Should We All Be Wearing Speed Suits For Cycling?

Cycling kit has changed a lot over the years, becoming more and more focused on aerodynamics to help us ride our bikes faster. Shorts and a jersey has become the standard kit for most road cyclists, however the pros now all wear one-piece suits instead - so should we do the same? Alex & Ollie compare regular cycling clothing with speed suits to find out!

0:00 Intro
0:36 How cycling kit has evolved
3:06 Aero benefits of onesies?
4:07 Test 1 - jersey & shorts
5:50 Test 2 - one-piece aero suit
9:02 Results

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Would you wear a speed suit on your rides if you had one? Let us know in the comments below! 💬

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[gcntech]

Would you wear a speed suit on your rides if you had one? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

[toutingthomas]

What happened to going over other disadvanteges? Can you explore subject further in show/tech clinic? How does comfort, loo stops, general durability, changing, garment care, temperature ranges, price, color options, reactions, modesty, versatility all compare?

[williamko]

I am sold. I am going out and buy one. Thank you GCN for a very comprehensive test.

[hernanhernandez]

I haven't researched sizing but I believe the issue will be torso length variation. Also there is no hiding the winter pudge...

[igoryan]

Wore a Nopinz skinsuit for a few TTs as well as DHB Aeron shorts and jersey and never noticed such a massive difference (at about 270 watts).

[Kieran]

I do triathlon, I almost never wear a tri-suit (closest thing I have to one of these) outside of a race. For training rides and just general cycling I'm quite happy being slightly less efficient and slightly more comfy.

[georgeskinner]

At 68 with just a bit of a potbelly, I think I better take a pass! I won't wear a speedo either. But you boys go right ahead. Although, I do think you should have asked Manon to give you guys a thumbs up or down on your wearing speed suits. It is always important to keep the ladies view on guys in lycra in mind.

[Newalify]

I’m wearing a cycling speed suit since 10 years!
I was an inline skating competitor and I always wondered why nobody use those for cycling.

[thepigeon]

honestly as an amateur got a suit just to see what they are like. really comfortable since you dont have bib straps, honestly if companies could make a version that sort of looks more like a jersey/short combo rather than a form fit, i could see people moving to that due to the comfort gain maybe change the name from skinsuit or speedsuit to something like one piece or combo to make it sound less weird to new people?

[michaellynn]

The sleeveless onesie thing I have was marketed as a triathlon suit (possible translation error), which is probably why it doesn’t contain any pockets. I mean the delusion of speed is great but going to the toilet is an issue…it’s like rounding you back and rotating your pelvis forward/upward enough in the hope that the stitches don’t break! Anyhow, feeling fast is fast!!

[bleskiven]

Fundamentally one-piece suits are great. I grew up in them as an jnkine speedskater. But they are a faff as well. Getting them on a off is more difficult, and you can't go full Schleck in them, which is a knock against them

[veryboringname.]

I'd wear one; it looks a little less serious and more practical than a skinsuit thanks to the pockets with presumably most of the benefits. BTW with the Castelli BTW (ha), what was the sizing like compared to normal Castelli? Would you size up or just go with normal castelli sizing?

[kuri]

How's the speedy onesy when you need to do a speedy twosy?

[jamesbull]

I’m in, let’s do it, let’s make the onsis a thing 💪💪💪

[rasmusbg]

I have no sense of shame, and I'm not against speed suits at all. If my goal with riding my bike was racing, I would wear one, but since it is mostly just about getting some exercise and some fresh air, I am doing just fine with separate bibs and jersey.

For all you speed devils out there: Rock that speed suit 🙌

[teemulahti]

I am 178 cm tall and weigh 106 kg. I only drive in a speed suit. It is comfortable and pleasant to wear.

[billkallas]

Skinsuits are for use in Criteriums and Time Trials, not for training. I believe that I have five of them, from three different teams. One is even long sleeve (for chilly early morning Time Trials) I've never worn one in a road race, because you need your pockets for those longer races. (Amateurs don't have team cars following you to pass up food and water)

[georgeisenbarg]

So this sounds like an add for Castelli. Guessing Ollie went about 1 meter per second faster or 48 to 50 meters per half hour, with the same power over the course with the faster kit. How much does the faster kit cost per meter per second compared to the bib and jersey? What is the replacement cost when crashed, which almost everyone will do at some point, compared to replacing your onesie compared to just a jersey or just bib short?

[nobbycycles]

They still work with 3 layers over them for the freezing yorkshire weather ????

[ChiTownBrownie]

If it wasnt for the smaller pockets I would only ever wear skinsuits, I use indoor rides as an excuse to wear them when its not race season.