For almost three years, every Sunday lunchtime you had an appointment with the editorial team's Nuggets. Up until the hundredth ones published by David at the beginning of February.
From now on, we will publish a new, indefinable format called "Carte Blanche", because we don't know what we are going to give you to read. It could be a particular point of view, a favorite piece, a rant against a trend, a surprising inspiration, a crazy idea...
The idea is to allow each editor in the editorial department to write on a subject that is close to their heart, with relatively few constraints. Even to the point of moving away from clothing. Anything is possible.
A form of carte blanche that aims to surprise you, to be a bit of a Sunday surprise. Feel free to share your comments and remarks. Enjoy reading. Christophe.
Imagine:
You like white pants, loafers and long coats. You enjoy putting together your outfits in the morning or, better yet, the night before.
At the same time, you love your bike. A fast bike: a singlespeed, streamlined to cut through the air. When you're riding at full speed, you feel free. You feel wings growing on your back until the next scooter blocks the bike path .
Credit: beastybike.
This life seems nice, but here's the thing:
To be able to be light and fast, this bike has no chain guard. The bottom of your white pants is marked with black lubricant forever.
As for your coat, you are very happy that it reaches your knees. You are less happy that it reaches your rear wheel.
Loafers? The shoelace put on by that good shoemaker hasn't made their leather soles any less slippery. One hard pedal stroke and you're on the mat.
I'm making a big deal out of it, but the question is: can we reconcile passions for (sport) cycling and beautiful clothes?
I don't have the absolute answer, but I can give you mine: yes, with compromises. I'm taking advantage of this brief format to give you mine. In my pocket, I have feedback, good practices and mistakes that I can perhaps help you avoid.
On the way!
Anticipate the length of your coat
Photo credit: De Bonne Facture.
The subject is not trivial: I know someone who, even with a mudguard, got his wool coat caught in the rear wheel. Nothing dramatic, but if you're not careful, you can have an accident.
So over time I got the coat length right so my rear wheel wouldn't swallow it.
All you have to do is sit on your saddle with the coat in question and make sure that there is enough space between the bottom of the coat and the wheel. It's simple, but you have to anticipate it.
If it's a matter of a few centimeters, also know that some coats can be adjusted in length.
You can also prefer wool jackets. A bomber style, for example. A trucker jacket is good too.
Provided that the lining is not synthetic, but wool. Boom! Transition.
Wool remains king
Most of you already know: it is breathable, thermoregulating and has little odor.
From experience, my wool clothes are the most effective when faced with large temperature variations. Between the morning cold when going downhill without pedaling and the afternoon heat when going for a long period of effort.
That's why I gave up on the idea of riding in a padded parka in winter: between the membrane, the padding and the lining, there are many more obstacles to heat evacuation than for a simple wool sheet lined with viscose.
That said, I admit I have never tested a piece with technical padding like Polartec or Climashield myself. Another thing: I ride fast and I put in the effort. So I heat up quickly. A technical parka can probably be suitable for someone who takes it easy.
This year I went further and switched to a merino t-shirt.
In winter, I wear a long-sleeved one under my knitwear. BonneGueule T-shirt .
I confirm the difference with a cotton base layer. It does not take on a bad smell and it absorbs moisture better. I no longer have that unpleasant feeling of having a completely wet back after a long ride. I can't do without it anymore.
Avoid all-knit
Here I quickly share a mistake I made: relying solely on knitwear in winter.
In wool, it is promising because it allows, once again, to live the amplitudes well. So I did it once: thick turtleneck and boiled wool overshirt. Nothing more.
I realized I had overlooked one factor: the wind. When it hit, reinforced by my speed, the cold passed through the mesh and I felt it directly on my skin.
Conclusion: Never forget a windbreaker piece or at least put a t-shirt underneath. The wind will still pass through the upper layers in the second case but, since jersey is a less open knit, it will protect you a minimum.
Wearing parts that can be opened
Overshirt, shirt and cardigan are invited to the party. When the temperature rises, I open them and the heat goes away instantly.
For this reason, I wear less and less big crew neck sweaters.
Cold: protect your neck instead
When you ride a bike in freezing temperatures, you easily catch cold.
To avoid this, we are easily tempted to accumulate layers of clothing. Result: we sweat even more, we end up removing an item of clothing and we get sick.
My opinion: you should not add clothes but rather protect your neck and hands.
More generally, it is important to keep in mind that when you pedal, your body temperature rises. So I always dress "one notch warmer" than normal.
Satchel or backpack?
I was on the first team for a long time and now I admit I'm torn.
With a satchel, you sweat less from your back.
With a backpack, your arms are freer and you limit abrasion with the strap. Because yes, a backpack has two straps that are not recommended for use on a wool exterior, but a satchel is worse: a single strap that cuts you from front to back along a diagonal when you ride.
So I think there is no miracle answer and that everyone finds the compromise that suits them.
Italian pockets can leak
When I ride, every pedal stroke brings my smartphone closer to the exit and it's frustrating.
There, I admit that I found no other solution than to favor a 5-pocket or put my things in a bag.
I also think it depends on the depth of Italian pockets.
White pants: come to terms with it
Attention, I'm going to break down an obvious door. Are you ready?
Yes, you will have a stain on the right bottom of your light pants. No, it's not serious.
Anyway, that's my opinion: clothes are made to live in them, bike or not. A pair of white pants will end up stained sooner or later. It shows that you own it.
Besides, uncle Squarzi talks about it here:
If you're still stuck on this point, ask yourself how many people notice this in a day.
Flannel pants, an option?
My official answer is no. I do not recommend it because in many cases, the pants in question quickly give up.
My unofficial answer: It depends.
For my part, I have two thick flannel joggers that I wear loose at the crotch. This leaves space and limits friction against the thighs. Wool also absorbs less body moisture in this area. My only real danger is friction against the saddle. I limit this by holding on tight to it and pedaling standing up most of the time.
I am aware that I am reducing the lifespan of these pieces. Probably not by much, but I have it in mind. Like the white pants, I bought them to live in and enjoy them.
On the other hand, I avoid doing it with my thin flannel or cold wool pants. I think they have no chance of survival.
Wide pants: be careful!
Paris, Boulevard Sébastopol, 6 p.m. and sometime.
I'm riding my bike home, my feet are spinning and suddenly one of them gets stuck over the void. The pedals stop. I'm literally hanging upright on my bike.
I struggle to regain my balance and pull over, pleased that I didn't end up under the wheels of a taxi.
My corduroy pants got caught in the chain. The bottom of the leg was so wide that it managed to get bitten by the chainring. It ended up stuck in it.
Here's the culprit. Vintage overshirt, Uniqlo turtleneck and pants, BonneGueule boots and cap .
The anecdote ends there and here is the moral: without a chain guard, be very careful when cycling in baggy pants.
Two techniques if you still insist on them like me:
- The trouser clip. You can even find some in leather
- Tuck your pants into your sock. Cheaper but I warn you, it hurts your eyes.
This one seems pretty good to me. Vegetable tanned leather according to the e-shop ensellemarcel.com.
Beautiful shoes make you slip
Another anecdote: one morning, I left for work by bike, all proud with my new loafers straight from the shoemaker.
Naive as I am.
Suddenly, my right foot slips off the pedal and literally flies away. My left foot catches my balance and I struggle back on my way.
The lesson to be learned: a leather sole on a bike, skate or not, is a bad idea in my opinion.
To all you cyclists about to buy moccasins: think rubber soles!
Meermin model .
By the way, put on a helmet.
I see too few people wearing them and I know that when you want to dress well, you are all the less tempted.
I myself had a hard time coming to terms with it: why bother putting together an outfit where every color and volume is calculated, if you're going to end up with half a coconut on your head? To live. That's reason enough.
Oh, unless...
No. Put on a helmet.
I'll leave you to think about it and I hope that one of my feedbacks will be useful to you ✌️
For those who want to cycle and have to wear a suit, here are our tips here
