Bicycling Gear - What's Up With That?

You have all see them riding around Tucson. A grown man or woman, riding a two-wheeled apparatus that looks like an upsized version of what you bought for one of your kids for Christmas last year. Wearing bright, tight, often shiny clothing, helmets and gloves, they appear more alien than human as
they pedal around Tucson in their strange attire, and in what appears to be a most uncomfortable position.

So what is going on with all of these bicyclists? Why do they wear all that weird looking clothing? Is all that clothing and gear they have really necessary? Maybe so.

Tucson bicyclists, as all bicyclists, are locked in a never-ending battle with the forces of physics and mother nature: wind resistance. It is a battle that can never actually be won, but one which must be fought diligently and constantly. Everything from the bicyclist's helmet, shorts, shoes, and bike are designed and made to make the battle against wind resistance easier. This is to say that all of these pieces of clothing and equipment ease or reduce the effects of wind on the bicyclist.

A bicyclist's ability to pedal into and through wind resistance is what propels the bicycle and rider down the road. Many bicyclists use a special shoe and pedal combination which helps deliver a more efficient pedal stroke to the bike. The shoes clip into the pedal via a cleat on the bottom of the shoe that connects firmly onto the pedal mechanism. This allows the cyclist to focus more power directly on the pedal. Also, it allows for both an upward and downward stroke on the pedals.

Bicycle helmets are necessary for safety. Even in a city which is as bicycle friendly as Tucson, helmets are an important piece of safety equipment. Bicycle helmets are now designed to be as aerodynamic as is possible. The fronts of bicycle helmets are smoothly rounded toward the back and sides. Also, of late, ample air vents are built into the helmets for comfort on those hot desert rides in Tucson.

Bicycling gloves are worn to protect the hands from consistent wear, and to help absorb the road shock transmitted through the grips. The gloves have padding built into the palms. Most bicycling gloves do not fully cover the fingers. The reason for this is it makes it much easier to grasp fully the brakes when needing to slow down or stop. It also makes the gloves cooler. The gloves do not necessarily help with aerodynamics, but they do make the ride more comfortable, which gives bicyclists more energy to ride and fight the air resistance.

Bicyclists love to ride. Tucson is full of bicyclists. They may look different in their gear, but it is out of necessity that they wear what they do. The fight is against wind resistance. They look no stranger than a
football player or race car driver in their gear. The difference is that a Tucson bicyclist has to wear and use the gear in public every time they ride. So the next time you're driving through Tucson and see some of those strange 'aliens,' remember - they are in a battle, and that's their uniform.