For many athletes, having the correct clothing is an essential part of their job in order to perform at their best and hopefully succeed in winning recognition. Whether you are a swimmer, football player, jockey or cyclist, having the right clothing could be the difference between winning and losing. But what about those of us who are less serious and just cycle for the pure enjoyment? Is it really necessary to have professional cycling clothing? Cycling is slightly different to most other sports due to the fact that when we go cycling, we need certain equipment to protect our bodies and ensure we remain comfortable. Having a cycling helmet is probably the single most important piece of cycling 'clothing' and everyone who cycles should wear one. Cycling can be dangerous and without a helmet, even just falling off your bike could be fatal. Many people do not realise the sheer importance of wearing a helmet, but without one, you could be asking for a nasty injury. Riding for long periods of time requires us to sit on a saddle, which is not one of the most comfortable seats we could choose to sit on. Therefore the need to have proper cycling shorts is almost paramount in order to enjoy our ride. The padding in cycling shorts helps our bodies to protect itself and makes riding that much more enjoyable. For those of you who are avid cyclists and will enjoy riding for more than an hour at a time will soon come to realise that cycling with a bag is both uncomfortable and unnecessary. However, there is a solution to carrying your belongings with you on the bike. Many professional cycling clothing brands will offer both jerseys and jackets with adequate pockets in order to store the essentials such as keys and phone. Assos clothing is particularly good at offering great solutions to carrying your belongings. Their jerseys have conveniently placed pockets with zips to ensure the items don't fall out whilst you ride - leaving you bag-less! Jerseys are also great for staying comfortable and maintaining your body temperature. Whether it is cold outside or hot, a cycling jersey will draw the sweat away from your body and help you stay dry. The material jersey's are made from are designed to maintain a comfortable body temperature so you can focus on the ride rather than sweating. As well as these few essentials, there are a whole range of other products designed to make your ride that much better. Whether it is summer or winter, brands such as Assos will provide everything from jerseys to gloves and shoes to keep you at your most comfortable. This will not only make your ride far more enjoyable but also correctly protect your body during the exercise.

Mountain biking is such a good way to keep fit and a superb way to explore the outdoors, the city and your nearby area. You don't need to own the highest spec mountain bike to get out and have fun, however it does help if you wear the right bike wear and active clothing. Bike wear and cycling clothing should be comfy and breathable when you're whizzing round on the mountain bikes. A good place to start is with sports clothing that has been specifically designed with cycling and biking technicalities in mind.

Cycling jackets and fleeces

Cycling jackets vary enormously from lightweight soft-shell jackets through to the heavier 3 in 1 jackets. When you're planning to purchase lightweight soft-shell jackets for cycling or mountain biking then it is advisable to think about a jacket that is waterproof - both with or without taped seams, windproof, and with protective high visibility reflectors designed on the jacket. You should always purchase a bike jacket that has been designed to be roomy enough to withstand the rigorous movements of the cyclist. A windproof and waterproof jacket with a long back is beneficial to the cyclist as it stops the splash of mud, dirt and rain soaking through to your clothes.

Cycling late, whether it be thrill seeking adventures in the mountains or simply cycling home from work in the dark it is recommended that you have some sort of reflective fabric on your jacket Many bike jackets, trousers, shorts and rucksacks have reflective piping outlining the item which is useful for others to see you when riding on the roads and at night.

Cycling shorts

Selecting the right cycling shorts and trousers is quite easy. Again it would be a good choice to choose some shorts with reflective panels and comfort sewn in. A number of shorts have padding in the areas that require it most, making lengthy mountain biking and cycling sessions much better in terms of comfort. When choosing shorts for cycling and mountain biking you can choose between relaxed fit and tight fit - it is simply a matter of preference. Many shorts are made from an elastane and lycra mix of fabric making them ideal for flexible use and active wear when on mountain bikes.

Regardless of your decision on what you decide to get it's worth taking a look at a broad range of clothing and making sure that you're comfy and flexible in your clothing!