Socks Simon says you need lots of options - St Kilda Victoria

FRIDAY DEC 12 / 2014 / by Andrew Talati
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Socks - you need lots of options - St Kilda Victoria

Simon says you need to have a lot of options in cycling socks. You’ve got to have socks that match your kit otherwise you look like you got dressed in the dark. The day we caught up he was wearing what he described as a ‘forest of pizza slices’ with all imaginable shades of green…well you can see the photos for yourself. 

While he admits there’s no right or wrong socks to wear there are so obvious trends in cycling socks. They used to be short but now they are getting longer. 

And, if in doubt you can always rely on a white sock. A 4” white sock with good elastic is always a good back up. Pretty much anything goes except those floppy, big Explorer socks – not a good look. 

Sock construction - embroidery detailSocks and cycling shoes detailsCorrect sock height

Cycling socks these days go from crazy designs with embroidery that gives an almost pixelated/inside out look right through to a nice, subtle sock. Everyone has their own style – in their kit, their bike and their socks but there will always be trends in subcultures and with that, constant shifts. Simon is surprised that fluoro is still pumping it out but feels that may be due to bigger brands like Nike still pushing it out. 

Where do the trends come from?

From the catwalks of France and Italy the fabrics, colours and styles trickle down. The high-end fashion shows what you can do and those in sporting clothing watch them and see what they can bring across. 

Then sporting clothing brands align with and leverage popular professional athletes – people want to look and feel like a professional. Case in point – black cycling socks became very popular – why? Lance Armstrong wore them!

For many professional cyclists the gear they wear is for their performance but for amateur / recreational riders you don’t need to spend a fortune. Your cycling gear, including your socks, should be safe, comfortable, and help with speed and recovery. Apart from that, just fun a bit of fun – just don’t go too far or you might find your group leaves you behind. 

What not to wear while cycling

Need more help deciding what to wear or what not to wear while cycling – Check out ‘Top 10 things not to wear while cycling’ 

Listen to the whole interview