Womens Cycling Clothing Runs Small!

[kacie tri-ing]

Wow, good to hear that I am not the only one! Holy smokes, some of you gals are the same weight I am but in a size 2! Christmas, I'm a size 8/10, just shows how differently we are all built!

Funny! I am 5'8 about 30 pounds heavier and a 10/12 :-)

[nscrbug]

I'm 5'6", and my weight generally fluctuates between 154-158. I wear a size 8 in jeans/pants and a L in most tops...yet in cycling-specific clothing, I almost always wear an XL on top (I am extremely broad-shouldered) and a M in most PI shorts/tights, but a L in most other bottoms.

Linda

[blue_angel]

I'm 5'6", and my weight generally fluctuates between 154-158. I wear a size 8 in jeans/pants and a L in most tops...yet in cycling-specific clothing, I almost always wear an XL on top (I am extremely broad-shouldered) and a M in most PI shorts/tights, but a L in most other bottoms.

Linda

To make it even weirder, I'm 5'4.5", about 180, wear a size 10 jean. I've been wearing women's XL jerseys (mostly Pearl Izumi), and have a mix of M and L shorts. The jerseys fit loosely, and the L shorts (I have LG, PI, and Shebeest) are actually a bit baggy on me in the thigh.

Guess fit is affected a much by how you carry your weight, as how much weight you're carrying.

[sfa]

OK. I'll jump in. I'm 5'6" and currently 140 and I generally wear a size 10, although sometimes a 12 depending on the brand, and generally a medium. Athletic clothing I need to buy larger--always a 12, or a large or XL.

Here's the thing: when I was in junior high and weighed 110 pounds I wore a size 10. In college, when I started rowing and building muscles I was up to 120 pounds and wore a size 10. After college I started cycling; when I got married I weighed 130 and wore a size 10. I put on a lot of weight after my second baby and only when I was 150+ did my size really go up--definitely needed a 12. When I started needing a 14 I decided enough was enough and I lost weight. I was back down to 130 a few years ago and STILL wore a size 10. When I started training for triathlons, I got back up to 140 (funny, I just realized that every new sport I take up causes me to gain 10 pounds). I tend to think of myself as the poster child for vanity sizing--I get bigger, but my size doesn't change! I think athletic clothing doesn't give in to vanity sizing nearly so much, which is why I'm in a more honest 12, L, or XL.

Part of the problem with sizing, though, is that sizes like "small, medium, and large" are comparative. Compared to most American women I'm pretty much medium sized. I'm not tall or short, just average. I'm not fat or thin. Just average. So in a way it makes sense for those sizes to change over time as the population changes--I might be enormous by 1930's standards, but for now I'm just medium sized.

Sarah

[shootingstar]

Pearl Izumi does fit me in the sizing I expect.

True some of the higher end (pricier) jerseys look quite small, which for me to say that..is probably tiny for many folks.

Honest, cycling clothing, it's one of the rare types of clothing, where the size tag is in fact "small" or "extra small" for me and fits ok without major oversizing for me. Of course, sleeves always too long for me.

[RubyTuesday]

Boy am I glad to read this thread. I am 5'7" and about 155 pounds. I wear a size 10-12 and am very long waisted. No way can I buy anything less than an Large or XL in a shirt and XL in shorts. Really?

[Tiffany_S]

I don't even bother getting women's shorts anymore, as I cannot stand how darn short they are.
Anyone else notice this?

I have just the opposite problem. I wear a medium and the legs go almost to my knees! I hate having short legs

[TrekTheKaty]

Just saw a Hincapie jersey in Club fit! It was a part of a custom order on sale on the internet. I need 25 bicycle friends and a design!

Seriously, my TE jersey from the design competition last year is my favorite fit (black & red one). Please make more of those TE!