Exte Ondo Knickers Review

[Selkie]

I broke down and used some of my award money to buy Exte Ondo Knickers from Terry. This morning it was cool enough to give them a test ride. In a word, WONDERFUL. The best knickers I've ever worn (have tried Terry's knickers, PI sugar knickers, and witches britches). Worth the cost? Yes.

Don't have to say just how beautiful these tights are in terms of styling, color, etc. Fit is true to size (like Louis Garneau). The fabric is comfy and supportive, and inside, it's fleecey so it will keep you warm. It actually was a bit warm--57 degrees--for the knickers, but I stayed comfortable and dry. I can see wearing these knickers in temps down to temps down to 40 or possibly, 35 degrees. The chamois is excellent. Not bulky but provides tons of cushioning.

Call it fate---came home today to find them here at TE, so of course, I bought another pair!

[Bluetree]

I saw them in a catalog with the matching jacket - awesome.
It almost makes me wish it got cold enough in L.A. to wear them!

A question... does the brand have a smaller Euro fit (ala Castelli)?
I may try their lighter fare in the future.

[Nanci]

You mean the new ones in pistachio and orange?? I've been not looking at them- especially the pistacios. Must resist.

[Veronica]

Thanks for the review. I ordered a pair of Assos knickers that haven't come in yet. If they don't work out, I'll give these a try.

V.

[emily_in_nc]

For those of you who love knickers, I just have to ask: if the temp is below 55, why not just wear full-length tights? I have two pairs of tights, and a pair of legwarmers, and I guess I just don't "get" knickers. It seems like if they are warm ones, you'd need to keep your calves warm too. I can see very lightweight ones for slightly cool rides (say 55-65 degrees) better than heavier, fleecy ones for even cooler temps, like mickchick mentions. If it's 35-45 degrees, I want full tights!

Please enlighten me! :)

Thanks,
Emily

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Emily, if it's below 60, I wear full length tights of varying wamrth thickness.
But I wear knickers in the warm weather, not shorts. Two reasons:
1) I tend to get colder more easily and to not overheat and get sweaty like most people I know.
and 2) At 52, I have some cellulite and some varicose veins and I just hate how shorts emphasize these features. Kickers smooth everything out, cover my back-of-knee veins, and to me they just feel wonderful. :cool: I find knickers/capris to be very comfy all summer, and they look flattering. If i want, in the cold weather I can also put some favorite chamois capris or knickers under a non-chamois cold weather full length tight, and there is no sausage elastic look at mid thigh because the knickers end right below the knee and it doesn't show.
Knickers and capris are not for everyone I'm sure, but perhaps you can understand now why one person at least likes them! ;)

[KnottedYet]

I love my knickers for much the same reason. (Ibex wool www.ibexwear.com)

I am of course stunningly beautiful and svelte (ha ha) but prefer to wear knickers or skorts rather than bike shorts.

Haven't been in anything cold enough here yet to need more than my knickers, but if I do need tights I'll probably get a pair from Ibex.

[Squirrel 2]

I wore them yesterday morning for a 47 degree ride -- I've never been so comfortable! The fit is perfect, the cleverly cut panels just conform to the natural body curves so nicely. And the fleeced fabric was so nice & toasty! Also very pleased with the chamois -- one of the 4-way stretch varieties, but it seems to have a very thin, stiff layer inside the sandwich for protection, somewhere in between the Castelli YPro, the Descente Strata & the Craft. Very high marks for this piece of gear. I have a 2nd pair on order, too!

Emily -- I used to say the same thing about knickers. If it's just a bit cool I'll wear warmers, and once it gets cold give me tights. Hubby converted me to a knicker fan big-time because they are perfect for all the in-between. Around 55-65 degrees, I'll wear a light-weight lycra knicker. Below 55, I want a heavier-weight, fleeced knicker. It's not my calves that get cold, it's higher up. And even if I put on a heavy pair of warmers, I always have this gap between the top of the warmer & the bottom of my jacket or jersey that gets raw & chilled. The knickers solve that problem. Because I wasn't cold down there, I felt nice & warm all over. I was in absolute heaven.

Also, knickers are significantly lighter than full-length tights. Once it gets below 45, I'll probably be in tights. But tights, because they go all the way down your leg, feel more restrictive & heavier in pedalling. I feel like I'm wearing a ton of clothes. Knickers don't give you that pulling sensation, so you still feel light & easy on the bike, much like you feel in shorts.

And another reason I love, love, love knickers -- I ride early in the morning before work, so I am always in a mad rush to get out the door. If I wear warmers & shorts, it's 3 pieces of clothing to put on versus just one with knickers. Saves me a valuable few seconds, and some mornings, every second counts!

[Veronica]

Hmmm... there's no sizing chart. That makes it hard to tell what to order, since the sizing across various companies is so different.

V.

[Selkie]

V---The sizing is similar to the LG wicked expensive shorts--I wear small in the LG's and the small in the knickers were dead on perfect. Cut is a bit more forgiving than the Castelli shorts, which I've found to be too tight in the thighs but fit OK in the hips/waist. I guess Italian chicks don't get big quads, unlike Irish/American girls like myself. ;) You can always send them back and exchange them if they don't fit. TE carries the orange but not the pistachio (Terry has both colors).
These shorts will make your butt look great, Nanci. You need to get a pair and treat yourself.
They are beautiful and also will make you ride more.

[Bluetree]

I want to get the matching Goiz jersey when it comes in so I e-mailed TE about sizing. They don't have the Etxeondo sizing chart, but it is form fitting. One of the gals tried on the sample and they recommended I use Castelli sizing for ordering.

Those TE gals are just too cool.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

They really lood great, except....why on earth do they have to put their white reflective logo name stamped right smack in the MIDDLE of your cheek!! Is that attractive?? Couldn't they put the white logo name off to the side somewhere??

[Veronica]

The Assos knickers have been on order for two weeks. What do you bet TE gets these to me before I get the Assos ones?

V.

[Bluetree]

Okay, I broke down and bought the matching set of Etxe Ondo Oyama knickers/Goiz jersey.

My first impression? LOVE IT. LOVE IT. LOVE IT. Superior workmanship, great fabric and top notch design. This is an outfit I would love to wear all winter long. Yeah, it was pricey, but it was worth it.

Then the bad news... it doesn't fit. :(
In street clothes I wear 0-2 and figured I could get away with ordering a size small, since euro sizes run a bit small. The Goiz jersey in small is probably close to an American size 4. The sleeves were long but the oversize was most noticeable on my shoulders, as the fabric was bunching up around my neck. Maybe if I had a decent set of b**bs it would have stretched it out better.
The Oyama knickers were too big as well, and not suited for my petite (aka stumpy) legs. I have no a** (the widest point around my hips is 31") so the chamois stuck out quite a bit in the rear. Like the upper version, if I had a decent set of cheeks it might have fit better. My guess is that the knickers is closer to an American size 6.
These are heading back to TE. I am so disappointed, they are such lovely clothes.

I have to figure out a way to get taller.

[Veronica]

They really lood great, except....why on earth do they have to put their white reflective logo name stamped right smack in the MIDDLE of your cheek!! Is that attractive?? Couldn't they put the white logo name off to the side somewhere??


Actually, I don't think it looks that bad on my butt. :D I haven't ridden in them yet, but they passed the initial try on test.

TE rules... still waiting on the Assos knickers.

V.

[Selkie]

Actually, I don't think it looks that bad on my butt. :D I haven't ridden in them yet, but they passed the initial try on test.

TE rules... still waiting on the Assos knickers.

V.

I agree. The logo isn't very big, regardless. I wish they made them with a magenta stripe.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I have to figure out a way to get taller.

Or maybe wider? :)

If it's any comfort- I have "plenty" of hips and bottom, and yet when I tried some expensive PI shorts on in an LBS a while back, all 3 styles had the odd chamois "horizontal fin" sticking out bizarrely in the back! Other than that, the shorts were very snug- strange! Definitely not a problem of my lacking natural "fill" though! :o

Man, what's next size smaller than a "0"??? Do they run into the negatives?? Wouldn't you get sucked into a time/space black hole when you put size 0 jeans on, and just disappear?
(just teasing) I can't imagine wearing size 0 jeans!

Those Extes look so cool- I'm sorry you have to send yours back! :(

[Bluetree]

Or maybe wider? :)


Man, what's next size smaller than a "0"??? Do they run into the negatives?? Wouldn't you get sucked into a time/space black hole when you put size 0 jeans on, and just disappear?
(just teasing) I can't imagine wearing size 0 jeans!

Those Extes look so cool- I'm sorry you have to send yours back! :(

Actually, it means having a personal relationship with my tailor. But it's hard to have tailoring done to athletic clothes because of the stretch factor.
It's all relative, though. I still look in the mirror and wish I could drop an inch here or there. True body acceptance is easier said than done! :o

[Susan Otcenas]

We met with the EO folks at Interbike on Friday. A sizing chart is pending, but in the meantime, please use the Castelli chart. We'll get EO's up as soon as they nail it down for us. (Incidentally, I checked Terry's website and they don't have a EO size chart up either. Sigh. I would have copied it. :) )

The Goiz and Oyama are FLYING out of here. Wow! Selling so well that we just bought out all of EO's remaining Black/Orange Goiz tops and a bunch of the knickers. Also decided to bring in the Pistachio color. Should have it in a week.

I would LOVE to hear your feedback on the Etxe Ondo items as this is a new brand for us. Your feedback really helps us make better buying decisions. My impression so far is that the quality on these pieces is absolutely top notch. Bluetree - I don't believe these pieces come in XS (that size isn't on the order form for US orders) but I'll inquire on your behalf. :)

Thanks,

Susan

[Selkie]

Susan -- I vote for you to continue carrying the brand. I hope to buy one of the tops and plan on putting more EO stuff on my Christmas list. I don't paying for quality, as I figure I'll get multiple seasons of wear of them and I ride every day (weather permitting). The fit, styling, fabric, and quality are just excellent.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The Goiz and Oyama are FLYING out of here. Wow! Selling so well that we just bought out all of EO's remaining Black/Orange Goiz tops and a bunch of the knickers. Also decided to bring in the Pistachio color. Should have it in a week.


I think getting the pistachio color is a smart move- it's got even more groovin' style than the orange.

[Cari]

Susan:

Is there any chance that in the near future, Team Estrogen might carry other Etxe Ondo Items such as the Sann Bib Shorts or the Bera Knickers? I've been hunting around for these items for quite some time now...

Also, I noticed that on the Etxe Ondo website (http://www.etxeondousa.com), Team Estrogen is listed as a dealer in Oregon but not as an online dealer. Might be good if they fixed that. :)

Saludos,

Cari in PR

[Susan Otcenas]

Susan:

Is there any chance that in the near future, Team Estrogen might carry other Etxe Ondo Items such as the Sann Bib Shorts or the Bera Knickers? I've been hunting around for these items for quite some time now...


We have Sann coming for Spring 2007. Black/Blue and Black/Red. Also the Bera in Black/Blue.

Thanks for the heads up on the dealer locator. We'll ask them to make the change. :)

Susan

[Selkie]

EXCELLENT NEWS and now I have even more reason to look forward to the spring! I bet if you stocked the Bera in the white, too, you'd sell out. This takes a little of the sting out of seeing that you're sold out of the knickers and the tights in my size!

[Susan Otcenas]

This takes a little of the sting out of seeing that you're sold out of the knickers and the tights in my size!


We have another shipment of EO coming in a few days. Should re-stock us in all sizes. :)

Susan

[Veronica]

Did a 57 mile, mostly flat ride yesterday in my new knickers. Very comfy. It was in the 70s and surprisely I did not overheat in them either, which makes them a good choice for those rides that start at 4 AM. :p

Would love it if TE could carry their entire line of bottoms. (I've got more jerseys than I can shake a stick at.)

V.

[jobob]

And, might I add, they looked very nice indeed !

I might have pistachio ones in my very near future ...

[Veronica]

And, might I add, they looked very nice indeed !


Thanks! I'm trying to figure out why I need a second pair. Oh and I want to get the tights. The tights I can justify. I don't already have a pair of padded tights.

V.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Thanks! I'm trying to figure out why I need a second pair.

Because two pairs will last twice as long as one pair.

[Squirrel 2]

Easy to justify a 2nd pair of the knickers -- the care instructions say hang to dry, so chances are good the chamois will still be wet the next day. A 2nd pair solves that problem!

[7rider]

We met with the EO folks at Interbike on Friday. A sizing chart is pending, but in the meantime, please use the Castelli chart. We'll get EO's up as soon as they nail it down for us. (Incidentally, I checked Terry's website and they don't have a EO size chart up either. Sigh. I would have copied it. :) )



Oh, that's distressing. I wear a XL in Castelli. Maybe another 10 pounds and I can squeeze my BFA into a size L. :(

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Maybe another 10 pounds and I can squeeze my BFA into a size L. :(

BFA....that would be your boyfriend's a**, right? Does he look good in the Exte Ondos too? ;)

[7rider]

BFA....that would be your boyfriend's a**, right? Does he look good in the Exte Ondos too? ;)

DH wouldn't be too keen on my trying to model EO's on a boyfriend. :eek:
No...BFA is my own Big Fat A**.
I've been eyeing those knickers. Just bought some Cannondales at the Evil Empire (a.k.a. Performance), so those will have to suffice for now.
Glad to see they're getting rave reviews. I'll have to put them on my "Some day.." list.

[Susan Otcenas]

Don't look now, but the Exte Ondo Goiz & Oyama in Pistachio just popped up on the What's New page... ;)

http://www.teamestrogen.com/whatsNew.asp

Susan

[Dianyla]

Don't look now, but the Exte Ondo Goiz & Oyama in Pistachio just popped up on the What's New page... ;)

Good grief, do you actually think we have that much self-control? :p