New cycling clothing?
Discussion
Cycle to Work came up at work again this year and they changed the rules so you can buy stuff other than bikes and I decided to get £500 and update my cycling wardrobe as most of it is a bit threadbare.
Am near Manchester Airport, but am happy with mail order as well so any recommendations as to where to get a couple of pairs of bib shorts, jacket etc ?
Looked locally at one place and the bib shorts were £196 ffs, is that what you need to pay nowadays, seems rather excessive.
Or, just go to Decathlon and go crazy ?
Am near Manchester Airport, but am happy with mail order as well so any recommendations as to where to get a couple of pairs of bib shorts, jacket etc ?
Looked locally at one place and the bib shorts were £196 ffs, is that what you need to pay nowadays, seems rather excessive.
Or, just go to Decathlon and go crazy ?
J4CKO said:
Cycle to Work came up at work again this year and they changed the rules so you can buy stuff other than bikes and I decided to get £500 and update my cycling wardrobe as most of it is a bit threadbare.
Am near Manchester Airport, but am happy with mail order as well so any recommendations as to where to get a couple of pairs of bib shorts, jacket etc ?
Looked locally at one place and the bib shorts were £196 ffs, is that what you need to pay nowadays, seems rather excessive.
Or, just go to Decathlon and go crazy ?
Bibshorts are one of the things that are worth spending a lot of money on I'd have said. Rapha do a pair for £110 which I should have thought are excellent as are most of their clothes. I've got one of their original soft shell jackets that I bought 12 years ago and it's still going strong. A lot of people don't like Rapha though as they think it's a bit poncey. Am near Manchester Airport, but am happy with mail order as well so any recommendations as to where to get a couple of pairs of bib shorts, jacket etc ?
Looked locally at one place and the bib shorts were £196 ffs, is that what you need to pay nowadays, seems rather excessive.
Or, just go to Decathlon and go crazy ?
At the cheaper end of things you could look at DHB - I've had various things off them including bib shorts and tights and they've been pretty good and they're much more affordable. They'll do you a pair of bib shorts for £65 or less.
No need to spend that kind of money on bibshorts. There are always shorts on sale for around £60-£80 that have a RRP north of £150. Take a look at Sportful Giara or Supergiara, Assos Mille GT etc and you should get some quality shorts. Rapha are simply overpriced in my opinion, good kit, but no better than the shorts I have mentioned.
Edited by andyeds1234 on Wednesday 26th April 10:35
Last year I paid £25 for a pair of bib shorts from the GCN online store. Just for commuting.
And they are better than the Gore and Castelli ones I already have.
Can be some real bargains here https://shop.globalcyclingnetwork.com/outlet
And they are better than the Gore and Castelli ones I already have.
Can be some real bargains here https://shop.globalcyclingnetwork.com/outlet
Shorts are very personal and number one priority is comfort ... thats not to say you have spend crazy money as this doesn't buy 'you' comfort so you might have to try a few brands to see what works as the pads do vary between them all.
I personally like Rapha pads and I also have got on fine with Band of climbers (longs) and Spatz shorts ... my team kit is Stolen goat which has a very solid pad in shorts and skin suits. There are probably others which are just as good and cheaper but I kind if can't be arsed buying and trying when I have a short I'm happy with.
I personally like Rapha pads and I also have got on fine with Band of climbers (longs) and Spatz shorts ... my team kit is Stolen goat which has a very solid pad in shorts and skin suits. There are probably others which are just as good and cheaper but I kind if can't be arsed buying and trying when I have a short I'm happy with.
Lasso are good value and perfectly fine. Rapha is just so much more comfortable and feels like a treat in comparison.
Again my Rapha jackets perform much better than my Castelli. The Castelli perfetto gillet with arm warmers is very versatile and great for commuting or if there’s any doubt about the weather.
Finally, Galibier is another British company selling good value, high quality kit.
Again my Rapha jackets perform much better than my Castelli. The Castelli perfetto gillet with arm warmers is very versatile and great for commuting or if there’s any doubt about the weather.
Finally, Galibier is another British company selling good value, high quality kit.
nickfrog said:
But do you have to wear the stuff while cycling to work to benefit from the tax incentive?
Nope, did for ten years but largely work from home now, so do a ride after work, starting and ending at home which could arguably be called cycling to work. It’s mainly to make cycling cheaper to encourage people to get some exercise and get out of their cars a bit.
Just though I need all new gear so may as well take the tax advantage and pay it monthly, interest free.
Would echo Galibier offering some quality products at great prices.
For bib-shorts, my choice is Endura Pro SL. There's a new version out, so the old model can be had for around £75 a pair which is a bargain in my book. I go for the long leg version as I like a bit more length.
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/endura-pro-s...
https://www.wiggle.com/p/endura-pro-sl-bib-shorts-...
Review:
https://road.cc/content/review/endura-pro-sl-bibsh...
For bib-shorts, my choice is Endura Pro SL. There's a new version out, so the old model can be had for around £75 a pair which is a bargain in my book. I go for the long leg version as I like a bit more length.
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/endura-pro-s...
https://www.wiggle.com/p/endura-pro-sl-bib-shorts-...
Review:
https://road.cc/content/review/endura-pro-sl-bibsh...
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