There鈥檚 never been a better time to be a mountain biker. Not only are we experiencing a serious proliferation of trails across the country, but apparel companies are finally making mountain-bike clothes that actually look good. So聽you can hit that singletrack on the edge of town and pedal directly to the bar without looking like a dork. Here are some of our favorite pieces that are built for fat tires聽but stylish enough to wear to work or the pub.
Kitsbow Adjustable Short V4 ($265)
We鈥檙e in love with just about everything Kitsbow makes, and we have mad respect for the ridiculous amount of thought that went into these shorts. From the Swiss Schoeller fabric (which is tough as hell, breathable, water resistant but also soft)聽to the lack of a front button, which makes for an incredibly comfortable waist when you鈥檙e in the saddle, were built for the bike. Four zippered pockets, a slightly high聽back, reflective hits, and tailored legs round out the bike-appropriate聽features.
Club Ride Dirt Surfer ($90)
This isn鈥檛 your father鈥檚 bike jersey. added a little bit of spandex to this poly shirt for extra stretch, as well as a UPF 50 rating to give the Aloha vibe technical chops. As for bike-specific details, you鈥檝e got reflective hits, perforated underarm vents, and a zipper stash pocket on the back, as well as a zipper front pocket. Mostly, though, we love the idea of shredding singletrack in a Hawaiian shirt.
Mission Workshop The District MC ($140)
If you鈥檙e looking for a more understated jersey, makes this lightweight henley out of merino wool, which acts like an air conditioner in the summer聽and聽a base layer in the winter. Except for the聽back zipper pocket, you won鈥檛 realize you鈥檙e wearing a bike jersey, and it鈥檚 so damn soft, you鈥檒l start looking for reasons to wear it聽even when you鈥檙e not pedaling singletrack.
Five Ten Spitfire ($100)
Five Ten has dominated the flat-shoe space because its shoes feel comfortable, look good, and stick to mountain-bike pedals like Kanye West to controversy. takes that performance pedigree and wraps it in a street-savvy aesthetic. The shoe features a suede and canvas upper with a sole made from sticky Marathon rubber. Put it together and you get solid power transfer to the pedal with skate-inspired panache.
Rapha Premium Denim ($205)
You鈥檙e not going on an all-day endurance ride wearing jeans, but hitting the jump park or pump track after work? That鈥檚 totally doable, especially in , which use a proprietary Italian denim that has a hell of a lot of stretch and a tapered leg to keep your cuffs out of the chain. Reflective piping and a reflective Rapha logo on the inside of the right leg make you more visible at night. There鈥檚 also a hidden zippered pocket for your phone. Because Strava.