Jul 30, 2009, 9:58 GMT
Frankfurt - The months of July and August are the height of the season for cyclists with millions of people around the world following the Tour de France. Fine weather also plays a role in getting people out on two wheels whether they are at home or on holiday.
But without the right preparation and equipment a cold or sunburn might be the consequences of an afternoon in the saddle.
Beginners have a wide variety of equipment to choose from but the wrong purchase can prove expensive in the long run as a cycling set consisting of a jersey, shoes and helmet can cost several hundred dollars.
The basic rule for buying cycling clothing is that it must be lightweight, explains Bettina Cibulski from Germany's ADFC, an organisation that represents cyclists' interests in transport policy.
There are also a few things to consider when selecting a jersey, starting with the material. 'A cotton wool shirt will absorb sweat and then the wind will cool you down,' says Cibulski. 'Synthetic fibre jerseys, on the other hand, direct the sweat outwards.'
Peter Nickel of the German cycling association Bund Deutscher Radfahrer says the best jerseys are those with climate zones. They ensure you sweat less and that moisture dries faster.
Jersey maker Gore manufactures the 'Xenon' brand with a mixture of five different materials and is attuned to the body's climate zones.
The 'Fission' jersey from Vaude claims to provide good ventilation on hot summer days. The jersey has fine mesh sections on the back and under the arms to allow maximum ventilation to the two parts of the body where the most sweat is produced.
To achieve the least amount of wind resistance while cycling a racing bike you need to pick the right sized jersey. Helmut Loetzerich, a cycling expert from Cologne's sport high school, points out that many beginner cyclists make the mistake of following their t-shirt size when buying a new jersey. 'A jersey must tightly fit the body otherwise it will flap about in the wind.'
'You should definitely follow that advice,' says Cibulski. A jersey must be of sufficient length and should not leave any part of the back exposed when bent down over the handlebars.
It's also a good idea to have one or two pockets, says Nickel. In contrast to the professionals, amateurs need somewhere to store their house or apartment keys. A typical cycling jersey costs about 70 dollars.
Loetzerich says cyclists should choose a pair of shorts that have as little stitching as possible, especially when it comes to areas where friction will occur. Otherwise they can quickly become uncomfortable.
Also check the stitching to make sure no material is jutting inside, says Cibulski. Another aspect to consider is padding. In a normal seated position most of the body's weight is resting on the sitting bones but while cycling weight is spread across the posterior and pubic bone.
To allow for more comfort most cycling shorts have integrated padding. 'Not everyone likes that,' says Cibulski, so some models allow you to remove the padding. Gore places extremely thin padding in its 'Xenon' shorts.
The sports clothing company X-Bionic makes a unique pair of shorts called 'Fennec' which is named after a breed of fox that inhabits the deserts of North Africa.
The shorts are made of a silver-reflective material called Xitanit that is similar in colour to the fennec fox's fur coat. It reflects the sun's rays and so helps to keep the body cool.
Nickel says that very popular at the moment are cycling short braces worn underneath the jersey that provide for extra support. A good pair of cycling shorts start at about 70 dollars.
Much more expensive are cycling shoes. Nickel says prices start at about 140 dollars. A simple rule applies: 'The lighter the shoe, the more expensive it is.' Independent of the cost, all models are compatible with the three standard pedal systems.
Nickel also favours wearing cycling gloves with padding on the palms to prevent sweaty hands from losing grip on the handlebars.
During long cycling trips in the summer gloves also protect the backs of hands from sunburn. Clothing maker Roeckl makes a model of glove that allows sunrays to pass through the material, thus preventing the formation of tan lines as can happen with short fingered gloves.
But of much more importance for Loetzerich is that padded gloves can prevent painful injuries if you have a fall.
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