Clothing..where to start?

techguy

Right, i've just started into cycling and have found that I don't really have the suitable clothing.

At the moment i'm just wearing a neckwarmer, t-shirt, heavyish tracksuit jacket, tracksuit pants and runners.

The mainly problem is sweat. I sweat a lot in my upper body and especially around my neck with the neckwarmer. After a while it gets kind of chilly and uncomfortable.

Also, I seem to get covered in crap if the roads are wet. The other day my runners were ringing wet by the time I had finished run.

I plan on buying some gear but i'd like to know what exactly I should be getting. Also, as I won't be able to buy everything at one so what would be the most important piece(s) to start of with and what should I be looking at price wise?

Thanks..

bbosco

What sort of cycling are you doing?

Generally, cotton (t-shirts, track suits) are going to get sweaty and then hold the sweat making them heavy and chilly.
Really, you want some specialist cycling clothing. This runs from cheap and cheerful in Aldi to mega-expensive.
For starters you could get a short sleeve cycling jersey which can then double up as a base layer. Then get a water and wind resistant jacket to go over it for colder weather. Don't go for anything too heavy; it's better to add another, lighter layer underneath than to get a jacket that is too warm in everything except the coldest weather.
Be wary of cheaper water proof gear as there is an inevitable compromise between water proofing at breathability which is gradually resolved the more money you spend. What you'll most likely end up with is water resistant gear, which is fine - cycling is an outdoor activity, you're going to get a bit wet sometimes.
For your legs, assuming you are cycling on the road rather than MTB, you're going to have to take the lycra plunge at some stage. Get a pair of shorts and a pair of leg warmers for winter.

You can get shoe covers which will keep your feet warm, dry and muck-free.

IM0

First get shorts bib shorts that is.
Then a baselayer, short sleeved jersey and arm warmers

then as gets cooler in autumn add:
leg warmers, these are warm enough for anything Ireland can throw at you on dry day and arm warmers if youve held out this long.

then winter add more layers rather than a jacket, for all but the worst conditions. so double up on baselayers (a LS wool based type), and get a LS jersey. Some feel they need bib tights, I used to too, but went through this winter (the coldest yet for some time) with thin leg warmers and shorts, but I rode at a higher intensity and kept warm enough that way.

It all depends on your intensity on the bike, if you ride longer and easy then go for fleece bib tights, if you do higher intensity stuff go for leg warmers and shorts.