Why do cycling clothing manufacturers do this...?

[zoom-zoom]

That's what is so nice about Levi's they still make the same old thing and people LIKE that.

Ha, but I have several pair of the exact same style of Levi's and have the same weird sizing issues with those, too. All have '32"' inseams, but some are closer to 31" and others are >32". At least when it's a jeans inseam issue I can blame it more on quality control, since the denim and overall fit is still the same.

[OakLeaf]

I don't even get the same overall fit from Levi's. I have three pairs of 515s and every one fits differently. (They're all pretty much the same length though. ) I remember trying on several pairs of 515s when I bought the last one, and each pair in the store was different, too.

[Veronica]

Just bought Thom several pairs of Dockers that are all supposedly 30-30s. None of them fit him the same.

Veronica

[ny biker]

They put a big pile of fabric on the table, and then they cut it with a laser. The pieces at the bottom of the pile wind up bigger than the pieces at the top, even though they all get the same size label.

This is why I take every pair of jeans labeled with my size into the J. Jill fitting room, and try them all on to see which fits best. And the salespeople don't mind having to put all my rejects back on the rack, because they understand why it's necessary.

As for bike shorts, I was so happy with the Shebeest Century shorts. But when they changed the chamois last year to a two-piece thing with seams, I figured I would have to start looking for new favorite shorts, because there is just no reason to have a line of stitches between me and my saddle. Fortunately they've gone back to the old one-piece chamois, so I guess I wasn't the only one who refused to buy their "improved" version.

[Kathi]

I don't know much about other manufacturers but according to the wife of my LBS owner (their clothing buyer whose daughter works for PI) there are something like 600 factories who make clothing for PI. With that number of factories quality control is impossible. By contrast, Sheila Moon, who owns her company, has her clothing made in a factory down the street from her shop can maintain control of her products so the sizes are consistent.

Shimano recently bought PI, so with more money there should be better standardization.

BTW, I have the same problems with Shebeest. I have always worn an XS in the Triple S and the Century Shorts but last year I tried on the Century shorts in an XS and couldn't even get into them. I haven't gained an ounce in 10 years, and my old XS shorts still fit but it's the same issue. The woman who owned Shebeest no longer owns the company so anything goes with the sizing.

This year I've discovered the Hincapie Pro short. Perfect fit and so far consistent sizing.

[Marquise]

I used to work with a woman who had previously sewn for a clothing manufacturer. She said when they ran out of the correct size labels for what they were sewing, they'd just use labels for a size up or down. Hearing that made me lower my expectations with regard consistent sizing.

[zoom-zoom]

I used to work with a woman who had previously sewn for a clothing manufacturer. She said when they ran out of the correct size labels for what they were sewing, they'd just use labels for a size up or down. Hearing that made me lower my expectations with regard consistent sizing.

Cripes, no wonder it's so hard to find stuff to fit!