Bike Compression Shorts
For decades the most well known image of the professional cyclist has been the fast bike, the aerodynamic helmet, and the lean muscular body wrapped in tight fitting bike compression shorts. But there is much more to the standard bicyclists uniform than just looks. Because of their quest for more speed, greater comfort and endurance, and more efficient aerodynamics, cyclists were some of the earliest adopters of compression clothing technology.
First Things First – Comfort
When you’re sitting on top of a bike seat for hours and hours on end, comfort becomes becomes a huge factor. Nothing can get into your head faster than pain stemming from a sore backside or circulation being cut off to your other important parts. Spandex and other similar materials allow for easy movement of the legs. The material also prevents chafing between your legs and the seat. Compression shorts for cyclists also include pading that is strategically placed to improve comfort on long rides.
Speed
If you’ve ever worn baggy shorts on a bike, you understand just how much of a difference the extra drag they create can mean. To be realistic, the average cyclist isn’t going to see a big jump in their top speed just by wearing tighter fitting shorts. But over the long haul, the increased aerodynamics does make a significant impact on both your average speed. The less resistance you have moving through the air, the faster you will be able to ride. Even beginning cyclists will reap the benifits of tighter fitting clothing.
Endurance
Because they reduce your overall drag through the air, compression shorts can also directly affect your endurance. The less air you have to displace, the less work you have to perform. This decreased aerodynmic drag is especially noticable on long distance rides. Compression shorts also increase blood circulation. This is beneficial in both endurance type training and in shorter sprints. Muscles that are being supplied with more oxygen don’t tire as fast.
Recovery
Cyclists often find that by wearing bike compression shorts the time it takes their legs to recover after a difficult ride can be significantly reduced. The increased bloodflow helps to cut down on the amount of lactic acid that builds up in the muscles during prolonged work. Lactic acid is responsible for the sore feeling you get in your muscles after a particularly grueling workout. If you’re biking for several days in a row, this can be especially helpful.
Protection Against Injury
One of the most important benefits of wearing a compression type short for cycling is that it helps protect your muscles from injury. The compression of your muscles helps to keep them in place during exercise. This means that the muscles are moving in the range of motion for which they were intended. The shorts also help to speed the warm up of your muscles, reducing the chance of pulling or straining.
Temperature Regulation
Last but not least, biking shorts are designed to help you regulate your body temperature while riding. There are shorts that are designed specifically to be worn in cold or warm weather. One important feature of both is the wicking of moisture. Getting sweat away from your skin helps maintain a more consistent body temperature in both the heat of summer and the cold of winter.
Whether you like the look of the skin tight gear that most cyclists wear or not, there are some very real benefits to be derived from wearing it. Bike compression shorts offer so many advantages over other types of shorts that you’ll be hard pressed to go back once you try them.
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