The Gear Needed for Cycling

There are many people who choose cycling instead of running since it is a lower impact sport that still gives great results for cardiovascular workouts as well as building leg strength. It is a sport that can be done in all seasons of the year as long as the person has a trainer system, and there is minimal gear needed to get started other than the bike. There are different types of cycling, such as road biking, touring, mountain biking and racing. Depending on the sport, there is different cycle gear needed to be safe while biking.

Types of Gear

If a person is cycling in races, then the gear that is used should be as light as possible so as to allow the individual the most movement and comfort with the lightest weight. There are cycling shorts, shirts, body suits, shoes and other gear that is made specifically for this purpose. If a person is cycling in mountain bike races, the gear will need to be light, but also string enough to protect the individual from possible crashes. In this type of racing, there has to be pads for the buttocks and thighs, as well as other pads on the body to protect from these possible crashes going down the mountainside.

For the casual rider, there are also cycling clothing and other materials that can make their ride the most comfortable. The most important of these is biking shorts. These shorts can make or break a ride since they allow the individuals to be more comfortable on the seat of the bike for longer periods of time. The shorts can be found in the standard cut which is tight, like a pair of tights, with the padding in the buttock region. There are also biking shorts that are made now for the more modest individuals, cut to look like a normal pair of shorts, but with a girdle in it that has the padding. These shorts are made so that they do not bunch up on the rider, causing pinching during the ride, but stay loose and fluid, allowing the padding to do its work.

In cycling, there is also rain gear that allows hard core individuals to ride in the rain, especially when they are training for a race and cannot afford to take any time off for the weather. There are water bottles that allow individuals to stay hydrated during the ride, sitting easily in holders on the riders back or on the bike so that they are easy to reach.