Cycling certainly has its customs, more so than the next sport. Between the history, culture, and shaved legs, it's easy to feel lost in the world of cycling. That's why we are launching a new tradition at Panache called #AskPanache. Covering everything from clothing to spicing up your training plans, we have you covered.
This week, we're talking fashion.
Q. If you don't race, what are the fashion rules of cycling kits?
The Rules
The truth is, there are no rules. Our suggestion is to ride whatever feels good and gets you inspired to ride your bike. A few professionals have even been known to wear button-up shirts with cutoff sleeves.
Now this is some pretty radically stylish behavior, but if that gets you excited to ride, rock it! We, at Panache, recommend wearing a short with a high quality chamois. When it comes to chamois, fit is most important. Even the most padded chamois can become unbearable if it doesn’t fit right. And, of course, our chamois is the most comfortable available because its incredible fit, adjustability, and breathability.
To Match, or not to Match
If you’ve graduated to a serious level of riding, we have a few suggestions on kit designs and how to match appropriately. First, for the gentleman, we suggest a good mix of matching and clashing. It’s a bit of an unspoken rule in the cycling world, matching is awesome, but too much matching can have the same effect as clashing. To explain, lets think about the traditions of the world championship jersey. In 2002, Mario Cippollini won the World Championships and, in doing so, revolutionized the kit matching game.
Although Mario certainly pulled off the look, you can see how too much matching can get a little wild. We recommend matching without trying too hard. That means pairing black bibs and stripes, houndsteeth and stars, and subtle tops with wild bottoms. In the world of cycling style, there is no wrong answer… we just try to make it a little easier for you!
The Devil is in the Details
Now, lets talk sock height. One of the most controversial questions in the cycling world, sock height has history in cycling style. The UCI has even instituted rules preventing excessive heights.
The trend is toward higher and higher socks. Personally, we like to be in the 5” to 6” range. There’s not much function to any height, but the higher the sock, the more color and more design that is visible!
Check out this video from GCN, where they ask for the Professional Sock opinion!