Women's Cycling Jerseys . . .

[new2ride]

Do women's cycling jerseys typically run small? I'm just wondering because I purchased a Primal Gear jersey in a large and it fits me as snug as a bug in a run. I usually wear a medium in regular clothes, and when I tried on the Primal Gear jersey, I couldn't believe how tight it was.

Do all women's cycling jersey brands generally run small? What brand would you recommend?

[emily_in_nc]

Terry and Shebeest run true to size, IMO. I have never bought a primal wear jersey but have several each of Terry and Shebeest and have been very pleased. I wear the same size as in street clothes.

Good luck!

Emily

[Grog]

Primal Wear jerseys are known to fit small.

Usually if you google around (and of course search this forum) you will find hints. For example, I found a single hint on a men's cycling forum that Retro Image Apparel jerseys fit small because some guy had to fit himself into a Large although he wears a medium. That confirmed the gut feeling I had from the sizing chart: although I'm a small in most brands, I got a medium and I'm happy I didn't go smaller, it fits great!

As a rule of thumb, European brands will fit closer to the body. There is also the matter of "race cut" versus "club cut" (the latter being looser, the former closer to the body).

But it can also vary within one brand... I would avoid making generalizations, unfortunately.

[SadieKate]

And if you call the fabulous folks here at TE, they can tell you not only exactly which jerseys run small but also how they may fit a certain body type.

[Grog]

And if you call the fabulous folks here at TE, they can tell you not only exactly which jerseys run small but also how they may fit a certain body type.

Oh YES that's very true.

I had this amazing conversation with Renata. She was a on a cordless phone, I can imagine her walking in the stock room, taking jerseys out of bags and comparing sizes for me.

TE rocks.

[SadieKate]

Renata is pretty incredible. She's the one who made sure Susan knew we wanted to put the TE logo on the next AV order. Susan and Jeff were out of town on a trip and Renata made sure they not only knew but got enough info that I turned on my computer in the morning and there was a note from Susan with all the info to make it happen.

[Reesha]

My Louis Garneau and Castelli jerseys run small. I have 'my size' in both and they are really snug. Shebeest fits really normal as someone mentioned above. I got my regular size and it fits perfect, not too tight, not too loose.

[VeloVT]

My Louis Garneau and Castelli jerseys run small. I have 'my size' in both and they are really snug. Shebeest fits really normal as someone mentioned above. I got my regular size and it fits perfect, not too tight, not too loose.

This is interesting, goes to show we're all different. Websites all tend to say Castelli runs small -- I even had a website send me an email advising me that it ran small and requiring a confirmation on size before they'd process the order -- but for me, it really doesn't. I'm a small in Shebeest, a small in Sugoi, a small in PI, a small in Terry (bottoms, anyway, haven't tried their tops yet), and a small in Castelli -- both tops and shorts. Castelli really doesn't even seem drastically trimmer in cut to me. This may be because I have no breasts (well, practically ), but I really don't find it to run small. Castelli fits me much better than Shebeest, which is shortwaisted in bottoms and short torso'd in tops for my body (Shebeest jerseys show my belly -- eek!).

LG sizing seems a little uneven to me -- sometimes it runs small for me and other times not, with no real pattern (ie, it's not just tops or just bottoms that are off).

Zoot, also, tends to fit like other brands to me, although the size charts would indicate I'd wear a much larger size.

Go figure! I'm always afraid of ordering athletic clothing online (but do it anyway for some reason...).

[Reesha]

I too lack in the bust department. The issue is usually in the arms. Maybe my guns are just that big ORrrrr more likely I'm packing a little extra fuel under my arms.

[indysteel]

Boy, I wish I'd checked this thread first before ordering a Primal Wear jersey. Going off their size chart, a small should fit me just fine, but it's so tight I wasn't sure I was going to be able to get it off. I'm even afraid a medium will be too small. Grrrrrrr.

On the brighter note, I like the jersey itself.

[makbike]

I have several Primal jerseys and I've learned they run small. My suggestion would be to order the next size up on the chart - regardless of what chart says you need.