Whether you enjoy competing for KOMs and QOMs on mountain passes, hitting the trails at your local bike park, heading out for a relaxed weekend spin, or commuting to work, performance cycling helps you stay cool, comfortable, and capable. Over the last decade, cycling clothing has advanced significantly, incorporating a range of performance technologies that help you get the most from your time on the bike.
From regulating body temperature and protecting against unwanted odors to improving aerodynamics and ensuring freedom of movement, advanced textile technologies are changing the way brands design and manufacture cycling apparel.
Today, Polygiene is one of the most exciting and innovative textile technology brands in the industry. Trusted by outdoor, sportswear, and cycling brands around the world, Polygiene odor control and antibacterial solutions for cycling clothing enhance comfort, improve the riding experience, and support more sustainable clothing care habits.
Performance cycling clothing is engineered to maximize performance and comfort while riding, and simplify maintenance and care between rides. Typically engineered from technical fabrics optimized to meet the demands of cycling, the clothing is also designed to accommodate and support movement.
Many garments are made from lightweight, breathable materials that efficiently wick moisture away from the skin, helping riders stay dry during intense efforts. Stretch fabrics provide unrestricted movement, while close-fitting designs reduce wind resistance and improve aerodynamics. Flatlock seams help prevent chafing, and strategically placed ventilation panels improve airflow in key areas.
Many performance cycling garments also include additional technologies, such as UV protection, reflective details for improved visibility, and odor-control treatments to keep clothing smelling and feeling fresher between washes.
Performance cycling clothing includes a range of garments, from track mitts and aero socks to base layers and bib shorts. Antibacterial and odor control textile technologies can be incorporated into almost all of these cycling clothing items.
Base layers are designed to sit next to the skin and quickly transport perspiration away from the body while helping regulate temperature in both warm and cold conditions.
Cycling jerseys and technical T-shirts combine lightweight fabrics with moisture management capabilities and a breathable construction to keep riders comfortable throughout long rides.
Cycling shorts and bib shorts use stretch fabrics and ergonomic construction to provide comfort over extended periods in the saddle. Bibs often feature a padded chamois for extra comfort.
Cycling jackets and gilets offer weather protection while maintaining breathability. Hats, caps, neck tubes, gloves and arm warmers are all popular riding accessories, and can benefit from odor-control technologies, particularly during longer rides or multi-day cycling adventures where washing opportunities are limited.
Cycling naturally involves long periods of physical exertion, causing perspiration to build up within clothing. This can lead to some pretty unpleasant smells.
By keeping clothing fresher, odor-control technologies enable cyclists to wear garments multiple times before washing, making life easier during busy training schedules, cycling holidays, or multi-day events.
Washing less frequently also helps preserve the performance properties of technical fabrics, extending the lifespan of clothing and reducing replacement costs.
Reduced washing also lowers water and energy consumption while decreasing detergent use, helping riders minimise their environmental impact without compromising hygiene.
No one feels great when their clothes smell. By keeping bad odors at bay and eliminating the worry and anxiety that comes with smelling, cycling clothing odor control technology helps riders feel confident and comfortable while on the bike.
Managing body temperature is essential for comfort and performance on the bike, particularly during long rides or in warm weather. As cyclists work harder, body heat increases, impacting performance and comfort.
Textile cooling technologies are designed to provide a cooling boost when things heat up. Cyclists have long understood the relationship between body temperature and performance, and recognize that staying cool is essential if you want to perform at your peak.
Even if you are not looking to put out maximum watts, cooling technology plays a big role in keeping you comfortable. By reducing the fabric temperature by several degrees on contact with moisture, Polygiene StayCool ensures you stay comfortable on your morning commute, that slow Sunday spin, or a party-pace group ride.
Polygiene OdorCrunch2.0
Polygiene’s next-gen odor control technology captures, absorbs, and binds to odor-causing molecules in textiles, preventing smells from being released and keeping garments fresh between washes. When the clothing is eventually washed, the absorbed odors are released and the technology’s odor-capture capacity resets, so you’re ready to ride. Polygiene OdorCrunch2.0 features no heavy metals, PFAs or nanotechnology, and is entirely skin safe.
Polygiene StayCool
Our game-changing cooling technology improves moisture-wicking capabilities, enhancing evaporative cooling by actively transporting moisture away from the body. At the same time, it features a thermo-reactive polymer matrix that activates upon contact with sweat, cooling the fabric between 2 – 3°C (4.3 – 5.4°F). This long-lasting cooling effect keeps you feeling light, dry, and comfortable when out on the bike.
Polygiene StayFresh
Our industry-leading antibacterial textile technology inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria, so your cycling stays fresher for longer and needs washing less often. As well as improving comfort, this saves you water, energy and detergent, while minimizing wear and tear caused by machine washing.
Whether you’re developing premium cycling jerseys, technical base layers, performance outerwear, or complete cycling collections, Polygiene technologies help products and riders stay fresh and keep cool.
Get in touch with Polygiene today to discover how Polygiene OdorCrunch2.0, Polygiene StayCool, and Polygiene StayFresh can enhance your next generation of designs, distinguish your performance cycling clothing from the competition, and add value for customers.
