How to choose the right cycling kit for you? Part 2

In the first part of the series, we introduced the different cycling disciplines and how their specific characteristics shape cycling clothes. This time we are going to look deaper into the characteristics of cycling clothes, and where trade-offs must be taken into account when your next gear. We also look at how elastic and body-fitting cycling clothes and how the different fits should be considered when choosing your clothes.

Aerodynamics, comfort and fit

Aerodynamics, comfort and fit are very important in cycling as a whole and also in cycling clothing. The tighter the clothing fits on the body, the more aerodynamic it is.

The tightest clothes are even so difficult to pull on that the dresser needs an assistant. Tight-fitting clothing has fewer wrinkles and provide the lowest wind resistance as you cut through the air. However, comfort suffers from extreme tightness. For example, the moomoo stand-alone custom shown in the picture below is comfortable only in the racing position, but almost unusable on other races.

Tartu 2024 rider, Gleb Karpenko, demonstrating the low tuck position needed for a Time Trial (Photo: Adam Illingworth)

If aerodynamics are not the most important thing to your cycling, it is therefore not necessary to prefer tight-fitting clothing. Achieving energy savings through wind resistance and weight reduction is especially important for performance athletes in most cycling areas. However, it is aerodynamics that have become the norm in road racing, regardless of the athlete’s athletic level. On the other hand, there is an increasing trend in off-road riding: loose-fitting cycling shirts and padded shorts are gaining popularity.

Wider-cut clothes are more comfortable to wear in the long run, they are also more versatile and perform well in all cycling disciplines. In their pockets you can pack everything you need, technical fabrics support the body’s thermoregulation and the padded short cushion make riding just as comfortable.

Correct fit

Slim-fit and super-slim-fit clothes are comfortable only for those whose body shape they are designed for. Although elastic fabrics do partially compensate for the wrong choice, if the desire to fit forces one or more size figures to choose a larger-than-usual garment, it is still a sign that the wearer’s body type does not fit well with this type of cut. An incorrectly chosen shirt is likely to limit breathing space and tighten the belt and waist area, making the athletic effort more unpleasant and difficult.

Anyone who looks at slim-fit clothing when buying regular clothing should also be cautious about buying this type of cycling clothing.

moomoo loose-fit BMX jersey Basic, regular-fit Jersey Basic, slim-fit Jersey Pro ja super-slim-fit Jersey Pro Race

A less noticeable but bugger problem with the body is found with wrongly chosen bib-shorts: unsuitable and tight-fitting shorts can cause the cushion to no longer be close to the body, moving around and not being above the correct position. This increases the pressure on the prostate area, causing discomfort and numbness.

With the right choice, evenly fitting pants hold the padded cushion tightly against your body. A good attempt is to try on the shorts without pulling on the braces: the shorts that fit the body are evenly tight around the body even without the braces, they do not tighten at the leg or waist.

Most of the moomoo product range has a snug fit. It is worth noting that our different series of products are designed for different body types and have different degrees of adherence. The Pro series products are mostly slim-fit cut and fit snugly around the body. The Basic series products also fit, but less, and have a looser, regular-fit cut.

Motivated riders could design their kit collection from Pro series clothing. An active rider should be guided by their body type, as both Pro and Basic clothing meet their expectations. The enthusiast must also be based on his body type, but it can be said that the classic products of the Basic series meet his needs and hopefully exceed expectations.

In the last part of the series, we will give recommendations for designing a rider’s wardrobe: which clothes to start with and which ones to acquire as time and experience add up.