16 May How Tight Should a Cycling Base Layer Be?
Cycling base layers are a crucial part of a cyclist’s wardrobe. Choosing a suitable base layer to go alongside other cycling wear will benefit any cyclist by helping to enhance their performance whilst on their bike.
There is more to a cyclist’s base layer than just looking ‘the part’ and from what initially meets the eye. Choosing not only the right kind of base layer but making sure your base layer fits correctly can ensure you have the best cycling base layers at all times – which will help to give you the best cycling experience.
In today’s guide we are going to be talking about the fit of a cyclist’s base layer and how tight it should be, so keep reading for more information.
Why Is It Important To Have The Right Base Layer?
Specific base layers to cyclists will reward cyclists with moisture management and temperature control – any cyclist would welcome these advantages to improve their ride and help them deliver their maximum performance throughout the distance of their journey or race.
Staying cool when it’s hot and keeping warm when it’s cold can be crucial to the overall cyclist journey and being too hot or too cold can really impact how much a cyclist enjoys their ride – it will also give cyclists peace of mind knowing that they will stay comfortable and therefore finish their cycle dry and fresh.
In many sports, base layers are often forgotten about or some people don’t understand the amazing benefits that base layers can bring to exercise. It is until any sports person tries base layers out for the first time they understand how amazing they are and from then on they don’t look back.
It is important to own and wear the right base layer when cycling as it can help keep you comfortable at all times, whilst being about to move freely and give you an enjoyable ride no matter what the weather conditions.
How Tight Should a Cycling Base Layer Be?
For a base layer to function to its full working capacity, it should be a tight fit and feel snug against the skin – whilst still giving the ability to move freely when exercising.
Fitting snug to the body allows base layers to pick up any moisture most effectively, a baggy or looser fitting base layer would make it more difficult to pick up moisture so quickly.
Moisture must be picked up quickly so the base layer can get to work as soon as possible – wicking sweat away from the body and evaporating it out of the garment, ensuring that it does not weigh the cyclist down. Keeping cyclists cool and dry and weight-free at all times is why it is so important to achieve that tight, snug fit with a base layer.
A well-fitting garment should fit close to the skin without being restrictive, your specially formulated cycling base layer will be able to move sweat away from the body and allow you to stay warm and dry and comfortable at all times so every cyclist can perform at their very best.
Not used to tight-fitting clothing? Do not worry, if you are at all concerned with the thought of a snug-fitting piece of clothing then you do not need to – our Mizos Base Layers are specially formulated from ultra-light fabric, this helps to keep you comfortable whilst enabling the layers to do their job properly, which is essential. The lightweight material means no moisture is held on to for very long.
Benefits of a Tight Fit
Along with the benefits of temperature control and the ability to keep you dry, a tight-fitting base layer also adds compression to your body and muscles. Compression to the muscles when exercising reduces the build-up of lactic acid by compressing before, during and after any physical exercise.
Compression helps with recovery after exertion and is designed to improve blood flow and oxygen delivery is supported throughout the body which can help a cyclist exercise for longer and muscle fatigue is seriously reduced.
If soreness of the muscles does occur, compression will speed up the recovery process of the muscles, which is a huge added benefit to cyclists meaning they can get back onto their bikes again.
Choose Your Style Depending on the Weather
Our Mizos Base Layer range comes in sleeveless, short and long-sleeved cycling base layer options for cyclists. You should choose which style you go for depending on which season it is or the weather outside. A short or sleeveless option is best in the summer so cyclists are not too warm in long-sleeved base layers. A short or sleeveless base layer will still benefit a cyclist by helping to cool their body temperature down.
A long-sleeved base layer is good to wear in colder weather and in the winter to maximise maintaining heat by trapping it to the body so a long-sleeved base layer will be able to trap in more heat and be more effective than shorter-sleeved base layers.
Our Mizos Apparel Base Layers also have wind-blocking properties to them to keep chills away from your skin at all times – this feature is especially important and useful for cyclists in particular, where they will often be taking the force from the wind.
Things to Avoid in Base Layers
Loose-fitting base layers will not be able to work effectively, the moisture will make a cyclist cold when they stop moving and this will make for an uncomfortable ride. A base layer will be totally pointless if the fit is not correct, it is a crucial part of base layers to get the fit correct if you want a base layer to perform.
Base layers can be designed for different sports or activities, read more about our base layers for cycling and other sports including base layers for football, rugby, cricket and running. If you haven’t felt the benefits of wearing a base layer yet then you are missing out, go and try them out for yourself today.
If you would like to know more about why base layers are good for cycling then check out our blog post here.
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