Cycling Jersey's with REAL built-in Sport Bras?
My GF just started riding this year with me -- I've been riding on road (and off-road a little) for about 16yrs. She's doing well overall.
She is wearing my 'old' cycling jersey's from when I was 145lbs and 15yrs younger ... and they are working okay for her.
When we've searched, both online and at brick & mortar stores, for women's cycling jersey's, we've had absolutley NO LUCK in finding any kind of wicking sports shirts/jersey's with REAL shelf-braws built into the shirt ... the kind with the under-wire. She does not feel comfortable in the standard shelf-braw jersey's that are tight ... she doesn't like the "smashed" feeling/look in the least. She has tried on several higher quality jersey's that have the standard shelf braws. She simply won't wear them since she is not comfortable. Not sure if it matters or if she would crucify me ... but her size is 34B if that makes a difference.
Can anyone point us in the right direction for some sports shirts/jersey's with the better shelf-braws that have more support and do NOT have the standard tight/smashing contour and fit?
Thanks very much for any suggestions! ;)
Lump in sit bone/saddle area
The "lump" is likely an inflamed batholins gland - these can be VERY painful, and cycling increases the likelihood of them. Basically its a small gland near the southern end of the "goodies" . Trauma or long periods of direct pressure to the area can prevent it from draining normally. Infection can then set in and make a lady MISERABLE. In some cases they need to be drained by your friendly doc, np or pa and antibiotics are needed. Some resolve on their own.
Sitting or soaking in hot moist heat helps them to reduce - they can take weeks to completely resolve and some really do need antibiotics.
Signs of trouble include: extreme pain, redness and heat to the area, or milky discharge from the gland itself, Fever, a noticable cyst or increasing redness - all signs to head to the doc. These can be recurrent.
Unfortunately - bicycle saddles put pressure directly on these glands - shift positions frequently and spend the money on the better chamois is all I can recommend. Soak in a hot bath and cleanse the area with soap as soon as possible after riding to help open the glands up. Be sure and wash the shorts after every single wear.
Some women are just plain more prone to them. They are actually pretty common - even among non-cyclists.