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Although many cyclists pay the most attention to core cycling apparel like cycling shorts, cycling tights, and cycling jackets, cycling accessories are also essential to ensure that your riding experience is optimal. When selecting cycling accessories, the cyclist can target the following key cycling accessory categories: • Cycling arm warmers • Cycling arm coolers • Cycling leg warmers • Cycling gloves • Cycling headwear/neckwear • Cycling shoe covers Cycling Arm Warmers During those chilly days when it is too cold to just wear a sleeveless or short sleeved cycling jersey, but not cold enough to bundle up in multiple layers, cycling arm warmers are a perfect accessory to utilize to maintain warmth in your arms. Below are a few benefits of cycling arm warmers: - Should the weather warm up resulting in the arm warmers feeling too hot, they are light enough that they can be taken off and stored away in the back pockets of your cycling jersey. - Cycling arm warmers act as a protective barrier between forearms and arm rest pads if riding in aero position on aero bars - Some cycling arm warmers provide sun protection in addition to warmth - Some cycling arm warmers do have reflective piping which is beneficial when riding in the dark - High quality cycling arm warmer fabrics wick moisture quickly Cycling Arm Coolers Contrary to cycling arm warmers, cycling arm coolers are perfect for the warmer days when you want to keep your arms cooler and protect them from the dangerous rays from the sun. Below are benefits of using arm coolers: - Cycling arm coolers provide excellent moisture management and wicking properties - Cycling arm coolers keep your arms cooler by several degrees resulting in a lower body temperature which results in a lower heart rate - Some cycling arm coolers do provide sun protection from UV rays - Compression fit of some cycling arm coolers minimize muscle vibrations resulting in arms feeling better after long rides - Some cycling arm coolers utilize antimicrobial treatments to the fabrics used during construction which results in the minimization and possibly elimination of odors Cycling Leg Warmers / Knee Warmers During those chilly days when it is too cold to just wear cycling shorts, but not cold enough to wear cycling tights, cycling leg warmers are a perfect accessory to utilize to maintain heat in your legs. Below are a few benefits of cycling leg warmers / knee warmers: - Should the weather warm up resulting in the cycling leg or knee warmers feeling too hot, they are light enough that they can be taken off and stowed away in the back pockets of your cycling jersey - Some cycling leg and knee warmers provide sun protection in addition to warmth - Some cycling leg and knee warmers do have reflective piping which is beneficial when riding in the dark - High quality cycling leg and knee warmer fabrics wick moisture quickly - Some cycling leg and knee warmers do provide compression which results in better circulation and enhances recovery by minimizing lactic acid build-up. Leg and knee warmers with compression will also enhance performance by minimizing fatigue (because of better circulation resulting in muscles that are better oxygenated). Cycling Gloves Cycling gloves for most riders are the most popular cycling accessory. Whether riding in the cold weather or warm weather, taking care of your hands is essential as one must have control of his or her bike at all times and healthy hands will ensure that this happens. Below are different types of gloves that cyclists should consider depending on weather conditions and riding conditions: • Half finger Cycling Gloves - Half finger cycling gloves are typically padded to provide protection and relief to the palms of the hands and minimize or eliminate numbness of the hands which can occur during many miles of riding. - Half finger cycling gloves are often used in warmer weather and also ensure that the rider has a more secure grip on the handlebars (as opposed to a grip that may slip because of sweat and moisture if not wearing Half finger cycling gloves protect a cyclists' palms and back of hand in the event of a crash - Half finger cycling gloves provide skin cooling effect during excessive sweating and provide moisture management by wicking sweat • Full Finger Lobster Cycling Gloves - Lobster cycling gloves are ergonomically constructed for cold weather use and to feel comfortable on your hands but also provide the right angles for a good grip on your handlebars - Most lobster cycling gloves are waterproof and windproof to protect the cyclist against the cold, harsh elements of mother nature - Most lobster cycling gloves provide reflective piping for riding in the dark. - Lobster cycling gloves provide extra thickness and padding to protect hands - Lobster cycling gloves provide insulated inner lining intended to withstand temperatures as low as 15 degrees Celsius • Long Fingered MTB Cycling Gloves - Long fingered mtb cycling gloves provide padded areas to protect palms of hands - Long fingered mtb cycling gloves provide materials in fingers and palm of glove to assist with better grip - Long fingered mtb cycling gloves protect hands during falls or crashes • Liner Glove for Winter Cycling Gloves - Ideal as a liner for a winter cycling glove - Liner glove can be used as your glove for mild conditions when it is not very cold but not too warm - Some liner gloves have reflectivity for being seen when riding in the dark • Long Fingered Winter Road Cycling Gloves - Long fingered winter road cycling gloves are ideal as they provide padded areas to protect palms of hands - Long fingered winter road cycling gloves provide materials in fingers and palm of glove to assist with better grip - Long fingered winter road cycling gloves provide insulated material on inside of glove to keep hands warm - Long fingered winter road cycling gloves protect hands during falls or crashes - Long fingered winter road cycling gloves provide reflective elements for visibility in the dark Cycling Headwear / Neckwear On those cold days when a cyclist is determined to challenge mother nature and the elements, cycling headwear and neckwear accessories are essential to keeping your head and neck warm and protecting them from the cold. Below are some different types of cycling headwear and neckwear accessories as well as the benefits that they provide: • Winter cycling balaclava mask - Keeps face dry and warm - Provides necessary peripheral vision in open area around the eyes - Provides good wicking properties to keep head dry beneath the helmet • Cycling skull caps and bandanas - Provide snug fit underneath helmet - Provide protection to scalp from the sun - Provide good wicking properties to keep a cyclist's head cool on warm days and dry on the colder days • Headbands and ear covers - Provide snug fit underneath helmet - Keep sweat out of cyclist's eyes - Wicks away moisture and dries quickly - Provide warmth for ears and head on cold days\ Cycling shoe covers Cycling shoe covers are worn for a multitude of conditions, mostly pertaining to the weather but some pertaining to performance. Whether in need of cycling shoe covers to ride in the rain, sleet, or snow or to achieve optimal aerodynamics, below are different types of cycling shoe covers and some benefits that they provide: • Cycling shoe cover with high ankle - Typically constructed with zipper to secure shoe cover above the ankle - Typically constructed with reflective piping to allow cyclist to be seen when riding in the dark - Construction of zipper to zip up above ankle minimizes chance that water will enter the shoe on rainy days - Constructed to provide warmth on colder days • Cycling toe covers - Ideal for days that are not extremely cold but not too warm. Cycling toe covers typically cover only the toes and the first half of your foot. - Cycling toe covers can be taken off easily and stowed away in the cyclist's back pocket - Cycling toe covers provide wind and water protection • Lycra cycling shoe covers - Typically used for aerodynamic fit for competition and racing - Provide some wind protection and warmth on mild days Conclusion For most cyclists, cycling in the great outdoors is not only an activity to look forward to, but it is a lifestyle as well. In order to enjoy this lifestyle, the savvy cyclist will go to any extreme to make sure that Mother Nature does not relegate him or her to riding on the indoor trainer. In rain, sleet, or snow, or even on the hot sunny days, one must heed all conditions and accessorize accordingly in an effort to control his or her cycling destiny. **** Roy Lazarus Trivillage.com Customer Service COO/Co-Owner of Trivillage.com Trivillage.com is the multi-sports store with a local touch and a global reach! For all of your gear and apparel needs for triathlon, swimming, biking, running and anything outdoors, check out Trivillage.com!
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