What do you look for in cycling gear?

Hi all.

I'm getting involved with a new company developing some cycling gear. I just wondered if any of you regular riders/couriers etc had any thoughts as to things that are missing from current cycling gear (which hasn't changed, design-wise, for quite some time...)

Perhaps pockets specially designed for mobile phones (somewhere more 'seeable' for the rider, maybe?) headphone holes in caps to keep them in place and stop them getting tangled in helmet straps, reinforced fabric on certain areas that wear away quicker (when wearing backpacks or bags, for instance).

Would lights incorporated into the design of shirts (or at least places you can attach lights) make you feel safer, or wouldn't you bother using them?

And couriers... anything that'd make your life easier? Would your shirt benefit from having somewhere to attach your radio, or does that always sit on your bag? Is there anything specific to you that'd make you go out and buy a certain brand over others?

I'm just looking into a bit of research and trying to work out whether there are different needs for 'urban' riders - commuters, couriers etc - than the typical racing, lycra gear?

Cheers for any help you can give. And, no doubt, for the sarcastic responses I'm about to be bombarded with as well...

Matt

Cheers for any help you can give. And, no doubt, for the sarcastic responses I'm about to be bombarded with as well...

This just takes the fun out of it now.

Pub/commute friendly trousers that dont look like they were made for ramblers (no cargo pockets zips, buckles etc) and cost less than the Rapha versions etc. Theres a bit of a price gap for well designed simple cycle clothing in decent fabrics.

Thanks AWu-Tang.

The general vibe we're looking at is for clothing that works like that - perfect for going to the pub/cafes without looking like a fool in luminous lycra, but also just as good for getting out on a road bike for long rides, too...

Nah, there's still plenty of scope for sarcasm. Bring it on...

:-)

I really like the key pocket Rapha put on the sleeve of their Fixed Bomber jacket. I wish they would do more things like that in the city range.

COLOURS!
Looking at even casual cycle clothes in bike shops is maddening as most of it is black/brown or at best a dull blue.

i look for one thing only

I second the cycle orientated casual clothing at a reasonable price. Rapha, Swrve, Vulpine and Levi commuter stuff is all pricey. No equivalent style products at the £40 or less (trousers) as far as I can tell....gap in the market?

"Perhaps... ...headphone holes in caps to keep them in place and stop them getting tangled in helmet straps."

If you insist on wearing phones when riding your bike, you deserve to get them tangled.

"Would lights incorporated into the design of shirts (or at least places you can attach lights) make you feel safer, or wouldn't you bother using them?"

Only if I wanted to look like a moron.

Anyway, what's wrong with Lycra?

i look for one thing only

Hmm, broken image but your website is intense http://www.julielessman.com/storage/PRICE%20TAG.JPG?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1357245197271

I followed @edscoble 's advice and bought some yoga slacks from uniqlo. 20 bucks and work as well as the levis commuter at 6x the price. No reinforced crotch but who cares. Worst case I'll just buy 6 pairs. They look fine and you are tricking everyone into thinking that you are wearing trousers when in reality you are wearing sweat pants.

What do I really look for when it comes to apparel? Comfort first, a degree of durability second, and a particular aesthetic third.

Aesthetics are pretty subjective, but I don't see the point it making something appear to be something it's not. If I'm out cycling I'm out cycling, and if I stop off at a pub then I don't suddenly feel the urge to be appropriately dressed. That said, I choose my attire carefully, and I don't go in for anything too garish.

So you just kind of hang out in the pub in your lycra? That said, I am not sure the world needs any more casual bike specific clothing.

Jerseys with at least one full-sized pocket with a zipper and a couple of other pockets (I know these exist but milltag, for example, are rad jerseys but the zipped pocket is too small) would be something I would be after. Or used to be after before I spent my monies on a milltag jersey.

Not exactly, but I might stop off in a beer garden if I'm riding with friends, and the fact that I'll be in Lycra will be immaterial to me (no pun indented).

thx xx

I'm not quire sure what im looking at there, some kind of denim trompe-l'œil? Intrigued, I'll check them out.

In cycling gear I look for the food in the left pocket, the bananas in the middle pocket and the phone and the fruits and the key in the right pocket of my jersey. Mostly I look for the key again before I leave my house.

You bave to look for that the cards and money always go into the zipped pocket.

I always look for my glasses when they are on my head.

Should look like normal clothes but have details that make them work on a bike.

Lots of people are doing this already, reinforced seats, reflective piping, cut long at the back to stop my arse crack showing, pockets on the rear etc etc.

What you need to do is make some key pieces that people look at and think "want!". For me vulpine frequently just miss the mark, the colours are not in my palette etc and things like their rain trousers do not live up to their claims.

Also make some lovely womens clothing, it seems many people struggle to do this.

But what do you mean by 'normal clothes'?

When it comes to sportswear, function should come before form. There's no point aping casual wear if that's going to compromise the garment. Cycling gear is made from the material it's made from for a reason, and that reason ain't for going down the pub or hanging out in Hoxton - or wherever it is the young and the beautiful strut their stuff these days.

There are many different types of cycling, fitness, sport, race, utility, transport, social the clothing requirements are very different.

Normal clothes would be day to day clothing, not stuff that is clearly bike specific.

Not too expensive as they (mine) always get covered in bike grease if I have to do some maintainence on the road.
Kinda agree with one of the comments about Vulpine and the colours. Stuff a bit more understated and colours that wont date.
And ventile. I like ventile.

Double ventile is awesome.

Worst case I'll just buy 6 pairs.

That's exactly my reasoning too, they come in a nice selection of colour too, can't remember the last time I worn denim.