Help me build a better jersey!

Hi everyone! I've been riding off and on for several years. During that time I've seen a lot of improvements with women's cycling clothing. Unfortunately I still want a few more. Since no-one is making exactly what I want, I thought I'd give it a try myself. I'm curious how you all feel about the current choices available. (Maybe I'm in the minority of wanting other options?)

I've created a survey that I would love for you all to fill out. It will take a little time, maybe 15-20 mins. but many of the questions are optional. I ask for measurements (optional) so have a tape measure handy if you'd like to volunteer that information. None of the information collected will be distributed to other parties. Entering your email is optional but by doing so, you will be entered in a drawing for a free jersey! (I currently make jerseys in small quantities)

Anyway, if you get a chance, fill out my survey. Together we can create the best fitting and most stylish cycling clothes for women. Hopefully my line will be on Team Estrogen someday! Thanks in advance! Survey

here it is. I'll check it out.
bummer about the email collection at the bottom of the survey.

The email submission is optional. All questions without a star are optional. Thanks for checking it out!

Interesting survey....good luck on your startup. Keep us posted?

I did the survey.

Survey done

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Originally Posted by roadie gal

Survey done

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me too

Hope this helps. And I had to guess on "fair price" - the cost of everything has gone up, I really don't know what constitutes "fair" anymore.

As for fit - I hope I helped my more curvy sisters out there. I'm only a slip of person in my mind. The reflection in the mirror is someone else.

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Originally Posted by bmccasland

As for fit - I hope I helped my more curvy sisters out there.

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Curvy sisters, unite--we have nothing to lose but our poor selection of bike clothes!

And don't forget us, please, Pelotonna, when you're planning your size range.

Thanks to all who have filled out my survey! Keep the submissions coming! I will reveal some of the results in the coming days/weeks. So far things are really all over the board. I guess we are actually *gulp* different and unique individuals. I have changed the form for future "filler outers". I now require you to enter your age (or age range). It was optional before and only about half were filling it in. What's up with that ladies? We're all out there hauling our butts around on a bike. That's more than most women do at any age. We should be proud! (Please do not fill out the survey again if you didn't enter your age before) Anyway, I'm just curious to see if there is more consistency within age groups.

Thanks again!

well, while you are redesigning the survey, i ride a road bike, i commute, i do long rides, i do short leisure rides on a funky old bike. I put in 25% for 4 different categories. I have no idea how accurate that is.

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Originally Posted by Pelotonna

So far things are really all over the board. I guess we are actually *gulp* different and unique individuals.

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Ain't that the truth. :D

One thing you'll need to bear in mind is the wide variety of chest sizes among us women riders.

For example, I'm very flat-chested, and some jerseys (Voler, Champion Systems) fit me fine.

OTOH, many Sugoi jerseys are much too, ahem, roomy for me in the chest area, which is a pity because I think Sugoi tends to have some of the most attractive jersey designs around - distinctive graphics in attractive primary & secondary colors that are (imho) not cutesy or garish.

Basically, what works for those of us on one end of the spectrum may not work for those at the other end, unless you could come up with some sort of design that accommodates a wide range on top. Or, design different jerseys for the flat & the full-chested?

If this helps, I'm 28. I would not have skipped that question, but I don't remember seeing it on the survey when I filled it out. Assuming you keep all of the information in each form together somewhere (instead of aggregating it all), my form has an email address beginning with "hew" and a string of numbers.

And, I didn't have a tape measure handy when I filled out the survey. I knew most of my measurements, but not the back length. Just measured it and the length from the big vertabra at the base of my neck to my waistline, at the narrowest point just under my ribcage, is 18". The measurement to hip-bone level (more where my pants actually sit) is 20". I'm sure my height was on the survey, but just in case, I'm 5'6".

I really like the idea of having different cuts for flat chests and curvier chests.

Thanks for the clarification Liza. I had forgotten to ask the age question initially so I added it later. You must have filled it out before that question was on there. As I've said, the results are all over the board. I read one set of results that said, I would love to see more neon green and black. Literally the next set of results said, I hate green and black! My head is spinning...

Thanks for continuing to fill out the survey. If you have friends who don't frequent this forum, be sure to let them know about it.

Y'know, there were some shorts questions too -- it occurs to me that more knee length pants like the Shebeest Shindiggers, but with a "more serious" chamois, would be nice to have available.

I suggest this cuz my arms are looking better, but the batwings are currently flapping on my inner thighs. Shorts of any type aren't a very pretty option for me these days!

(which doesn't bother me too much when I'm riding -- except when the wings whack the top bar on the bike!)

Karen in Boise

I just did the survey..

I was just reading some of the responses and it occured to me that when men go to buy pants they have a choice of waist and length: 32waist/30 length... 32 waist/ 31 length, etc, but women have a choice of size 10, 12, etc. It would be nice if you could have choices, say, 2 or 3 chest sizes with different overall sizes. You could call it A,B or C chest (no relation to bra size) with size S,M,L,XL. I would love to have choices that would "customize" my jersey that way.

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Originally Posted by roadie gal

I was just reading some of the responses and it occured to me that when men go to buy pants they have a choice of waist and length: 32waist/30 length... 32 waist/ 31 length, etc, but women have a choice of size 10, 12, etc. It would be nice if you could have choices, say, 2 or 3 chest sizes with different overall sizes. You could call it A,B or C chest (no relation to bra size) with size S,M,L,XL. I would love to have choices that would "customize" my jersey that way.

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I love that idea!!

BTW, I did the survey :)

I did the survey. Just to reemphasize, I would pay extra for a longer jersey. Sell them in average length and long length for $20 more.

What's a bummer about email collection? That is such a Seattle response. I have lived here all my life and still don't get the privacy fetish endemic to this region.

Just a few things-

1-Can you please remember that your survey should be internationally focused..km's & miles thanks

2-WHy does it matter about the search engine we use?

3-Do i have to fill out the whole questionnaire if all I want to mention is I don't want elastic at the bottom of jerseys?

Good survey & thanks for organizing it :)

Yes CrazyCanuk, I should have asked for miles or km's. I didn't mean to exclude my metric mates. Especially since it's like, 95% of the world! :eek:

Many of you have expressed the desire to have specialty sizes like, a cup, c cup, apple shape, pear shape. Well it's already in the works my lovelies. All in due time...

Thanks to all who have filled out my survey! And if you haven't yet, allez, allez! Get on with it, km's or not!

Hey, Pelotonna, I'm just curious, are you correlating the relationships between different sets of data? You could get some interesting and possibly useful-for-tailoring results that way, like

--if there is a certain height at which a greater percentage of women tend to find jerseys too short-waisted

--if there is a correlation between waist or hip measurement, or waist/hip ratio, and preference for elastic

--if there is a correlation between whether or not one finds jerseys too short and elastic preference

etc...

I'm still digesting everything but I'll let you know when I figure it out!

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Originally Posted by liza

--if there is a correlation between waist or hip measurement, or waist/hip ratio, and preference for elastic

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I think it's pretty basic science:

Most jersey elastic goes somewhere around the hips, or at least a little below the waist.

Most women's waists are at least somewhat smaller circumference than their hips.

Elastic that is stretched around something will seek to creep to a place of smaller circumference.

Result: Jersey elastic hem creeping up to your waist instead of staying down like most non-elastic hems do.

:mad:

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Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl

I think it's pretty basic science:

Most jersey elastic goes somewhere around the hips, or at least a little below the waist.

Most women's waists are at least somewhat smaller circumference than their hips.

Elastic that is stretched around something will seek to creep to a place of smaller circumference.

Result: Jersey elastic hem creeping up to your waist instead of staying down like most non-elastic hems do.

:mad:

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See, I don't think it's that simple. I have a decidedly female waist/hip ratio, but I'm just fine with elastic hems, unless the jersey is too short (or too narrow at the hem) in the first place. If a jersey is cut to hit my waist and hips properly, than the elastic does its job and keeps the jersey down. If a jersey's waist falls somewhere around my ribs and it's hem falls in the curve between my hip and waist, then yes, elastic will help it ride up (it would probably ride up anyway though; I have some overly short Shebeest jerseys WITHOUT elastic that ride up). That's how it works for me anyway :rolleyes:... Most of my favorite jerseys actually DO have elastic.

Not certain how to phrase this...
On jerseys that have elastic at the bottom, and it the botom stays down - does the elastic face have a bit of a "grip" quality to it - as compared to slippery? I think I'll need to do a trial run with my jerseys at home.

Maybe what us curvy types need are jerseys that allow for hips, and elastic that grips?
\_/
/ \

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl

I think it's pretty basic science:

Most jersey elastic goes somewhere around the hips, or at least a little below the waist.

Most women's waists are at least somewhat smaller circumference than their hips.

Elastic that is stretched around something will seek to creep to a place of smaller circumference.

Result: Jersey elastic hem creeping up to your waist instead of staying down like most non-elastic hems do.

:mad:

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Heh. Unless you're of more apple-y shape. Then, if the jersey isn't long enough to go all the way past the hips (usually resulting in an unusable jersey, because sitting on your jersey is neither comfortable or useful), the smallest circumference is usually somewhere on the ribcage right around the bra band line. Talk about creeping hemlines. (Though I had to laugh the first time that happened to me...round, white exposed tummy on a very busy trail. :eek: I'm surprised there were no accidents around me at the site of it. :D)

I did the survey.

I'm begging you, design a jersey that is not tight and has no elastic in the hem in a quick-dry & cool fabric with nice bright colors and graphics that are not girly.

Please.

Also please make it in some sizes besides toddler, extra-small, kinda small, medium-small and might-fit-an-adult-human.

I wonder if we need to define "girlie" as opposed to "feminine" maybe????

Which is this?

How about this one?

And this?

Karen in Boise

[QUOTE=Kano;332173]I wonder if we need to define "girlie" as opposed to "feminine" maybe????

Which is this?
I thought this one was feminine and classy, not girly.

How about this one?
It took me a while to figure out what this one was. I think it's just strange. I wouldn't wear it.

And this?
This is the best of the 3. It's feminine without being pastel. It's got nice bold colors and a strong design, but is obviously meant for women.

To me, these embody the worst in women's jersery designs:http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=32437 and http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=32449
They both look like mumus.

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Originally Posted by Kano

I wonder if we need to define "girlie" as opposed to "feminine" maybe????

Which is this?

How about this one?

And this?

Karen in Boise

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That mermaid jersey is ick. The Cannondale one is pretty nice. The Beijing one has nice colors, but the writing on it bugs me. I have my phases when I want something more girly (like the Pearl Izumi butterfly one), and sometimes I just want something that isn't girly at all (Castelli pro logo jerseys).

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Originally Posted by SlowButSteady

Also please make it in some sizes besides toddler, extra-small, kinda small, medium-small and might-fit-an-adult-human.

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you know this actually bugs me.... Look I'm small, born that way, 5' tall and not getting any bigger. Believe me ALMOST NOTHING IS REALLY MADE SMALL. It's as difficult for me to find things that fit as it is for people who may be larger than average. Clothing is designed for some idealized model of people in the middle for the most part (which means it fits few....), so it really begins to grate on me that everyone blames the little folks when they can't find something that fits them. It's just as hard for us OK?
thanks
Eden nottoddlersizedandresentsthe implicationbutsmallandstillcan'tfindclothingthatfitswellandjustasirritatedasyouaboutit

My main complaint about what's out now is that noone who makes team kits really seems to care about how their women's clothing fits! They just throw in a larger chamois and shorten the jersey. Lame!

I agree with Eden. I am small and I am not growing taller at age 54; it's increasingly difficult for me to buy anything. I can wear x-small jerseys that have no elastic. I hate elastic! I weigh 106 lbs and the jerseys still ride up on me. So, I mostly have Terry jerseys and a couple of Voler club cuts for women because they seem to be the only ones that make extra smalls with no elastic. I like some of the Shebeest jerseys, but some are actually too big on me in extra small. I was able to shrink one by washing it in hot water a few times.
I think that whoever makes jerseys needs to pay attention to people at the outer edge of the size spectrum; half the time when I go to order stuff from Athleta (regular athletic clothes, not cycling things) the petite x smalls are sold out because there is such a run on them.