How To Dress For Cycling (And Still Look Good Doing It)

Banana bread is so phase 1 of lockdown; now it's all about getting on a bike (and Instagramming about it, obviously). If you’ve recently joined the two-wheel community in bid to avoid public transport, or simply up your exercise, you might be wondering what on earth to wear.

Serious cyclists might swear by padded shorts (these give ‘hours of comfort’ in the saddle), but if you’re just peddling to the shops or to meet friends in the park, you might want to pull something slightly less heavy-duty out of the bag.

This could mean a ‘fashion’ pair of cycling shorts - searches have increased by a whooping 4000%, according to shopping app LIKEtoKNOW.it - or it could simply mean wearing something that won’t snag in your bike chain. Maxi dresses, wide-leg trousers and flappy trench coats are all off-limits. Instead, embrace knee-length shorts and skirts. Their hemlines won’t get caught in anything, and they’ll look mighty sharp paired with a collared jumper, a denim jacket and a pair of ballet pumps. Oh, and one non negotiable: don’t forget a helmet.