Clothing for bicycling and bicycle safety has evolved into a competitive and progressive market, making it easier and less expensive to get outfitted with a good selection of performance and safety enhancing articles. Whether you are commuting to work, out with the family or pounding on the trails, everything from helmets to gloves, padded shorts and reflective jackets is readily available to increase your rider safety.
Helmets
Perhaps the most important piece of your cycling protection is the helmet. According to the Bicycle Helmet Statistic Institute, 61 percent of bicycle fatalities result from head injuries, yet only an estimated 50 percent of cyclists use a helmet as safety equipment. Helmets are inexpensive, comfortable and lightweight. Several states have required helmet laws for all ages of cyclists.
Gloves
Gloves are an easy way to protect a rider's hands from abrasion in the event of an accident. A heavy good riding glove works well when riding in colder temperatures. Many riders look for padded palms and fingerless gloves for summer riding, but some prefer a thinner full finger glove for heavy riding and braking activity. Gloves are generally made of synthetic material or leather, and should be light and nonrestrictive. Like the helmet, gloves are a simple addition to bicycle safety clothing.
Heavy Duty
More competitive riding calls for more protection. Cross country mountain bike racers and road racers may only wear minimum protection, but downhill mountain bike racers go heavy with complete body armor and full face helmets. Similar to motocross racing protection, this kind of exo-skeleton safety equipment is designed to absorb major impacts and collision, outfitting the rider in spinal protection, shoulder, neck and head protection, as well as elbow, arm, wrist, knee and shin gear. As all day remote trail mountain biking becomes more popular, many riders now choose to include knee and elbow protection in their cycling gear bags.
Reflective Wear
Cycling in any traffic or busy urban areas means you need to be seen, and wearing bright clothing with high visibility in the best way to do it. Many cycling companies offer jerseys, jackets and pants with light reflective tape in the most visible areas of the cyclists body, strongly increasing visibility for motorists and other users. The tape works well in day light also. Many items produced for cycling will feature reflective properties for safety. Cannondale, Pearl Izumi, Zoic and Fox Racing are all producers of a good reflective cycling wear.
Padded Shorts
Most regular cyclists will agree that padded shorts are worth their weight in gold. For any amount of time spent in a performance cycling saddle will become unpleasant without added comfort of a cycling short. Today, cycling shorts look identical to casual shorts, only they have a soft chamois or some kind of liner sewn into the seat. Sport fitting tight Lycra or spandex shorts are still widely used, but more so in a field of competition over recreational riding. According to REI.com, cycling shorts minimize friction and increase comfort.
Be Visible. Be Safe.
Many cyclists enjoy all types of cycling, from commuting to road biking, mountain biking to family fun, so its natural they combine a bit of practice from all bicycle safety. Helmets are always a good idea, but so are gloves and reflective wear. Part of bicycle safety is keeping others aware of your presence, so it's wise to help others see you. Many regular cyclists have their cycling gear ready, so it is a matter of putting it on and heading out the door, safe and ready.
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