Cycle Heaven 2 Bishopthorpe Road York YO23 1JJ tel: 01904 636578 / 651870 fax: 01904 672059 email: info@cycle-heaven.co.uk

Clothing at Cycle Heaven

We stock a diverse range of clothing and shoes by a number of leading brands including Gore, DeMarchi, Altura, Scott, Diadora, Sealskinz and Shimano. These brands cover anything you could wish for, from waterproof socks, trousers and jackets, to highly technical base layers and lightweight jerseys. 

We provide a complete clothing solution for any cycling situation, from a daily commute in the worst weather, to a sunny day out in the country. The clothing you choose to cycle in is very important, and can be the difference between being comfortable or miserable when out cycling

We aim to have the following types of clothing in stock in all the most common sizes at all times. If you are after a particular type of item however, it's best to call us first to check availability. We have a quiet, carpeted upstairs clothing showroom with a fitting room away from the main bustle of the shop. What's more we will price match anyone on current lines held in stock. So why buy clothing online when you can visit a real bike shop and try it all on.

Clothing Demystified
There is no single garment or fabric available which can keep you comfortable in all weather conditions and at all levels of physical activity. For this reason, the layering system has developed. The layering system is made up of a number of different garment layers, with each layer having different technical qualities which combine to keep you comfortable in as wide a range of conditions as possible. Start with...

The Base Layer

A example of a polar neck long sleeve base layer.

An example of a crew neck long sleeve, windproof baselayer.

The base layer is worn against the skin. Its main purpose of your is to provide a substrate from which perspiration can evaporate as quickly as possible, thus keeping you dry and comfortable. The vast majority of base layers are made from some sort of high-wicking synthetic fabric, although merino wool is becoming popular again as a natural alternative.

Base layer fabrics are usually machine-washable and very quick-drying; this makes them very easy to look after. An antibacterial treatment is useful too, as it helps prevent odours. A reasonably close fit will maximise the wicking performance of your base layer.

Cotton? Some people still wear cotton garments as their base-layer. Under most outdoors conditions, this is a bad idea. Cotton fibres absorb moisture, preventing it from evaporating and so passing out through the mid and shell layers. This is not a problem whilst you are active and warm, but as soon as you stop for a rest, all that trapped moisture absorbs heat from your body, causing a significant chilling effect. This can be very uncomfortable.

The Mid Layer

Two examples of long sleeved winter cycling jerseys.

The point of the mid layer is to provide insulation, whilst at the same time being breathable, to allow perspiration vapour from the base layer to escape. Synthetic fleece fabrics are the most commonly used to achieve this; fleece is usually reasonably light, very breathable and easy to care for.

In general, a couple of thinner fleece layers are more effective than one thick one, as this gives you more flexibility in your layering system. Most fleece material is not windproof; this means that its ability to insulate is massively reduced if not worn under something windproof.

An example of a women's mid layer fleece.

Outerwear - Windproofs

An example of a windproof jacket.
Windproof only outer garments are more breathable than waterproof jackets.

The key function of the outer layer is to provide a windproof barrier, so that the mid layer can provide maximum insulation. The most popular outer layer garments are also waterproof, though windproof only garments are also available.

All of our outer layer garments have the ability to breathe i.e. to allow water vapour to pass though and evaporate. However, a windproof only garment will be much more breathable than a waterproof outer layer, but only keep the rain out for a few minutes. They are therefore great for cooler but dry weather. There are some exceptions to this: garments that use GORE Windstopper™ can be both extremely breathable and offer up to an hour's protection from the rain.

Most windproofs are effectively mid to outer layer garments. It would be unusual to wear a base layer, mid layer and a windproof. It is more common to wear a base layer and a windproof only. However, once again there are some exceptions. The GORE Phantom Plus windproof is effectiveley a lightweight multi layer garment all in one. Its N2S™ or 'Next To Skin' technology means that just one garment worn next to the skin will be effective in a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions.

Outerwear - Waterproofs

A classic cycling jacket: long arms, longer in the tail shorter at the front.

A waterproof jacket may be the most expensive item of cycle clothing you will ever buy, so choose carefully. We offer an number of different options whose price varies depending on the cut, the number of features and the materials used.

A classic cycling waterproof will be cut shorter at the front and longer at the back, have long arms and a pocket low down on the back. Almost all our waterproofs will have these features to a greater or lesser degree. How they vary depends on what style of cycling they are intended for.

A race or sports cut jacket will be aimed at pretty hard core road (racing) riders. It will consequently be cut to be slim and tight; very short at the front and long at the back to suit a riding posture with a high saddle and a low handlebar - typically found on racing bikes. Features will be minimal - perhaps only one back pocket. The fabic will be as light as possible and easily stowable (ideally into the back pocket of a cycling jesey). The emphasis is on lighweight breathability. clours tend to be cycling classcis: Royal Blue, Red or Flourescent Yellow.

A mountain bike jacket is cut looser to allow for greater ease of movement, but also for a more casual look favoured in mountain bike culture. The tail of the jacket is usually a bit shorter and the front longer to suit a more upright riding position. There may be more pockets, but like the road jackets the more sportier models tend towards a more minimal spec. Coulors tend towards the muted and grungily fashionable: greys, blacks and darker.

A commuter or touring cut will likely be loose fitting like a mountain bike jacket, but come with more pockets as befits a garment for everyday use - space for keys, change and purses. Some come with hoods or optional hoods which should be cut back at the sides to allow for good visibility, with pull straps to allow them to be worn fairly tight (something you'd appreciate at speed!). This cut is the nearest thing to a walking jacket so they wear as well off the bike as on.

Waterproof garments are generally available with two kinds of fabric technology. The cheaper of the two involves a coated fabric - generally polyester treated with a waterproof chemical. These are very effective when new (you can see the droplets 'beading' off a new jacket), but tend to lose their waterfproofing qualities with repeated washing. This is not a problem, as it can be restored by adding a proofing chemical to the wash, such as Grangers Extreme Reproofer (available from us).

The other type uses a barrier technology such as Goretex™. Goretex is actually a physical barrier - a liner membrane incorporated into the jacket. Goretex is porous to tiny droplets of water vapour (i.e. perspiration) but not to larger water droplets. This quality allows the garment to breathe and to be physicallly waterproof which is why GORE gives a lifetime guarantee on its Goretex membranes. Typically such jackets are also proofed on the outer layer in the same ways as cheaper jackets, but the membrane will always stay waterproof.