Encove Blog

Summer is a terrific time to get out on your bike. Whether you want to glide leisurely along city cycle paths or head into the country to enjoy the UK’s fabulous scenery, getting on your bike is the way to do it.

Just like anything else in life, it’s important to dress appropriately. And if you want to make the most of spending your long summer days taking part in this wonderful pastime, sleeveless cycling jerseys are the way to go.

So what’s so cool about these garments? They’re designed with various things in mind. They look stylish. But above all, they’re designed to ensure maximum comfort during the summer months. Their lightweight construction will keep you fresh, even during the rare occasions when the British climate turns really hot!

The sleeveless aspect ensures cyclists have complete freedom when it comes to exercising their arms. It’s always pleasant to feel a breeze bathing against your skin while you zoom along (although always wear protection cream, as even on an overcast summer day the sunlight can be deceptively fierce).

Elastic netting at the lower back also allows air circulation. The front panel can secure with a flat lock seam. The blend of polyester and Vento is designed to have a high wicking quickly drying effect. Excessive zipper fasteners are a non-no for summer wear as metallic objects can overheat.

Some of these jerseys are adaptable. Because the weather can never be guaranteed from one day to the next, you can have the choice of wearing a first layer directly against your skin, or using it as a base later if you want to add additional protection when the weather has turned cooler.

While a lot of cycling gear is sometime more heavily slanted towards male riders, the good news about sleeveless cycling jerseys is there is a good deal of choice for women. These come in stylish designs, with bold patterns or plain colours, depending on your tastes. The jerseys fit snugly to body shapes, allowing for female contours. Although they help keep everything in place while you cycle over awkward terrain, the material they are constructed from ensures a steady air flow, keeping you cool. Jerseys often come with added accessories, such as concealed pockets.

If you choose to order you sleeveless cycling jerseys online, you can benefit from discounts, return policies and free delivery.  

Cycling can be whatever the rider wants it to be - calming, exciting or challenging. The same can be said for what a cyclist wears. Whether you want to be loud and proud or merely blend into the background, there are a number of options available to show both your mood and personality when cycling.

Due to the number of outlets and variation of cycle clothing available these days, helped along by the birth of the internet, even if there isn't a ready-made outfit that you feel would meet your needs, you can easily put one together from the different options available. You could even design one for you own cycle team should the fancy take you. Road cyclists are able to select for a huge range of outfits in a vast array of colours and designs, ranging from subdued colours and sports team logos right through to neon colours; you can even support your favourite cycling team by wearing their branded products. Mountain biking and downhill cycling offers more varieties in style due to baggy fit clothing becoming ever more popular. You can buy shorts, jerseys and jackets to match your mood and style, as well as having the added luxury of mountain bike wear resembling casual high street fashion. If you're someone who likes to step out of their comfort zone in your everyday dress, then why not do the same in your cycle wear? Or maybe you have a set taste and style in your dress sense, which again can be reflected in your cycle wear!

Your mood could be further reflected by applying your style to your cycle helmet. Again, you can purchase bicycle helmets in an array of colours, styles and designs, right through from funky modern designs to old school retro designs. Yakkay even offer a helmet with changeable covers so you can always ensure your cycle wear matches your mood. You can also obtain limited edition helmets, such as the AA Cycle Awareness helmet, of which there were only 5000 produced; ideal for people who like to stand out from the crowd.

It's also worth noting that while you can dress to suit your mood or personality, you can also enhance your mood with what you wear. If you look good, you feel good, if you feel good, your mood is good.

Where the road cyclist requires a more tight fitting attire to cope with the aerodynamics of pedaling non-stop, the preferred clothing of a mountain biker is becoming somewhat of a different taste. Baggy clothing is becoming very popular in the downhill cyclist’s wardrobe as the preferred choice of clothing. There is still much debate as to how much of this caters for style or functionality, as well as the choice coming down to personal preference. However, baggy clothing certainly allows for the cyclist to blend in with general day to day activities such as stops at the shops, as well as being very practical.

Some downhill cyclists prefer the loose fitting material as a tight fit is not always required in this particular sector of cycling. They also feel that the baggy fit is more comfortable and hard wearing so you would not be as susceptible to snags and tears as you may be with tight fitting Lycra or Xpandx clothing. Baggy cycling shorts have been manufactured with the cross country and downhill cyclist in mind, offering support by way of a padded stretch liner with the outer short being made out of polyester, nylon or a similar durable material. Off-road cycling jerseys are also available, these offer a looser cut that have the look of cotton but are generally made from polyester. These jerseys often contain pockets that can be fasten with Velcro or zips; another advantage if you happen to be going over bumpy terrain and you don't fancy leaving a trail of possessions behind you.

Front zippers on cycling jerseys are used to control the ventilation; zip size can start from 5” to full length and can be adjusted accordingly to the cyclist’s preference. Baggy clothing is purposely oversized to allow for users to wear the necessary protective pads underneath. Although baggy, the clothing still offers resistant to moisture which again is a major asset to any cyclist.

Others may suggest that the reason baggy clothing has become popular in downhill cycling, not to mention mountain biking overall, is to set a trend for those who may be looking to enter at a professional level. The idea being that it sets them apart from say the likes of road cyclists and places them in their own league, thus separating the confusion between the two to anyone who may be unfamiliar to cycling.

So in conclusion baggy clothing can offer functionality whilst looking stylish, but it's important to balance these factors when purchasing.

It seems like forever from new product development to delivery but we are eventually sitting on the air waybill and packing list that signifies that at least 30 cartons are on the way. Assuming all goes to plan we should have the new products photographed and on sale just after the May Bank Holiday.

So what’s new? In the baggy mountain bike shorts we have a new range which will be initially available in Black and a grey, but there are more colours to currently in production including Brown, Khaki and Blue. With this short we are giving with or without padded undershorts options meaning you can save if you wish to use your existing undershorts or padding. In the ¾ Elara Baggy shorts we are bringing in desert sand with black trims and in the same short the uber-popular black with grey trims is also with the shipment in all sizes.

In cycling jerseys we have some brand new options along with some colour variations of existing designs in both long and short sleeves. The top selling Tethys Air jersey in white, black and red has been remodelled to include a long sleeve version. The long sleeve Europa jersey has two additional new colours of charcoal and black as well as light grey and black. There is also a range of sublimation printed jerseys in four options for those want a little more style and colour. And new colours of red and blue have been added to the Air Gel fingerless glove. And there’s more: We have neglected the girls in the past so to make amends we are bringing is a rage of shorts jerseys. The shorts will be a combination of Black and Pink and Black and Blue. Jerseys, jacket and bib shorts will be on a following shipment.

Cycling socks are must have cycling wear for any frequent cyclist; general day to day socks just don't cut it. The first port of call is to ensure your cycling socks are thin, due to your feet swelling when riding your bicycle, thinner socks will allow for the swelling to occur without adding the displeasure of your shoes feeling too tight and inflicting pain as you ride.

Another factor to look out for is the number of seams within the socks - the fewer seams the better. The reason being that the more seams a sock contains, the more discomfort it can cause as you ride. It is also worth looking out for socks that are made via an open weave construction to ensure maximum air flow, increasing comfort and preventing your feed from overheating. Also look out for socks that are made from man-made fabrics. The CoolMax fabric is ideal to wick away moisture from your feet and also reduce the chances of painful blisters and chafed skin. Socks that are made from 100% cotton absorb moisture and can get hard, thus resulting in the aforementioned blisters and chafed skin.

Female cyclists should invest in cycling socks catered for the female market. Females who use socks designed for males will find that that the size isn't accurate and will possibly result in discomfort and chafed skin when cycling. Specifically designed female socks offer a fit that is better suited to the female form, thus preventing any discomfort for the female cyclist.

It is recommended that you always carry a spare pair of socks, as you never know when a pair may be required. This is especially true for cyclists who embark on a great number of miles on a weekly basis. Anyone concerned with the winter period will need to invest in a pair of wool socks, however the same rules apply as before, less seams and open weave construction will ensure maximum comfort.

Many cyclists swear by DeFeet. DeFeet offer not only an array of socks catered for all cyclists, but also offer them in a range of colours and designs. Another popular product in the cycle sock world is Newlife socks from Mirai. The socks incorporate the company's “X-Dry” technology, continuous filament polyester along with modified cross section which transports moisture from the sock to the outer surface of the sock allowing it to dry quickly. This process is achieved by using micro-channels which create the type of capillary action to disperse moisture.