What to wear when cycling in New Zealand.

If you're an experienced cyclist, and you're anything like us, you probably have your gear safely stashed in your garage and your brightly coloured cycling outfits carefully folded in your ‘sporty clothes’ drawer at home. Or if you're anything like Andrew, it will be spread all over your house in various crumpled piles waiting either to be worn or washed. We won’t judge you! A worn bike shirt is a happy bike shirt in our opinion. If you're new to cycling though, you might be wondering where to start and what to wear for cycling, so here’s a bit of a guide to the basic kit you'll need before you take to the saddle or come on your first trip cycling in New Zealand.

Brain bucket – first and foremost, your helmet! It’s illegal not to wear a helmet on New Zealand roads and in any case we want to keep you and your head safe. So strap your helmet on and get comfy, because you're going to be wearing it a lot.

Cycling Gloves – you'll be doing some hard yards on your bike, so get a nice pair of cycling gloves with good padding on your palms, but not so tight they cut off your circulation. They will save you from getting blisters on your hands or should you happen to fall off, they will save your skin. The more colourful the better of course!

Socks – A powerful piece of equipment that can be easily ignored! Wearing a good quality pair of socks can make you a whole lot more comfortable. We mostly wear padded running socks, or woolen running socks when we ride. They are comfortable and keep your feet from getting too hot.

Biking shoes – if you're clipping in then you probably already have a pair of cycling shoes you're comfortable with. If you're not clipping in then you'll need a quality pair of shoes with a solid flat sole.

Cycling Shorts – An absolute must-have! Invest in these wisely and they’ll take good care of you. You'll be surprised at how much difference a good pair of cycling shorts can make, especially when you're cycling in New Zealand where the weather can be mixed. They will keep you comfortable in the saddle and cool as you're biking along. On the longer rides you'll still be able to sit down at the end of the day too, which of course is a bonus. If you're wondering what to wear for cycling and you are wondering where to start, cycling shorts are a good first purchase!

On the Top – Take good care of your core. You'll need a top made from breathable fabric (not cotton) and a wind proof lightweight jacket to block out the wind on ‘those’ days. Tops designed for biking are good as they are long and have handy pockets in the back to hold your snacks and lip balm. Long sleeved tops are advisable for New Zealand weather as the sun is strong here, so covering up is always the best defense against the sun. If you're arms are exposed, then lather the sun block on, even on cloudy days.

Over all, comfort is the key. There’s heaps of choice when it comes to what to wear for cycling, so we’ve covered the basics. It’s best not to bring a whole load of brand new gear off the shelf because you might find it doesn’t work for you. If you have old familiar comfy stuff that is tried and tested then bring it along, although things like biking tops shouldn’t cause you any hassle if they’re new. You never know though on these longer rides – things that you wouldn’t notice on a 30 minute ride can suddenly become very noticeable after 3 hours in the saddle. Go for comfort and functionality and you'll be sweet!

If you still have questions then request your free cycling guide or give us a call.