Cycling has grown in popularity over the past decade for a few reasons. For one, cycling has grown more popular because the Tour De France and other prominent cycling competitions have gained more prominence on television and in the media. That has led many people to embrace cycling as a great way to exercise and a great sport. Also, the awareness of global climate change has increased, which has led many people to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Since burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, driving your car is a way of emitting greenhouse gas. Fortunately, riding a bicycle is a very simple way to reduce your emissions. Lastly, people have moved towards cycling because they want to get in shape and stay in shape.

Cycling as Exercise

Cycling is one of the most efficient ways to exercise. It is strenuous and aerobic like running, but it does not have the repeated impact of running. Cycling is a low-impact exercise that is still a great workout. You need the right gear if you’re going to cycle efficiently. Gear might seem a little bit superfluous or like an unnecessary expense, but that’s not so. You need to make sure that you are in the right gear if you plan to cycle for long. The proper gear keeps you comfortable while you’re cycling.

The proper gear keeps you cool during the summer by wicking sweat away from your body. The wicking and subsequent evaporation also take some body heat with it. That keeps you from overheating. Also, it keeps you from riding around in a soggy shirt. If you’ve cycled in a cotton t-shirt before, you know how quickly they can become saturated with sweat. That is uncomfortable and smelly. A men’s cycling jersey in your size is a great way to stay cool and dry.

Cycling Gear

During the summer, you need cycling gear that keeps you cool and dry. During the winter, you need to stay dry and warm. Cycling gear is important because it is made of fabrics that are specifically designed to keep you dry. Staying as dry as possible is absolutely essential no matter the weather. Furthermore, cycling gear is designed to have flat unobtrusive seams. If your clothes have a seam that sticks out, you could be in for a very uncomfortable ride. If you are riding your bicycle, you are probably pumping your legs hundreds of times every minute. That means any tiny irritation that might happen with a seam is going to occur hundreds of times every minute.

One of the most common irritations is a seam inside the thigh rubs against the soft skin on your inner thigh. That causes chafing after a few minutes. It will only get worse if your gear is not wicking sweat away. Then you will have raw skin and salty sweat. Soggy clothes will also create greater friction and increase chafing. It’s a vicious cycle that can only be broken by choosing great cycling gear. Great gear will prevent chafing and keep you dry.