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Don’t think just because you’re riding your bike you have to compromise your sense of style. Plenty of cyclists still manage to look the part, even if wearing casual cycling clothes on a dreary commute to and from work.
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Bike polo shirts are a guarantee if you’re after a classy look in that regard, but ever since the iconic Bradley Wiggins Fred Perry polos stopped being made, there has perhaps felt a bit of a gap in the market here.
Below, we’ll run you through three of the best cycling polos currently going, including one with merino wool, and another with particularly striking colours:
Stylish Urban Cycling Tops
Cotton T-shirts from your favourite high street market leader may make you feel like you’ve got your finger on the pulse in the fashion world, but most of these are stiff and lack the breathability you need for cycling.
But all is not lost, because plenty of fashionable cycling polos won’t require you break the bank.
Some may be more casual cycling T-shirts, others may possess a more high-end, classy feel. But what else, apart from just how they look, should you be in your criteria for in a stylish cycling polo?
- Breathability
- Moisture-wicking
- Wrinkle-resistant
- Fast-drying (ideally machine-washable, too)
- Good fit for cycling
- Stretchable materials
- Longer back for riding
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Top 3: Best Polo Shirts for Cyclists
1. Rapha Merino Polo Shirt
A quality, high-performance, stylish merino shirt
- Designed to last for commuters
- Available in smart black or dark navy, and six different sizes
- Moisture-wicking and anti-bacterial
After that sweet, sweet vintage merino wool for even more breathability and warmth? You’ve come to the right place – this Rapha polo, made of 89 per cent merino and 11 per cent nylon, is ideal in that regard.
Whether in black or dark navy, or any of its six available sizes, this merino polo is a cut above the rest thanks to its classy style, moisture-wicking properties and light (170gsm), comfortable feel.
Need more convincing? Well, it’s also naturally antibacterial, shrink-resistant, and has a reflective tab on its rear to keep you visible even in darker, wintry commutes.
Colours:
Material:
- 89% Merino Wool
- 11% Nylon
Fit:
- Modern fit (between slim fit and regular fit)
Shipping Notes:
- Based in UK, with distribution centres around the world (including USA)
Price*:
- UK: £85
- EU: €100
- US: $115
*correct at time of writing
A super stylish polo shirt that's perfect for urban commutes. This sleek Rapha polo is made from a blend of lightweight Merino wool and nylon, making it breathable and stretchy,
2. Ministry of Supply Apollo Polo Shirt
Feel out of this world with this spacesuit-inspired polo
- NASA-grade temperature regulation
- Four-way stretch knit structure
- 19 times more breathable than cotton
Craving a more spacey feel? This Ministry of Supply Apollo polo stands out primarily for its NASA-level temperature regulation, keeping you from ever being too hot or too cold.
Its four-way stretch knit structure makes it, they say, 19 times more breathable than cotton, keeping you cool and comfortable throughout your commute.
Made of 57 per cent polyester and 43 per cent PCM-infused polyester, there’s also an impressive array of colours (as well as six sizes) to sift through, including ‘charcoal heather’ and ‘deep sky blue Oxford’.
Colours:
Material:
- 89% Merino Wool
- 11% Nylon
Fit:
- Modern fit (between slim fit and regular fit)
Shipping Notes:
- Based in the US
- International shipping available
- Pay custom fees upon delivery
Price*:
- UK: £62
- EU: €72
- US: $85
*correct at time of writing
A beautiful cycling polo shirt featuring built-in tech to ensure you stay cool. The material is also four-way stretch to maximise mobility when you ride. Available in eight different colours.
3. Bluffworks Piton Polo Shirts
Smart but sturdy pique-knit polos
- Elegant look, variety of colours
- High level of breathability
- Moisture-wicking, machine-washable
Whether in navy, sky or French blue, spun grey or deep olive, Bluffworks market each of their shirts as ‘a stylish polo that performs’, and it’s hard to disagree.
These are performance polo shirts ideally for commuters, with excellent moisture-wicking and breathable qualities, as well as being wrinkle-resistant and machine-washable.
Their elegant pique knit fabric is sturdier than it looks, too – so you’ll look as great as you feel with any of these on. Each of them have the feel, in some ways, of a retro cycling polo shirt, but are still up-to-date in terms of technology in cyclists’ clothing.
Colours:
Material:
- 100% Polyester
Fit:
- Slim Fit or Classic Fit
Shipping Notes:
- Based in the US
- International shipping available
- Pay custom fees upon delivery
Price*:
- UK: £49*
- EU: €57*
- US: $68 (currently on sale for $27)
*correct at time of writing
A polo shirt designed for travellers means it contains all the things you want for cycling: durability, stretch, breathability and wrinkle-resitance.
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