Cycling suits are designed to help you take your mind off your clothes and focus on cycling. A single suit means you don’t have to worry about clothes riding up or falling off, and there are no snaps, zippers, buttons or buckles to catch on or cause a problem. Suits are simply convenient and comfortable, and can be a boon to a competitive rider’s timing.

As its name implies, the suit will fit the rider like a second skin. These suits are made from moisture-wicking fabric to keep you dry and wick sweat away from your body. They can be very breathable to wear in hot weather, or they can be designed to keep you warm on cooler days. Many cyclists have several and use some brands in cold weather and others in heat because of the materials used.

The whole principle behind these suits is comfort and freedom of movement. It’s easy to see why this type of clothing is ideal for fast biking when you picture yourself wearing overalls and then picture yourself wearing a baggy shirt and jeans or pants. Looser clothing not only makes you a bit heavier on the bike, it also offers wind resistance that can slow you down. There might be flaps of fabric getting in your way, your shirt might burst, and the waistband of your pants might dig into your skin uncomfortably.

Cycling suits, on the other hand, are one-piece with no waistband to sag and make you feel cut off in the middle when you lean over the bike. There is no wind resistance because the fabric adheres to your body. There are no clothing flaps to fly up and inhibit your movement in any way. And the suits are lightweight and designed to almost feel like they’re not there at all.

This leads to one of the biggest drawbacks of a cycling suit. The suit fits so well like a second skin that every curve and bulge of your body is visible. It’s like wearing a wetsuit, but much thinner than the one you’d wear for swimming. Many people prefer t-shirts paired with shorts, which are also very revealing but not as revealing as a jumpsuit.

The lack of pockets and the need to lower the entire suit to relieve yourself are two other drawbacks of this type of cycling clothing. Once you get used to wearing such a suit, removing it to use the bathroom is much quicker. And unless you plan on carrying a lot of stuff in your pockets when you bike, the lack of pockets shouldn’t be a problem.