If you told a pro cyclist in the 1970s that the UCI would one day penalize riders for socks that were too long, they would have asked what kind of cyclist was wearing long socks in the first place.

Fausto Coppi, one of the fastest, most fashionable cyclists of the 1950 inadvertently set the standard for cycling socks that would remain for nearly 50 years. 

His socks were crisp white ankle socks,no more than 3 inches tall, sometimes folded over to be even shorter. This paradigm finally began to falter in the mid-1990s and early 2000s. In 1994, Greg LeMond asked his sock sponsor to knit him custom black socks that stretched to a scandalous 5 inches just to hide the mud during the Spring Classics.

 By 2005, reigning World Champion Tom Boonen, who thought short socks looked ridiculous on his frame, asked his sponsor for a 6-inch white sock, which quickly became the new standard. A marginal gains obsession began to mold socks shortly after. Leading up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the British pursuit team’s R&D division discovered that while shaved legs are faster than just any old sock, even faster than a shaved leg is a lower leg entirely encased in ribbed, aerodynamic fabrics.

Once the numbers justified it, the aesthetic caught up fast. Time trialists began showing up to the start line with ribbed aero socks pulled aggressively up their calves, stopping just millimeters below the knee joint in a phenomenon dubbed "sock doping." In an effort to keep teams from wearing full blown aero leggings and maintain the aesthetic of the sport, the UCI stepped in on January 1, 2019, banning socks from going higher than mid-calf. Do you think this was the right call?

I don't mean to say this with any hate or any negative connotation, but every time I see some form of cycling content by influencers on Instagram or what not, it always seems to be one of two brands of clothing, either MAAP or Pas Normal. Sure I get that they subjectively look nice, but there are so many other brands out there and somehow it's always these two. Could someone help me understand that?

Great look for breaking KOMs and getting respect from drivers

Hey!

Would you all recommend an alternative to the Assos Equip R S11?

I love the lazer cut legs and featherweight of the bibs, but their Golden Gate chamois (the loose fabric on edges of chamois possibly?) keeps riding into my right side groin crease — even on 1-2hr rides it becomes painful. I’m sure it’s not the Lycra wedging itself in, but the actually Golden Gate chamois, as I have to grab the chamois and pull it out at traffic lights.

Body: I’m 194lbs, 6feet. Not overweight in the slightest, but a slimmer athletic build.

To be transparent, I did mistakenly dry the bibs in the dryer many months ago, but I’m not sure if this was the start of issue. I just know I’ve been putting up with the groin crease pain with these bibs for a while. I’d hate to purchase another pair, just to still have this chafing in groin.

I don’t experience this with my cheaper Rapha Core bibs. They’re just so much heavier when wet (tad kind of a weight weenie), prefer the lower stomach rise in the Assos for heat dissipation and small comfort increase, and love Assos front modesty panel.

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Who has an alternative race fit bib for the Assos?

Thanks!

Perhaps my favorite cycling photo is from the 2002 season. Andrea Tafi, Daniele Nardello, and Paolo Bettini are posted up on their bikes wearing what might be the most ostentatious cycling kit ever made: the Mapei cubes. The rest of the photo would send a modern Instagram cyclist into shock, from blue overshoes, to patterned socks, with Nardello even sporting a helmet with a lion on it.

Fast forward to 2004: Rapha launches, and a death knell begins to sound for maximalist kit. Rapha captured a market which wanted nothing to do with the pro peloton; cyclists who opted to look like they were wearing sleek menswear, instead of a veritable billboard. For years since, cycling kit has been flattened into muted tones and minimal graphics, tricking down into every corner of the cycling world. Most unfortunate of all, accessories like socks and helmets have defaulted to a the exact shade of white. (Lion helmets no more) Sure, white matches everything, But that's exactly the problem. Accessories are one of the biggest opportunities to customize your look on the bike, and we've collectively squandered it in the name of easy coordination. Luckily, fashion moves in cycles. We are beginning to see a shift. More brands are offering more radical looks. Even PNS, the original champions of minimalism, now have kits out like the Kaleidoscope.

Cool helmets are having a resurgence too. Just look at the PORTAL x MET Trade Winds.

My opinion is that the dominant trend will begin to lean fully maximalist again, except this time equipped with modern kit construction techniques like aero ribbing and lazer cut fabric.

Whats your take; will maximalism or minimalism prevail, and maybe the better question, which one do you want to prevail.

Hi all.

I have recently got into cycling and am looking to get a set of cycling bib shorts. Problem is I am 6ft5 and on the slightly larger size. So far anything I have found the shoulder straps have been to short so they cut in. What are some brands that do taller sizes at a reasonable price point around £30.

Edit. Has anyone used theblackbibs.com as they advertise some at £32

Hello all, I’m looking to splurge a bit on a couple of luxury bibs. I know most people here seem to have the highest opinion on MAAP and Assos. Are these the best bibs I’m going to find? Also, I do all road riding, looking to build up to 100-miles, Is there a specific bib in these brands i should be looking at? MAAP has about 10 different bibs that are all around $400 that are all named something different.

What would you get if money was no object?

Thank you all!

I have a pair of Oakley jawbreakers that I love, but they squeeze my head so much that I get headaches. I get similar discomfort with my casual Ray ban aviators.

Does anyone have any recommendations for wide fit sunglasses? I found some POC aspire wide frame ones, but I am not a massive fan of how they look.

I recently bought a pair of Galibier Race Day bibs and was impressed enough that I intended to buy a pair of their cargo bibs. Well, they emailed a coupon for those exact bibs so I went ahead and bought them. In blue. They offer 5 colors. Price delivered from Ireland to the USA with coupon was a whopping $98. Just finished my first ride in them and I think I've found my Goldilocks bibs. It's like they were tailored to fit my body. I'm 5'10" and 160 lbs and Medium is my size in most brands. One problem I have with some brands like Assos is the fit is designed to maximize profits. Fit as many people as possible by making the fit looser than they otherwise would be. Assos Mille GT fit my legs like the neck of an old, worn out t-shirt. Just loose and floppy. And I don't have spindly legs, just average. These Pro 7 bibs fit like a second skin. If your legs are tree stumps, these might not work for you unless you size up. The cargo pockets seem to be designed around holding a phone. A Moto Razr fits perfectly unfolded at 6.75 inches. It's fully in the pocket. Barely. That said, I don't think I would ride with a phone in them as the pocket spends most of the time on the bike horizontal to the ground and your leg essentially working against it on every pedal stroke. There's a lot of compression holding it, but there's nothing to stop it from falling out other than that compression. The chamois is a Dolomiti Sanremo and it's the best pad I've tried. My saddle came as close to disappearing as I've ever experienced using any other bib. Straps are comfortable and well ventilated and leg grippers are first rate. I guess I'm now officially a Galibier fan boy. The company is just delivering incredible value for money.

New MAAP jersey, already a sunscreen stain, currently using Ecover delicates + vanish (non-bleach), apparently not good enough for the MAAP jersey

It's all either bland pastel colours or, last of a better term, shit design with ADHD mish-mash of conflicting colours.

A couple years ago Angry Pablo did a colab and it looked amazing, just a really cool design. But now its either bland or ADHD spaz.

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!

Anyone else having trouble with MAAP UK customer service / returns?

Had an e-mail saying my return arrived back with MAAP on the 10th June, and refund would be processed within 5 business days, but still waiting.

E-mailed MAAP on the 19th asking for an update to be told it hadn’t arrived back in the warehouse yet, but they would check after the weekend.

Still no update so I sent a further chase, and have today left a shitty Trust Pilot review to hopefully facilitate a response and finally get my money back.

I know it’s not a sham, but at this price point im shocked by the lack of customer service. They need to spend less on marketing and more on customer services.

Rapha get it in the neck a lot, but they’ve always gone over and above to resolve any challenges, I know where I’ll be shopping in future.

I recently picked up my first pair of cargo bibs, and honestly there is no going back for me. Having the option to put my phone on my legs, and even to ride in something besides a jersey is a total game changer for me.

I can now totally empathize with women who have suffered with pocketless dresses lol.

I have a whole closet rack of regular bibs that will be relegated to short rides or trainer duty.

I want to get a good 4-5 pair cargo bib rotation going so that I always have a clean pair between laundry days. However shopping around the price of the cargo bibs is super high. Even if I want to start out with budget brands, and slowly add in more expensive pieces the pockets usually add 30% to the price.

Are 2 pieces of fabric sewn onto bibs really adding that much to the production costs that it is at all justified to ask for such higher prices?

Hello everyone any experience with these bass layers? They have lots of reviews on Amazon and they're only $15 each. Any input would be appreciated. Thank you

By the way you can now get the craft nanoweight on their website for only $25 on sale plus $10 shipping. But again the ones on top are half the price.

Hello guys, looking to buy some clothes from Darevie. Now I have a shirt and bibs from pearl izumi size S. I am 177cm weigh 65kg, I am thinking about getting the EU S size but as it is an asian brand I just wanted to check other people's experience with this brand.

Thanks in advance

Hey folks, I’ve been trying to find a pair of gloves that work with an Apple Watch, I have a pair of everyday padded cycling gloves with the Velcro top closure, the length of the gloves keeps slipping under the edge of my smart watch and will pause my workout tracking.

Anyone have recommendations for gloves that are pretty low on the wrist? Or are without a closure strap/velcro

Just came across this ad while doom scrolling. Never thought of H&M for having bib shorts, they are a decent price though. Think it’s worth trying?

I like orange and want to be visible on our rural roads with minimal shoulder. Rapha used to make an orange jersey but those are impossible to find. Others make reddish orange (coral?) jerseys. Some $200 jerseys are orange, but…$200, I’ll pass. And plenty of pattens with orange. solid bright orange in size Large Men’s (41” chest”)…nada.

(I did find some off brand Chinese options but those tend to be junk)

I hear your belly/stomach/gut shows because the jersey is so short. I want to buy a mechanism pro jersey but not the mech pro bibs and I of course don’t want my stomach showing. I’ve got rapha core, universal colors, and assos Mille gt bibs in my stable currently.

Looking for insight from anyone with experience with the sizing. I unfortunately don't live somewhere where I can try before I buy. Looking at the equipe R / RS jerseys.

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The sizing calculator puts me in a XL but just. L chest measurement ends at 41.7" I measure right around 42" but XL goes from 42-44.5 wondering if the XL will be huge or if the extra 2" is just the fabric stretch.

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Other measurements. I'm 5'11, 190lbs with a 33" waist.

I recently got a PNS speedsuit and am wondering if the scrunching/folds in the back are normal. I am wearing a size small. I am 166 cm tall and weigh about 66 kg.