Boardman Waterproof Jacket - Medium

Product Information

We liked the shorts when we reviewed them a few years ago. Since then there have been a number of upgrades, which should only enhance the ride and cement their place amongst the best cheap cycling clothing. From a performance perspective the shorts deliver plenty of comfort thanks to material that fits snugly and provides plenty of support. Said material offers 'light' compression while the straps are constructed from a breathable mesh fabric. The internal removable shorts have a large pad which helps make the saddle as comfortable as possible; I mean, nothing makes a saddle really comfortable, but you know what I mean – I would go as far to say these shorts have the best pad I’ve had. The inner short attaches to the outer short with a series of poppers, which is a good move by Boardman as a) I can take the shorts out to wash separately (or just if I want to walk into town without looking like I’ve eaten too much curry), and b) there isn’t any scratchy velcro on the inside of the short to chafe my hips.

All good cycling jerseys come with some form of gripper to to prevent them from riding up. Some also have grippers on the sleeves for the same reason. Watch out for jerseys with grippers that dig in so strongly as to be uncomfortable. Why do cycling bibs have straps? Arm and leg warmers are hugely practical items. Designed to turn ‘short into long’, they can transform your summer jersey and bib shorts into items that can be worn throughout spring and autumn - and even during some milder winter days too - essentially extending their usage by several months.We also have a dedicated guide to the best arm warmers and the best leg warmers, which provides more detail on both the fit and the functionality. In exactly the same way that having new running gear might encourage you to leave the house and head out for a run, having new cycling gear is a great way to get me on my bike. Good weather and plenty of energy helps too, of course, but the new gear thing is sure to work – at least for a week or two. Naturally when I was offered some pieces from the new Boardman cycling clothing range, I said yes, absolutely!

Women's cycling shorts may have straps but often do have a waistband instead, as this makes comfort breaks much easier. There are various ingenious solutions that provide shoulder straps but still mean that you don't have to remove your jersey on rest stops. But what's a waterproof rating!?" we hear you cry. Well, it's basically a number, and the higher the better. The number is calculated on the basis that if you put a 1cm x 1cm square tube over the fabric, how high could you fill the tube with water before it starts to leak through. Another great option is the Ridge Men’s Thermal Cycling Jersey with thumb holes that can keep your sleeves in place as you ride, for extra warmth. The Boardman Men’s Thermal Cycling Jersey has a full zip design and contains a silicone gripper inside the hem to prevent the jersey from riding up.

A jersey that hugs your body like a second skin isn’t a necessity, but it still should be form-fitting. A baggy jersey can cause uncomfortable bunching of the excess material and will flap in the wind, which is annoying as well as inefficient. From cycling shorts to cycling gloves, we’ve got everything you need to stay comfortable when out on your bike, whatever the season. Here’s our guide to the best cycle clothing for all weather conditions. Spring and Summer cycling clothing And there you have our ultimate guide to the best cycling clothing throughout the seasons to ensure you are as comfortable as possible on your bike rides all year round. As well as the additional protection it provides the fluro yellow colourway will help you to be seen in low light conditions that often accompany autumn rides. Finally there's also reflective details on both the front and the rear of the vest making this a good choice for commuting. Best Cheap Cycling Clothing Buyers Guide: How to choose and what to look for How to keep your kit working year round The Ridge Women’s Cycling Leggings also contains a cushioned pad to provide greater protection while you ride and the high waistband also offers an extra level of comfort.

There are also plenty of fantastic options for women’s cycling shorts, all perfect for Spring and Summer. We recommend the Ridge Women’s Cycling Shorts, which contain a flattering cross-front design, which also helps you to move more freely. Ladies can layer up with the Ridge Women’s Thermal Cycling Jersey or wear on its own for keeping warm when out riding during the colder months. Cycling legwear In the past the pads of cycling shorts were made from the leather of the chamois mountain goat, hence its name. The pad, or chamois, was thin and unpadded. It was replaced by synthetic materials, which offer significant improvements - not least extra padding. There are few things worse than the boil-in-a-bag feeling of clothing that doesn’t breathe well. To help regulate your temperature and to help mitigate the horrible feelings of sweat fabric clinging onto your skin, highly breathable fabric is desirable for cycling clothing. For greater visibility at night, the Altura Nightvision Insulated Waterproof Gloves are fluorescent yellow with an integrated reflective print, allowing you to be better seen on the road, and also offers touch screen compatibility.There's also, vitally, a decent pad that dhb says is designed for medium distances. It deems this as up to three hours, so if you're after shorts for an all-day epic then you may have to look elsewhere. However, the anatomic pad does have a central relief channel and a top sheet to help remove moisture, which indicates it should be plenty comfortable over these 'middle' distances. There are a variety of fingerless cycling mitts which can keep your hands cool on warm days but provide cushioning to protect your hands. We recommend the unisex Ridge Cycle Mitts, which have a perforated palm for breathability and contain foam padding to help reduce road vibration. The Altura Progel Mitts have gel padding for even greater comfort on your bike rides. Sunglasses Despite their low-bulk, good arm and leg warmers are surprisingly warm. I’ve often worn leg warmers when many would swear it was bib tights weather, preferring the ease of movement they provide over the more restrictive nature of bibs. By starting your ride with an easy gear and a high cadence you’ll soon have warmed the legs up sufficiently and be glad of the freedom that the warmers offer. Assuming you do want a bit of extra room, Rapha has got the balance spot on. We found that there wasn't too much extra material to cause unnecessary flapping in the wind. In our experience the waterproofing has been flawless – as it should be with Gore-Tex’s 2L Paclite Plus fabric being used throughout the construction. I’ll start with the shorts as these are probably the most important and well worn item for me out of the three I received to test out. I have wide thighs and a big butt which often makes shorts and trousers a right pain to get. In fact it always makes shorts and trousers a right pain to get! But with these being a wide leg mountain bike short I am happy to report that they fit well and are comfortable when riding.