Just need to vent a minute.

**mary9761** · 08-08-2006, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by cherinyc

Mary - you make your own? How is that possible? you must be magic or something, b/c I can't even imagine making something like bike shorts.

The bike short dilemma is never-ending. I went in to my LBS on Thursday to get some seat adjustments for an event on Staurday. My (1) pair of shorts was dirty, so I just wore comfortable shorts. The guy said I wouldn't be able to tell unless I was weraing bike shorts - (or maybe he just wanted to make me buy something). Either way - they were all expensive. I ended up getting one of the cheaper pairs ($79.99 - can you believe it? I NEVER spend that much on regular clothing).
Then I found out - when checking out the care label - that they were from Spring 2002. $80 for 4 year old shorts. Although I could've sworn that I had tried on that style (PI Ultrasensor) before and hadn't liked them. But these I liked.
More proof that they change the style, fit, sizing - every year. WHY???? Can't they just make up a new name - and let the old name/style/fit stay the same?

When you're my size, you don't have many options for shorts/jerseys etc. Also, I'm on a fixed income so I don't have $80 for a pair of NEW shorts much less 4 years old..

YIKES sounds like you got ripped off on those...

I sew, so I got a pattern

and some material and make my own. My pink and black jersey is really starting to show signs of wear AND sun fade of course I wear it nearly all the time and I'm constantly washing it to keep it clean. I'm just lucky I sew or I wouldn't have any bike clothes. Now I can definitely tell a difference when I wear street clothes (ie jean shorts and skivvies) and remember every time I do it why I shouldn't OWIE!! The photo in my Avatar was from about a year ago and I made the full set.

**Bikingmomof3** · 08-08-2006, 12:57 PM

Hi Mary and nice to "meet" you!
Wow, your outfit is wonderful and you made it? My sewing machine and I do not get on well under the best of circumstances. Your cycling clothes are awesome. You do beautiful work.

**mary9761** · 08-08-2006, 01:05 PM

Originally Posted by Bikingmomof3

Hi Mary and nice to "meet" you!
Wow, your outfit is wonderful and you made it? My sewing machine and I do not get on well under the best of circumstances. Your cycling clothes are awesome. You do beautiful work.

Thanks bikingmomof3, (Jennifer, that's my youngest sister's name too) nice to meet you as well. I'm just glad that I do get along with mine. That particular outfit has a bit of a funny story to how I ended up with specifically THAT fabric. I was at JoAnnes and had that color and another with reds and looked straight at a woman in the opposite aisle and asked her, "If you were coming up to someone on a bike, which would you be less likely to hit?" She said the blue to which I responded, "Blue it is then" LOL...
Sorry to hijack the thread now back to the regularly scheduled subject.

**Bikingmomof3** · 08-08-2006, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by mary9761

That particular outfit has a bit of a funny story to how I ended up with specifically THAT fabric. I was at JoAnnes and had that color and another with reds and looked straight at a woman in the opposite aisle and asked her, "If you were coming up to someone on a bike, which would you be less likely to hit?" She said the blue to which I responded, "Blue it is then" LOL...

I think that is a brilliant way to choose a colour. :-) It is a very good colour on you as well. I recently purchased a yellow jeresey in hopes of being seen (and not hit) easier.

**arnaew** · 08-09-2006, 03:13 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by mary9761
That particular outfit has a bit of a funny story to how I ended up with specifically THAT fabric. I was at JoAnnes and had that color and another with reds and looked straight at a woman in the opposite aisle and asked her, "If you were coming up to someone on a bike, which would you be less likely to hit?" She said the blue to which I responded, "Blue it is then" LOL...

I think that is a brilliant way to choose a colour. :-) It is a very good colour on you as well. I recently purchased a yellow jeresey in hopes of being seen (and not hit) easier.

Apropos of colour as opposed to outfit itself: I always buy jerseys with 'being seen not hit' as THE criterion. There are obviously others (fit, fabric, appropriate season etc) but if it's only available in "girlie" colours like soft pink, lavender, sky blue, lemon etc., I don't bother with the other criteria. If I can't be seen from at least 100 metres away (about 350 feet) then I'm not being seen. The reaction time while driving a car requires at least that. This, to me, seems like common sense and I must add, I don't see many blokes riding around wearing innocuous colours. So why is it that so many manufacturers only offer a 'women's fit' (ie allow for the fact that we have waists and breasts) in colours that render us almost almost invisible to the average motorist? Do they think we only ride on cycle paths? Or that fashion dictates function? Give me bright orange! Red! Yellow! What do you mean, it doesn't match my hair? Give a #$@%!
Many a manufacturer has lost a sale from me because of this penchant; I wear lots of my SO's clothing (much to his dismay) because it's bright (it SO doesn't fit) but I'd rather be visible than become a victim of SMIDSY (don't know if this is used anywhere else, but in Australia the acronym means - as espoused by motorists - Sorry Mate I Didn't See You).
Oops, that was a bit of a rant, but I've just spent a couple of days looking for a sleeveless women's top that looks like a traffic light and also acknowledges women's physiology - I understand that pretty is pretty but if most of your riding occurs within urban parameters, pastels/paisleys/butterflies just don't cut it. To manufacturers out there (mary9761 you are SO not included here - if I could sew more than a button, I'd... but that's another story) I'M JUST SAYIN', YOU KNOW?

**mimitabby** · 08-09-2006, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by arnaew

I recently purchased a yellow jeresey in hopes of being seen (and not hit) easier.

Apropos of colour as opposed to outfit itself: I always buy jerseys with 'being seen not hit' as THE criterion. There are obviously others (fit, fabric, appropriate season etc) but if it's only available in "girlie" colours like soft pink, lavender, sky blue, lemon etc., I don't bother with the other criteria. If I can't be seen from at least 100 metres away (about 350 feet) then I'm not being seen. The reaction time while driving a car requires at least that. This, to me, seems like common sense and I must add, I don't see many blokes riding around wearing innocuous colours. So why is it that so many manufacturers only offer a 'women's fit' (ie allow for the fact that we have waists and breasts) in colours that render us almost almost invisible to the average motorist? Do they think we only ride on cycle paths? Or that fashion dictates function? Give me bright orange! Red! Yellow! What do you mean, it doesn't match my hair? Give a #$@%!
Many a manufacturer has lost a sale from me because of this penchant; I wear lots of my SO's clothing (much to his dismay) because it's bright (it SO doesn't fit) but I'd rather be visible than become a victim of SMIDSY (don't know if this is used anywhere else, but in Australia the acronym means - as espoused by motorists - Sorry Mate I Didn't See You).
Oops, that was a bit of a rant, but I've just spent a couple of days looking for a sleeveless women's top that looks like a traffic light and also acknowledges women's physiology - I understand that pretty is pretty but if most of your riding occurs within urban parameters, pastels/paisleys/butterflies just don't cut it. To manufacturers out there (mary9761 you are SO not included here - if I could sew more than a button, I'd... but that's another story) I'M JUST SAYIN', YOU KNOW?

Boy you said it!! light pink? white? pastels? I want bright colors too.

**tulip** · 08-09-2006, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by mimitabby

Boy you said it!! light pink? white? pastels? I want bright colors too.

www.alertshirt.com

**SandyLS** · 08-08-2006, 01:12 PM

I also purchased the Sugoi RX Flex shorts from TE after reading rave reviews on the TE forum. They are pricey, but so comfortable even after hours on the bike. There is no pulling, rubbing feeling in the crease where my leg meets my body as in some of my other shorts. The shorts have an extra little bump of padding right where my sit bones need it. The leg grippers keep the legs in place without any saussage look effect and the shorts do not shift at all as I am wearing them. The only two things I don't like are the contrasting grey stitching and the price tag, but anything that works to keep on the bike longer is worth the cost. If I could only own one pair of thke shorts it would be these.

**Cassandra_Cain** · 08-08-2006, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by mary9761

The photo in my Avatar was from about a year ago and I made the full set.

Wow! That's a really cool outfit, I like it.

You alluded to the high cost of shorts, and that's true. Another thing though, is that we have far, far fewer choices in terms of color, style, graphics, etc in women's bike clothing than guys do. Making your own seems to take care of both of those problems in one shot~

Thread: Just need to vent a minute.

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