Rudi Altig, the German cycling legend of the 1960s, is credited with the following answer to the question of what cycling socks should look like: "It doesn't matter what cycling socks look like. The main thing is that they are short and white."
Today's professional cyclists and many amateur athletes (who still emulate the pros these days) have nothing but a weary smile for this kind of style-consciousness. It's not uncommon to get the impression that their socks, which are no longer socks, can't be long enough.
Aerodynamics and compression?
If, as a competitive athlete, you want to get the last bit of aerodynamics out of the streamlined knitted legwear or want to delay muscle fatigue a little with the help of the knitted calf squeeze due to the promised compression effect, this may well work.
For me as a pure amateur athlete, however, other criteria count when it comes to cycling socks. I like it when the wind flows around the whole leg up to the ankle and cools it in summer, and both on and off the bike I find racing bike legs more aesthetic and sportier when you can see the muscles of the calf. Apart from that, if you wear shorts in the summer, tan lines at ankle height are less noticeable and easier to conceal with other socks than just below the knee.
Favourite items are cherished
The TOUR sock, which we launched around ten years ago as a merchandising product, proves that white cycling socks don't have to look scruffy after a few rides in the rain. Even after countless kilometres and washes, they are still in great shape and the knitted item from brand manufacturer Biehler still fits perfectly. I will certainly continue to cherish them as my favourite items for cycling and enjoy wearing them.
Here you can find more Editors' favourite parts.
Thomas Musch
Publisher
