Good morning, afternoon and evening! Chan-Mai here.
With just one week to go until OMM BIKE, this time I decided to think about “clothes for OMM.”
I say this every time, but although it's called OMM BIKE Style, at root it's about “how comfortably you can ride,” so it's sure to carry over to your everyday rides, too.
This time the theme is “as light on my feet as possible” and “protect what needs protecting.” I picked the items that let me ride at my most nimble.
Minimal weight for the upper body
Up until last year, my standard outfit for OMM BIKE was a sleeveless top plus a shirt. It's wonderfully cool and feels great, and adjusting for temperature is easy. But two years in, I've come to want to ride properly, to the point where I can no longer call OMM BIKE just a pleasant ride.
Here's what I chose this time.
Looking back at what I wore last time, the first lesson is that sleeveless is fantastic, but long sleeves are a must for keeping the sun off. Sunburn drags your condition down, after all, so you need sun protection as well. And yet if you're pulling a shirt on and off every time it switches between hot and cold, sun and shade, you inevitably lose time.
Having finally started to care about my score at my third OMM BIKE, I went looking for a long-sleeve top that breathes as well as it possibly can while protecting my skin, so as to lose as little time as possible. And what I found was the POC Motion Air Long Sleeve MTB Jersey.
It's see-through…!!!
That this is incredibly cool to wear was proven on my Hokkaido tour. The best.
And what I pair it with is the PATAGONIA W’s Maipo Mid Impact Bra. It gives generous coverage, so you can even wear it on its own.
I'd also recommend it to anyone who worries about their underwear showing when they wear sleeveless tops. Above all it offers really solid support, so on days when I think “today I'm going to ride~!” it's the first piece I reach for.
Proper protection for the lower half
Just like the clothes Kosei came up with for a first OMM BIKE, I've got a padded liner on underneath. I chose the PATAGONIA Dirt Roamer Liner Shorts. Of the several liner shorts I've tried, these were the ones that felt just right, so they've become my go-to. When the staff go on long tours late into the night, or take on slightly dirt-heavy roads, a sore backside drains your HP (stamina) in no time, so protecting it with a pad is the way to go. I'm fervently hoping a women's version of this series comes out..!
A cyclist's “gear”
The things I always recommend, however casual a rider you are, are a “helmet,” “eyewear” and “gloves.”
Not wanting to go head-to-toe in hardcore bike wear, I chose the OMBRAZ Viale as the place to ease off.
OMBRAZ eyewear catches the eye with its distinctive cord in place of temples, but that shape doesn't interfere with a helmet, so the two go together superbly. They hold more securely than they look, so you can ride with peace of mind.
For gloves, the HESTRA Spiro Short 5-Finger. They not only soften the shocks coming through the handlebar but also stop your grip slipping from sweaty hands. That's something I learned the hard way on the Mt. Mikuni ride that Daisaku and Baki took me on the other day. Learning really does come from experience.
Now all that's left is to enjoy it~
Once your gear is sorted, all that's left is to enjoy it. OMM BIKE has a mandatory kit list as well, so let's make sure we're properly prepared.
If you're ever stuck on gear, come and see us at Circles any time.
Can't wait for OMM~
