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To help with my fitness I've got a road bike (actually a gravel/all road one) that's currently on the smart trainer but when the evenings draw out a bit longer It'll be used outside for local rides. Trouble is all my kit is of the baggy variety and while I don't care about looking odd I know it isn't really the right stuff for the job. So what's out there that's roadie-suitable but not figure-hugging racy lycra? Especially at the budget end. There's got to be some gravel/XC stuff that fits the bill surely. Looking for shorts, bibs, top and some budget-friendly clipless shoes too (was a roadie a long time ago for a while and know they work best). The likes of Decathlon seem a starting point but I'm struggling to figure out what is what.
So what are people using?
There’s plenty of choice nowadays. You can go full aero roadie kit, relaxed roadie kit, even more relaxed gravel kit like cargo bib shorts and more relaxed jerseys with 3 pockets at the back.
Castelli have their unlimited range, others like Sportful have an all Road range. Sounds like the more relaxed gravel stuff may be what you’re looking for.
As for shoes most people go MTB type shoes with SPD 2 bolt cleats.
Just pick whatever kit you fancy or whatever suits your pocket.
So what are people using?
MTB "trail pants" work surprisingly well on gravel bikes. I use them for commuting. Zip pockets, just enough of a baggy fit to look like normal trousers if I do a train/bike commute, shower/spray proof but also cut close enough not to flap around.
Any MTB shoes with a SPD fitting.
I really like Rapha's "Brevet" range for stuff that is reasonably close fitting without being skintight aero kit. Plus it has lots of pockets.
https://www.cafeducycliste.com/
edit: turns out they've become a bit more 'sleek pro' recently. shame. still a lot more casual looking than the usual stuff
So what's out there that's roadie-suitable but not figure-hugging racy lycra?
Most of my cycling is road cycling and I'm not a huge fan of lycra unless it's above the belt. Cycling shorts which are described as "commuter" shorts are a good comprise IME. Also I have shorts from Trespass which are made of quick drying material that work very well.
Personally I have a strong preference for cutdown jeans, especially in summer, but I am not aware of anyone else who appreciates the comfort that soft well-worn jean material provides!
I just use my MTB stuff (on my cyclocross bike). Weird I know. I do concede to wearing a road helmet (with no peak) though.
My MTB clothing is a bit old school XC-influenced anyways. Come to think of it, I could just swap out the MTB shorts for lycra ones - and I'd basically look like a roadie 🤣
Endura Singletrack MTB shorts are my weapon of choice for both genres - they are quite 'tailored' in fit, not like baggy own-with-bombers-hairy-enduro-gnar-MTB-shorts.
Lol, since when were Cafeducyclist, Rapha and Castelli at the budget end of cycling apparel!
Yeah, I was thinking more Decathlon than designer labels 🤣
Username checks out 😉
If you are looking to save money, just ride in your MTB gear.
I doubt most of us are loosing millions of watts to air resistance from flappy jumpers.
I turned up to a 10 mile time trial in cut of jeans shorts. Everyone was very nice and tried to recruit me to the dark side. Not one word was said about my defiantly MTB kit. The rest of them were in skin suits, tt bikes with all the kit. If it hadn't been so obvious the only way to get faster was to train until it hurt, I might be a rodie.
Size up for a less roadie fit?
The new altura all road range is good, not fitted but not baggy either. They do a "baggy short" which is not as baggy as an MTB short and not as long but has great stretch for pedalling if Lycra shorts aren't your thing. They should be available for spring.Also the eskar range works well too
I'm a fan of 'Fat Lad At The Back' kit when I'm out on my road bike and I always wear baggy shorts over my lycra ones to cover up the worst of my wobbly bits. I think of it as a community service.
If you think about how long you're going to be sitting and suffering on that road bike, it's really just about being as comfortable as you can get rather than how fashionable you are.
Attacus and Pedaled have some relaxed fit stuff on sale
Rapha core range, also always other brevet/classic stuff on sale if you don't care about colour.
Still some wiggle bargains on Evans, especially if you are small
Gonso sitivo mtb are a nice stretchy close fitting mtb short that is suitable for gravel riding. Although I prefer bibs especially on a drop bar bike, some makes now do stitched in inner/outer bib shorts but I haven't tried them yet (ie https://uswe.com/en-gb/hybrid-mtb-bib-shorts-men-black ). If you are happy to wear bibs without over shorts, both fat lad at the back and gonso do larger sizes, I can recommend the sitivo red pad from gonso
For tops I just got over my body embarrassment (and I am probably fatter than most on here) and wear proper roadie tops from fat lad at the back and gonso who both go up to proper fat bastard sizes. 3 rear pockets just work on a drop bar bike (and are frequently better for mtb'ing unless you are "shredding the gnarr") so the practicality overrides my shame.
I am not sure how available gonso are in the UK, I generally prefer them to fat lad at the back especially for shorts.
ps I am kind of assuming that your desire for non figure hugging is because you are a bigger lad, of course this may not be the case.
On proper road rides, roadie kit actually works really well - in particular there's none of the swishing and flapping you get from riding in proper mtb baggies and, on really long, fast, alpine descents, you don't have to put up with with everything you're wearing flapping noisily in the wind, less of an issue in the UK where descents tend to be shorter.
For gravelish stuff, I think it depends a bit on how you're carrying food, phone etc. If you want to use jersey pockets then anything loose fitting tends to be annoying, otherwise - using a top-tube bag for example - you can pretty much wear whatever you want. I have a bunch of mountaineering kit and find some softshell jackets are really good on a bike worn over a simple baselayer tee.
I tend to wear 'less than baggy' soft shell shorts over Lycra on the gravel bike. Current faves are some random TNF ones, but Gore Bikewear does quite decent versions which are often half price on Sport Pursuit. Rapha Core jerseys, also often discounted, and their gilets are good, no-nonsense, middle-ground kit ime.
But on the road bike, I just wear road kit. Some people, mostly pro cyclists look 'good' in Lycra. Most of us look varying degrees of not pro. But the reality is that no-one, other than you, yourself, will actually give a stuff about what you wear, least of all the general public to whom you are more or less invisible.
Shoes/pedals? I run xc mtb shoes and mtbs SPDS on gravel and road SPDs on the road, but I'd just go with what you have, though probably not flats.
I always think people riding full-on road bikes in full-on mtb baggies look a bit like they're trying very hard to make a point at the expense of actual utility, but gravel stuff works fine. But then again, if it makes them happy, then great.
Anyway, Sport Pursuit is good for sifting through heavily discounted stuff from half-decent road/gravel brands. Gore and Rapha stuff on there atm I think, and Castelli, plus a bunch of stuff no-one this side of the EU divide has ever heard of, but which might or might not be decent.
Galibier and Decathlon are both good bets for good quality but cheap kit.
I like the Classique bibs from Galibier. I'm the opposite to you in that I'm a roadie who occassionally takes the MTB, in which case I stick some Chapeau gravel shorts over the top of my bibs.
I have several Decathlon jerseys but all discontinued or renamed now so can't recommend a particular one - I think just stay away from anything described as 'racer' if you want relaxed fit. Galibier have some decent priced jerseys too.
Vinted is a pretty good source of cheap barely used kit.
Vinted is a pretty good source of cheap barely used kit.
A couple of mates have gone full Rapha over the last year courtesy of Vinted, seems to much more sensible prices than on Ebay
The new altura all road range is good, not fitted but not baggy either. They do a "baggy short" which is not as baggy as an MTB short and not as long but has great stretch for pedalling if Lycra shorts aren't your thing. They should be available for spring.Also the eskar range works well too
I was going to mention Altura as well, I've got the All Roads Repel shorts which pass as casual but aren't unreasonably flappy or rustly. I've found other brands (Endura/Aussie Grit) just had too much loose material which bugged me, even on the gravel bike
I wear the Altura shorts for longer trips or tours when I want to be able to wander into pubs or cafes without scaring the public too much, but I honestly still find they add chafing or something, even through roadue shorts beneath
For jerseys. Most brands cheapest range will be a "club" fit, traditionally that means a straighter cut with hemmed sleeves rather than silicone grippers. It's the range that charity ride commemorative jerseys are inevitably made from, it's basically a T-shirt fit but with rear pockets and long enough at the back.
If you want budget, I've bought quite a few 'fake' jerseys and shorts from China. I'm not vain enough to buy actual fake rapha, assos, etc, but some of the retro team jerseys are pretty cool. The jerseys last well (TBH jerseys always last well apart from the most expensive, thinnest, race offerings), the shorts usually last a year which is a frequent problem with any printed material is the 'white' underneath starts to show though and go transparent. Plain black shorts from any brand will be better.
Thin, relatively close fitting MTB shorts over bibs isn't too bad. Don't go for pockets (or at least don't put anything in them), it always goes one of two ways, either the constant jangling will start to drive you up the wall as your wallet / phone /keys rattle in sync with your cadence. Or worse something starts to chafe. If it doesn't fit in your jersey pocket, get a saddle bag, if it doesn't fit in a saddle bag don't take it.
I'm firmly in the "just wear lycra" camp. It's fit for purpose, no one is looking at your junk that wouldn't be looking at it anyway. It doesn't chafe, it doesn't flap, you can just get on with the riding and not noticing it.
I always think people riding full-on road bikes in full-on mtb baggies look a bit like they're trying very hard to make a point at the expense of actual utility, but gravel stuff works fine.
what is "full on mtb baggies" these days? off road fashion has changed (for the better) in recent years.
People (trail and enduro riders) no longer look like extras in a 90s rap video or a member of a 2000's punk garage band but with added colour. Thank god.
I've got 2 pairs of endura singletrack shorts. the fabric is slightly elasticated, so not restricting, despite not being able to pinch more than an inch of fabric - so no flapping or discomfort when doing mid 20's on my mtb. Probably a few watts of aero lost over a golf ball texture race skin suit, but its hardly ride ruining for the solo riding non-competitor.
agree with suggestions above for club-cut road jerseys if you are needing the pockets for practical reasons.
On proper road rides, roadie kit actually works really well
This. It doesn't need to be a race fit either. I got over the fact that I look ridiculous and appreciate the comfort on longer rides.
I'm surprised no one was mentioned Planet-X (unless I missed it). I've got a lot of their kit and I think its pretty good (and cheap).
I found Castelli premium pad bibs to be incredibly comfy, after spending less for a number of years.
On proper road rides, roadie kit actually works really well
This. It doesn't need to be a race fit either. I got over the fact that I look ridiculous and appreciate the comfort on longer rides.
I look pretty ridiculous even in jeans and hoodie, I got over my lycra phobia a long time ago
On proper road rides, roadie kit actually works really well
This. It doesn't need to be a race fit either. I got over the fact that I look ridiculous and appreciate the comfort on longer rides.
+1. The comfort is in part down to the fit. It turns out loose stuff flapping around just is irritating after a while, and it catches wind that I'd really rather was kept out. Lycra is just tight, that's it's dealio. I often look ridiculous, like a potato on stilts, but it's warm and comfy. (I am absolutely NOT a "pro-fit" shaped human being. Stay away from those words. "Club fit" is ideal.)
In terms of budget kit I rate: I really, really like the Decathlon Riverside cargo bibs. Bibshorts should have pockets. They are comfy and the pockets are a good size. (I also think, for distance, bibs beat non-bib padded shorts. They just stay up, they don't chafe, you look silly, they work.)
Disclaimer: I am not a regular roadie.
I just wear my MTB kit, and even that isn't particularly special. Shorts with clip-in padded underpants that I bought from someone on here forever ago. A cycling jersey from TK Maxx or a wicking tee-shirt from Go Outdoors. A dayglo waterproof from Decathlon if the weather looks inclement. My second-best pair of Solomon "approach shoes" (trainers).
As ever it's a case of "the right tool for the job" and your use-case may well be different, but I see little reason to dress like a 1980s hair-metal band reject in order to pop to Lidl. My criteria are: is my pants cuff going to get caught in the drivechain; is my arse going to be sore; am I going to be sweating like a dwarf nun at a penguin shoot?
Competing for king of the mountain in the Tour De Burnley is lower on my priorities list but as they say, YMMV. 😁
I've been wearing my new Sportful Giara hoodie a lot recently.. It's a cycling top, with rear pockets etc but it's a hoodie. I would recommend it but only at the price I paid (half price sale), which is still pretty spendy.
https://www.sportful.com/GB/en/Mens/Cycling/Jackets/GIARA-HOODIE/p/1121045_456_52_L?scroll=0
I look pretty ridiculous even in jeans and hoodie, I got over my lycra phobia a long time ago
+1 I think people drastically overestimate how well they dress, and also how little anyone else cares.
It turns out loose stuff flapping around just is irritating after a while, and it catches wind that I'd really rather was kept out. Lycra is just tight, that's it's dealio.
eh, I don't get it. I ride in baggies, for MTB obvs but I've also done 160k century rides in them. They're fairly fitted, so they're not catching the wind like a sail, and they don't chafe. More than anything, the pockets are incredibly useful, with phone, wallet, and snack; and I don't feel like my arse is hanging out like you sometimes see with folks wearing lycra that's less opaque than they realise...
If anything, for road-riding with its insistence on having no bag/ camelbak, pockets are *more* important rather than less! And for gravel riding, you might as well wear good quality slim-fit baggies - they're going to give more protection from the elements/ gravel spray, and being aero isn't really vital.
Lycra would seem to be about aero when you're in the peloton, comfort if you're in the saddle for multiple 5 hour days; and looking like the pros. But hey, cycling's about riding how you want to ride, so each to their own!
Trouble is all my kit is of the baggy variety and while I don't care about looking odd I know it isn't really the right stuff for the job.
Try it and see how it goes.
I prefer to wear roadie gear on my road bike, but it's totally fine when I occasionally pop out in MTB stuff for whatever reason.
If you're a medium sized person and want some cheap roadie gear to try out, pop me a message. I've been meaning to get shot of some of mine.
If anything, for road-riding with its insistence on having no bag/ camelbak, pockets are *more* important rather than less
Road jerseys have good sized pockets on the back.
I've also done 160k century rides in them.
100k is a century ride. 100 miles is a century ride.
160k is not a century ride.
Road jerseys have good sized pockets on the back
I have an Outland faux flannel "Shacket" with 3 great pockets on the back. My colleagues still look bemused when I produce a full Tesco meal deal out of thin air.
+1. The comfort is in part down to the fit. It turns out loose stuff flapping around just is irritating after a while, and it catches wind that I'd really rather was kept out. Lycra is just tight, that's it's dealio.
I get that it's maybe Alps specific, but try descending, say, the Galibier in loose-fitting clothing and you'll appreciate the virtues of stuff that's a super-close fit, 20 minutes plus - or whatever it is - of noisy, flapping jersey or windproof gets quite wearing, quite quickly.
That's not going to happen to you in the UK, or at least not for as long, so I guess it doesn't really matter as much, but Lycra's not just about being aero.
That said, people should just wear whatever they want. People who take stuff like 'The Rules' seriously are ridiculous.
160k is not a century ride.
It could be if you started young and rode really, really slowly.
If you're a medium sized person and want some cheap roadie gear to try out, pop me a message. I've been meaning to get shot of some of mine.
Medium is what I'm trying to get back down to, currently at the top-end of large!
Plenty of ideas there guys, especially about not worrying about how I look too much. I think a visit to Decathlon and TKMaxx over the weekend might be required to actually see some of the suggestions and see if anything jumps out.
I've been wearing my new Sportful Giara hoodie a lot recently
You could wear that to the pub and probs get a round in for 6 and not need a tray