Shopping For Clothing

[tulip]

I gotta second Red's suggestion to check out Team Estrogen-- just click the upper left corner of this page. Their customer service is great and the staff is very knowledgeable. They have an excellent selection of women's clothing for all sizes. Plus, they host this site. I cringe when people on TE forums suggest online shopping and don't bother to mention TE.

[Becky]

For pants, definitely some thermal tights without the chamois over cycling shorts. I also have two weights. One just windproof. The other windproof and fleece-lined. (Heaven!).

Hijack (sorry!): What brand and model are those windproof-only tights?

[Bethany1]

I checked TE for clothing as I'm all for supporting TE. What's killing me is my hips at 49 inches (size 20 in regular jeans) but for the sizing at TE I don't fit into any jackets. I'm small on top so everything fits like a tent and if it's supposed to be tight it's even harder. I hate finding any kind of jacket/coat for outdoors and bras are a pain as well. I found the same bras that TE has at a sporting goods store and none of them fit or I would have purchased from TE. I'm a 42B. That's hard to find.

On the plus side, I have lost inches around my waist after I checked today! Woo Hoo!

[Bethany1]

I got brave and ordered the Gore jacket in the largest size that Muirenn suggested on sale. If it doesn't fit, I can send it back and have a better idea of what fits.

Thanks!

[indysteel]

At the risk of just repeating what everybody else has said, give the fine folks at TE a call and explain your shape and size. They may be able to help in ways that the size charts on the website can't.

[Bethany1]

My Gore jacket came today. Wow. Didn't take long as I ordered Saturday. I tried on the XXL and wondered how tight is tight? It seems to fit, arms are fine but it's a little tight at the waist. I have to zip it up and then pull it down. I can move okay, but wondered how tight is too tight? Would a pic help to see if it's too small or just right? Does it go over my jersey when cycling? I know..total newbie here with clothing.

Also, can I ask what makes this jacket so expensive at 150ish dollars? I love the color as it matches my bike perfectly. So far really impressed with TE.

[indysteel]

Honestly, I think you're in a better position that we are to determine whether it's too tight on you. Do a test ride with the jacket and what you might expect to wear underneath it. Is is uncomfortable? Does it ride up? Is your movement restricted? Do you feel like you're constantly tugging or pulling at it?

ETA: Yes, it goes over your jersey.

[ny biker]

My Gore jacket came today. Wow. Didn't take long as I ordered Saturday. I tried on the XXL and wondered how tight is tight? It seems to fit, arms are fine but it's a little tight at the waist. I have to zip it up and then pull it down. I can move okay, but wondered how tight is too tight? Would a pic help to see if it's too small or just right? Does it go over my jersey when cycling? I know..total newbie here with clothing.

Also, can I ask what makes this jacket so expensive at 150ish dollars? I love the color as it matches my bike perfectly. So far really impressed with TE.

A jacket needs to be large enough to fit over you and whatever clothing you will wear under it (a jersey, multiple layers, whatever you have in mind) but should not be loose or baggy, otherwise it will puff up as your ride and create wind resistance and be generally annoying.

Looking at the jacket on TE, it's semi-fitted, so it should be narrower at the waist rather than a boxy fit. If it's pulling across your waist or hard to zip, then it would be too tight, but you can zip it over your jersey and still move comfortably then it should be okay.

Whenever I try on cycling clothes for above the waist, I move my arms all around to see how it moves on me, and I also lean forward in a riding position to check the fit -- is it too tight across the shoulders or chest, does it ride up in back, etc. I do this in front of a mirror and check both front and side views.

Any jacket that is windproof/water resistant and still breathable will be expensive, but in my opinion a good jacket is a worthwhile investment.