Finding the Right Jersey Style for Cycling. Or, “How to Keep Your Friends From Laughing at You”
The Right Cycling Jersey Style for You or, “How to Keep Your Friends from Laughing at You” (about your jersey at least).
Picking out a cycling jersey can be a fun way to express your style. It can also go horribly, horribly, retina-searingly wrong. Stand on the side of the road during any organized group ride to see ample evidence of this. A functional jersey needs to do much more than show off your fashion sense (or your studious and ironically detached lack of it…but that’s another blog post altogether). We at Velogear know that your cycling jersey should help you ride more comfortably, look cool and if at all possible, inspire deeply-seeded envy among your friends. How do we know this? We’re dorks. Just like you. Clothes-horsemanship aside, your specific needs and the level at which you’re riding will influence the features you require, but a few factors are necessary across the board.
First and foremost, you need to choose a cycling jersey that’s made out of the correct material. Me, I’ve been known to rock a cotton t-shirt from time to time, but that’s more a function of my inner obliviousness shining through more than anything else. And the side effects of rocking cotton are, well…gross. You want your cycling jersey to be made out of straight polyester or a blend of polyester and lycra or microfiber. The good news? They also make t-shirts out of these fabrics. As you perspire while cycling, these fabrics help keep you cool by wicking moisture away from your body and facilitating evaporation. And the aroma? Ahhhh! For certain types of riding (especially on the road and in the summer) it’s also important for your cycling jersey to have a partial or full length zipper down the front that allows you to control ventilation as your body heats up and cools down. An additional handy feature you should look for is two large pockets on the lower back of the cycling jersey. Even mountain bike jerseys have begun to incorporate some of these features. The Jett MTB stuff is amazing in that regard. Pockets allow you to store small useful items in a place that’s easily accessible while cycling. Or hide stuff from the cops. Not that you’d want to. Just sayin’.
Check out some of Velogear’s high-quality women’s jerseys and men’s jerseys – any of these johnnies would make a cool gift for the cyclist in your life, or even if you’re just in a “I’m going to do something nice for myself today” kind of mood. It’s ok to do that once in a while, really it is. A good friend of mine once said (on an entirely different topic altogether), “I know what I like”.
Ahem. Umm. Yes. Of course you do.
The second important component of your cycling jersey is the way that it fits. Generally, you want it to be form fitting to prevent extra material from dragging in the wind and causing resistance that can slow you down. That’s key on the road. On the mountain bike side you have a bit more flexibility…and sometimes a baggy jersey is just plain cool. Feeling the breeze flowing through your armpit hair (If you’re a guy. Or if you’re French), can be exhilarating. You also want to make sure to find a cycling jersey that is long enough to cover your back while you’re riding – that’s key for both disciplines. Nobody wants to see your crack…and having it exposed just kind of feels yucky anyway, right? Unless you’re a little freaky. But again, that’s another blog post. And I assure you, we’ll get to it. In due time. In due time.
Cycling jerseys come in short-sleeved, long-sleeved, or sleeveless designs. It’s up to you which style will best fulfill your cycling needs. It’s a good idea to choose a jersey in a bright color to make yourself more easily visible to cars on the road around you. On the other hand, black jerseys or even just ones that are a bit stealthier look bad-ass. And there’s a time and a place for that as well.
Cycling jerseys feature a wide variety of designs, and you can choose whichever one best fits your style. Many people also use their jersey as a place to display their sponsor’s name. (OOOH! Pick me! Pick me!) Just remember, choosing the right fabric and finding a good fit are the two keys to being comfortable while riding in your cycling jersey.
And now, from our search engine optimization bullpen, or as we like to refer to them, “the department of redundancy department”, we will now repeat the phrase “cycling jersey” one million times: cycling jersey cycling jersey cycling jersey cycling jersey cycling jersey cycling jersey cycling jersey cycling jersey cycling jersey cycling jersey cycling jersey cycling jersey…
View our entire collection of cycling jerseys for the road, the mountains, and the city by visiting Velogear.com. As you may have figured out, we carry cycling jerseys. Didn’t see that one coming, did you SEO cowboys!?! BAM! I bring the SEO thunder!
We carry lots of ‘em. Lycra, wool, race-fit, baggy – you name it. And we carry stuff that we ride in and like. And if by some remote chance we don’t have what you’re looking for, drop us a note. Or maybe just stick with those proud beauties that race directors from big organized road rides have been stuffing into your goodie bags for the last few decades. And rock those things with pride.
