Shoes for Speed
Cycling is an endurance test. When you really get into it you end up spending much more money then you thought you would. However it’s now summer! Now is the best time to get out the bike and trek across the great English countryside. There are some great places to see all from the comfort of your saddle. Just make sure you’re fully prepared and packed if you plan on taking the bike on an extended trip.
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, never forget assets like your feet, your arms, your hands and your head! Taking an extended cycling trip requires forward planning. If you don’t ensure you have the correct gear to support your assets you’ll find your hands, feet, arms and…ahem…rear end take one hell of a punishment before the first day’s riding is over. Let’s start with the feet.
Birkenstock shoes have become my new best friends. Recommended to me by a fellow cycling enthusiast, the sandals I bought last summer have lasted well and been through situations that lesser shoes aren’t able to handle. You can find a great selection online at Zalando. They are highly reputable and I’ve always received great service from them. So far I’ve ridden through heavy rain, sleet and mud in my sandals and not once has there been a dropped stitch or cracked sole. As all cyclists know it’s highly important to have good grip on the pedals and my sandals haven’t slipped once.
Moving onto your arms and bottom there are a couple of options available. For the arms I recommend getting hold of a pair of elbow guards. These aren’t so much to protect you if you fall off your bike…although they’ll certainly help! No, elbow guards come in handy when you’re riding through rough terrain and deep undergrowth. Things like nettles, loose branches and bushed along trail sides can all rip your elbows to shreds over a day. Elbow guards will protect you from that issue straight away.
To prevent saddle soreness, a good pair of cycle shorts/leggings is the only way to go. Most come with padded bottom’s to prevent your rear end from aching and cushion it from rough terrain. Men’s shorts usually come with an extra layer of padding around the crotch which can be extremely helpful.
If you’re planning on riding this summer, then take these points on board. They will help you enjoy your trips a lot more and stop you from patching yourself up when you could be enjoying the scenery.
Comments are closed!