Yes, there are important performance factors when choosing your cycling kit. You'll need the best cycling jerseys and the best cycling shorts for sure, but let's be honest, it's all about the socks. The height is a hotly debated topic, but in my eyes the taller the better, that way you get even more ridiculous tan lines that you can struggle to explain away when you're on the beach.
I'm not going to pretend that socks, outside the realm of aero-optimised models that will actually save you a few watts, are as important to performance as something like tyres, but for whatever reason cyclists put a great deal of importance on them. As such, they definitely fall into the 'look fast; feel fast' category. More than that, though, they have to fit well, stay up, and last more than a couple of washes.
