Women on cycling, give me your views....

[theclaud]

But things like gloves and shoes I have found the womens versions to be better - shoes apparently are wider? in the female version - certainly supposed to be designed for a different shaped foot. (I could just be believing their sales patter).

Gloves - I have large hands for a female - but if I buy mens gloves I find they are too wide in the palm, or not long enough in the fingers.

I do agree that it is worth checking out the mens stuff as there is often a larger selection.

Maybe - I haven't tried enough of the women's versions to be sure, but I expect with hand and foot shape there's likely to be as much variation within the sexes as between them. I buy men's cycling shoes because I am a size 6 - which is a common women's size but is towards the small end of the men's spectrum - there are always end-of-line reductions on the men's when they only have a few sizes left. Chain Reaction is good for this...

 

[pinkkaz]

1. What do you rate most highly:
features
peer support (by "peer" I mean cyclist, not necessarily woman cyclist)
News
product reviews
[re-ordered]

2. Why do you cycle:
Commuting
Leisure
Shopping
For everything

at the moment leisure, shopping then commuting as my journey is pretty long. But from September I'll be commuting every day when I start my uni course

3. As a beginner who did you go to for help and advice?

Forums (mainly this one)

4. Do you feel that more women are cycling now than were last year?

no idea! I never really notice proportions of men and women when I cycle. There are loads of women on my commute though.

5. Many brands have expanded their women's range, are you aware of this?

No, haven't noticed. Love looking at cycle gear though, can trawl the internet for hours!

 

[pinkkaz]

I've got reflective bits on my night vision coat, and slap bands, reflective stickers on my bike, supposedly reflective bits on the sides of my tyres - I would rather have a pair of cycle specific leggings that looked like normal ones. So that the seams aren't in the wrong place and a technical material preferably.

totally agree with this. ideal outfit (for town commute) would be some plain black leggings with a dress over the top in some kind of jersey quick-dry material. But it would have to look cool as well. Is that too much to ask?!

 

[ladyjulian]

1. What do you rate most highly:
News
product reviews
features
peer support

Probably product reviews and peer support

2. Why do you cycle:
Commuting
Leisure
Shopping
For everything

Everything. I have a short attention span, so I started commuting - got bored - moved onto leisure rides - got bored - got into audax - got bored - joined a club - got bored - did a LEJOG - too knackered to get bored - did some time trialling, and signed up for a triathlon - not bored yet...

3. As a beginner who did you go to for help and advice?

The old C+ forums. You can carbon date my cycling from that.

4. Do you feel that more women are cycling now than were last year?

I've noticed more on the Friday night rides, and more commuting, but no more in audax, sportives, or club runs - the traditionally male-dominated areas.

5. Many brands have expanded their women's range, are you aware of this?

Yes, but it's not always that good. Women are not just small men, for example. Taking an extra small bike and spraying it pink does not make it WSD. Similarly, while I'm having a rant: Pearl Izumi - I'm 5'3" and your small tops, while they fit my bust and waist, appear to be made for someone of 4' or so. Even a shortarse like me finds them too short - people can be tall and slimmish at the same time, y'know. Every single other brand evah: we are not all six foot Amazons. Plz to sort out your jerseys, which reach my knees, and chop a foot or so off your cycle longs. Also, cycling shorts which have generous elastic at the bottom would be nice. We cycling ladies have cycling thighs. kthxbai.

 

[Arch]

To be honest, I find all clothes buying a mine field. Jeans that do up round the middle are a foot too long in the leg.

I just can't do clothes....

Actually, my Cyclechat jersey is one of the best fitting I have. My Foska ones are a bit short in comparison.

 

[summerdays]

Similarly, while I'm having a rant: Pearl Izumi - I'm 5'3" and your small tops, while they fit my bust and waist, appear to be made for someone of 4' or so. Even a shortarse like me finds them too short - people can be tall and slimmish at the same time, y'know. Every single other brand evah: we are not all six foot Amazons. Plz to sort out your jerseys, which reach my knees, and chop a foot or so off your cycle longs. Also, cycling shorts which have generous elastic at the bottom would be nice. We cycling ladies have cycling thighs. kthxbai.
[/B]

Yes - sizing does leave a bit to be desired. You are right about shorts - you buy a pair of shorts which come with a liner - shorts fit fine so why is the elastic on the liner made for tights several sizes smaller.

Also why does the sizing of ladies cycle clothing have to me in the S/M/L/XL etc mode - I think I would rather have an actual size eg 12 rather than a L (sounds less offensive and you have a better idea what size it is).

 

[Baggy]

Also why does the sizing of ladies cycle clothing have to me in the S/M/L/XL etc mode - I think I would rather have an actual size eg 12 rather than a L (sounds less offensive and you have a better idea what size it is).

Is a 12 an L? No wonder most of my tops look a bit "fitted"...

 

[summerdays]

Well that's my point I can never remember and end up looking up their tables as to what size they think a Medium/Large is. (Plus I don't like to think of myself as large whereas I don't find the numbers so offensive).

 

[Arch]

Is a 12 an L? No wonder most of my tops look a bit "fitted"...

I suppose that's why my baggy shorts (fitting me at a size 14) are labelled XL!

 

[Baggy]

A brief rummage in my drawers reveals one XL top that is quite roomy, and one XL that fits like a second skin. I'm a size 14...

The majority of my other tops are M, and so are my shorts. The mind boggles!

 

[snapper_37]

+ 1

I've found Gore to be well sized but the likes of Cannondale and Scott...... make me feel like the side of a house.....

Oh hang on .......

 

[Cathryn]

12 can't be an L. That's ridiculous!

 

[Corvette chic]

My rant is can't get knickers to fit .... xl is nowhere bleedin near MY size I agree with you Summerdays instead of s/m/l/xl just put the PROPER size on it. I get hung up about labels as it is without having to go to xxl!!!! which are impossible to find in this country

 

[ComedyPilot]

+ 1

I've found Gore to be well sized but the likes of Cannondale and Scott...... make me feel like the side of a house.....

Oh hang on .......

[Bloke alert]

You just try buying a nice cycling jersey with a 48" chest. 4XL is frankly embarrasing.

And two years down the road and it's too big.

 

[radger]

You just try buying a nice cycling jersey with a 48" chest. .

I've given up trying.