How to Select Cycling Socks

Cycling can be hard on your feet, so you need to pay careful attention to the types of shoes and socks that you select. You want to buy socks that provide cushioning but are thin enough to allow your cycling shoes to fit snugly. In the fashion-conscious cycling world, you'll want to spend a bit of time choosing interesting socks too.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Choose thin cycling socks. Your feet swell as you ride your bike, especially on long rides. Thinner socks will allow your feet to swell without making your shoes too tight and causing pain.

2. Select socks with as few seams as possible. Seams in your socks may seem like a small thing, but on a long bike ride those seams can start to feel like rocks in your shoes.

3. Opt for cycling socks made from man-made fabrics. Modern materials such as CoolMax wick moisture away from your feet to prevent painful blisters and chafed skin.

4. Look for cycling socks with an open-weave construction to maximize air flow and comfort. Open-weave material not only allows moisture to evaporate quickly, but also traps air to keep your feet warm.

5. Turn to DeFeet (see Resources below). Professional and amateur cyclists have sworn by DeFeet brand socks for years. The company offers a huge variety of cycling socks, such as the Aireator, Levitator and budget-minded Activator. Visit the DeFeet website to see why Tour de France winners and other champions use their socks.

6. Select wool socks for winter riding. Wool socks will help keep your feet warmer. However, not any old wool sock will function properly. Wool cycling socks should still have few seams, be thin and have open-weave construction.

7. Coordinate your socks with your cycling jersey. Cyclists are known for their flashy fashion. Go with brightly colored socks or socks that flaunt your favorite professional cyclist's logo.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase cycling socks created especially for women if you are female. Most cycling socks are made with men's feet in mind and are too large for women's feet so they cause chafing.
• Keep your cycling socks clean. Dirty socks don't wick air or moisture as well, and are more likely to cause discomfort.
• Carry an extra pair of socks with you on a long ride so that you can change them if they get too wet.
• Avoid 100-percent cotton cycling socks. Cotton gets stiff when it is wet and cotton socks can create painful blisters much more quickly than you would think.
• Cycling socks made from moisture-wicking fabrics are more expensive than cotton socks.

Resources

• Cycling socks at DeFeet.com

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[jwork]

on 4/3/2009 The link in your Resources section appears to be broken. May I suggest http://www.swiftwick.com?