Women's cylcing apparel in DC area??

[bikaroney]

Does anyone know of any good bike clothing retailers in the DC area? I've done the REI, Performance Bike, and Hudson Trail, as well as some independent stores but am pretty unsatisfied. So many of these places have great men's selection, but the women's selection sucks!!!! I actually find Performance's women's section offensive. Obviously there's Team Estrogen (which I love ), but I want to try some stuff on. I traveled to Seattle recently and was sooo jealous of the many options there. I'd appreciate any insights from any DC riders! Thanks!

[Rakekay]

Try Spokes Etc. (locations in Vienna and Old Town and elsewhere too, I think). They don't have TONS of stuff for women, but what they do have seemed nice if you're a small-ish woman. They didn't seem to have a lot of stuff in larger sizes. I've also seen some decent stuff at ****'s out in the Fair Oaks area. Although to be honest, I end up bying most of my stuff online and just hoping for the best.

[HillSlugger]

Hi,

I hope you'll excuse me hijacking this thread for a moment. A few of us DC area-TE gals will be meeting at the Rileys Lock parking area on Sunday October 15 at 9am for a 25 mile ride along the C&O canal towpath. You are welcome to join us. You can pick up this thread at: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=9893

Please invite anyone else in the area to join us.

Hope to see you there.

Nicole

[Kalidurga]

Hey there, bikaroney: Where in the DC area are you willing to drive? The best selections of apparel I've found so far are at Race Pace in Ellicott City and The Bike Doctor in Frederick. I'll agree, though, that the pickings are a bit slim. I refuse to wear pastels or bright primary colors, so that knocks out 80% of the women's apparel out there.

And, I'll second Nicole's invitation to join us this weekend

[HillSlugger]

Hey there, bikaroney: Where in the DC area are you willing to drive? The best selections of apparel I've found so far are at Race Pace in Ellicott City and The Bike Doctor in Frederick. I'll agree, though, that the pickings are a bit slim. I refuse to wear pastels or bright primary colors, so that knocks out 80% of the women's apparel out there.

And, I'll second Nicole's invitation to join us this weekend

Kali, the Race Pace website says that they have four locations, including Ellicot City and Columbia. Have you been to both? Do you specifically mention Ellicot City because they have a better selection?

Thanks, Nicole

[Kalidurga]

I haven't been to the Race Pace in Columbia. Ellicott City is kinda sorta on my way to and from B'more, so it's easier for me to get to than Columbia. Plus, I have a tendency to get lost in Columbia.

The guys in the E.C. shop, though, mentioned that the Columbia shop is bigger, which must be incredible because the E.C. shop is huge.

[Jen]

Don't know what to wear in cold weather. I will be about 30 deg in the am and go up to abut 52 or 55. I will be near the water so it will be a little more humid but it will be windy. I was thinking of tights, I can take them off if I get hot, base layer, warm jersey(mid weight) and a water proof,wind proof vest. Is that enough or too much? Should I wear a century jacket instead? Never did a long ride in cold weather. Kinda new at this but very pumped. I hear the knee warmer fall down. I was going to wear bike shorts and put tights over them. HELP!

[Mimosa]

If my conversions are correct that would be somewhere between -1 and 11 degrees celcuis (correct?)
What I would do is wear thights, a sweatshirt, some ski pully and a thermal jacket. And of course winterbicycle gloves, shoe covers and a something warm on your head to protect the ears.

[HillSlugger]

Don't know what to wear in cold weather. I will be about 30 deg in the am and go up to abut 52 or 55. I will be near the water so it will be a little more humid but it will be windy. I was thinking of tights, I can take them off if I get hot, base layer, warm jersey(mid weight) and a water proof,wind proof vest. Is that enough or too much? Should I wear a century jacket instead? Never did a long ride in cold weather. Kinda new at this but very pumped. I hear the knee warmer fall down. I was going to wear bike shorts and put tights over them. HELP!

Definitely think in layers that can be removed as the day gets warmer.

For head: some kind of hat that fits under your helmet and covers your ears, and a helmet cover. As things warm up, first remove the helmet cover and then later the hat, too.

Torso: base layer, jersey, and jacket. Start unzipping as you warm, them start removing layers. If you're anything like me (or like me have a jacket that doesn't breathe/vent really well), you'll find your jersey and base layer a bit damp under your jacket so be careful about cooling down too quickly and getting chilled as you open up and unlayer.

Legs: tights over shorts, or just tights that are not too thick.

Feet: sock liners, wooly socks, shoes, and toe covers.

Hands: full finger winter gloves, but bring your regular riding gloves to change into later.

[Jen]

Thanks, I think I was going to go underdressed. Some guys told me not to wear more than one base layer and a jersey. I know that isn't enough. As for a jacket, a whisper jacket, long sleeve or something more? It turns out it will start at about 41 deg in the am. toe covers to start?

[HillSlugger]

Thanks, I think I was going to go underdressed. Some guys told me not to wear more than one base layer and a jersey. I know that isn't enough. As for a jacket, a whisper jacket, long sleeve or something more? It turns out it will start at about 41 deg in the am. toe covers to start?

I did a ride last weekend with a starting temp around 39 degrees and one yesterday with a starting temp around 45 degrees. Yesterday I went without the helmet cover or the toe covers but used them both last week and was glad for them. I ended up taking off the helmet cover at the halfway point but kept the toe covers on and still had cold toes.

My jacket is long sleeve, coated for wind and water resistance but not very breathable (I'm hoping for something nicer as a gift). I ended up unzipping it and my jersey at the neck but never taking it off until I was back in the car.

[aicabsolut]

I haven't tried Hane's Point or the Arboretum. I just moved here over the summer (and was studying for the bar exam so I didn't really go anywhere till recently), and I'm not sure where those places are. I mean, I know where NY Ave. is, but I don't think I've been on it yet. I'll look into it. Thanks!

Oh, how is cycling around the mall (just in general, not for training)? I do work on Fridays down at the Library of Congress and it'd be nice to take the bike there (I don't carry much or dress up) instead of spending ages on the blue/orange. I know there's construction at Lincoln Circle near where I'd start, but that's it.

[bikaroney]

OK, so I tried out the Race Pace in Columbia and yeah, it was pretty big! They had a pretty decent women's selection, though they didn't have any padded tights. They had some nice Nike tights w/o padding though. So I was relatively impressed with the women's section compared to other places around, but when I asked one of the guys working there if they had any bibs he replied that they don't make bibs for women. So not true!!! I asked the guy at the Chevy Chase City Bikes and he said they did carry them, but had a big sale 3 weeks ago and they got cleaned out. So I just ordred some Giordana bibs that are on sale at www.bikesomewhere.com we'll see how well I like them...

Gotta agree about the layers. i went out early on Saturday and by the end whenever I stopped I was pretty warm. But the windchill while riding was significant enough that I was fine while riding. One nice way to layer is with a jacket that has zip-off sleeves so it converts to a vest. I love my Cannondale Morphis!!

Aicabsolut, have you tried Hane's Point? It's not long, only a 3 mile loop, but it's a nice flat smooth ride with minimal to no stopping/traffic. I like it because I can ride there easily from my apartment in Capitol Hill and do a few laps, depending on how much time (or rather lack thereof) I have. I wouldn't recommend it for a longer ride though, it would get pretty repetative. As Velobambina pointed out, the Arboretum is nice for more a more diverse terrain.