Next up, invest in a set of reliable, bright lights to ensure you're seen on the road. Buying USB lights allows you to charge them at work. While lights are essential throughout winter you might also want to invest in day running lights to use all year round on your commute. John has been writing about bikes and cycling for over 30 years since discovering that people were mug enough to pay him for it rather than expecting him to do an honest day's work. Mountain bikers: are you willing to ride without wearing shorts? The answer may well be “no”. In which case, you can simply fit some tights underneath, again made ideally from a windproof, waterproof, breathable fabric with some reflective detailing, or just go without. The choice is yours.

You’ll also want some padding on the palms and possibly the thumb, to cushion yourself from jolts and improve comfort. It can be made from foam or gel inserts, and will make a big difference. Finally, look for some grip on the palms, index finger and thumb, particularly if you’re riding off-road.There are two schools of cycling short. The most common and integral to your riding comfort is the tight-fitting Lycra/spandex kind. Sitting just above the knee and usually hoisted up with a bib suspender, the flexible materials are favoured by competitive cyclists to decrease air resistance while allowing for a full range of motion as they pedal. At the higher end of the market, these shorts will heighten comfort in seamless designs and incorporate additional technical materials that work to better regulate your temperature as you cycle. While polyester and nylon are both specific types of material, a “polyamide” is a fabric group that nylon belongs to. A polyamide material used in bike shorts or other sportswear is likely to be nylon.

Comfortable for commutes or leisure riding are the Terry Bike Bermuda Shorts. These have a 6-panel construction with flat-seam stitching to avoid any discomfort at the joins. The “Bermuda” design is in keeping with modern knee-length bike shorts. Comfort in these shorts comes from an excellent 600 series computer-cut pad with an antibacterial finish. A Continuously Variable Profile (CVP) supplies support where it’s needed most and avoids any needless material. Gel inserts add to the plushness. One potential benefit with these undershorts is a saving in money, as you can buy several pairs of these rather than multiple pairs of bike shorts with built-in pads. The Rapha Men’s Technical Trousers are an ideal solution to this more-common-than-you-think problem, and thankfully look the business off the bike as well.Again, this is a product you’re more likely to buy if your commute is long or if you’re a cyclist in your spare time. When it comes to trousers for cycling commuters, you again have a great variety to choose from. Do you want the most practical, the most fashionable, or the most snug fit? Tune into any professional level cycling race and the elite peloton will exclusively favour a bib cycling short. By omitting a waistband in place of the shoulder straps that hoist them up, they’re preferred because they remove any discomfort around the midsection as you ride. If you’re serious about your cycling, they’re well worth considering the slightly heightened investment. Consider, though, that just as a jumpsuit on a night out makes having a wee an ordeal, they’re that bit less in keeping with your regular get-up, so the compromise is that they’re not the most convenient for that seamless transition from commute to desk. How much should I pay for a pair of men’s cycling shorts? Freeze your fingers on a long ride once and you’ll never forget just how miserable it can make you. It’s dangerous, too, particularly on busy roads: you need your digits for braking, changing gear, ringing that bell and clinging on tight to the handlebars. Y’know, the important stuff. It was only after spending a few weeks riding my Brompton in jeans to Rouleur HQ that I was really able to appreciate the need for a versatile pair of commuter trousers. The distance isn’t far enough to warrant wearing proper cycling kit, but far enough to feel uncomfortable in inflexible trousers not made for riding.