How to dress for cycling to stay stylish?

When riding a bike, you sometimes feel like you can't dress the way you want. There are many reasons for this: bad weather, sweating, cold... Result? We leave our best clothes in the wardrobe, even our bike. It doesn't have to be that way! On the occasion of the fashion week, JE SUIS À VÉLO gives you its little recipes to stay stylish on your bike and adopt an urban cyclist look!

Comfortable clothing

Riding in the rain

For rain, it's simple, you can keep your usual cycling look. Just slip on a rain poncho and you're done. These little capes that you slip on over your outfit promise to keep your clothes dry on all your journeys. Less bulky than a jacket, ponchos combine comfort and ease of transport. And don't get me wrong, most rain capes are super hot! Even on a bike, you can look good.

Riding in a skirt

Do you wear skirts? Yes, but not when you ride your bike? To avoid them getting caught in your spokes, or flying off and showing your panties, we have two solutions. The Poupoupidou clip (for ""floating"" skirts) or the Cityride overskirt(for skirts closer to the body).

Besides, if the rain poncho hasn't convinced you and the skirt clip isn't precisely what you're looking for, combine the best of both worlds with rain skirts! With these, you protect your legs (and skirts) from any bad weather while keeping your upper body free to move. A very good compromise for some.

Don't get your clothes dirty

How can we avoid getting our best clothes dirty while cycling? In winter, a splash is quick to happen, a splash of mud or even a soaked saddle that stains the trousers ... These problems also have a solution.

The mudguard! This is an essential for urban cyclists. Sometimes missing on old ""vintage"" bikes, you can add it for a small fee (-15 euros at your bike shop). With this, your clothes will stay clean and you'll look great on your bike.

If you're worried that this won't be enough (and you're right, sometimes puddles are dreadful), shoe covers or rain pants can save your look (especially for shoes with fragile coverings, like suede).

Keeping your saddle (and your buttocks) dry

Finally, if you're worried about getting your bum wet sitting on your saddle following a few drops, opt for a saddle cover. These small waterproof plastic covers keep your saddle dry while you're away and you don't have to wipe it down when you arrive. You just take it off and off you go! Cycling while looking good, it's that easy.

Avoid sweat and overheating

Sweating, a recurring problem that affects many urban and non-urban cyclists... Cycling to work? Yes. Arriving soaked? No. And we understand you: sweat stains are ugly and ruin your look. Here are a few tips on how to deal with this problem.

Choosing the right outfit

We were talking about this recently, to better regulate perspiration when cycling, you need to adapt your outfit by multiplying small layers rather than opting for one or two big pieces. You'll find it easier to combat temperature differences.

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If this last tip works very well for the winter season, how do we avoid sweating when we ride in the summer and only wear a t-shirt?

Avoid the backpack

Avoid the backpack as much as possible! We love them, they're great for carrying stuff, but unfortunately having a bag screwed to your back inevitably leads to excess sweating. It's better to use a backpack attached to your luggage rack to keep your back cool. Are you a backpack fanatic? Then prefer a convertible backpack! On your rack on a bike, on your back on foot. Ideal!

Opt for a ventilated helmet

For cyclists who ride with a helmet (80% of our followers on Instagram: we love it!), it can sometimes feel like our haircut goes by the wayside, not to mention our roughed-up scalp. The solution to this? beautiful helmets that take care of your urban cycling look. With lots of vents, these helmets allow air to circulate fully. It won't be a miracle solution if you have a lot of volume in your hair, but we assure you that it will already be a game changer for many of you.

Our tips for getting comfortable on a bike

We're not going to lie to you, while it's possible to ride a bike in almost any outfit, some are more suited to everyday cycling. This is especially true on long rides.

Prefer the neck strap

We strongly advise against scarves. They are often unbreathable, cumbersome, and do not allow the same ease of movement as a choker. A choker protects you from the wind effectively and is much more suitable for urban cyclists.

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Opt for a stretch or elastic material

When cycling, we need to be comfortable in our clothes, and our look needs to fit. It is important to choose breathable and elastic fabrics so that you can pedal properly. For example, stretch jeans will be more suitable than stiff thick cotton jeans.

Choosing the right jacket

There is no point in overdressing when cycling. The feeling of cold usually disappears with effort and too big a jacket will become disabling. If you have the choice, opt for a jacket that is not too narrow and slightly longer at the back.

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As you can see, being ugly on a bike is more myth than reality. There are some simple tips to help you avoid having to choose between a polished look and your bike. By combining all of the tips we've listed in this article, you shouldn't have any trouble looking good while riding!"
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