Designing Women's Cycling Apparel

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Originally Posted by kamkam

From the people I have talked to it seems like there are two different groups. One group likes pink/purple, and floral cycling clothes, and the other prefers a more streamlined look with color blocks/solids.
However, both groups want clothing that is formed specifically for a woman's body! (which should not be too much to ask for!)
Do you think this is accurate?

What about skorts? Are they very popular? And for what sorts of rides?

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I await to hear more about these 2 "camps" of skort women. I'm a more plain, solid dark colour skort and light coloured/high visibility jersey. In jersey, I like a 2-3 solid colour block jersey, if more than 1 colour.

I don't even wear padded skorts.. but go cycling occasionally up to 40 kms.

But then I don't wear cycling tights nor shorts that have a chamois. And yes, I go cycling up to 100 kms. in a day ..done loaded touring rides, etc. yea, I'm wierd. :o Atypical.

As for my need for decent, thoughtfully designed cycling clothing for women: I'm not a racer, never will be. I don't compete. But damn it all! .....I haven't had a car for last 25 years of life. Please live my life for once, car-free and cycling regularily for many years. :D There is a real rigour, 'toughness' to this lifestyle.

That's why I don't cycle in street clothing! Except walking shorts from time to time. My good dress suits, dress pants, casual pants even, dress tops and skirts, would be destroyed by now.

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Originally Posted by Biciclista

yes, pockets in shorts, skorts, knickers...

If i decide i want to go for a ride (go to the store for example) if i wear bike shorts, it means i need a bike jersey too or I have no pockets.
Come on, just little pockets even?

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Ta-da! A pocket!

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

A way to make a leg gripper that doesn't squeeze your leg into a sausage (ladies suck-it-in underwear can do this, why not shorts?)

A cycle tank top that doesn't have a Y-back so you don't have to show off your normal strapped sports bra and has back pockets.

Well, like Eden, I love form fitting jerseys, or at least ones that are not loose and flapping. And I am not a racer, just feel that it's more flattering. But, I abhor the elastic on the bottom. Really. It just makes the jersey ride up my back and stomach. I would have to buy a jersey a size too big to get the elastic to stay down. I weigh l07 and my hips are not huge, either, just bigger than my waist.
I think elastic only works if you have a rather narrow/angular build all the way down.
I like low rise cycling shorts, too. Stuff around my waist just annoys me. But the style has to be higher up in the back, so no crack shows.
I wear all kinds of jerseys: short sleeved, sleeveless, long sleeved, and tanks. Most of the tanks I wear have a shelf bra, which is fine for a small busted person like me, but I would really like it if some of those shelf bras came with some padding, because when you sweat, everything shows through. I don't need the support, but I really like those "Handful" bras I bought here on TE, that have removable pads.
I have a pair of tights that are chamois-less and wear them over my shorts in cold weather. I bought a pair of tights w/ a chamois from someone here on TE; I hate them!
I would like to see more lightweight, thermal/wind proof, full zip "team kit" looking jerseys for regular people to wear in the colder weather. There are very few options here for women. My DH has several and can wear these with a base layer, when I have to wear a jacket, etc.

Gore makes (or made) shorts with a small pocket on the thigh -- TE might still sell them. I prefer cycling shorts w/out the pocket, though, because jersey pockets are sufficient to hold my cell phone, pepper spray, house key, etc.

Bib shorts, please, made of supportive, quality fabric.

Jerseys---no elastic anywhere. I prefer club (looser but not baggy) cut over race cut.

Quality is my main thing when it comes to clothing. For cycling clothes, Exte Ondo is a good example of a manufacturer that makes high-quality stuff, from the design to the fabric to the workmanship. My beef w/EO, however, is that it uses elastic in jerseys. I'll buy only their winter jerseys for that reason---the elastic in the winter line is limited to the waist and is loose, not slide-up binding.

Also, please no vanity sizing. It's getting more and more difficult for petite women to find clothes that fit --- what used to be a size small is now an x-small or xx-small (by petite I don't mean height, although I'm sure ladies 5'3" and under have difficulties finding tights that aren't too long).

My issue with the skorts that I have seen is that the "short" portion is extremely short. It seems to defeat the purpose somewhat. Your bum is covered but the short hits at the worst part of the leg and the sausage and cellulite exposure tends to be enhanced instead of hidden.
I was thinking about a pair for casual/sightseeing rides but after seeing multiple women in them at the rides lately, I have pretty much written them off.

I guess I would request some longer skorts with 5-8" legs. The skirt could still be short though. Sort of that 80s look.

I would like to see more fit choices as well. I'm a small on top (shoulders/bust/small waist), but more of a medium/large towards the bottom (larger hips). I have had difficulty with fitted jerseys that seem to be made for a stick figure instead of a curvy woman's figure. My body doesn't go straight from my ribs to my knees!

I'd also like to see more color options offered. My bike is red (more of an orange/red than fire-engine red), white and silver and most of the color options offered in women's jerseys would clash hard with my bike colors. I'd also like to see the neon yellow color offered in more jersey types and styles.

+1 to what Mickchick said about the sizing. I am short and petite. But I am not anorexic skinny, either. There are some brands of jerseys I can never wear because they are long. I would like to be able to buy a pair of knickers that are knickers, not long tights! There is no way I am an xxsmall petite, although that is the size I seem to be wearing in street clothes, especially tops.

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Originally Posted by Crankin

I would have to buy a jersey a size too big to get the elastic to stay down. I weigh l07 and my hips are not huge, either, just bigger than my waist.
I think elastic only works if you have a rather narrow/angular build all the way down

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I have a narrow upper body profile and it still doesn't look good to have elastic at jersey hem. The photo link I gave earlier in this thread is an example of a Canari jersey with elastic at bottom. And jersey is not flapping loose but not tight across my whole upper body which I would dislike.

I'm just giving an example myself as a slim woman who doesn't need to have tighter tops. But one who genuinely rides alot everywhere and does ride for fitness also. (Sorry, Eden to sound so annoyed earlier.)

And no elastics around short sleeve arm hems. And I have thin arms. They ride up my arms and seam starts chafing.

Perhaps the lack of pockets for women's cycling clothing might be subconsciously related to real off-bike street/dressier fashion, where many styles don't have pockets, because it might considered less aesthetic. :confused:

What we're asking is that on the bike, a bit more functionality for clothing is required to make the clothes work when we're on bike /using our bike around the city.

I just want a jersey that actually fits properly. I have big shoulders but I'm small at the waist and hips; and so my choices are to go up to a medium (or even large) to fit my shoulders, and then have it be huge everywhere else, or go for a small and not be able to move my arms...

I don't expect street clothes to fit my athletic frame well, but why ever shouldn't athletic gear be out there for women who have a muscular, athletic build? (grumble grumble...)

Less chamois! I know there are some manufacturers that still use thinner, narrower chamois on some of their shorts, but they're getting harder and harder to find at LBS. Too-thick chamois are incredibly uncomfortable over long rides, and too-wide chamois are uncomfortable at any distance... tri shorts usually have a chamois that is comfortable for road riding, but the legs are way too short to be comfortable on bike-only days. Also, chamois size better matched to the size of the shorts.

This is always one of those threads that will conflict itself dozens of times. I feel bad for manufacturers of womens cycling clothing, nobody can agree. I posted this recently on a friend's blog, and I still think it's good stuff:

Realization #1: Mountain Bikers have a much easier time with fashion. MTB jerseys can have modern necklines, 3/4 sleeves, princess seams. The have shorts in plaid, with pockets, embroidery, hip-camouflaging constructions, various inseam lengths. They have *riding skirts*, heck I even own a mountain biking *dress*. I remember the woman leading my MTB tour who wore western style button-up blouses with baggy shorts, or a leopard print jersey with a swirly thigh-length skirt over her spandex; she totally changed my mind about what I could wear on the MTB.

Realization #2: women like to transition seamlessly between active lifestyles. We like prAna and Lululemon and TitleNine and travel dresses at REI. Sexy and sleek by exposing just the right amount of skin and no more. We can choose what skims and what ruffles, what lines to create, because we’ve watched too much “What Not To Wear” or whatever. Going to the gym no longer means boxy heather grey T-shirts and black leggings; we have *options*.

Road cycling? We have a cookie-cutter. Your spandex will be this length, this shape, have these pockets here; the only major creativity seems to have been in what goes on that template. Only recently has more attention has come to functional details like where elastic goes and how tight it is, or where boobs go on a pair of bibshorts, etc.

Which leads me to Rapha again: ok, we get better fabrics, we get some curves thrown in, but I don’t think this will revolutionize women’s road cycling apparel. In addition, I appreciate what companies like Sheila Moon and B. Spoke Tailor have done, but their on-and-off bike stuff seems trapped by a nod to retro tweed-style rides.

I think the solution is FIRST in function: non-tangling, midriff covering, circulation promoting, and maybe a little warmer in the toes while we’re at it.

Then, we need to think outside the S/M/L box. Maybe by cup size? Thigh circumference ranges? Long/short options on torsos and legs? Make things with more adjustability, maybe, with strategic velcro and elastic drawstrings?

Finally, get some real freakin’ fashion involved. Some women wear cashmere twinsets, some wear fishnet shirts, ain’t NO WAY a few patterns are going to appeal to everyone. Lets look at slight cowl necks or longer tux-coat inspired backs. Let’s ruche, gather, drape on occasion. Let’s be inspired by wool and argyle and Betsey Johnson skulls and Chanel jackets. Let’s watch powerful women in the Olympics, from snowboarders to figure skaters, let’s watch episodes of Wonder Woman, let’s idolize librarians and pinups. Let’s be able to ride a century while looking comfortable enough for the bistro afterward. There must be more to life than race or club cut, butterflies or solids, form or function, you know?

Also, I want legwarmers that look like fishnets. But I'm probably the only one.

-- gnat! (Zhush! Needs more Zhush!)

It's a great summary, gnat on different cycling clothing style needs for different types/genres of cycling.

As for your last paragraph on more 'fashion', it made me laugh "let's idolize the librarians and pinups". No the real hidden trend, is combining the 2, geeky is sexy.

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Originally Posted by redrhodie

Ta-da! A pocket!

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

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Also these:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodPI_0469.html
And TE doesn't carry them, but the PI Cut Symphony short also has a nice little pocket...above the right butt cheek, I think. Just the right size for keys and a gel or a few bucks. I love those shorts.

1. More zipped pockets. (Everywhere - jerseys, vests, jackets, knickers, shorts)
2. More neon/high-viz stuff (tops, jackets, helmet covers, gloves, etc.)
3. More summerweight wool jerseys, made for a women's figure, that are also affordable. (Smartwool has made some attempts in that direction.)

I guess Shebeest is my fav cycling-specific company. They make stuff that fits a women's body well. And they offer a lot of choice - lots of color/pattern choices; different lengths of cycling pants; etc.

A lot of the other cycling co's (like Pearl Izumi) don't really seem to make stuff that fits women. It's made for men and then they slap a women's label on it.

And some of the women-specific companies are just too pink or too flowery for me. Sheila Moon comes to mind.

Shebeest stuff is PRACTICAL.