Under your jersey

[Jen12]

There have been several posts here about underwear/no underwear underneath bike shorts, but I'm curious as to what road bikers wear under jerseys. Regular bras or sports bras? I've been tending to go with the sports bra so that when I get hot I can unzip the jersey.

[Owlie]

Wicking sports bra, sometimes with an additional layer on top of that. (Craft...thing in summer, Smartwool tank top in spring/fall, Craft insulating layer in winter. Both tank and Craft layer if it's REALLY cold.)

I imagine a regular bra with be...uncomfortable...and really nasty when sweaty.

[indysteel]

Sports bra for sure. I've become very partial to Ibex's wool "bralette." It's comfy and wicking.

[ny biker]

Sports bra. I do not want to sweat that much in a regular bra. And I do tend to unzip the jersey all the way when I get hot.

When it's really hot I wear a cycling tank with a built-in shelf bra.

For cooler temps, I would like like a wool camisole with a shelf bra, and/or a wool sports bra.

[bmccasland]

This is couched with the fact that I last did my road biking in hot country...
I wore a sports bra, and specifically looked for those that wicked really well (NO cotton). :cool:

Now that I'm in cooler climes, I'm not certain if I'll be as picky, but I do have several sports bras in the drawer.

[indysteel]

Sports bra. I do not want to sweat that much in a regular bra. And I do tend to unzip the jersey all the way when I get hot.

When it's really hot I wear a cycling tank with a built-in shelf bra.

For cooler temps, I would like like a wool camisole with a shelf bra, and/or a wool sports bra.

My wool Ibex bra is comfortable in hot weather. It's actually really light. Granted, I'm small chested and need little support, but I almost don't know I'm wearing it. I can wear it multiple times between washings, too, which is nice on trips when I don't want to bring a bra for every day.

[Trek-chick]

+1 on the sportsbra.

[Becky]

Count me in the sports bra camp, along with a sleeveless ultralight base layer if I'm wearing bib shorts (makes nature calls easier).

[Catrin]

I wish that I COULD depend on shelf bras in my jerseys...but there is too much of me. I bounce enough as it is :rolleyes: I also have armor-piercing nipples and while I am sure that no one would be surprised to see that I do have nipples, I don't like them to be so prominent.

I would love to try a wool sports bra at some point, but just can't afford it at this time. I've two cotton sports bras that are now a little large for me since I lost my weight, but they are much better than a regular bra. I am hoping to get one this summer sometime though so I can try it out :)

[redrhodie]

Sports bra for sure. I've become very partial to Ibex's wool "bralette." It's comfy and wicking.

Me too! I love this bra. I can just get away with it. I'm a small c cup and could use more support. :rolleyes: Actually, I'm not getting away with anything, but it's so comfy I don't care. I also like that I can wear it after commuting to work, and not smell.

[jessmarimba]

I can wear just about anything under my jersey when road riding - tight camisole, shelf bras in tank tops, bralettes, etc. I prefer something that's decent if I unzip. I could probably wear a normal bra for my commute if I didn't have a brutal 1.5 miles of uphill that ended at my office (I have occasionally worn normal bras on the way home on that glorious, glorious downhill).

Even though I'm an A cup, I need a pretty hard core sports bra mountain biking. Most of the trails near here are covered in grapefruit sized rocks...kills my boobs and my bladder. (And have I gotten any better at picking lines? Not in the slightest).

[Espresso]

Regular light cotton bra. I need to get fitted for a regular bra and possibly even fitted for a sports bra, but I'm nervous about it and until I have some incentive (probably never), I'm gonna keep procrastinating.

Sports bras always seem to be uncomfortable for me because I have breast tissue in one of my armpits (I call it my third boob :D). Sports bras tend to pinch it against either my torso or my arm. So until I can find a sports bra that's comfortable, I'm gonna keep wearing the normal ones. And again, I hate trying on clothes so I probably won't ever actually go unless wearing a normal bra gets really uncomfortable.

Don't think I need a sports bra for the support (although maybe if I ever start mountain biking :confused:?), but wicking would be nice. I think I'm too modest to unzip even if I were wearing a sports bra. :eek:

[Owlie]

Normally I can get away with a relatively light thing like this (http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodPA_32337_0.html) on the bike, despite my tendency toward "armor piercing nipples" (thanks, Catrin! :D). It doesn't matter so much once I get moving.

Certain times of the month, though, I have to grab something much more robust, and even then, that doesn't always help. PMS boobs on an an aluminum bike traveling over a brick patch on the bike trail...:eek:

[nscrbug]

Definitely a sports bra. Infact, I own MORE sports bras than I do regular bras.

[ultraviolet]

I'm a big girl--40DD. I combine bras.

Before anyone jumps on me about the right sports bra being out there, believe me when I tell you I've spent countless hours (and not an insignificant amount of money) trying pretty much every sports bra I could find. I thought I had a winner with the Enell bulletproof vest model, but then I lost some weight and found myself in between sizes , where the smaller size was too tight around the ribcage to breathe and the larger was too loose around the top of the chest area to combat the bouncing--I think this has more to do with my own boob shape than any shortcomings of the bra...I still think it's a good bra, just not for me.

The combo I've settled on for the most comfort and support for me is a thin microfiber regular bra with a sports bra over it. The two that I use are the Microfiber Racerback (http://fashionbug.lanebryant.com/intimates/bras/best-sellers/microfiber-racerback-bra/5081c5082c17086p51723/index.pro?Mcatn=Best+Sellers&Mcatpn=Bras&Mcatgn=Intimates&Mcatgg=category_root&Mcatp=cat_5082%401&Mcat=17086%401&Mcatg=cat_5081%401#productTabs) from Fashion Bug (of all places) and the Champion C9 Cami (http://www.target.com/C9-Champion-Seamless-Fashion-Cami/dp/B0031JBJBG/ref=br_1_3?ie=UTF8&id=C9%20Champion%20Seamless%20Fashion%20Cami&node=2241716011&searchSize=30&searchView=grid3&searchPage=1&sr=1-3&qid=1307633848&rh=&searchBinNameList=target_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin&searchRank=salesrank&frombrowse=1) from Target

I stumbled across that combo by accident, but it works for me. I'd actually worn the bra while out one day, then when changing at the gym didn't realize I'd forgotten to take it off and had just pulled the sports bra over it until part of the way through my workout when I realized I had no awareness of my boobs moving around. After that I tried it on the bike, then on my next run and was happy with the results. So, that's what I've stuck with. If it stops working, I'll go back to my search. But for now, I'm happy.

[Crankin]

I can't imagine wearing a regular bra for something where I get sweaty. I don't need the support, but I also have the armor piercing nipple issue and since I don't go bra-less in regular clothes, I don't do while riding. I need wicking!
I bought two Ibex bras this winter for x country skiing, but they still itched me a bit. I can take it for the winter, when getting hypothermia because my bra is not wicking enough is an issue, but for now, my vote to goes the Handful bra. It is so comfortable, has removable pads and doesn't dig into my ribs. I need to buy more. The 2 I bought last year are just about worn out. I have lots of other sports bras, but none are as nice.

[ultraviolet]

FYI, this one consists of two layers of fabric, both quite rigid. When I first got mine, I jumped up and down to test it, and my chest didn't move. It was quite strange!

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodMC_350009.html


I've tried that one. On me, it gaps along the tops of the cups so I end up with a sore chest.

[amb]

My favorite-ist sports bra of all time is the Alexis bra by Moving Comfort.

http://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=819882032&tid=atpn001097&kwid=1&ap=13&mkwid=f0w00f&adid=tbbtyr_Cebqhpg

I am small (A cup) and this bra is nicely lined to shape and enhance rather than smoosh completely flat. And because it's lined, there no "nip" if you get cold. It wicks sweat awesomely and dries fast. I have at least 5 at this point as I'm also an aerobics Instructor so I wear 3-4 a week.

Love it!!

[trista]

Usually a sports bra, and my favorite is Moving Comfort, but I'd like to try the Ibex next time I can afford it.

Sometimes I ride for a NON-workout - errands, toodling around with the kids, etc. - and for those times I just wear whatever it is I have on, which is usually an underwire, tee, and yoga capris. I don't change into a special outfit.... because it's easier just to hop on and go. But if I am going for a workout and plan on working up a sweat, I will make the effort to change into cycling clothes w/ a sports bra.

[Susan]

Definitly sports-bra!I love this one:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSZ_B4490.html
Nothing moves at all despite wearing an F-cup.

I also like the Freya-active bras very much.

[meganm]

Sports bra, for sure. I can't fathom sweating on a climb with an underwire digging in!

[Ered_Lithui]

I often wear a regular non-padded cotton underwire bra. It wouldn't work for higher-impact activities, but it's sufficient for road biking, and I find it very comfortable. The issue of unzipping rarely comes up (Saturday's ride had me in baselayer, jersey, jacket and vest...).

[Bike Chick]

Definitely a wicking sports bra. I wish I could wear a sports bra to the office. They are much more comfortable:D

[Owlie]

Can I just say that for some reason, this thread causes that Shakira song "Underneath Your Clothes" to pop into my head. :rolleyes:

[Roadtrip]

Can I just say that for some reason, this thread causes that Shakira song "Underneath Your Clothes" to pop into my head. :rolleyes:

Can I just say you ladies just never cease to surprise me. I just had to laugh at the armor piercing comment!

I really like my moving comfort bras. Have a regular bra for every day and sports bra for the bike.

Shannon

[Holland]

Thanks for this topic. After reading the comments, I'm considering Ibex. The Balance Light and Balance Support seem to be one-layer. For those who have tried them, is it so thin that it becomes obvious when you are cold?, know what I mean? I may be wearing it w/o a shirt or under a very thin tee-shirt, and I don't want to gather unwanted attention.

Anybody into Patagonia undergarments?

[OakLeaf]

I just got a Balance cami in off-white on sale, and let's just say it will ONLY ever be a base layer. :rolleyes:

The black one is fine for yoga, etc. The fabric is thin, but the color hides a lot. The off-white, not so much.

[kajero]

I also love the Champion sport bras from Target. I also found some really neat sport bras at Sears. I bought one of Sears brand sports bras and one of their "Nordic" fitness bras. They weren't really expensive and I love them both. I wore one of them during the MS150 and was comfortable for both days. (Probably pretty stupid to try them out on that long a ride, huh?) I'm really small busted so these are perfect for me.

[Holland]

Lol, thanks!

[hulagirl]

I use my Lululemon Ta Ta Tamer for my triathlons. They bolt down my C-D cups (depending on time 'o the month) and I have no chafing or hot spots even after a swim/bike/run.

For cycling only, I will wear a looser Ta Ta Tamer and not cross the straps. Sometimes I wear the padding in them, sometimes I don't. Depends if anyone will have a camera and how thick my top is. ;-)

[shootingstar]

Just a regular older bra. No need for a sports bra. I'm dainty and perky --up top.

All the angst that smaller women ever felt when teens and early 20's (let's not kid ourselves with the breast implants still happening..), just melts away in relief after 40, 50 yrs.

Less boobage is literally less to worry about. :o