked so stylish! Chuck on these bright beauties and you can go plain on your top half – a simple black vest or if you’re brave/have the midriff of Britney circa 1997, crop top is all you need. These aren’t padded so you won’t clock up serious miles in them, but for your average pootle, they’re just the ticket and a complete steal to boot.
Best for: Multipurpose mileage
Ailsa Merino-Lite tee, from £40, Findra
To certain cycling factions, merino beats Lycra hands-down. It’s naturally antibacterial, sweat-wicking, odour neutralising and keeps you cool when you’re warm and warms you up when it’s cold. This gorgeous and flattering tee from indie label Findra comes in a range of bright and beautiful colours – we love the cornflower blue as well as this bold orange – and is versatile enough to be worn on the bike, out for a run or hike, or just around the house and garden.
Best for: Hardcore roadies
Mint women’s Nth series jersey, £100, Morvelo
If you want to look like everybody else on a bike, wear Rapha. If you want to look cooler than a mint choc chip ice cream cone on a bike, wear Morvelo. This Sussex-based indie brand combines unique and colourful designs with serious techie creds so this jersey is light as a feather, won’t slip, ruck up or otherwise irritate, and has practical storage for all your bits and bobs on the go.
Best for: Offroaders and haulers
Hoard Overland Mountain Jersey, £90, The Overland
I’m going to be honest, I don’t know what a hauler *is* but I feel like I do when I wear this jersey-slash-hoodie from super-cool adventure sports brand Overland. A spin-off from the more Lycra-heavy Morvelo, the Sussex-based team behind this label have nailed the off-duty chic look with a range of unisex t-shirts, hoodies, shirts, sweaters and shorts that all look delightfully like you’ve borrowed them off your boyfriend, only they’re also all designed for you to put in the miles on the bike, are sweat-wicking and packed with technical features. The brand oozes sustainability creds too.
Best for: Cushioning that tush
Padded cycling knickers, £39, VeloVixen
There’s no getting round it, cycling is tough on the, er, swimsuit area. Protect your booty and channel your inner 1950s siren with these retro-looking knickers from Oxfordshire indie VeloVixen, available in three gorgeous designs and all with subtle but highly effective padding to keep you looking, and feeling, daisy-fresh.
Best for: Smart heads
Bern Lenox EPS helmet in Rose Gold, £59.99, cyclechic.co.uk
Protect that noggin in style with the Bern Lenox, a cycling helmet so desirable that stock flies out of Kent-based Cyclechic on a regular basis. Muddy’s heard a whisper that this exclusive rose gold peaked model, above, is back in stock on May 1 and if you email sales@cyclechic.co.uk you might still be able to get on the waiting list. Or check out the other helmets available, not a 1980s lunchbox-style horror in sight!