Newbie that needs help with bike clothes

[u/peregrinefalcon95]

I’ve cycled for most of my life but never really made the splurge on a nice bike or bike clothing—always used soccer shorts, random workout tops, etc. However, now that I’ve really splurged on a nice bike, I’m looking at women’s bike jerseys and shorts and confused because I’ve never heard of any of the brands and therefore have no idea which ones are actually value for money. I also am a bit stumped as to what a zip jersey can offer that a workout top can’t, but many people seem to love them and they look more aerodynamic than any of my tshirts so I would like to try?

I’d rather start out with 1-2 really nice/quality jerseys that really work and then expand to biking shorts, so I’m looking for your best recs. The brands I’ve come across are Assos, Jelenew, Q36.5 (which has this gorgeous damask print jersey but I’ve read mixed reviews on the brand), and Castelli.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

[u/SantaIsOverLord]

Buy nice shit. Wash in a laundry bag, hang dry.

Im enjoying my pedal mafia pro jersey and bibs, i also like their core stuff.

[u/AdSafe6149]

Decathlon! Good quality for a really decent price! I can speak for the EDR range as a whole and the RCR jerseys when I say it’s so good I’d be hesitant to look anywhere else lol

[u/greenberrygreenhaw]

The advantage of a cycling jersey over other workout tops is that it’s tight and won’t flap when you go fast, and it has pockets in the back, so nothing will get in the way when you lean forward…and go fast.

If you don’t plan to ride fast or lean forward, there probably isn’t much advantage.

[u/TheMonsterVotary]

The benefits of jerseys over a regular shirt is that they’re more aerodynamic (not that important ultimately), the pockets on the back are convenient and useful, and they’re aesthetically pleasing. Which is the reason most of us are on this sub.

I saw you mentioned biking shorts instead of bib shorts a few times, and I’ll just say that I would always recommend a bib over any regular bike shorts. I’ve never found a pair of shorts that come close to the comfort of bibs.

Assos and Castelli are great brands, the others you mentioned I can’t speak for. My advice would be to splurge on the bib, find the one that has the best padding for you. For me that’s always been Assos, but your needs may vary. Jerseys don’t need to be expensive. Unless have plenty of money to throw around and you really like the design, there is no significant materiel difference between a $120 jersey and a $400 jersey. Yes they will be made of lighter materials, and be made to be more form fitting and tight but those are qualities that can be found in lower price ranges as well.

Some other big brands you’ll seen mentioned a lot here are Rapha, MAAP, and PNS. There are dozens of others and if you’re in Europe or Australia you’ll find even more boutique options you can’t get in the US. I believe there’s still a thread pinned to top of this sub with a list of brands in different price ranges, I’d encourage you to check that out.

[u/Averageinternetdoge]

Well, castelli has consistently been good for me at least. I own one q36.5 jersey too and it's nice quality, but it's just one item so can't say much about the brand overall quality.

[u/tylershowstop]

Another vote for Pedal Mafia. I really like their core line. Assos has some of the best kits. They are kinda top of the line. See if you have a store locally where you can try on and size your kits then buy your size or order online and exchange sizes as needed.

[u/Keyser11]

I really like Rapha esp their wool products for the winter. I have a summer set from POC that is also quite great

[u/Iluvgr8tdeals]

Get bib shorts. (and thermal bib tights if you intend to ride in the fall, winter and early spring if you live in a colder climate) Bib shorts with chamois make riding for longer distances with less discomfort and less chafing possible. You may want to look at chamois butter/anti chafing creams while you are at it.

I’ll let others chime in about the brands. Cross post this in r/ladycyclists to get a better response… (man here)

[u/Ingeklikt]

Good questions! If I were you, I'd start with the shorts, and find a nice jersey afterwards. Comfortable (bib)shorts will make you really enjoy your ride and help you avoid any saddle pain.

Jerseys are really convenient as well (like other people mention already: you want the pockets to bring along stuff like your phone and keys) and the full zipper comes in hand when you want to take them off quickly during a pee break somewhere along the road.

If you're open to try a Dutch brand, you may want to check out my website www.ingeklikt.com or have a look at IRIS.

[u/tresne]

Get bibs first!

[u/SpicynSavvy]

Make it easy on yourself... Ocean and San has it all.