Early in 2025, I set out into the London city streets as a bike commuter for the first time. In the first few days I was loving the freedom, off onto the cycle lanes with my laptop and some shoddy brakes. But I quickly came to an impasse.
My work wardrobe, mostly of business casual attire, wasn’t up to the task of keeping me comfortable. On a personal level I was resistant to the fashion sins of the neon lycra-clad city cyclists. The decked out tech bros around me clearly had a more intense vibe than was necessary.
So, the central question: how could I be visible and able to move, while looking like a normal person? After a few months of testing I’d say I’ve got it down to what’s absolutely essential. Read about why, or skip to the end for the full list.
What NOT to buy:
It’s all-too easy to fall down the rabbit hole of expensive cycling stuff, so I’ll start you with one central rule: pay money to be safe, not to be sporty. For example:
A Suped-Up Bike
If you’re not starting a training programme to put some serious miles down, you definitely don’t need a road bike, and you probably don’t even need a brand-new bike.
So, be sustainable! Buy a normal hybrid bike second-hand, or a basic model from Decathlon or your local sporting goods store. Try to get one with mudguards or a fender, to protect your backside from muddy streets. If you’re not sure you’re in for the long haul, start on a Lime bike or CitiBike! You don’t need the Cadillac of bicycles for your one-mile commute.
Here’s a few suggestions, if you don’t know where to start:
BICYCLE (Used) – Approx. $150/£120, Ebay
BICYCLE (New, US) – $350 – Schwinn Hybrid Bike, Target
BICYCLE (New, UK) – £250 – Riverside Hybrid Bike, Decathlon
Lycra and Clip-In Shoes
Everyone has that urge to spend to feel prepared, but buying yourself padded shorts or clip-in shoes as a cycle commuter just is not worth the hassle. You can’t get to top speed on city streets without being frankly antisocial.
Some people buy cycling clothes because they think they have to shower and change at work if they’re cycling. Let me offer another take: for most people, if you’re sweating your ass off (and it’s not 80 degrees out), you may be working a bit too hard on your cycle journey. Step off the gas a bit and save yourself the office quick-change. If you’re in an office that’s not super formally suited and booted, you can get to work just fine in your normal work clothes.
Bike Panniers
Looks fun, but really, why? As a commuter, you usually have to carry them around wherever you’re going, and they’re not even convenient to hold. You probably own a backpack; use your backpack. I’d only go for panniers if you have back pain or are struggling with backpack-related sweat.
When to spend:
If there’s anything you shouldn’t be compromising on when getting out and about on your bike, it’s your safety and comfort. That means protecting your eyes, skin, and body first and foremost. Plus, having versatile clothes that will encourage you get on your bike without having to dedicate your day (or your Outfit Of The Day) to cycling. Here’s what I’d pick up:
Hi-Viz Gear
I’ve thought a lot about how you can get away with a hi-viz outfit without looking silly once you’re off your bike. There are two main options: get safety gear you can tuck away, or find something you can pass the whole day in. I’ve got an option for both.
For a subtle and quite techy option, I tried out and loved the Proviz 100% Reflective Commuter Cycling Jacket. You can see from the pics that that name is for real – this jacket makes you impossible to miss when it gets dark. This is really a safety must, which is why if you keep an eye out on city streets you’ll see tonnes of people cycling about in this exact jacket or Proviz’s similar products. It’s lovely, though, because it’s also a fairly functional rain jacket, has great venting for hot days, and boasts large pockets if you want to forego a bag. Plus, in the daytime it doesn’t stand out in neon yellow, which might not be your colour. This is a great safety product that you can just wear all day, and its massive success at the moment speaks for itself.
JACKET – $125/£80 – REFLECT360+ City Women’s Reflective Cycling Commuter Jacket, Proviz
But, down the bright and bold route, I’ve tried out and kind of fallen in love with the Primal Hi-Viz Wind Vest. It’s light, folds up tiny, and honestly has quite a flattering cut for women. On warm days, this is a great no-fuss solution and can even fold up and stay with your bike.
I got this vest for function over fashion, but the pink and sporty-cute look totally won me over. This is a convenient easy-on solution if you’re tackling any busy roads on your commute.
HI-VIZ VEST – $60/£45 – Hi-Viz Pink Stripe Wind Vest, Primal
A Helmet + Lights
Wear a helmet! Don’t let yourself get behind the times on this, like when your parents or grandparents would refuse to wear seatbelts for, um, literally no reason. They’re cheap, simple, and make cycling so much safer for cyclists, drivers, and pedestrians.
HELMET (UK) – £29.99 – BTWIN Bowl City Cycling Helmet 500, Decathlon
HELMET (US) – $34.99 – Bell Granite MIPS Adult Bike Helmet, Target
If you want to get fancy with it, buying a light-up helmet is an easy one-two punch. It does look the tiniest bit dorky, but it’s supremely safe. Otherwise, just buy the cheapest helmet from a reputable brand. If you’re in Europe, head to Decathlon, or in America look at Target. This isn’t the fun part of cyclist shopping, so let it be the simple one.
A Bike Lock
Talk about protecting your investments! I’ve had a bike stolen, and in all honesty the disappointment and frustration were worse than forking out the money it takes to buy a new one. You should be locking your bike relatively well.
BIKE LOCK – $58/£35 – Kryptonite, Amazon UK/Amazon US
I’m not saying go crazy with it. If you’re not riding something fancy, the one thing you want to look for in a bike lock is that it stands up to everything but an angle grinder. Go for a standard D-lock, and make sure you lock up the frame, not the front wheel. You can pick one up from Abus or Kryptonite for at most £60/$70. Or, if you’re buying someone’s bike secondhand, try asking if they’re interested in selling their lock, too.
Bike Lights
BIKE LIGHTS (US) – $25 – Schwinn Rechargeable Bike Lights, Target
BIKE LIGHTS (UK) – £22 – Oxford Rechargeable Bike Lights, Decathlon
Lights are always a bit finnicky, but that doesn’t mean you should give up and buy the cheapest ones. When you’re two months into using your cheap, non-rechargeable lights, you’re not going to be happy going back to the store for more expensive, tiny batteries. Buy some rechargeable lights and bring them inside once a week to juice them back up. Oh, and remember not to leave them on your bike outside, if you want to still have them tomorrow. It’s a jungle out there!
Okay, fine… Some (functional) cute clothes:
I’m not going to pretend to be a cost-saving saint – I sort of got into cycling with a vision of cute outfits in mind. It’s not a crime! Here are my basic recommendations:
Tops: This is where you can probably just wear what you own – most normal tops are not going to interfere with your bike.
Bottoms: This is where you’re most limited on a bike. You have to watch yourself with dresses and long skirts, although I have been known to cycle in a dinner-length gown on occasion when very behind schedule (call it a calculated risk). You also can really ruin your cycling experience with stiff, tight jeans or short shorts on a hot bike seat.
TROUSERS – $50/£35 – Jersey Barrel Pants, UNIQLO UK/US
Early in my city cycling journey, I was recommended a perfect pair of UniQlo jersey trousers. They’re barrel-leg, so a wide-legged look with no risk of bike troubles. Plus, they look quite put-together despite being mega stretchy and breezy, so I wear them happily to the office. I have raved about them so much that my mom, brother, boyfriend’s mom, and several total strangers have bought a pair.
Shoes: I’m a general risk-taker with cycling shoes, but I will confess to having a birkenstock fall off at a stoplight once or twice. If you want to avoid that (and you probably should) I’d suggest leaning into the world of stylish activewear.
SHOES – $135/£75 – Jasper Rocks Shoes, Keen US / Keen UK
My current obsession are these shoes from Keen which are built for hiking, but perfect for cycling, long walks, or a generally out-and-about day. Plus, just look at them.
In all honesty, shoes should be in the ‘wear what you have’ category. But come on, look at this pop of blue! I had to have it.
In Conclusion
City cycling doesn’t need to be that complicated – you could probably start today, and build up to what you need. And you should! Once I started, cycling quickly became one of my favourite parts of the day. So, here’s my full shopping list and what it really cost me.
BICYCLE (Used) – Approx. $150/£120, Ebay
BICYCLE (New, US) – $350 – Schwinn Hybrid Bike, Target
BICYCLE (New, UK) – £250 – Riverside Hybrid Bike, Decathlon
BIKE LOCK – $58/£35 – Kryptonite, Amazon UK/Amazon US
HELMET (US) – $35 – Bell Granite MIPS Adult Bike Helmet, Target
HELMET (UK) – £30 – BTWIN Bowl City Cycling Helmet 500, Decathlon
BIKE LIGHTS (US) – $25 – Schwinn Rechargeable Bike Lights, Target
BIKE LIGHTS (UK) – £22 – Oxford Rechargeable Bike Lights, Decathlon
JACKET – $125/£80 – REFLECT360+ City Women’s Reflective Cycling Jacket, Proviz
HI-VIZ VEST – $60/£45 – Hi-Viz Pink Stripe Wind Vest, Primal
TROUSERS – $50/£35 – Jersey Barrel Pants, UNIQLO UK/US
SHOES – $135/£75 – Jasper Rocks Shoes, Keen US / Keen UK
This took a little while to collect, and I don’t anticipate having to add to my arsenal or replace anything soon. If you want to cut down on this, pick one hi-vis option, cycle in your normal clothes, and by all means use or borrow a bike you or a friend/family member already own.
Cycling can be simple, so there’s no excuse not to get out there. Happy riding!
