August 11, 2021
The nicest smartly styled cycling and bike-adjacent clothing
Words: Joseph Delves
Whether you feel the need to be100%on-brand100% of the time, or because you like to shift seamlessly from riding to lounging, more casual cycling clothing can help you achieve both. Including branded goods from brands as distinguished as this very publication, we’ve rounded up a concise wardrobe of cycling-suitable and cycling-adjacent garments.
Discover Rouleur's Desire Selection: Our guide to the best kitacross cycling
Rouleur Service des Courses T-shirt
£30, Shop Rouleur
Performing one of the most important supporting roles in one of the worlds great dramas. Our latest range of t-shirts takes inspiration from historic team cars and neutral service vehicles. Among them, few are as famous as Mavic’s yellow liveried Peugeot. Splashed across an organic cotton t-shirt for Rouleur by illustrator Jono Wood, each of the four vehicles chosen is evocative of a particular era of bike racing.
Buy theRouleur Service des Courses T-shirt at the Rouleur Emporium
Isadore Urban Shorts
£90, Shop Isadore
Looking for all the world like a regular pair of Chino shorts, these cycling-specific numbers from Isadore are ideal for going about your daily routine with or without the occasional stint on the bicycle. With a seat area designed not to rub when you’re in the saddle, reflective detailing adds vital low-light visibility without looking too nerdy. Made of a mix of cotton and synthetic materials, despite looking nice they should also be quite tough. With a rear pocket containing an anti-slip lining, theywill also prevent your keys from jumping out of your pocket if you find yourself hopping over any potholes.
ashmei Signature Merino T-Shirt
£74, Shop ashmei
The ability to wear this t-shirt multiple times before stinking it up makes it great for those looking to cut down on their laundry. A quality provided via the wonders of Merino wool, this natural fabric is also beautifully soft and highly breathable. A good choice for all kinds of sport, travelling, or just daily wear — it also works exceptionally well when cycling. The sort of thing you can wear on the ride into work and then keep on at your desk all day, its perpetually fresh feel means this t-shirt will manage at least a week before needing to be washed.
Discover Rouleur's Desire Selection: Our guide to the best kitacross cycling
Paul Smith Hooded Rain Jacket
£300, Shop Paul Smith
This surprisingly high-tech jacket from noted cycling enthusiast Paul Smith is made from recycled polyester. Reformed to create a waterproof hooded jacket, you could undoubtedly find worse for milling around post-race. Featuring the designer’s famous stripes, these are both lovely looking and close enough to the World Champion’s bands to tie this in with the rest of your cycling gear. Pleasingly urbane, it still benefits from features like taped seams plus elasticated cuffs and hem. With contrasting drawstrings allowing you to batten down the hood, it’s likely to get plenty of colder season use both on and away from the bike.
RouleurBut Ride Organic Sweatshirt
£60, Shop Rouleur
If there exists a classier grey organic cotton sweatshirt, we’ve not seen it. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Eddy Merckx' first Tour de France victory, Rouleur brings you this wearable tribute to the greatest rider in cycling's history. With a back print highlighting one of many maxims from the Belgian legend, it also provides a canvas for our own Rouleur roundel, which on this occasion we’ve printed in the famous Molteni orange. Featuring a crewneck and just slouchy enough for a degree of off-the-bike insouciance, it’s a sweater that wraps you up in cycling culture.
Buy the RouleurBut Ride Organic Sweatshirt from the Rouleur Emporium
Rapha Technical Trousers
£110, Shop Rapha
As anyone who’s ridden in trousers or jeans will know, cotton can get clammy. Not only this, but it’s also not very hardwearing. Rapha’s Technical Trousers do a good job of looking smart while ditching the cotton content normally associated with more dressy looking bottoms. Perfect for those of us that need to cycle to meetings and not look a mess, their norm-core styling hides a few cycling-specific touches. These include reflective details on the turn-ups, plus a zip pocket. Made of flexible and quick-drying fabric, they’re a comfortable pair of trousers for spending the day in.
Buy Rapha's Technica Trousers from Rapha.cc
Fingerscrossed Giraffe Socks
£18, Shop Fingerscrossed
All good outfits build from your socks upwards. Explicitly made for cycling but equally at home in other applications, these Fingerscrossed socks benefit from a giraffe pattern.
They mix the technical with the playful, meaning you can wear them on the bike, on your wedding day and all scenarios between. With abrasion resistance 2.5 times higher than wool or cotton, they should be a long-term pedalling partner.
