| If you are somebody who loves cycling, the chances | | | | is far better than wearing a cotton shirt and finishing |
| are you will spend much, if not all of your time riding on | | | | your ride soaked like a sponge! |
| the roads and cycle paths. You might even spend a lot | | | | For cyclists who make the switch from the roads to |
| of time on your mountain bike, off-roading for the thrills | | | | the velodrome for indoor track racing, even the tighter, |
| and spills of cross-country trialling. Cycling shirts can | | | | better performing cycle jerseys may not be enough to |
| offer several advantages if you are one of these | | | | increase their chances of winning events. Instead, |
| people. Road safety is an important consideration, so | | | | everyone who competes indoors has switched to the |
| wearing a brightly colored cycling shirt can help to get | | | | even tighter, body-hugging one-piece cycling skin suits. |
| you seen by motorists. If other road users can see | | | | This clothing incorporates a long sleeved top and |
| you easily, they are less likely to crash into you! | | | | cycling shorts combined together. The fabrics are |
| Normal cycling jerseys are designed to be longer at | | | | ultra-lightweight and high-performance, leaving no room |
| the back than the front, so they do not ride up your | | | | for air to get in, either via the sleeves or the shorts. |
| back when you are leaning forwards to cycle at high | | | | Many top riders even wear very unusual looking |
| speed. The pockets are normally at the back, which is | | | | helmets which are designed to optimize aerodynamics, |
| both convenient - as it stops heavy items banging on | | | | and shave hundredths of a second from their lap |
| your knees when pedalling - and also has some safety | | | | times. |
| ramifications, as it is more difficult for things to fall out | | | | The one thing cycling skin suits do not offer is |
| of the rear pockets and perhaps get tangled in your | | | | protection against a crash; they dispense with this for |
| wheels. | | | | sheer speed, which is why a rider wearing one can |
| Compared to riding your bike wearing a normal t-shirt, | | | | generally beat an otherwise closely comparable rider |
| cycle shirts can have an impact on performance. They | | | | wearing normal cycling shirt and shorts. Of course, this |
| are tighter and will not "balloon" or fill up with air as you | | | | is of little consolation to a track racer who takes a |
| ride, which means you are more aerodynamic since | | | | tumble at over 40 miles per hour! So if you are |
| drag is reduced. They are also made from | | | | desperate for extra speed as an indoor racer, you are |
| high-performance fabrics which wick moisture from | | | | better off getting a skin suit and keeping your cycling |
| your body, to keep you cool, dry and comfortable. This | | | | shirts for the roads. |