Clothing Research - spare me a minute of your time

Siix

I don't own a single item of technical bike wear because it's just so expensive! Also, there never seems to be a great range of girls stuff in the bike shops. Maybe that's just around here, I don't know, but it would be great if companies like Fox could make an awesome line of more affordable women's clothing. I absolutely love the MTB shorts you can get for guys from Fox, but then when you look at the women's range there's ten times less choice and it looks like ten times less the amount of imagination has gone into it! So all in all, as others have said, would love to see more women's MTB gear that is cheaper and matches the guys stuff in range!

Indigo Gorilla

I tend to wear quite a bit of generic sportswear.

In warm weather it's just a footy shirt or something similar.

If it's just an average / slightly chilly day then I'll wear a windproof adidas running jacket.

When it starts to get a bit colder I'll probably just stick a fleece on underneat the windproof.

Don't have a waterproof yet so don't wear one. When I do get one it'll just be a generic one.

For my legs I tend to just wear your average adidas / umbro tracksuit bottoms. Although at the moment I wear long shorts which fit loosely around the legs. Do have some altura mayhems which I do rate highly.

The mayhems have a nice pocket for my phone, decentish pockets on the front but they could probably do with a zip. The inner shorts are good too as they can be taken out and used with other shorts or trackies as well. Not bad for free either!!!!!

Shoes are generic ones but do plan on getting some Shimano SPD's when I can.

i heart mtb

Awesome, thanks again for all these replies. I agree about the crap choice of women's mtb clothing. When i ride or race DH i wear a pair of cut off Dickies and a baggy t-shirt because i can never find good women's baggy shorts.

Keep up the riding,

Hazel

miss notax

i heart mtb wrote:

Awesome, thanks again for all these replies. I agree about the crap choice of women's mtb clothing. When i ride or race DH i wear a pair of cut off Dickies and a baggy t-shirt because i can never find good women's baggy shorts.

Keep up the riding,

Hazel

Yep, agree about ladies clothing. It seems that if you are anything different to what the manufacturers label as *normal* you're stuffed :? I am petite size 8 and I have real problems getting anything technical to fit - with the exception of a fab Altura lightweight waterproof which I love.

And WHY is most girls stuff in bloody pastel colours?!!! I don't want to look like a marshmallow :evil:

salsarider79

I wear full Spech gear 75% of the time, I used to work for a Spech dealer, hence. I also sometimes wear my Salsa top which I like because of the rarity value (Stupid price though) or my friends team top.
I think it is worth getting some cycle specific kit, the fit is better than running tops (though they work well) and t-shirts are evil for riding in. They hold in all the sweat, but allow cold air through, frezzing the sweat to your body. Not healthy.

p.s. I've done the transition through t-shirts and shorts, and am not going back.

Anonymous

sheepsteeth wrote:

something missing from cycling, in fact all sports kit is BIG sizes.

i think it is assumed that everyone doing a sport is in good shape and therefore larger sizes arent necessary but this misses out 2 things:

1- some people are just starting out so could well be big and chunky in a bad way. good quality well fitting kit for bigger less physically ideal folk would be a good thing as it will make these folk feel better which has all sorts of positive knock on effects.

2- some people are just big folk. not fat not unfit, just big and there arent many cycling specific comfotable jerseys available for people who wear a size 48 inch suit jacket!

in my case, the strange thing about this is that big cycling jackets fit as they are big enough but for some reason, big jerseys dont cause they arent..

Bloody good point!!!

Eranu

something missing from cycling, in fact all sports kit is BIG sizes.

i think it is assumed that everyone doing a sport is in good shape and therefore larger sizes arent necessary but this misses out 2 things:

1- some people are just starting out so could well be big and chunky in a bad way. good quality well fitting kit for bigger less physically ideal folk would be a good thing as it will make these folk feel better which has all sorts of positive knock on effects.

2- some people are just big folk. not fat not unfit, just big and there arent many cycling specific comfotable jerseys available for people who wear a size 48 inch suit jacket!

in my case, the strange thing about this is that big cycling jackets fit as they are big enough but for some reason, big jerseys dont cause they arent..

Helly Hansen stuff is a good fit as is the DHB stuff from Wiggle. I'm tall too and it fits me really well. Evans had a load of HH stuff on sale recently maybe worth a ook.

switchback18

Joe_Pineapples wrote:

Almost all of my gear is made by Endura. I'm not a fanboy, it's just made 30 minutes up the road from me in Livingston.

I like Endura - I have to agree that there's a lot of stuff that's just hype. But Endura lives up to the claims. My eVent jacket did everything claimed and seemed to be tough. Only re-proofed it about twice in nearly 3 years, and that wasn't because it leaked, just because I reckon it's better to do it before it starts to leak. Unfortunately I lost it ...someone at Dalby picked up a nice free jacket! Was gutted. Price wise, it cost £134, which might seem a lot, but compared to waterproofs for other activities, it's not bad, and this jacket is one of the best.
You can get it here: Cycle Surgery for £104.99 at the mo.
For a laugh, read the description for the Assos Fugu - they seem to think that pockets, high collar, high viz stripes & wristbands make it worth well over £300!
I'm going for a Paramo Velez Adventure Light Smock next, which is pricey, but they last forever, and if you rip them, you sew them up & they're still waterproof! Sounds too good to be true, but it works.

I would say that if you don't sweat too much, cheaper stuff is much better, but if, like me you sweat after 2 mins regardless of fitness, maximum breathability is required!

Other kit:

Shoes - 5-10's
Shorts - Any baggies, but the Howies liner is awesome, should be for the price...
Endura Stealth Jacket - Great in the winter, but may sell it if the Paramo does it's stuff.
Endura eVent trousers - awesome, quality, tough, great fit.
Merino base layers - really do work, and you need less layers/bulk. Also they don't smell bad like synthetics do...