Cycling has never been more popular in Ireland so make sure you look the part, and stay safe, with these products from Littlewoods.
From the recent visit of the Giro d’Italia to the current An Post Rás, cycling has been very high profile in Ireland of late. But the sport has always been hugely popular here and participation rates have never been higher. And it doesn’t matter if you are a seven-days-a-week rider or a weekend warrior, you need to have the right equipment that will keep you looking good and, most importantly, staying safe.
First up you need to make sure you are very visible on the road. There are loads of hi-vis options out there but a jacket that will both keep you safe, and nice and warm is a real bonus.
The Altura Night Vision Windproof (€94) will not only fit you really well, but it will keep you nice and toasty and dry if the weather does take a turn on a long ride. Plus, with loads of reflective panels and strips, you’ll be the most visible rider on the road.
Another factor, especially for cyclists who embark on big rides, is comfort, and those modern saddles can be very unforgiving. That’s where the Altura Tempo Undershorts (€27) come in. Not only will they keep saddle sores at bay, they are also made of a breathable material so you won’t get too warm mid-ride.
The final nit of kit you need are these Ronhill Classic tracksters (€30). While shorts might be the way to go for many, on the more miserable days, a full length trousers is what you’ll need. These will fit perfectly without being skin tight, they have foot stirrups for extra comfort and they have reflective piping down the sides for increased visibility.
Carrying on the visibility theme, the value of good lights can’t be overestimated. The Cateye EL-220 Cycle Light (€40) uses five LEDs to make sure you have a great view of the road and any on-coming traffic is guaranteed to see you. Four AA batteries are all that is needed to power this light and that will give you a brilliant 60 hours of constant light or 120 of flashing.
Finally, there will be nobody handing out bidons or musettes as you cycle up a mountain in Ireland so you’ll need to bring your own fruit or energy gels with you. This food pouch (€24) can be attached to the handlebars or frame of the bike, giving you easy access to that all important food.
