It always pays dividends wearing the right kit whichever sport you are involved with, and cycling is no different. If you do a lot of aggressive racing or strenuous hill climb riding, the last thing you need is for your clothing to get soaked in sweat, which will be horribly uncomfortable, and will also play havoc with your body’s ability to regulate temperature. The best way to avoid problems is to choose a good quality cycling shirt for use on your challenging cycle rides.

There are tons of cycling shirts on the market and it is best to do a little research before jumping in and buying one. Think about where you live and what the weather is like there. If you live in Canada, your jerseys are going to need to be much warmer than if you do your cycling in Florida, for example. Also think about which times of the year you will be venturing onto the road. You might be someone who likes to cycle to work or college, nice and gently during the summer months, but prefers to jump in the car or get the bus during the colder seasons. So your cycling jersey choice will need to reflect this.

For many enthusiasts, the weather does not keep them off the roads, and they are happy to go cycling whatever the weather. In this case, it makes sense to buy cycling shirts for various conditions. In the summer, the best option is a short sleeved, lightweight jersey made from the best technical moisture wicking fabrics you can afford. It doesn’t matter which color you opt for, as there will be more hours of sunlight, and visibility should not be a problem.

In the winter, you will obviously need to wrap up, and several cycling apparel manufacturers make cycling jackets to keep you warm, dry and protected from the wind. They can be worn over the top of your other riding gear, and will generally feature wind-proofing, thermal linings and waterproof fabrics to help keep you on the road. Aim to find very bright colors when buying winter clothing, as this can often act as a safety feature, helping other road users to see you during the dark mornings and evenings – make sure you have lights on your bike too!

For spring and fall cycling, you might find that you still require a toasty cycle jacket, rather than braving the weather with a short sleeved top. However, you can find long sleeved cycle jerseys on the market and these can be ideal for that “in between” kind of weather. You can also use these with a compactable wind jacket in case the conditions worsen during a ride.

So there is an ideal cycling shirt for you, that will serve you well whatever conditions you like riding in, and if that means getting a different jersey for each season, then that’s the right thing to do.