Until very recently, the only dedicated cycle clothing available for local riders was made of spandex (lycra), came in a few basic colours and looked out-of-place on all but the slimmest of bodies. Thankfully things have changed with Western Australians now having access to the latest trends in cycling fashion from around the world for men, women and children. Whether you are a weekend cyclist, commuting to work five days a week, or into competitive racing, riding comfort is paramount and a number of designers have responded accordingly. Gone are the days of materials that didn’t allow your skin to breathe and made you sweat excessively. Innovative fabrics such as treviro microfibre and resistex carbon have reached Australia and these do an excellent job at keeping the cyclist dry. A quick glance around one of the specialist bicycle clothing retailers in Perth demonstrates that Australian and overseas manufacturers are trying to appeal directly to the fashion conscious. Although the loud professional cycling team colours remain popular, there are now many other more subtle designs appearing across all garment lines.

Two of the latest trends from Europe for instance are a Hawaii-inspired floral pattern for men based on a 1960s look, and a “diamond collection” for women featuring dazzling diamante motifs on the front, back and sleeves.

The ultra-feminine Italian-made “Ceylon collection” includes jerseys and bottoms in beautiful pinks and mauves.

In the past, larger people, and ladies in particular, were not well catered for in cycling apparel and felt left out, but we have recently  seen the introduction of top quality jerseys and knicks to the local market that are guaranteed to last many years of constant laundering and come in sizes right up to XXXL.

Alongside the standard skin-tight combinations, many of the ranges now include a relaxed fit option that looks and feels more comfortable for plus-size riders.

It is also possible to buy children’s sizes suitable for ages 4 to 12 in identical styles and colours to the adult versions, creating an eye-catching coordinated look when the entire family is out on a ride.

This fact sheet is one of a series dealing with the use of bicycles for recreation and transport in Western Australia. The series looks at a range of cycling-related topics including ride routes, touring tips, maintenance, safety, road rules, insurance and product reviews. See more cycling fact sheets online.