Breathable uniform shirts, pants and more
There are two distinct approaches to bike patrol duties and how you dress for duty depends on which philosophy your agency follows. Some city agencies favor a low-key uniform in traditional dark blues or black with little or no safety ornamentation, which makes them very effective in fighting certain types of crimes like car theft /jacking or drug dealing in the neighborhoods. Others prefer a community policing and preventive presence for their bike officers patrolling public parks and waterways where people recreate and exercise, and those bike patrol officers wear brighter ANSI-certified hi-vis polos or reflective accented uniforms. The good news is both styles of uniforms are available for bike patrol!
The Basics
Innovative fabric technology ensures quick-dry comfort
Regardless of the patrol philosophy, there are key fundamentals in dressing for bike patrol duty that will make the long days in the saddle safer and more comfortable. Especially during Summer, but also year-round, all public safety bike uniforms worn should preferably be wicking and quick drying. Getting caught in the rain is reality and if a cotton blend uniform or all cotton based garments are worn, it will likely take them hours to dry. On the other hand, similar looking polyester-based wicking items will dry quickly using nothing but your own body heat. Additionally, some Blauer bike uniform shirts, base layers, and bike polos may contain anti-odor technology within the fabric helping to combat unpreventable all-day odor. In colder weather or when layering with a vest is necessary, a wicking base layer should be the first layer followed by your soft body armor and a uniform shirt, or a base shirt and ArmorSkin outer vest carrier. ArmorSkin, Blauer’s line of outer vest carriers and tactical base shirts, is highly recommended as undershirt vests overheat the core and can cause rashes and discomfort.
Important Accessories
Breathable tactical shirts, uniform polos, and more...
Often overlooked, your gear makes a great impact on the comfort of your bike patrol. We recommend donning a 4-way stretch pant that taper at the calves and cinch at the ankle. These may also feature zip-off legs for days that start out cool and warm up throughout the day. Additionally, compression shorts are typically worn under long underwear and/or uniform pants or shorts. We use a smaller and thinner pad in ours as we don’t want the pads to show through the uniform pants. It’s best to wear a good pair of cycling specific gloves which are important for protection of the parts of the hands which engage all day with the handlebars. A moisture wicking sock made of anti-odor polyester is helpful for keeping dry and fresh, as well as a sweat band or wicking beanie. Safety clear or sunglasses are also recommended to prevent road dust, bugs, and tree debris from falling into the eyes. A quality multiple impact type helmet is a little heavier but worth it since the more time spent on the bike, the greater the percentage that you will end up on the ground at some point.
Cold Weather Riding
The advantage of outer vest carriers + lightweight accessories
In chilly weather, wicking long underwear pants may be needed in addition to a thin outer-shell jacket or softshell fleece. In very cold regions, opt for a breathable hard-shell jacket on top of your softshell along with windproof outer pants and boots with wool based socks. Full finger gloves or even lightly insulated gloves may also be needed to keep hands warm as even without wind riding provides a constant 5-15 mph headwind.
Last but not least...
Outside of uniforms, hydration is the most important factor which influences bike patrol! Chances are the bike will be a heavier type without a battery as those don’t tend to last long enough for patrol, and don’t forget to take into account you will also be carrying another 15-25 pounds of gear and water supply. In hot weather it is surprising how much fluid will be needed! Preferably non-sugared drinks and water should be sipped throughout the day and every time you are stopped. Dehydration increases blood pressure and places undue stress on the liver, kidneys, and skin which needs to cool the body through sweating and expel toxins created in exercise.
