Reddit mentions: The best cycling jerseys for men

You can ride to crazy low temps, although windchill, your riding speed, and your stopping frequency greatly influence it. For example if you are riding with a constant effort you can keep your body warm. But if you are dealing with a lot of stop and go you can get chilly quick.

As others have mentioned layers are key. Not only does it allow you to remove as needed but it lets you build the appropriate warmth for the days temp. What kind of cycling clothing do you already wear. I don't want to suggest any extreme roadie stuff if that's not your style!

A couple items I highly suggest looking into are:

Wind Vest
Such as this That one is pricey and you can find much better prices if you look around. I have an old Adidas one I bought for about 30 dollars over 5 years ago and it's still going strong. I am also a pretty thin guy so I use it a lot, for example in the 70s!

Neck Gaiter
Such as this
You will be amazed at how much warmer you will be. I have the one linked and like it although there are many other brands. Be careful not to get one that is too insulated. It's also handy as it can be pulled up over the face some which helps prevent needing a balaclava.

Ear Protection
This could be in the form of a full cap or in my case I use this and then a thick cycling cap if needed. It is pricey but it's extremely nice. It's also packs up pretty well so it can be removed after it warms up and put into your pocket.

All of those should fit with any style and not make you look like some uber cyclist. :)

I know pretty much everyone in here is saying that they don't, but I guarantee you that some people do. I've had people made snide comments to me on group rides before when I wasn't all kitted out.

Those people are assholes though, so don't worry about their opinion.

I would also agree though that bike gear isn't just a tribal display. It really is very functional. A jersey that you can unzip halfway in the front to allow airflow is just better even than a moisture wicking shirt for keeping you cool. Padded shorts can keep you comfortable in the saddle for longer than gym shorts by a huge margin. And if you care about your speed, the tight fit of bike clothes give you maximum aero and allow you to go faster with the same amount of work.

So yeah, I agree, wear what you want. Jerks will judge you. Don't worry about jerks. But I'd suggest trying gear out and seeing how you feel riding in it. It does make a difference. You don't need to spend a mint either. Grab starter-level stuff on Amazon. Like this and this. You can even get jerseys at places like Goodwill sometimes, though they usually smell like someone else's sweat.

First and foremost, the most important thing for comfort is a bike that fits you properly and is adjusted to you. If it's not a shop that does fittings, then you might want to consider a different shop. I love my first LBS, the people there are awesome, but I would've been saved a world of issues if I had been properly fit on my hybrid the day I bought it.

Padded shorts help but they're not really a requirement until you're spending a lot of time in the saddle.

Now, I'm not saying go out and buy all this stuff. You might need none of it to start with, but all the stuff I've bought....

The cheapest pair of shorts found with good padding start at $50, and they're Bontrager (Trek's house brand) ones I bought from one of my local bike shops.

I've had my eye on these for some time as a second pair, to see if the chamois is as good or better. Still $50.

Super soft squishy gel saddles are crap. Do not buy them.

Stock saddles almost always suck, ask your LBS for recommendations. If they're a Trek dealer, and it's a Bontrager brand saddle, you can always return it within 30 days and try another.

No matter what grips come on your bike, these are probably world's better. These were literally the first thing I ordered for my wife's Trek 6.2 when she complained her hands were hurting.

These are twice as expensive but the bar ends are really nice for longer rides, to give you more hand positions to work with. It's the same base grip, just with added bar ends. I've had them on my hybrid for some time now.

I still rock this saddle on my hybrid. It's comfortable now for short-ish rides w/o shorts, and I can do about 30 miles on it without trouble.

This is the saddle on my cross bike that I put a hundred miles a week on. It's a bit squishy, but firm.

I wear these gloves when I ride as well, but that's more because I have issues with carpal tunnel and this keeps the pressure off.

As far as tops go, I just started wearing jerseys (I'm still 25ish lbs overweight), this is the one I went with. I'm not saying go for one right away, they're fairly tight and I'm still kind of uncomfortable in it along w/ bike shorts, but I've always been one of those "uncomfortable in his body" fat guys, who wore over-sized clothes in a poor attempt to hide it.

I rode in stuff from Old Navy until recently. Over my bike shorts, I wore some knee-length running shorts, and for a top I just used one of their $10 Go-Dri t-shirts, to wick sweat.

Cotton sucks. You'll be way more comfortable in a shirt that's designed to keep you cool and dry.

Oh, and one last thing, if you get bike shorts, you don't wear underwear. They are your underwear.


I've spent a lot of money on cycling over the months, but it's my primary hobby now, so I don't mind.

Because you can get the F75x for a good price (you said $1100 further up), then it's obviously the best choice for an exercise bike. Much better components than the Jake, carbon fork, full 105...

You said you'll be riding for "fun and fitness" - Do you ever think you'll bike to work? If so, the lack of rack mounts might suck, but a backpack should do fine. If you ABSOLUTELY need rack mounts, which you shouldn't unless you plan to commute long distances or do some light touring, then get the Jake.

The felt is also a fucking sexy color, as girly as that makes me sound.

So, if you can deal with no rack mounts, get the felt bike, along with this and this and you'll be all set for exercise, and you can wear more "normal" clothes for "fun". But the cycling jersey really helps to carry some food, a spare tube, and some necessities in the back pocket like cash and I.D.

One last important thing that could throw you off completely: orthopedic issues - make sure you try the bike and that you have no hip pain - if you do, you might consider getting a hybrid for a more relaxed position. If you feel comfortable on the F75x, then it's one hell of a bike, and I wish you luck.

EDIT: Not sure about the wheels, but the Felt is about as good as the Jake the Snake, even at the MSRP it would be a really good deal. If you can get it $1100 out the door, then that's an insane deal.

To OP /u/SirNoodlesworth and you,

For Winter:

Thermal and Windproof jacket by Przewalski

Neck warmer, unless it's super duper cold, then try full Balaclava

Windproof gloves, and if you want extra padding, try Pearl Izumi from LBS. They're pricier, but may be worth it depending on your comfort tolerance levels.

For Florida/summer:

Best "cheap" bibs! Double stich and will handle lots of washes.

Comfy jerseys with high quality zipper (the zipper is usually the first thing to break on the cheapies).

For ladies, my wife loves these kits. Comfortable and durable.

Here is my list I made for another post. It works from 60 to -10 or so.

Here are my recommendations for surviving a Boston winter:

Bibs, Base Layer, Leg Warmers, Arm Warmers, Thermal Jersey, Jacket, Helmet Cover, Toe Cover, Shoe Cover, Gloves, Balaclava & Socks.

This is almost exclusively Pearl Izumi because it fits me, I can get a good deal on most of it if I wait to buy and the quality is amazing. It is not cheap but I rode almost every week outdoors last year during one of the worst winters we have had in a long time.

Also, do yourself a favor and get a rear fender and wet chain lube. Also staying hydrated is very important as anyone would tell you but it is hard to drink cold water when it is cold so I find this stuff from Skratch Labs really helps. Be prepared to a lot more drive train maintainence due to the salt and sand you will get in your chain and cassette.

Let me know what you have questions on and I will be happy to report back. I don't use all of this on every ride, it is weather dependent but in the middle of winter, I certainly like being able to bundle up and then remove a layer or unzip when needed. It makes riding fun when the thermeter dips below 15°F.

I'm into trying out extremely inexpensive Chinese off brand gear available on Amazon. It's been hit or miss, but I've found a few things I really like.

These "Baleaf" shorts are good quality and great for the money: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071CTVPG8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_mpJNzb844WH80

Haven't had as great luck with jerseys, but these 'ARSUXEO' jerseys are OK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JEBS12E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_rtJNzbEWQ8J7W

These "RUNMANER" / "Coconut" jerseys I like a little less but they come in fun designs: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KMBXR5Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_sCJNzbY46NPYY

PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE SIZING INFO.

Maks Bike Jerseys on Amazon

I have one of these, love the fit. Comfortable, wicks moisture well. Has held up really well too.

Also search for wolfbike jerseys on Amazon.

Lastly, Performance Bike Elite and Ultra jerseys are pretty nice and always seem to go on sale. If you have a Performance Bike store near you, search the clearance rack you can get stuff pretty cheap.

The "best" uniform would be some combination of all three. Orange stands out against nature as being unusual and easy to spot. But for those who are color-blind, it might as well be some kind of pukey gray. In that case, high-contrast is helpful, which black and white serve to do best.

So the best is all three, like this (warning: Amazon link, for those who don't want a cycling jersey on your viewing history). Hopefully the wardens can find a cheaper option, though.

Amazon has some good basics to see if you are interested. They’re not going to be as nice or warm or comfortable as some higher end stuff but it’s a start. I’d say get nice shorts for comfort then a cheap cycling jersey top. I have two of the ones linked below and like them.

Runmaner Coconut Men's Cycling Jersey Short Sleeve Road Bike Biking Shirt Bicycle Clothes - Breathable and Quick-Dry (Black, 2XL) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KMBXQUW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_nktSAb6NGMGVZ

SANTIC Cycling Men's Shorts Biking Bicycle Bike Pants Half Pants 4D COOLMAX Padded Blue L https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013RB09B8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_cltSAbSM74WMK

Both pieces, Cycle Shorts Jersey Bike Shirt Outdoor Sportwear Cycling Short Sleeve Sets Asian XXL US XL https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SD1SWJO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_AltSAb1CMTZ82

Right now I am liking these jerseys with these bibs (in black here). Note these are Asian/Chinese sizing, so while I get a Small in every other brand known to man (pearl izumi, sugoi, primal, etc), I wear a Medium in both of these.

The Rion jerseys are really nice and light and fit well, also somewhat modern with longer sleeves and no right elastic band. They're pretty dark and black in color palette though, so they can be a bit hot. Some of the designs are a bit out there, but some others are minimally branded and look pretty nice. I took a chance on one a few months ago and was pleasantly surprised.

The Spexcel bibs comfy with no elastic leg band and have surprising nice chamois (I rode them for several 80-120 mi rides without any issue). They have a lot other jerseys and bib in the store also, and it's been hit or miss (bibs and shoe covers are great, but jerseys have been generally poor, ill-fitting with saggy necks or loose threads)

The Ali Express stuff takes some time to arrive, but for the price it's hard not beat (plus I like that while it may be a homage to other designs, it's not a branded counterfeit of anything).

If you want something right now just to get out and wear, these are cheap and ship prime. The bibs and jerseys have a tight elastic band on the legs and sleeves. The chamois are not the best but I have no problems on rides up to 3 hours or so. So definitely passable for shorter weekday rides. They've held up fine over a few years and machine washing (hang dry), and they have some decent designs (clearly a rip off of Twin Six or other brands but not a branded counterfeit) if you can live with the funky "Coconut" branding on it.

I run this one: Pearl Izumi - Ride Men's Elite Escape Semi-Form Fit Jersey, Screaming Yellow, X-Large https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010164BTI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_3JFmKMvvDijTM

It is tight on me, I wear an L but went up to XL hoping for a looser fit and it is snug so if you want tight go with your normal tee shirt size. Arms are about as long as shown, the only requirement you had that this budget jersey does not quite meet. Good luck!

My first:

Pedals - $50 when I bought at REI 3 years ago

Shoes - $65 when I bought them at REI 3 years ago

Jersey - $30, I absolutely love these cheap jerseys from Amazon, the zipper on the first one I bought finally gave out 3 years later. I will happily spend $30 on a new jersey every couple years.

Shorts - About $40 when I bought, I wouldn't recommend, they are hard to wear for more than an hour. This is one area where I believe it's important to buy nicer materials, especially for long rides. I have Pearl Izumi and Le Col bibs, they are fine but I am still looking for something that works better on long rides. I am trying theblackbibs.com next.

Let me know if you have additional questions as you get started, I took a relatively budget-minded approached when I jumped in.

I like Ibex's fit of their wool shirts, mainly their long sleeve woolie crew shirts. They aren't too tight, don't shirt, and have a little room around the neck but not too much. SO COMFORTABLE!!! (lhttp://www.amazon.com/Ibex-Woolies-Stripe-Layer-Medium/dp/B0056MD3W4/ref=sr_1_8?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1382668572&sr=1-8&keywords=ibex+long+sleeve+shirt).

camelbak cleaning tablets

front fork transportation mount

I guess Raleigh bikes qualify

giro infant bike helmet

compression cycling shorts

CO2 inflator

gonex cross country helmet

pandoom cycling jersey

camelbak MULE

camelbak bottle

baleaf chamois undershorts

camelbak minimal kids hydration pack

camelbak women LUXE backpack

BV small saddle bag

camelbak rain cover

Hollywood bike rack for sedan

saris super bones bike rack

Some of these aren't amazing, and some might expire by the time you get to them, but this is mostly everything mountain biking related. Good luck, all!

I purchased one of these jerseys on Amazon. Happy with the quality of it. Less than $25.

I also purchased one of these jerseys on Amazon for $55.

They both feel fine, though the $23 one is more form fitting, which I kind of prefer. But seem to be good quality. If you get one, just make sure you pay attention to sizing.

I have a Pearl Izumi Men's Pro Barrier Lite Vest and I love it. Very simple looking, good rain resistance, extremely packable.

Some good prices on Amazon too.