I never think of myself as...

joelsim

particularly big. I'm about 5'9 and a bit and average build. 34" waist and 40" chest.

And yet every time I try cycling gear on in large, it's like I've wrapped myself in clingfilm. Even XL isn't exactly roomy, being figure-hugging to say the least.

How on earth do people fit into size S and XS?

asprilla

You have to be Italian to get into S or XS.

I'm a small in Rapha, a medium in Torm and a XXXXL in Castelli.

joelsim

Small in Rapha? Blimey I just tried on an L and it was very tight indeed.

SimonAH

Looking at the competitors in a cyclocross race the other day I came to the conclusion that most of them weighed five stone, of which four and a half stone was thigh and most of the rest was lung.

Not normal people.

londonlivvy

As Asprilla says, cycling sizing hugely varies by brand. I am everything from Small (Gore & Bontrager) to XL (Giordana).

The fit also varies hugely. Castelli's tops in L are tight over the shoulders on me and yet hugely baggy over the tum. Bontrager tops in S fit loosely over shoulders and chest and seem to forget that women have waists. Specialised tops go in and out in the right places (ish) but are so short in the body my belly button is in the breeze. Gore tops fit ok, though I rarely see ones I like. Pearl Izumi ones fit ok but have the oddest chinese-style collars.

My b/f bought me a Rapha top for my birthday (in M) and it is the only top I've ever worn that is genuinely, properly, flattering to a female figure. I would happily wear it to the pub with jeans it's that nice.

PBo

SimonAH wrote:

Looking at the competitors in a cyclocross race the other day I came to the conclusion that most of them weighed five stone, of which four and a half stone was thigh and most of the rest was lung.

Not normal people.

this analysis proves my theory that noone with a brain would willingly take part in cyclocross......

joelsim

Ok so far.

Endura jacket XL - ok
Rapha XL - ok
Rapha L - too tight
Giordana XL - verging on too tight
On One XL - ok


In normal clothing like polos etc I am sometimes an M and sometimes an , although the latter is often too big. I know it's supposed to be tight and not flap, but blimey we MAMILs need a bit of love.

asprilla

Joelsim wrote:

Small in Rapha? Blimey I just tried on an L and it was very tight indeed.

Thing is that I'm 5'10", a 39" chest and a 32" waist. Maybe I just have a better tolerance of 'tight' than you.

Have you actually measured your waist or are you going by the size your jeans say you are? Without a belt my 32" waist Levis just fall to the floor and I can take my 32" waist Gaps off without undoing any of the buttons. According to the tape measure though my waist is only just 32".

veronese68

I'm 6'2" with a 32" waist. I've got a pair of Endura trousers in L for winter use. They are tight on the waist, but plenty long enough.
So they are designed for someone taller and skinnier than me. I get called a long streak of urine already. They are obviously made for freaks.

meanredspider

Funny - I bought a Giordana jersey a few weeks ago and it's the only thing I've ever bought in XXL (apart from condoms, of course) and (like the condoms) it was still bloody tight. ShuttVT , being British, seem to be more generous than most. What we need is more American bike gear companies, if jeans sizing is anything to go by. CK jeans flatter beyond belief with their sizings - I can fit into 32" waist

Keith1983

I'm 5'11" with a 38/40" chest and a 32" leg. I tend to fit in Large and XL which astounds me as any other normal clothing and I'm a medium! I do ofcourse tell the mrs that cycling clothing is tagged in reference to the male sex organ!

Rich158

I'm 5'6" and 70 kgs (11 stone in old money) a 30/32 waist and god knows what my puny chest is, so not exactly on the large side, and I struggle with Italian sizes. My last purchase of some 'small' Campg shorts has now seen them consigned to the 'to be worn under tights only' drawer due to their transparent nature when stretched over my apparently large posterior. However just walk into any village hall that's acting as the headquarters for a Cat E,1,2 & 3 race and you'd think you've walked into an anorexic male support group meeting. Signing on for a race is the only time I've ever felt obese :shock:

rjsterry

Generally an M on the lower half, and an S on upper half. 5'9", supposedly 31" waist (Gap jeans size) and generally pretty scrawny. Goodness knows how small you need to be to wear XS, as an S is snug on me.

greg66_tri_v2.0

Have to admit that one reason I have a lot of Assos kit is that their XL stuff fits me as if it had been tailored for me, with my personal preferences taken into account. Which is odd, because with long legs and a short body, I can't think I'm typically built.

Gore stuff is generally quite reliable. Campy is odd though, with variations in the same size depending on what colour you choose.

notsoblue

Am I the only one who doesn't think this is really a problem? I'm Medium/Large for DHB and Gore, Large for Mavic and XL for Castelli. Its a bit of a risk if you're ordering a new brand online, but its no real trauma...

MonkeyMonster

notsoblue wrote:

Am I the only one who doesn't think this is really a problem? I'm Medium/Large for DHB and Gore, Large for Mavic and XL for Castelli. Its a bit of a risk if you're ordering a new brand online, but its no real trauma...

You're just likely in proportion so clothes in general aren't an issue. My monkey arms have been a pita for years and now as I slim back down even more so as medium tops that i might have filled out better and now getting billowy but no chance that arms are ever long enough with a small.

londonlivvy

MonkeyMonster wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

Am I the only one who doesn't think this is really a problem? I'm Medium/Large for DHB and Gore, Large for Mavic and XL for Castelli. Its a bit of a risk if you're ordering a new brand online, but its no real trauma...

You're just likely in proportion so clothes in general aren't an issue. My monkey arms have been a pita for years and now as I slim back down even more so as medium tops that i might have filled out better and now getting billowy but no chance that arms are ever long enough with a small.

MM it sounds like you need to get a pair of these delightful towelling wrist warmers
http://www.pinkfloydstore.co.uk/acatalo ... _Band.html

Or ask UE's other half to knit you a nice pair of wrist warmers?

londonlivvy

notsoblue wrote:

Am I the only one who doesn't think this is really a problem? I'm Medium/Large for DHB and Gore, Large for Mavic and XL for Castelli. Its a bit of a risk if you're ordering a new brand online, but its no real trauma...

The main problem for me is exactly that: ordering a new brand online. I nearly always buy online as shops are busy and stressy and you have to lock your bike and I hate smart arsed bike shop assistants. I'd like to try some other brands but frankly it's just not worth the faff.

@Greg66. Rapha shorts are designed for long legged folk like you! I, meanwhile, am stumpy of limb so the shorts finish on my knee caps. not a good look.

MonkeyMonster

londonlivvy wrote:

MM it sounds like you need to get a pair of these delightful towelling wrist warmers
http://www.pinkfloydstore.co.uk/acatalo ... _Band.html

Or ask UE's other half to knit you a nice pair of wrist warmers?

you tease me like this when they are out of stock! fiendish woman.

asprilla

londonlivvy wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

@Greg66. Rapha shorts are designed for long legged folk like you!

Oh dear. This is going to have an impact on my spendiness...

Paul E

5'10 11.5 stone (75 odd kg ish) 38" chest 33" waist longer in the leg than body, mostly size M sometimes S not tried any italian make kit yet so no idea what I am in them, craft I tend to take M but the bibs I have are tight on my legs probably for compression, endura the same, size M and specialized too size M

joelsim

Well, I must be a proper fatty. Under 5'10" and 13 stone on the nose.

stuj15

6'0" - 93kg
36" waist
42" chest

L/XL all over.


Altura L
Endura XL
Spesh L
Under Armour L

joelsim

93Kg means nothing to me, no idea at all.

stuj15

Joelsim wrote:

93Kg means nothing to me, no idea at all.

Around 14 and half

CrackFox

6'0 - 67kg.
Prob around a 36" chest.
30" waist.

I wear Northwave, Craft and DHB in S, but most of my stuff is Capo in M (and that's a little bit too big). The smaller sizes are generally fine around the chest, but a little too short at the front.

joelsim

I'm at home in an XL polo and it's not roomy.

asprilla

Joelsim wrote:

93Kg means nothing to me, no idea at all.

You weigh about a stone and three quarters more than me yet appear to have almost the same measurements.

the_fuggler

Joelsim wrote:

Well, I must be a proper fatty. Under 5'10" and 13 stone on the nose.

I'm about 5'10" and just under 13 stone (39" chest, 34" waist). I'm medium in all the regular stuff I ride in (Altura, Endura, Ground Effect, Howies).

Eyeing up the Rapha for Christmas (probably Large) and picked up some Castlli bibs in a sale, which I've not picked up yet (bought Large - may have to return by the sounds of things).

MonkeyMonster

Asprilla wrote:

Joelsim wrote:

93Kg means nothing to me, no idea at all.

You weigh about a stone and three quarters more than me yet appear to have almost the same measurements.

ask him for thigh circumference... go on

Anonymous

6'6" - 105Kg
38" wasit
45" chest

I have to wear MTB gear as I'm yet to find road specific gear that will fit without looking stupid tight.