For almost three years, every Sunday lunchtime you had an appointment with the Nuggets of the editorial team. Until the hundredths published by David at the beginning of February.
From now on, we'll be publishing a new, nondescript format called "Carte Blanche," because we don't know what we're going to give you to read. It could be a particular point of view, a crush on a piece, a rant against a trend, an astonishing 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. Everything is possible.
A form of carte blanche which is intended to surprise you, to be a bit of a Sunday surprise. Do not hesitate to share your comments and remarks. Good reading. Christopher.
Imagine:
You like white pants, moccasins and long coats. You enjoy putting together your outfits in the morning or better, the day before.
At the same time, you love your bike. A fast bike: a singlespeed,
Credit: beastybike.
This life seems nice, but here it is:
To be light and fast, this bike does not have a chain guard. The bottom of your white pants is marked with black lube forever.
As for your coat, you are very happy that it reaches your knees. You are less as it happens to the rear wheel.
The moccasins? The shoe installed by this good shoemaker did not make their leather soles any less slippery. A little hard pedaling and you're on the mat.
I do tons of them, but the question is there: can we reconcile our passion for (sporty) cycling and beautiful clothes?
I don't have the absolute answer but I can give you mine: yes, with compromises. I take advantage of this brief format to give you mine. In my pocket, I have feedback, good practices and mistakes that I can perhaps avoid for you.
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 could have an accident.
Over time, I have defined the right length of coat so that my rear wheel does not swallow it.
All you have to do is sit on your saddle with the coat in question and make sure that there is plenty of room between the bottom of the coat and the wheel. It's quite stupid, but you have to anticipate it.
If it's a matter of a few centimeters, also be aware that some coats can be altered in length.
You may also prefer wool jackets. A bomber shape, 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, temperature-regulating and low-odor.
From experience, my wool clothes are the most effective when faced with large thermal amplitudes. Between the cold of the morning going downhill without pedaling and the heat of the afternoon during prolonged exercise.
This is why I abandoned 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 woolen cloth lined with viscose.
That said, I admit that I have never tested a piece with technical padding such as Polartec or Climashield for myself. Another thing: I ride fast and I put effort into it. So I heat up quickly. A technical parka can probably be adapted to someone who takes it easy.
This year, I went further by switching to a merino t-shirt.
In winter, I wear a long-sleeved one under my knits. BonneGueule t -shirt .
I confirm the difference with a cotton base layer. It does not take on bad odors and it absorbs moisture better. I no longer have that unpleasant feeling of having my back completely wet after a long journey. I can not do without it.
Avoid all-knitting
Here, I quickly share a mistake I made: relying solely on knitwear in the winter.
In wool, it's promising because it allows, once again, to experience the amplitudes well. So I did it once: thick turtleneck and boiled wool overshirt. Nothing more.
I realized that 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 windproof piece
Wear items 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 chunky crewneck sweaters less and less.
Cold: protect your neck instead
When you ride a bike in freezing temperatures, you easily catch a cold.
To avoid this, we are easily tempted to accumulate layers of clothing. Result: we sweat even more, we end up taking off an item of clothing and we get sick.
My opinion: you should not add clothing but rather protect your neck and hands.
More generally, you should keep in mind that when you pedal, your body temperature rises. So I always dress “a notch warmer” below normal.
Messenger bag or backpack?
I was in the first team for a long time and now I admit I am torn.
With a bag, your back sweats less.
With a backpack, your arms are freer and you limit abrasion with the strap. Because yes, a backpack has two straps, the use of which on a wool exterior is not recommended, but a messenger bag is worse: a single strap that cuts you back and forth along a diagonal when you ride. .
So I think that 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 have not found any 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: make up your mind
Be careful, I'm going to kick down an open door. Are you ready ?
Yes, you will have a stain on the bottom right of your light pants. No it does not matter.
In any case, that's my opinion: clothes are made to live in, bike or not. White pants will end up stained sooner or later. It shows 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, possible?
My official answer is no. I don't recommend it because in many cases, the pants in question quickly fail.
My unofficial answer: it depends.
For my part, I have two thick flannel joggers that I wear loose at the crotch. It 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 them by holding firmly on them and pedaling upright most of the time.
I am aware of reducing the lifespan of these parts. Probably not by much, but I have it in mind. Like the white pants, I bought them to live in and enjoy.
On the other hand, I avoid doing it with my fine flannel or cold wool pants. I don't think they have any chance of survival.
Wide pants: be careful!
Paris, boulevard Sébastopol, 6 p.m. and some.
I go home on my bike, my feet turn and suddenly one of them finds itself stuck above the void. The pedals stop. I'm literally hanging upright on my bike.
I painfully regain my balance and pull over to the side, satisfied not to have ended up under the wheels of a taxi.
My velvet pants got caught in the chain. His lower leg was so wide that he had managed to get bitten by the board. He ended up stuck in it.
This is the culprit. Vintage overshirt, turtleneck and Uniqlo pants, boots and BonneGueule cap .
The anecdote ends there and here is the moral: without a chain guard, be careful when cycling in wide pants.
Two techniques if you still want to do it like me:
- The pants clip. We even find some in leather
- Tuck your pants into the sock. Cheaper but I warn you, it stings the eyes
This one doesn't seem bad to me. Vegetable tanned leather from the ensellemarcel.com e-shop.
Beautiful shoes make you slip
Another anecdote: one morning, I went to work by bike, very proud with my new moccasins coming from the shoemaker.
Naive that I am.
Suddenly, my right foot slips off the pedal and literally flies off. My left foot regains my balance and I painfully resume my journey.
The lesson to be learned: a leather sole on a bike, skate or not, is a bad idea in my opinion.
To all cyclists about to buy moccasins: think about 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 even less tempted.
I myself had a hard time coming to terms with it: why bother putting together an outfit where each color and each volume is calculated, if it means ending up with half a coconut on your head? To live. That's reason enough.
Oh less than...
No. Put on a helmet.
I'll leave you to meditate and I hope that one of my feedback will be useful to you ✌️
For those who want to cycle and need to wear a suit, here are our tips here
