Terry Bella Shorts

[Batbike]

unfortunately TE does not carry Terry Bella shorts, the newly topped rank short by Bicycling mag, and I am interested in trying them. They have many of the features I like in my Sheila Moon shorts, recommended by TE, but the sizing is a little different. If TE carried them, I would ask Susan and trust what she tells me, but unfortunately ....

Anyway, does anyone have a pair?! What is the fit -- run on target, big, small, etc., etc. THANKS!

[VeloVT]

I just got my Bellas! Love the feel/fit but haven't taken them out for a ride yet.

I'm a small in Shebeest, PI, Castelli, Sugoi, and Terry Bella... They seem to fit about the same as my Shebeest shorts.

[sbctwin]

My lbs is now a Terry "Boutique" in that they carry some Terry cycling clothes. I saw the Bellas there 2 weeks ago. I had been contemplating ordering them from Terry for a bday present for myself. I didn't think I could fit in the sizes the lbs carried, but the sale lady said to "go ahead and try them on" and if they fit, great, if not, you know what to order. They fit me and I love them. They are so soft. I have only ridden a 40 mile ride in them and they felt great and so when I do my metric this weekend, I hope they will be as comfortable!!!!

[Batbike]

My lbs is now a Terry "Boutique" in that they carry some Terry cycling clothes. I saw the Bellas there 2 weeks ago. I had been contemplating ordering them from Terry for a bday present for myself. I didn't think I could fit in the sizes the lbs carried, but the sale lady said to "go ahead and try them on" and if they fit, great, if not, you know what to order. They fit me and I love them. They are so soft. I have only ridden a 40 mile ride in them and they felt great and so when I do my metric this weekend, I hope they will be as comfortable!!!!

SO, did they run smaller or larger than you thought?!!

[sbctwin]

I suppose they fit right on size. I am hesitant to say one way or the other. I am short (4'10") and larger than I like or should be, so I always go for the xlarge, or xxlarge, knowing that anything I get will be too long and bunch up in places they were meant to be. Sizing is all over the place for people like me. I fit in the xlarge and was surprised. Now, is it because I have lost weight (no) or because I have lost inches (not that I have noticed). I have ordered based on hip size and have been disappointed because the garments are tight or my hip to waist measurement is short and thus I have all this extra stuff floating around my waist. I just looked at the Terry website and their sizing for these shorts and I got the right size for an XL.

[Batbike]

I just got my Bellas! Love the feel/fit but haven't taken them out for a ride yet.

I'm a small in Shebeest, PI, Castelli, Sugoi, and Terry Bella... They seem to fit about the same as my Shebeest shorts.

liza -- do you order by hip or waist measurements?

I noticed the Shebeest has the same hip measurements as my Sheila Moons, so wondered if I could use the same Sheila Moon sizing for the Terry (since you said the Terry fit like your Shebeest)? I have PI bibs, but feel I may need a size bigger than what I wear and they use the same measurements as the Terry, so if I compared PI to Terry, I may go a size bigger than what I currently have.

I don't know if what I am saying makes sense ...

[VeloVT]

liza -- do you order by hip or waist measurements?

I noticed the Shebeest has the same hip measurements as my Sheila Moons, so wondered if I could use the same Sheila Moon sizing for the Terry (since you said the Terry fit like your Shebeest)? I have PI bibs, but feel I may need a size bigger than what I wear and they use the same measurements as the Terry, so if I compared PI to Terry, I may go a size bigger than what I currently have.

I don't know if what I am saying makes sense ...

Hmmm....
I'm very definitely an XS in Sheila Moon, for shorts, tops and even armwarmers. I have pretty big hips in comparison to my waist (26/37), so I used to think I should always order by hip measurement. That puts me in medium for a lot of lines, which is usually too big all over (including the chamois -- ick). So I've started ordering more by waist size. This may depend on just exactly HOW you're shaped though... The widest part of my hips (the part I measure) is very low, where my legs meet my body (and I have a longish torso according to my laser body scan at lbs) -- I think maybe manufacturers assume that the widest point is going to be higher/closer to the waist, hence the shorts being cut too big for me.

Some sizing charts just seem off though. I should be a medium in Castelli in both tops and bottoms, and I'm a small in both tops and bottoms...

Yup. Sizing is complicated. For me though, I'm definitely a different size in Sheila Moon than in Shebeest/Terry -- Sheila Moon runs on the big side at least for my body shape -- and an XS in the Terry Bella would definitely be too small for me.

Hope my rambling answer is at least slightly helpful ...

Edit: As an additional frame of reference for sizing (seeing Bklynmom's post), I'm 5'6" and 120lbs.

[Bklynmom]

I am 5"1" and 140lbs. I take a medium in Terry T short, Craft and I just bought the Shebeest D shorts (the expensive ones) in a medium. The Shebeest feel snug, but having them not move is great - I am the hip size they suggest for the medium, but my wait is 2 inches bigger than the Medium suggested measurement. I have the Sheebest pedal pusher, which feels snug but comfortable - I feel good a few hours after riding in the Shebeest pedal pushers.

The Craft also fit really well and are much stretchier than Shebeest.

Got the Sugoi Evolution shorts in L and they are too big - fit at home, but chafed after 35 miles.

[Batbike]

thanks for all your input, but i am more confused than ever!!

i wrote terry and asked about sizing -- gave them my mesurements and what I currently wear, they suggested a Med, which surprised me because I was thinking Sm. I am 5'7" and 135 lbs, with a hip of 37 and waist of 30.

thank you for all your input!! i wish i could just try them on somewhere!!

[Bklynmom]

The shorts thing drives me nuts too!

I bet you are a small in Terry - but the Bellas may fit tighter than the T-shorts

I have the Terry T shorts in the medium and they fit well, maybe even a bit big - I am a size 10 in pants.

I wish they would tell you the thigh length and circumference - that is where mine get baggy on my short legs.

[ccnyc]

I just got the Bella shorts... they're going back.

Batbike: you probably need a small. I'm 5'5", 29 waist, 38.5 hip and the medium fits me. The leg elastic is slightly "sausage making" on my legs and the rise is low (too low for me). Sitting on my bike I feel my back below my waist is totally exposed. Maybe they suggested the medium because of the low rise?
I ordered the Terry T short at the same time. The Bellas have much more compression than the T short. I don't think there is any compression with the T short. Maybe I need a smaller size? These are probably going back too.

BTW in shorts I wear a medium in Sheebeest, PI, Sugoi and Descente.

I order by hip measurement.

[anakiwa]

I've never tried the Bellas (like you I'm tempted)- but I have a number of other Terry products (T-short, knickers, tights). The mediums fit me really well. (I'm a medium in most of the other shorts I have including Shebeest- I've never tried Sheila Moon). I'm 5'6" and 135-140 pounds.

I wouldn't get too caught up in the measurements (they seem to vary manufacturer to manufacturer). Terry allows returns- order both sizes and send the wrong one back (return shipping on a pair of shorts will be pretty cheap and you can try on both).

[Crankin]

I wear the Bellas almost exclusively. Last year's X smalls fit me perfectly. I like the low waist and compression. I am 5' 1" and weigh around 107. My waist is smaller in proportion to my hips (26.5 to 36). But when I got a new pair of Bellas this year, they seem tight. I have a little muffin top, which I attributed to lack of weight training, age, etc. But, still... I have always worn x smalls in the Terry's. So, I am working to get rid of the extra flab. I have one pair of Sheebeest triple s shorts and those fit perfectly (x small). I too, thought about sizing by the hip measurement, but if I get smalls, they are always too big, esp. the chamois.

[Batbike]

Terry allows returns- order both sizes and send the wrong one back (return shipping on a pair of shorts will be pretty cheap and you can try on both).

that is a good idea ... i might just do that!