The best cycling brands for effortless, elegant rides

• Brand established: 2014, Australia
• Hero Product: Zip-Up Gilet

MAAP is known for stylish cycling gear, launched less than 10 years ago by former graphic, fashion and technical apparel designers, Oliver Cousins and Jarred Smith. Made with fabrics produced in Milan, MAAP treads a fine line between fashion and function, collaborating with brands including Perks & Mini (P.A.M) and New Era to make their voice heard off the bike. MAAP also prides itself on its sustainability credentials, taking recycled plastic and fibres and turning them into premium performance fabrics, while also championing environmentally friendly dyes. The brand states its ‘ultimate goal’ is to make 100 per cent of its on-bike apparel from recycled yarns in the not-so-distant future, also ensuring that all its products are delivered in compostable bags.

• Brand established: 2012, Sydney
• Hero product: Acid Lime Racing Bib

Attaquer is to cycling wares as J. Lindeberg is to golf clothing: bright, fresh and here to prove that its sport is cool, actually. With a focus on diversifying its clothes as well as the kind of person we perceive as typical cyclists, Attaquer is at the aesthetic forefront of the sport. There are plenty of simple but bright separates to choose from, though regular artist series’ also allow for even wackier modes of expression for those bored by plain old black bibs. Something we love even more? The brand has a 20 per cent off sticker for anyone buying a jersey and bib as a bundle.

• Brand established: 2020, London
• Hero product: Spectrum print jersey

The youngest of the brands on our list, Universal Colours only launched in 2020 but has already built a formidable reputation, particularly for its use of simple, functional materials that allow you to think about the cycling and forget about any niggling clothing issues. Dropped in “volumes”, Universal Colours follow a minimalist palette that evolves with advances in material technology. Something we particularly love about Universal Colours is its dedication to the ethical: it only works with factories that are internationally audited for social and environmental good practice and is a member of 1% For The Planet.

• Brand established: 2013, Melbourne
• Hero product: Core Cycling Jersey

Another hyper-cool cycling brand straight outta Down Under, Pedla is one of very few retailers that has found its way onto Matches. It has earned the honour with good reason: these are handsome, minimalistic-yet-recognisable pieces that also perform well under pressure. We'd expect no less: having been founded by two keen cyclists, you can trust that its kit boasts brains and brawn in equal measure.

• Brand established: 2015, Denmark
• Hero product: Mechanism JerseMechanism Jersey

Pas Normal Studios is cool. It’s clean, it’s modern and it’s easy on the eye. Known for producing great looking, high-tech kit, the label has even collabed with the likes of Pirelli. Block colours are the Pas Normal Studios way; with the majority of its kit from helmets to base layers coming in a wide range of colourways. Its Mechanism Jersey might weigh heavy on the purse strings at £145, but comes made with an aerodynamic fit using breathable and lightweight fabric for an easy, comfortable and speed-primed ride. A lot of work goes into one of these, with just the motif on the back consisting of 15 individual panels, all laser-cut and assembled by hand in Italy.

• Brand established: 2012, England
• Hero Product: Rain Jacket 3.0

British-born brand Albion knows about the various weather conditions that cyclists face day-to-day – after all, it originates in a country that experiences every end of the weather spectrum, often regardless of the season. Its products are hardy and long-lasting whilst being functional and comfortable, with an emphasis on increasing your enjoyment and time out on the bike. Albion places great emphasis on the fact that it only works with factories that treat staff fairly, working with factories on home turf as well as in Italy and China. It also offers free lifetime repairs on all its products, so despite the price tag (which is actually super good value relative to the market) you can rest assured you have a product for life.

• Brand established: 2009, France
• Hero Product: Floral Print Jersey

When cyclist enthusiast Remi Clermont and his colleague Andrew Stewart set up Café Du Cycliste, it was quite literally a cafe in the town of Grasse that just so happened to sell cycling products such as jerseys. Over time, with its apparel offering becoming more popular than its flat whites, the cafe did the full transformation into brand. Today, Café Du Cycliste products are chicer than chic, with a line of apparel and accessories split into various collections suited to various cycle styles and weather conditions. The Gravel collection, as the name suggests, is suited to stoney off-road ground, whilst the Merino apparel offers immense thermoregulation – ideal for staying cool on warmer days and keeping warm on cooler days (and looking immaculate all the while).

• Brand established: 1974, California
• Hero Product: Echelon Helmet

Known primarily for its slick road bikes and endless choice of ride-customising equipment, Specialized also produces some of the more stylish cyclewear on the market. While other brands on this list might claim to produce Tour de France grade wares, Specialized's output works perfectly well for the casual to the fairly avid rider — and it's some of the best-looking, too. From lighted helmets ideal for city riders to some of the more affordable bibs on the market, Specialized is a fantastic place to delve into a world of cyclewear without losing that Lululemon look. And if you're after a new bike to boot, its rides are pretty spectacular, too.

• Brand established: 1949, Germany
• Hero product: The Road Cycling Shoes

Adidas; one of the longest-standing fitness brands, has a cycling range made with at least 50 per cent recycled materials, as part of its constant commitment to sustainability. Its hero innovation in this respect is Parley Ocean Plastic – reimagined plastic waste intercepted on remote islands, beaches, coastal communities and shorelines to prevent it from polluting the ocean. Other pros of the brand’s cycling range is its moisture-wicking technology; aeroready, handy, hidden pockets and well-placed seams to reduce chafing. Shoe-wise, Adidas has turned its enduring Samba trainer into the Velosamba; a cycling version with a two-bolt cleat. In fact, Adidas’ cycling range is expansive, catering for indoor, gravel, road and commuter rides.

• Brand established: 2008, London
• Hero product: Reflect360 Cycling Jacket

Not every cyclist casts a green eye on the wearer of the yellow jersey: some are simply on the path to faster, healthier commuting. Two such men are Bob and Ant, the brothers who founded Proviz as a means to promote safer cycling, particularly in the city. Built on reflective materials and hyper-visible separates, visit this site for reflective gilets, bags, gloves and jackets as well as waterproof trousers.

• Brand established: 1970s, Switzerland
• Hero Product: Trail Gloves

Claiming to create equipment rather than clothing, Swiss brand Assos is all about perfecting the conditions of your ride. While you may not be able to control the weather, you can make sure that you are clad in the right pieces that'll haul you through even the toughest of workouts. With a mind to achieve not only survival but comfort in the outdoors, this is apparel best-suited to those braving all-weather rides, particularly in the countryside. Catered to the Swiss Alps, these bibs, jerseys and other cycling essentials are built to contend with extreme cold and extreme hill climbs. Splitting winter into three types — Winter, Winter Ultraz and Winter Wet — Assos' pieces work together to suit all conditions. Head here if you've been considering doing that Alpe D'Huez climb you've always wanted to complete…

• Brand established: 2009, Atlanta
• Hero product: Kickr Smart Trainer

A purveyor of accessories that challenge cycling’s boundaries, you might know Wahoo best for its Brownlee brother-approved indoor rollers, but that isn’t the only thing it offers. Its smart, futuristic exercise bike is the serious cyclist’s answer to at-home working out while space-age pedal/cleat ergonomics will have you shaving time off your personal bests. Working at the cutting edge of the sport, Wahoo is your destination when you’re concerned with the tenths of a second.

• Brand established: 1897, Preston
• Hero product: CGR SL gravel bike (full review)

If it's a new bike you're after, head to Ribble. As one of the most historic bicycle manufacturers still alive and kicking today, it’s a great place to buy from if you want over 100 years of engineering expertise under your saddle. There are plenty of styles to choose from, with its road bikes having been ridden by the likes of Sir Bradley Wiggins and Chris Boardman. For off-road cycling, few brands are better: we particularly love its gravel CGR SL for a lightweight mountain ride. Engineering chops needn't take the fun out of things, either: you can personalise your new bike with Ribble, meaning it'll be truly one of a kind.

• Brand established: 1975, USA
• Hero product: Encoder Strike Sunglasses

Set up by James Jannard, Oakley started life dealing in motorcycle grips in the mid-70s, only turning to sunglasses some nine years on in 1984. Until then, Oakley had pretty much been solely aimed at motocross enthusiasts. Its first sunglasses were akin to ski goggles, for which the brand remains a first port-of-call, but the development of a more familiar style of sunglasses made them a top pick for cyclists, too. Oakley’s cycling sunglasses are engineered to fit to the contours of your face, ensuring coverage from every angle. They’re also incredibly lightweight, with lenses offering minimal glare and maximum protection from the sun thanks to a plutonite lens material that offers top UV Protection and filters 100 per cent of all UVA and UVB light. With other accessories including bags, watches, visors and market-leading helmets, Oakley remains one of the best cycling brands to inject extra enjoyment and safety into your rides in equal measure.

• Brand established: 1974, London
• Hero product: C-line folding bicycle

Unless you haven’t taken a train in a decade, you’ll be au fait with the Brompton: the most famous of foldable bicycles. A short step-over design makes for a comfortable ride and an impressively small fold: the classic A Line collapses into something that can be comfortably carried in a ‘Bag For Life’. There’s a seven-year guarantee on most of its bikes, and the almost 50-year-old company is now expanding into e-bikes, too. For the man in the market for a commuting bicycle, there’s little better than a Brompton. Head here for bike parts, clothing, helmets and bags that’ll fit your folded new purchase comfortably inside.

• Brand established: 2015, UK
• Hero product: Transit Sneaker Cycling Shoe Hybrid

David Millar — who won multiple stages of the Tour De France during his time in the saddle — is the former professional cyclist behind CHPT3, which appreciates a fine line and a popping colour as much as it does a highly functional piece of kit. As you might expect, there are bibs, cycling shorts and jerseys galore here, though you’ll also find plenty of “rest day” wares from hoodies to beanies. The coolest thing on offer? Its Transit cycling shoe, which looks like a leather fashion sneaker but has the hidden capability of clipping you into your pedals.

• Brand established: 1876, Italy
• Hero product: Nano Cycling Bib Shorts

A history dating back to the 1800s makes Castelli a major player in the cycling kit world. Vittore Gianni, the founder, was a Milan-based tailor who kitted out the likes of AC Milan and Juventus before turning his hand to cycling styles. Starting out by making clothing for world champion cyclist, Alfredo Binda, the brand is famous for a number of firsts, also claiming the first lycra race shorts in 1977 and the first thermal cycling kit in '84. Today, Castelli is best known for high quality, rigorously tested cycling wear such as their Gabba WS Jersey, which, launched in 2010, is hailed for its premium water repellent abilities. You really can’t go wrong with Italian style and craftsmanship.

• Brand established: 1990’s, UK
• Hero product: Neoprene Overshoes

DhB operates on the titular ethos Don’t Hold Back, pushing an agenda of personal bests and podium placings. The ideal spot for cyclists who dabble in triathlon, head here for streamlined tri suits that double as bike stage bibs and final stage running suits. In need of a new wetsuit alongside your cycling glasses? DhB has that on lock too, giving you easy-release zippers that allow you to peel out of your swim and plug into your cycle.

• Brand established: 1993, Scotland
• Hero product: One Clan Raglan Long-Sleeved Top

Now in its thirtieth year, Endura is unique in its dedication to outfitting all kinds of cyclists: its apparel, footwear, helmets and accessories focus on the different subsections of the cycling community, from full-face mountain bike helmets, to road and velodrome bib shorts, to tear-resistant gravel biking trousers. Another desirable quirk of this label? There’s the option of creating a totally bespoke product.

• Brand established: 2006, Crawley
• Hero product: Radium Road Cycling Shoes

There may be a tendency for cycling wares to be a little on the expensive side, and while there’s little to be done about the phenomenon (these things take a lot of engineering manpower and high-spec materials), there are some slightly more affordable options. Chief among them: Pinnacle’s wallet-friendly essentials. Focusing on simple, moisture-wicking jerseys, bib tights and cycling jackets, as well as some of the most reasonably priced cycling shoes on the market, this is the place to head when you’re in need of new wares for a bargain.

• Brand established: 1972, Italy
• Hero Product: Supergiara Layer Vest

With roots in skiwear, Italian label Sportful quickly diversified into cycling kit not long after its conception in the 1970s. Now a go-to for many an Italian athlete, Sportful has been worn in the Giro D'Italia many times, including by Alberto Contador when he won the tournament in 1998. Now, the brand is one of the best for high-performing apparel available in a rainbow of colours. While many brands focus on form and present its pieces in black, Sportful offers a more diverse colour palette with almost all of its designs available in a selection of shades.

• Brand established: 2014, USA
• Hero Product: Thermal Bib Tight

Another young brand capitalising on the improved wizardry of modern-day cyclewear, Velocio launched in 2014 with a focus on a small but elite roster of pieces. Now with a site replete with everything from base layers to jerseys, it's with the item it set out to perfect that Velocio still shines: its form-moulding bib. Available in designs built for three climates — mild, cold and colder — these bibs are breathable at the back, windproof at the front and fitted with anti-vibration padding that keeps you comfortable for long rides. Compressive in feel and award-winning, this is the brand to reach for when you're getting into long-distance rides…especially cold ones.

• Brand established: 2014, Sussex
• Hero Product: Gold STC

ORRO is not short of outdoor inspiration at its Ditchling headquarters, an area of outstanding natural beauty in the heart of Sussex Downs National Park. Best known for manufacturing outstanding bicycles, ORRO's passionate team tests its products rigorously in and around Ditchling Beacon, engineering everything it does for a special riding experience. Its range of bicycle span endurance road bikes to super-fast aero bikes, and has brought innovations to the two-wheeled world through its collaboration with industry-leading British carbon producer, Sigmatex. Not just meticulously engineered, ORRO bikes boast a minimalism that's unusual of bicycles at this level, eschewing garish graphics to let the quality of its hand-assembled finish do the talking. Most bikes retail from around the £2k mark and up, and there's also a wide range of ORRO gear to customise what would surely be the pride of your garage.

• Brand established: 1866, England
• Hero product: B17 Saddle

Brooks England goes way back, and it's this heritage that makes it one of the best cycling brands around. Coming about through its founder's rather unsurprising discomfort from wooden bike seats, Brooks England set about creating a comfier seat for cyclists. Brooks England bike saddles now don the bikes of millions of bicycles across the world, and the traditional leather structure remains pretty much unchanged. Made from premium vegetable-tanned leather and steel, Brooks England’s traditional bike saddle is available in a range of different shapes and sizes, with varying levels of suspension to suit every type of rider. The brand is also well known for its stylish cycling backpacks, beloved as much by cyclists as they are London office workers.

• Brand established: 2009, Australia
• Hero product: Classic Bike Rack

Steadyrack was born out of the CEO and founder Dave Steadman's frustration with a lack of quality, easy-to-use bike storage solutions. Unable to get his car into his garage thanks to a family's worth of bikes getting in the way, Steadman set up Steadyrack to get bikes off the floor, onto the walls and out of the way. Steadyrack, its vertical bike rack, is now one of the world’s leading sports storage brands and caters for various types of bike thanks to four different designs. From e-bikes to mountain bikes and fat bikes, the brand produces high-quality, innovative and modern space-saving equipment that has captured the imagination of those dealing with cramped Clapham one-beds and a multitude of elite cyclists, too.

• Brand established: 1950, Tokyo
• Hero product: Bioviz Jacket

As an avid cyclist, Kinji Shimizu cycled every day delivering clothes to customers, before turning his hand to designing specialist kit for cyclists. Pearl Izumi is a brand built on tech, boasting seriously innovative products. Water-shedding PI Dry technology makes the brand ideal for damp or rainy days, factoring in fabrics of high-quality Italian origin. Renowned for its mountain bike range, its collections are especially well suited to those who value their time outdoors enough to protect it, with sustainability at its core. The brand's next big aim is to ensure its entire product line is made from 90 per cent recycled, renewable, or organic materials.

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