I'm part of the 'can't find a windproof jacket' club - none of them fit well enough to do the job.

What about patterns? Why does everything have to be in blocks of colour? I thought the top Pootle won at the She cycles New Forest get together looked cool? Who was that by?

Come to think of it most sports wear is the one colour option. Suppose it starts becoming fashion wear rather than sports wear, but whats wrong with a bit of colour and individuality. And the more choice the better.

PS. Have you worn it yet Pootle?

Yvonne, try the Scott Windstopper jacket. It's a bit pricey but the fit is really good - they come up small so you might want the next sixe up just in case.

Pootle's top was a Sugio make I think (or something like that!).

Pearl Izumi.....Can't go wrong. They do bibshorts too. I have some gore stuff and the fit is very big. I am a smallish 12 and size 36 fits generously.

WINDPROOF JACKET.....I love my Pearl Izumi Barrier Jacket. It is a brill fit. No elastic in the cuffs, not bulky or too hot yet keeps the worst out. I have been caught in some heavy showers and have not caped up yet remainded dry. Currently reduced now. Colours could be better though. Saw a lovely Nike jacket in Evans reduced to £44.99. Only had XS and Small. Looked small fitting too. The mediums are sold out on there website though

As mentioned different shape and size mean we prefer different things. I'm a petite person, so actually finding things small enough is my problem. Some brands don't do the smaller sizes, and shops don't seem to stock much that is XS. So my vote is stock some XS that is what it says it is.

As for colours, I tend to avoid dark cycling gear as I don't want to absorb more heat when I am hot from cycling.

I am a size 18 and most shorts seem to stop at a size 16. Are we big girls not allowed on bikes then? I have been looking for some padded baggies and do not want to get mens

Try Altura - they're pretty generously sized in my opinion. My jacket I bought a size smaller than I normally buy in regular clothes.

I've got some Altrua 3/4 baggies with padded undershorts - loads of room in them.

I've also got some great Pearl Izumi shorts which are also pretty generously cut(Divide Trail I think).

Good Luck!

wow, lots of conversation!

small stuff- yep, go down to XS in most stuff now, in some cases that's too small for my size 8 girlfriend, so that covers that end.

larger stuff- we're doing the sombrio kit now, and have ordered (but unfortunately not recieved) right up to their XL- a fairly big 16. Altura are a good bet too.

We've gone Sombrio and Endura, along with howies for baselayers and a few bits of Montane. We've recently launched our online shopping, freepost for this month.

www.18bikes.co.uk

(then click online shop)

Black and Aqua looks lush together.

:))))

lush, great word!

personally i like Harlot and Sombrio - dark baggie stuff, camo etc

and the opposite of lush is probably pish -which is how i'd describe that scott stuff - pea green with black armpits - yuk :0)

Why does noone seem to make nice girlie cycling shorts that aren't really long in the leg? I'm only 5' tall and look a right nonce in lycra. I'd love a pair of normal type shorts with a hidden pad but all the ones I've seen so far are classed as 'baggies' and are quite long in the leg so look like trousers on me! Does anyone make normal a normal shorts-length version that's not just boring black?

Wensleydale - I guess it' all a matter of perspective. I'm 5'8" and I'm constanltly on the hunt for cycling shorts (baggies and lycra) that don't look like hotpants on me. I emailed Debbie at minx-girl about inside seam lengths, and she told me which of the brands she carries are the longest. I'd drop her a line. Nema, Polaris, Fox and a few others make non-black baggies and Pearl Izumi and Assos do non-black lycra shorts.

Thanks for the advice - I'll drop Debbie an email. It's annoying that good girlie gear's so hard to come by.

Hi all... only just stumbled across this site. Rather handy really, as I decided in Jan to get all my whinging about womens kit off my chest and sent some feedback in to Gore Bikewear...

... with the result that I'm meeting with the head of design for Gore Bikewear this Thursday to talk about the design of womens kit!

They want feedback from mtb'ers, roadies, commuters... well, really any women who ride a bike! :o)

If you've got anything else to add particularly around the points the guy sent me which are below let me know and I'll pass them on. I reckon it's a bit of a win-win situation - they might get free market research, but we'll hopefully get decent better designed kit!


- How satisfied are you with the performance apparel you have bought and why? ... this is including all other Brands you own!
- Which functionalities and features do you need, and expect, from a performance collection?
- What are your needs and wishes for a perfect apparel outfit (depending on the level of performance you are on!)?
- How important are seat pads? What are your thoughts on the performance and comfort of bike pants?
- What color and fabric preferences do you have?
......?

Treefrog, that's fantastic. How did you get on? Do you want us to email/write to Gore with our answers to those questions?

Hi Alice
... meeting with guys from Gore went extremely well. I was so impressed with what they had to say and what they're trying to do.

Only just got back from weekend away, so will write more fully later on.

:o)

Hi Simon,
Not been on the road cycling for sometime but having decided to get back out there have discovered that my shorts don't fit anymore.
Being petite at 5ft 2" and not a fan of shorts and find tights too long was after some capri pants (3/4) complete with the chamois.
Any suggestions on good suppliers?
Women's sports clothing is limited as a rule, cycling is no exception. Things are changing all be it slowly. But nice to find someone who does what to change things.