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Wedding gift for cyclists
Earlier this year we went to the wedding of some friends of ours. The question came up beforehand of what we should buy them as a wedding gift. They’d been living together for quite a while, so there wasn’t much point in buying them the standard toaster / fluffy bath towel set. So, what could we get them?
Well, they’re both avid cyclists and spend lots of their free time out on bike rides together. So, we thought that a pair of matching cycling jerseys might go down well and I went into full-on research mode to track down the best ones. Along the way, I also found the answers to some of the key questions about dating and cycling. I thought that there might be other people looking to buy wedding gifts for cyclists or cycling jerseys for themselves and their partner, so I decided to write up my notes into something a bit more coherent and publish it as an article. Shall we take a look? (P.S. they loved the jerseys!)
Answer: ZM Full Zip Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey: Men / Female
This is a great matching pair of short-sleeved bike jerseys from manufacturer, ZM. Each shirt has a number of different styles and colors to choose from (including some that come with a matching set of bike shorts / bibs). My favorite though is this set which features a cool geometric design in black, red, and yellow. This is a very practical cycling jersey and comes with all the great features you’d expect. It has a full-length zipper, which is useful for getting the garment on and off, and also for extra ventilation on hot days. There are three generous pockets at the back for snacks and bike tools. There’s also a silicone band around the bottom hem, which stops the jersey from riding up as you cycle. So you can avoid exposing your lower back to the chilly breeze.
His and hers tandem cycling jerseys
Okay, let’s take a look at some of the best matching biking jerseys for couples.
I love this jersey from Twin Six, it’s super-stylish and has lots of great features including a full-length zipper and rear pockets. The men’s jersey is an exact match on the design and cut to fit gents. Twin Six are a US company that has been producing some awesome bike clothing since 2005. This jersey is a fantastic addition to their range.
Aero Tech consistently designs gorgeous bike apparel and this set of jerseys is one of my favorite from their range. The blue men’s jersey teams beautifully with the ladies’ pink jersey. Both together as well as coffee & donuts, bacon & eggs, and PB & J. Great fun. Love it.
I’ve already mentioned this pair of jerseys from ZM at the top of the page. The women’s jersey and the men’s are an exact match in stylish red, black and yellow.
What I forgot to mention was just what great value for money they are.
Sometimes it’s just not enough to have a bike jersey that matches the one that your significant other is wearing.
That’s when a kit like this one from DuShow comes into play. This is a jersey and padded shorts combo that comes in men’s and women’s fit. Great choice of colors and great value.
Cyclist dating
Whether you’re a cyclist who is dating a male cyclist, or dating a female cyclist, there are some good points and some bad points to having a relationship with a fellow cyclist. If you know any cyclist couples, then these are fun conversation-starters to wind them up with! Tee hee.
The good points of dating a cyclist:
They’re a great motivator
Some mornings, the mere idea of getting up early makes me feel like I just want I want to pull the blankets over my head and stay cozy. It might be the cold, or the wind, or the rain (or all three!) I might be too tired from the previous day’s training, or just too sleepy. Whatever the excuse, it’s too easy to hit Snooze and miss the training cycle. It’s mornings like that when having a partner who is also getting up for a cycle is a fantastic motivator. How guilty would you feel if you stayed in bed whilst they went out training?
It’s great to have company when you’re cycling
I like cycling by myself, I enjoy cycling with friends, but the person that I really love cycling with is my partner. Long bike rides are always better shared and having your partner there makes the miles and the hill climbs pass quicker.
They know when you’re tired and grump from training
No-one knows you like your partner and so no-one understand better when you’re tired from cycling and just need a cuddle, dinner with no talking, or just to fall asleep on the couch at 7:30pm.
No complaints about weekend rides
If you’ve been in a relationship with a non-cyclist, then you know the guilt that you get from them if you head out every weekend on the bike. It’s understandable, of course, but it’s not always easy to find an acceptable compromise. With a cycling partner though, that’s never an issue!
Cycling chat
I find that the one thing that is guaranteed to send friends and family running is lengthy chat about the ins and outs of cycling. Now admittedly, my partner would also tell me to shut up if I carried on for too long. But you’ll often find that a cyclist partner will have a much higher boredom threshold for bike conversation topics
Buying bike kit is allowed (and encouraged!)
There’s nothing that cyclists love more than buying new kit, is there? If you have a partner that also cycles it means that you don’t have to feel guilty about buying those new super-duper wheels. Sometimes you might even feel you can admit to the cost of them…
The bad points of dating a cyclist:
Okay, okay, it’s not all a bed of roses, is it? There are a few slightly negative points to being in a relationship with a cyclist as well. Let’s take a look.
Competition
A little bit of friendly competition can always be a good motivator. But make sure you don’t let it get out of hand.
All the bike snacks are gone!
If you’re the sole cyclist in your household, then you should always be able to maintain a good amount of cycling snacks in the cupboards. Unfortunately, if there’s two of you, you never know whether you’re going to go to the cupboard before your bike ride and find it bare.
More laundry
Two of you cycling will mean double the laundry and double the wardrobe space. Make sure you do your fair share of the first and allow sufficient room in the closet for your partner’s bike gear.
Cycling shouldn’t be something that defines a relationship. At its best, it should be something that you and your partner can both enjoy together. Just make sure that those bad points are kept in check.
What to wear on a bike ride date?
Sometimes we have to leave the tight spandex and butt-padded shorts at home when we head out cycling. One of those times is when we’re heading out on a bike ride date. If you’re getting ready to go out on a date with a cyclist, then I’ve found some hints and tips for choosing the perfect outfit.
Don’t wear overly tight clothing
First dates can be fairly nerve-wracking to begin with. Combining this with physical activity, like biking, and clothes that are too tight and you can easily end up as a sweaty mess. Not a great look. So, go for clothing and fabrics that allow plenty of airflow to keep you looking cool and stylish.
Don’t wear very loose clothing
Having said that, you also don’t want to wear clothes that are overly loose. So, big billowy skirts or flared pants / trousers are a definite no. Basically avoid items of clothing that could get caught in the moving parts of your bike. Particularly anything around your ankle area as fabric here can get caught in the cranks or wheels.
Layer up
For the same reason as you should avoid tight clothing, you should also avoid wearing too many thick items. Remember that you might start off your bike ride a little chilly, but you’ll soon warm up. If you’re wearing a number of thinner layers, then you can peel off a layer at a time as you get warmer.
Comfy shoes
You don’t need to wear pro bike shoes that clip to your pedals when you’re going on a bike ride date. However, you should wear footwear that is practical and comfy. Ideally a pair of sneakers or trainers. If you must wear heels, then go for something like a wedge with a secure strap, and remember to push the pedals with the balls of your feet to avoid your foot slipping off.
Check out the photos on this website if you’d like some inspiration for awesome outfits to wear.
Tandem cycling jersey
Our wedding gift this year was matching bike jerseys for avid cycling friends of ours. They loved them and there’s talk of more matching sets being bought. They’re a fun gift purchase for newlywed couples, I think. Good value for money and something that they can enjoy together for a long time to come.
My favorite though is this set which features a cool geometric design in black, red, and yellow. This is a very practical cycling jersey in a men’s and women’s cut and comes with all the great features you’d expect. It has a full-length zipper, which is useful for getting the garment on and off, and also for extra ventilation on hot days. There are three generous pockets at the back for snacks and bike tools. There’s also a silicone band around the bottom hem, which stops the jersey from riding up as you cycle. So you can avoid exposing your lower back to the chilly breeze.
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