we’re looking at getting our summer clothing sorted, and I’m after some opinions on ladies stuff.

Currently stocking howies and endura, just lost Berghaus. Looking at Gore, Mace, Sombrio, Fox, Scott as possibles, but open to suggestions…



My opinion that pinks and baby blues as main colours is a pretty poor way to do a womens range- that still the consensus?



Any feedback appreciated!



Si

Hi there

First of all thanks for asking! From my perspective I actually find that a lot of womens specific clothing is not appropriate for my needs or doesn't fit how I like it (and I agree the colours/designs are a bit uninteresting!)

The only peice of womens specific stuff I wear is a winter jacket from Biemme. The rest is generally small mens gear, which is often difficult to find as most shops stock medium/large sizes.

Hope that helps, by the way which shop are you - so we can patronise it if we want to.

Hi Simon,

You are absolutely right – pinks and baby blues may be OK for a 4-10 year-olds but for women’s range you’ll need something else.

I’m very happy with my Gore & Sugoi tops and some Nike and Pearl Izumis work well too. I find many of the “women only” ranges such as Shebeest and Terry can be a bit too flowery and girly.

Couple of things about the designs in general:
Many manufacturers put a really short zip on women’s tops and I find that irritating. When I’m HOT I want to COOL DOWN and that doesn’t happen with a 10cm zip. Most sports bras are like crop tops anyway so flashing a bit of undergarment is not a problem.

Another thing that I find irritating is the completely unnecessary back pockets. There is clearly a mtb/roadie division on this issue and I know all the roadies will disagree with me. (we have had a thread about this in the past…) But for mountain biking the pockets get in the way and I’m surprised that no manufacturer I’m aware of has thought about leaving them out, at least not from their women’s tops.

Nice to hear someone is interested in what us lot want to buy!

we're 18 bikes, in Hope, North Derbyshire

appreciate all the comments- would the range at scott be too girly??

www.scott-sports.com

I dont wear the womens stuff (usually!) so I need feedback from those that do-hnce the post!

thanks again,
Si
18 bikes

I like to see a decent range of brands, not necessarily any one in particular, particularly for cycling shorts or tights as it usually takes trying a few on to get a good fit even in the same size range. Gloves are one thing i have had trouble finding, again stocking small sizes in several brands helps even if some are mens rather than WSD. i'm not generally drawn to pastel colours but fit is more important.

the main problem usually with bike shops for me is that the womens stuff is a lottery of sizes and items, if you get lucky you find something that fits. so stocking a full range of sizes is important.

Hi Simon

Most of the Scott range is very good - I have a few items. All I would say is that it's quite pricey and this years range is a bit off the mark with colours etc.

The Nike women's range is really good. My LBS did stock it until this year which is a real pain as the Nike Pro Race shorts are the best shorts out there imo. The sizing is spot on as well which helps with women's clothing.

I guess it's not only the Woodbine cafe we'll be visiting now...

I really like the Nike and Gore clothing. But the thing I really would like is a range, I ended up with Nike tights as they were the only ones in my size in the shop, since then I haven't found any that fit better but it was hit and miss at the time. On a side note, I like rear pockets and hate the fact that alot of the Womens clothes only have 1 pocket at the back.

Second what trio says about Nike and Gore. Both are excellent and the Nike top I have has a very very long front zip Anu, only downside is it is pink but you can't have everything.

I don't know if I am normal dimensions but my arms are shorter in comparison to my torso length. I find getting tops long enough a bit of a problem. Don't have the same problem with leggings though, they are always far to long for my short legs.

I also like Sugoi and Castelli but the latter is so expensive. Gloves are just crap for women. They never put the gel in the right place and my hands go numb. Best ever pair were Diamond Back all leather palms which lasted years.

You shouldn’t have encouraged me to look at the Scott site – can’t get my eyes off the Spark!

I did have a look at the clothes as well and I must say they don’t impress me as much as their bikes… I’m not usually overly colour conscious but if I get really picky… I don’t really like the green-yellow and pink- white colour combinations. The blues are OK. My above mentioned issues with zips and pockets are bit of a problem with some of these.

Many of the tops have an awful lot of white, which looks great when new but unfortunately won’t last pristine for very long. Since you can’t wash them in hot, it can be difficult to get it spotless after a muddy ride or the other colours will run and after a few washes it will be anything but white. Never tried Scott clothing so can’t say how it fits.

There seems to be a common experience that many of us have had: we end up buying whatever fits (or buying on the internet) because there is often so little choice. So if you get a reputation for stocking a good selection of sizes and styles people will travel far and wide to your shop. And if your staff really know the products and can help with the sizing etc that’s always a bonus! ;-)

Anu - I have deliberately avoided looking at the Scott bikes for the same reason! I think 3 Scott bikes are enough for one person!

I have a few pairs of the Scott long finger gloves as they are superb. I did buy a pair of the greenish ones as I couldn't find any blue ones but the colours are a bit naff.

Scott clothing is really good although the sizing is a bit odd. I only just fit in a medium top (i'm 8/10) but the medium baggies are huge on me. I did buy one of the white technical jackets but it's too good to go off-road - it is very nice though.

Oh and if anyone knows a shop which stocks Nike Pro Race shorts, let me know!

Scooby, are these what you are after?

Sort of. I'm after the 2005 version with the white stitching - I know these fit spot on. They have changed the fabric (and price) for the newer version.

Thanks though!

My LBS decided to sell Assos - I get tempted everywhere I look now.

Pearl Izumi have some really nice women's clothing. I also agree that Gore and Nike are good brands and offer good quality well designed clothes. Corinne Dennis (based in the UK) also have a good range of ladies clothing and I've only ever seen it available via the web.

Gore gets my vote as well.
I think Sombiro are excellent value and very trendy.
I LIKE pink and girlie colours, however I appreciate I am probably in a minority. But I do think feminine colours & styles do appeal to quite a lot of women. Maybe just stock a few girlie colours !
I tend to avoid white/cream for obvious reasons when Mountain Biking it just never looks clean again. I have had no problem with my pink Sombrio or Gore items, they wash fine.

I prefer clothing in black/grey - what's the point of lighter colours when it's going to get dirty! I like Gore, PearlIzumi shorts are the best, particularly on the padding front, one of the best summer tops I've got is by Concurve though Gore ones excellent too. I too, though a mtb-er love back pockets.

From my own difficulty in getting clothes to fit I would echo previous comments and suggest a range of sizes. I'm 5' tall, curvaceous, and have (what Minx-girl would call) sporty thighs and have gone all over trying to get leggings that aren't too long in the leg or are wide enough in the thigh, and tops that are long enough (I don't hold with the fashion for really short cut ones that don't cover the middle-aged stomach).

Brands that actually make clothes small enough!! I can never seem to find a brand of cycling clothing, even when the item is specifically for women, that come in a small enough size. I tried on the Gore Brooklyn for example, and the x-small was massive, really baggy, and being a roady, I don't want a massive baggy top, I want something that actually fits. Even sugoi x-small I find a bit big, its obvious that the cut of sugoi clothing is good, but the size none of the stuff comes small enough for the cut to really matter!
Having said that I do really like sugoi stuff.

I also like Sugoi stuff, particularly shorts and tights. The chamois suits my backside and is quite small (not like the Pearl Izumi nappy which I hated) and they are cut quite low at the front which I like. They are quite expensive but I always seem to come back to my Sugoi stuff so I just lump it.

Don't like Gore it doesn't seem to fit me at all (friend of mine decks herself head to toe in it though).

Apart from shorts I try not to buy cycling specific clothing as I want to be able to wear tops for running/climbing/walking as well. I like pockets for on the road bike, not on MTB. I also find women's cycling jerseys seem to be made for little boys or pretty flat chested women rather than anyone with a decent amount of cleavage.

Since we're all such different sizes and shapes I think you'd be onto a winner just stocking a full range of sizes from several manufacturers rather than the one or two items most shops seem to stock.

Simon - thanks for asking!

As you can see we all have different ideas as to what is good and what's not - that's why a good range is such a treat for us girls, so often we have to opt for something because it's the only thing available!

There also seems to be a gap in the market for all wsd stuff - there is cheap entry level stuff or expensive serious kit, most of us (or rather our bank balance) require something in the middle.

My personal likes / issues -

Pink, white, baby blue - So not good, as Anu says, we're not 5 and we GET MUDDY - these colours are just not practical!

Rear pockets - as a mtber they just get in the way - I try to avoid them as they rub under your hydration pack.

Shape - remember that not all of us are that much smaller than blokes - we're just a different shape - I'm sick of getting cold wrists as all my wsd tops are too short!

Bras - can't find any crop top support thingies anywhere at the moment, the small issue of black eye reduction just seems to be too embarassing for shops.

I seem to be turning into a Pear Izumi freak, however, I would say that this is perhaps because they are a little cheaper.

OK, I'm going to shut up now!

BTW - do you have a web site / mail order and do we get a discount for helping you with your purchasing plan?!?!?!