A Biking Trip Sounds Fun, But Yikes… What Do I Wear?

Panic set in last May as I was packing for a week-long bike trip to Italy with Backroads Adventure Travelers. How was I going to pull together outfits that were both comfortable and stylish?

Luckily, I had girlfriends who’d been on bike trips and they gave me essential tips for the comfort dilemma:

1. Get padding: Even though most of us don’t like to voluntarily add size to our bottom halves, padded bike shorts are a must. And don’t wear underwear with these, it cuts down the comfort that the padding provides. Also, wear padded gloves to prevent blisters and hand-numbness. And when you’re offered a gel-seat for your bike, go for it.

2. Pack wick-away fabrics: Cotton t-shirts that are fine for an hour or two at the gym won’t cut it for a day of riding. Look for fabrics that will take moisture away from the body so you can cycle in cool comfort.

3. Layer-up: Temperatures from morning to afternoon can range from chilly to hot, so be prepared with lightweight, loose-fitting tops and pants to slip over your basic apparel.

4. Prepare for weather: Rain is a fact of nature everywhere we travel, but carrying an umbrella while cycling just isn’t practical, so bring along a windbreaker and breathable rain gear just in case. Plastic shower caps you get in hotels work great slipped over a helmet to keep your head dry.

5. Don’t spend a fortune on new bike shoes: Hard-soled gym shoes will be fine.

For the stylish part, I searched the Internet for online shops that carry women’s cycling apparel and found these to be tops:

REI: Widest selection of brands

A large selection of quality apparel for outdoor activities is available here for women, men, and kids. I was grateful to have their lightweight rain suit and neon yellow windbreaker for a chilly wet morning and a windy afternoon. Check out the site for sale items and REI Adventure Tours.

Specialized: Padding Experts

This company is well known internationally for the top-notch engineering that goes into their bikes. They take the same scientific approach to their cycling apparel, offering shorts and gloves with padding, ergonomically made to conform to a woman’s shape and size. Even after a forty-mile ride, wearing their shorts and gloves I felt no pain, thanks to their Body Geometry design.