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Tips on What
to Bring on a Biking Tour
by Susan Van Allen
Panic
set in last May as I was packing for
a week-long bike trip to Italy with
Backroads Adventure Travelers. How was
I going to pull together outfits that
were both comfortable and stylish? Luckily,
I had girlfriends who'd been on bike
trips and they gave me essential tips
for the comfort dilemma:
1. GET PADDING:
Even though most of us don't like to
voluntarily add size to our bottom halves,
padded bike shorts are a must. And don't
wear underwear with these, it cuts down
the comfort that the padding provides.
Also, wear padded gloves to prevent
blisters and hand-numbness. And when
you're offered a gel-seat for your bike,
go for it.
2. PACK WICK-AWAY
FABRICS: Cotton t-shirts
that are fine for an hour or two at
the gym won't cut it for a day of riding.
Look for fabrics that will take moisture
away from the body so you can cycle
in cool comfort.
3. LAYER-UP: Temperatures from morning to afternoon
can range from chilly to hot, so be
prepared with lightweight, loose fitting
tops and pants to slip over your basic
apparel.
4. PREPARE
FOR WEATHER: Rain is a fact
of nature everywhere we travel, but
carrying an umbrella while cycling just
isn't practical, so bring along a windbreaker
and breathable rain gear just in case.
Plastic shower caps you get in hotels
work great slipped over a helmet to
keep your head dry.
5. DON'T SPEND
A FORTUNE ON NEW BIKE SHOES - Hard-soled gym shoes will be fine.
For
the stylish part, I searched the Internet
for on-line shops that carry women's
cycling apparel and found these to be
tops:
REI: WIDEST
SELECTION OF BRANDS
A large selection of quality apparel
for outdoor activities is available
here for women, men, and kids. I was
grateful to have their lightweight rain
suit and neon yellow windbreaker for
a chilly wet morning and a windy afternoon.
Check out the site for sale items and
REI Adventure Tours. rei.com,
(800) 426-4840
SPECIALIZED: PADDING EXPERTS
This company is well known internationally
for the top-notch engineering that goes
into their bikes. They take the same
scientific approach to their cycling
apparel, offering shorts and gloves
with padding, ergonomically made to
conform to a woman's shape and size.
Even after a 40-mile ride, wearing their
shorts and gloves I felt no pain, thanks
to their Body Geometry design. specialized.com,
(877) 808-8154
TEAM ESTROGEN: MOST FASHIONABLE SELECTIONS
FOR WOMEN
Biking enthusiast Susan Otcenas of Oregon
began this company 10 years ago with
the goal to provide comfort and style
to women cyclists. This was my favorite
site for its range of clothing and accessories
in vibrant colors and flattering cuts,
in petite to plus sizes. I chose an
adorable skort ensemble (it even came
with matching socks) which made me the
envy of the other gals in my riding
group. Their web-site offers great sales,
biking adventure stories, tips for cyclists,
discussion forums, event listings, and
even bike jokes. teamestrogen.com,
(877) 310-4592
ZYFLEX SPORTSGEAR: TOP QUALITY APPAREL
AT BUDGET PRICES
The folks at Zyflex have worked to engineer
the best durable, lightweight fabrics
that wick-away moisture -- essentials
for a comfortable ride. Their biking
shorts and jersey dried just hours after
washing and their sports bra is the
most comfortable I've ever owned. zyflex.com,
(877) 499-3539
To
read about Susan Van Allen's Italy Bike
Tour experience, click here. |
