Clothing Advice

[funnymummy]

Hi Gang..
Was wondering if any ladies out there could offer some advice - I'm 6'2" & a size 16/18 in normal clothes, I just can't find womens cycling clothes to fit me & end up buying blokey stuff all the time.
I measure 42" round my ribs, so need an XL jersey, XXL jacket but then find the sleeves are too loose & all flappy in the wind.
And shorts are a nightmare, womens never seem to have enough length between gusset & waist band, so again buy blokes baggies, got a couple of pairs of Enduras which I do like for casual days out
I'd really like a pir of 3/4 lengths for evening rides, and am wanting to try bib styles - But just no idea what to go for, have a couple of LBS round me but they only seem to stock high end products. One has offered to order in stuff for me to try but with no idae which brands fit, still not a clue which to try!
Just for once i'd like to wear something that is feminine & doesn't make me look like a bloke once got me helmet on

 

[vickster]

Not bib, but I bought a pair of these and have just bought another pair. Can't go wrong for the price, not the most padded but comfy. I am not as tall as you (at 5'10) but also take a 16-18 and have long arms and legs.

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...822876967734435

Can always send them back if no good

I just got one of these, and the arms are actually pretty long, so worth a look if you have a branch nearby
http://www.mountainw...-top-p3435.aspx

They have quite a lot of biking/suitable stuff http://www.mountainw...thing/bikewear/

Jacket wise, I have an Altura night vision. I went for the men's one in the end as the women's was too short in arms and body. But wanted hi vis so no major concern

I have just got one of these for the summer mornings / evening, ended up with the 16 as 18 too big, arms long enough - again I went yellow but they do purple. Very good service on both initial delivery and also exchange

http://www.bikesyoul...oof_Jacket_2011

I also got a pair of these and the fuschia colour, although not too girly, is certainly more feminine. Can't go wrong for the price, they are quite thick- I got large

http://www.bikesyoul...mens_Mitts_2008


I now need to stop shopping for bike stuff

Corinne Dennis have a good rep for women's clothing and also, if you have one close, decathlon definitely worth a look

http://www.corinnedennis.co.uk/

How about getting a more feminine coloured helmet (if you can find one to fit)? Maybe a light blue or a pink?

 

[henshaw11]

Apologies for the lengthy reply, I'm an engineer, so here goes..

Although I'm a bloke (and they sell blokes stuff too, just not what I've mostly bought!), I've various items of Corinne Dennis kit found in various sales (my old LBS and Evans used to stock it some years ago), without initially realising what I was trying was nominally womens sizing. I think they may have rejigged their fits in more recent years for a relatively shorter body*- I've two l/s jerseys, I think 12 and 14, that have a fairly long body/arms, stretchy enough that they are both a skin-tight fit (I'm 5'10, 39" chest, 32" waist if that's any help..)
A few years ago I picked up a couple of ss jerseys (both 14) - I think one is possibly a little on the short side, and definitely not as relatively long in the body as the l/s versions, but since I ride a recumbent a lot of the time it's not quite so important.

*It's worth dropping them/her an email re sizing, I've swapped a few mails with Corinne when enquiring about jersey materials and I got replies pretty promptly.

It really is excellent kit tho' - the first l/s jersey - slightly brushed, roubaix-style material (which they don't do in the same form now unfortunately) must be over 10 years old, still works really well, has survived assorted mtb offs with no damage because of it's stretchiness, and doesn't suffer from catches with velcro like most cycle stuff does - I think a lot of the materials they use have similar qualities.

The main nuisance is finding current stockists (not helped by the stockist list not not being up to date
http://www.corinnedennis.co.uk/stockists )
but I understand they're very happy to handle returns for that reason.

There *are* a couple of shops relatively near Brighton that I've been in that stock CD - Futurecycles (Forest Row), and Lancing Cycles (tho' that now called msgbikes) - probably best to ring just in case.

Dunno if it's worth mentioning - if you use bib longs, the (bloke's) Lusso ones - either roubaix or coolmax - have a fairly high front, might work better than a lower front/straps depending on one's build. Lusso kit's made in the UK and is both well made and relatively inexpensive - Rayments in Brighton used to stock their stuff some years ago, the last coolmax longs I bought were from Ribble iirc.

Re flapiness - IKWYM - riding the recumbent, too much material in the body works less well than on an upright - just bunches up.
The only decent/warm close-fitting windproof jacket with high waist and no rear zips I've yet found is a Gore (Xenon SO AW10) and that's 145 quid (and that's a reduction off rrp..)

TBH, I find a lot of bloke's cycle gear a bit bloomin' boring, some of the women's gear has more interesting designs...and I'm a beardie long-haired guy that looks like more like an escapee from Metallica's road crew

 

[funnymummy]

Cheers for your replies xx
I'll check out those links Vickster x I have an Altura Evo jacket, I really wnated the lovely raspberry colour (Pink is my fave colour!) But it was far too short in thr arms & body - My dad always said I had gibbon arms as a kid So had to go for the mans Red one instead, spose red is almost pink!

Cheers for your advice too Henshaw.. I do have some Corinne Dennis underwear that I bought to wear, when in 'normal' clothes - I'd totaly forgot about her stuff
I'll have a look at the other stuff you mentioned too.. I would just like to waer somethign that is a bit more colurfull, preferbaly Pink, for a change
And just for the record.... Metallica ROCK!!!

 

[mr Mag00]

give Prendas a call i think they might be able to help.

http://www.prendas.co.uk/

 

[vickster]

If you like pink...

Might be worth checking these out...

http://www.evanscycl...jersey-ec019969 (I have a black one in 16 I think, so 18 should do you)

I looked at this today (big Evans store in Mortimer Street in London), but a bit pink and girly for me

http://www.evanscycl...jersey-ec024589

Or there's this http://www.evanscycl...jersey-ec025075

Buying online works well as easy to return stuff (ok may cost a few bob ion postage)

 

[buggi]

+1 for www.corinnedennis.co.uk

Especially for winter leggings. I havea 36 inside leg and it's a nightmare, but their roubaix winter tights have a double turn-up and careful unpicking of the stitch that holds it in place gives a nice long leg. In 8 winters i've been cycling i've only just moved on to my 2nd pair, not that i needed to, i just fancied crackign out the new pair.

I think she goes up to a size 18 in tops, but also, she is a lovely woman and she will sort you a bespoke size if you have a chat to her over the phone. clothes are good quality and nice feminine cut.

 

[henshaw11]

Oops - thought I'd better correct myself re the Lusso coolmax longs - despite the warm weather I was wearing 'em this morning ! The front *is* higher than on bibshorts, but the dip between the straps is just at the bottom of my sternum...

The issue of sizing/returns could be a nuisance, but Primalwear might be worth a look - there's the usa site and a 'primalwear europe ' - that has slightly different stock - but that's getting expensive again* (tho' at least cheaper than the blokes stuff). But they've got some good - more organic - designs, if that floats your boat. There's a few resellers elsewhere in europe too, none in the uk AFAIA.
Both sites have a 'closeouts' section - some good reductions too.

Pink enough ?
http://www.primaleur...omens-tank.aspx


And just for the record.... Metallica ROCK!!!
Ah, we have no appropriate smilie, so

\m/

will have to do

 

[suecsi]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ladies-Cycl...M4/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1302531761&sr=8-14

These go up to an 18-20, though on a 6 footer, they'll probably only be just under your knees (I'm the opposite, a 5 footer, and they are mid calf on me). The pad is great though, and I found them a lot longer in the body between gusset and waist than any of the ones I tried on in Evans (big names like Gore or Altura)

 

[Fab Foodie]

I havea 36 inside leg

*Thump - FF falls backwards and hits floor*

Dribble ....

 

[stephec]

*Thump - FF falls backwards and hits floor*

Dribble ....

Make that a double dribble, this is another of those topics where pictures would definately be of help.



Why not just follow the example set by the nice young lady in my avatar?

 

[Fab Foodie]

Make that a double dribble, this is another of those topics where pictures would definately be of help.



Why not just follow the example set by the nice young lady in my avatar?

You never saw the size of her sunflower?

 

[johnr]

I've got a feeling Aldi may be about to launch their spring range - they're advertising golf stuff at the moment.

Germans are a different shape and their stuff tends to be larger than UK averages. Might be worth giving it a look. It's cheap, decent quality: worth taking a look at.

 

[funnymummy]

Thnaks to everyone for your advice I will be checking all your suggestions out as soon as I can x
I'm off to the New Forest on Fri & wanted something for then, am hoping the waether will be nice, but then my thermal tights would be too hot, so just popped into one of LBS's, they had some new bits just in, I tried on a pair Endura bibs 3/4 - of course even the womans L was far too short in the body the starps were slicing into my shouders, so tried on the mens... Perfect fit!
I've got them on now & tbh I don'r want to take them off LOL!!

PS... My inside leg is 37"

 

[stephec]

PS... My inside leg is 37"

Oooooooooooh, I've come over all peculiar, isn't it warm in here!