Senior Member
I really should have just trusted my instincts on this one. I've never been a small in my life but the sizing chart said otherwise.
So, I ordered an '07 Pearl Izumi Kodiak long sleeve jersey and a Gore Bike Wear Shark jersey from Nashbar.
The PI jersey was so small it looked like children's clothing when I pulled it out of the box. Did it fit my chest when I tried it on? You bet! Just barely though. The arms, though the right length were WAY too tight and the cut of the jersey was just barely long enough to hit my waistline if I pulled it down. It would have rode up my back in riding position and overall it was just too tight to put a base layer underneath. The good part is that it's well constructed, very nice looking, and the material is quite comfy which means I know I'll like it for when I find a good deal on a medium (which Nashbar doesn't have in stock).
The Gore Shark jersey was kinda the same deal. Great looking but too small. I know I'm not really used to a form fitting jersey, but they're supposed to be snug and not overly tight, yeah? It looked painted on, which visually was a plus, but it was so tight that the seams caused discomfort and I could barely get it off of me!
On the bright side, I'm very much pleased with the other stuff that I ordered. I got:
2 Blackburn Chicane bottle cages
2 Polar water bottles in 20oz size
A Delta Mega Rack Universal rear rack
One Nashbar Deluxe trunk bag
A pair of Defeet Woolie Boolie socks (very comfy!)
And a Chaos Windbloc Fleece Skullcap
The Blackburn Chicane cages are featherlight and hold bottles really well. I have to take water with me to work because the tap water here is pretty gross and I refuse to pay a premium for bottled when I can filter it myself at home. I was very pleased to see that my favorite 1 liter bottles fit snugly in these without having to bend them. They also, with the help of a doubled up tube sock, secure my thermos very well. The only thing that's worse than the tap water at work is the coffee! The Chicanes keep a tight but not too tight fit on the smaller Polar bottles as well.
The Polars I haven't given a good workout yet, but I was happy to see that despite reports to the contrary, they are not too difficult to squeeze water out of. I'm drinking out of one right now and it does not taste plastic-y.
The Delta Mega Rack is a mixed bag for me, but my only negative experience with it is really my fault anyway. Firstly, working in a hardware store I should know better than to use the junky fasteners that came with it. I stripped the heads of three of the galvanized allen head screws before going and getting stainless fasteners. It added another five bucks or so to the cost of the rack but it's worth it.
Fastener fact: Metric fasteners are graded for strength with a different number scale. Grade 8.5 in metric is NOT as strong as Grade 8 (hardened steel) in standard. In fact, metric 8.5 is weaker than standard Grade 5! Stainless steel, though, is almost as strong as Grade 8 hardened steel and wont rust, so if whatever accessory you're trying to mount doesn't come with stainless hardware, go get some.
Secondly, I tried to adjust the height of the rack after it was already bolted on which again I should have known better. I chose this rack because it didn't have a needless third strut which only serves to add more weight while adding no strength (I'm talking cheap racks here, not better quality ones like a Blackburn Expedition and the like). Plus it had a rear reflector mount. By the way, whoever it was here who thought to use 3/4" PVC and fender washers to mount a blinkie to a rack is brilliant. It works great!
The Nashbar Deluxe Trunk Bag is great. It's sufficiently sealed against the elements that in a drizzle I wouldn't bother with the supplied rain cover, which is strapped to the bag and has it's own zippered compartment on the bottom. It has three storage compartments. A larger main compartment, a top one which is a few inches in height and fits a base layer nicely, and a small rear compartment which features a hook for keys and plenty of space for cellphone, wallet, lip balm, or other small stuff. Also has strapping on top which is nice for when one needs to shed layers. There is a strap in the rear to clip a blinkie onto, but as I mentioned I mounted mine permanently to the rack. I'd use it if I were using a cheaper blinkie, but I don't want to lose my Superflash when I get jostled about, and the compartment needs to be stiff to really keep the blinkie in place.
The trunk attaches with four velcro straps which only take a second to undo, after which one can carry it off the bike by the front handle or the shoulder strap. The shoulder strap is REALLY nice to have because I live in a third floor apartment and the bike is easier to carry when it's not back heavy.
About the Woolie Boolies there isn't much else to say besides they're comfortable and warm. I'll be buying more pairs in the future.
I was a little skeptical of the Chaos skullcap at first because it feels very thin, but it blocks wind very well and keeps my head warm in the low 40 degree temperatures I've worn it in thus far. I have no doubt that it would be sufficient down into the upper 20's where below that you'd want more coverage for the face and neck.
The final thing of note is that it is so bleeding wonderful not to have to wear a backpack anymore!!! I used to carry one or two liter bottles of water in there, plus water in the hydration pouch for the ride, then lunch, Having the rear trunk is great for my commute and I'll probably be adding some lightweight panniers soon to carry clothing.
So, I ordered an '07 Pearl Izumi Kodiak long sleeve jersey and a Gore Bike Wear Shark jersey from Nashbar.
The PI jersey was so small it looked like children's clothing when I pulled it out of the box. Did it fit my chest when I tried it on? You bet! Just barely though. The arms, though the right length were WAY too tight and the cut of the jersey was just barely long enough to hit my waistline if I pulled it down. It would have rode up my back in riding position and overall it was just too tight to put a base layer underneath. The good part is that it's well constructed, very nice looking, and the material is quite comfy which means I know I'll like it for when I find a good deal on a medium (which Nashbar doesn't have in stock).
The Gore Shark jersey was kinda the same deal. Great looking but too small. I know I'm not really used to a form fitting jersey, but they're supposed to be snug and not overly tight, yeah? It looked painted on, which visually was a plus, but it was so tight that the seams caused discomfort and I could barely get it off of me!
On the bright side, I'm very much pleased with the other stuff that I ordered. I got:
2 Blackburn Chicane bottle cages
2 Polar water bottles in 20oz size
A Delta Mega Rack Universal rear rack
One Nashbar Deluxe trunk bag
A pair of Defeet Woolie Boolie socks (very comfy!)
And a Chaos Windbloc Fleece Skullcap
The Blackburn Chicane cages are featherlight and hold bottles really well. I have to take water with me to work because the tap water here is pretty gross and I refuse to pay a premium for bottled when I can filter it myself at home. I was very pleased to see that my favorite 1 liter bottles fit snugly in these without having to bend them. They also, with the help of a doubled up tube sock, secure my thermos very well. The only thing that's worse than the tap water at work is the coffee! The Chicanes keep a tight but not too tight fit on the smaller Polar bottles as well.
The Polars I haven't given a good workout yet, but I was happy to see that despite reports to the contrary, they are not too difficult to squeeze water out of. I'm drinking out of one right now and it does not taste plastic-y.
The Delta Mega Rack is a mixed bag for me, but my only negative experience with it is really my fault anyway. Firstly, working in a hardware store I should know better than to use the junky fasteners that came with it. I stripped the heads of three of the galvanized allen head screws before going and getting stainless fasteners. It added another five bucks or so to the cost of the rack but it's worth it.
Fastener fact: Metric fasteners are graded for strength with a different number scale. Grade 8.5 in metric is NOT as strong as Grade 8 (hardened steel) in standard. In fact, metric 8.5 is weaker than standard Grade 5! Stainless steel, though, is almost as strong as Grade 8 hardened steel and wont rust, so if whatever accessory you're trying to mount doesn't come with stainless hardware, go get some.
Secondly, I tried to adjust the height of the rack after it was already bolted on which again I should have known better. I chose this rack because it didn't have a needless third strut which only serves to add more weight while adding no strength (I'm talking cheap racks here, not better quality ones like a Blackburn Expedition and the like). Plus it had a rear reflector mount. By the way, whoever it was here who thought to use 3/4" PVC and fender washers to mount a blinkie to a rack is brilliant. It works great!
The Nashbar Deluxe Trunk Bag is great. It's sufficiently sealed against the elements that in a drizzle I wouldn't bother with the supplied rain cover, which is strapped to the bag and has it's own zippered compartment on the bottom. It has three storage compartments. A larger main compartment, a top one which is a few inches in height and fits a base layer nicely, and a small rear compartment which features a hook for keys and plenty of space for cellphone, wallet, lip balm, or other small stuff. Also has strapping on top which is nice for when one needs to shed layers. There is a strap in the rear to clip a blinkie onto, but as I mentioned I mounted mine permanently to the rack. I'd use it if I were using a cheaper blinkie, but I don't want to lose my Superflash when I get jostled about, and the compartment needs to be stiff to really keep the blinkie in place.
The trunk attaches with four velcro straps which only take a second to undo, after which one can carry it off the bike by the front handle or the shoulder strap. The shoulder strap is REALLY nice to have because I live in a third floor apartment and the bike is easier to carry when it's not back heavy.
About the Woolie Boolies there isn't much else to say besides they're comfortable and warm. I'll be buying more pairs in the future.
I was a little skeptical of the Chaos skullcap at first because it feels very thin, but it blocks wind very well and keeps my head warm in the low 40 degree temperatures I've worn it in thus far. I have no doubt that it would be sufficient down into the upper 20's where below that you'd want more coverage for the face and neck.
The final thing of note is that it is so bleeding wonderful not to have to wear a backpack anymore!!! I used to carry one or two liter bottles of water in there, plus water in the hydration pouch for the ride, then lunch, Having the rear trunk is great for my commute and I'll probably be adding some lightweight panniers soon to carry clothing.
Senior Member
Dood the tighter clothes GIVE YOU MORE AERO~~~~!!! 
Ok seriously tho, the size SMALL and MEDIUM vary from company to company. Some companies I wear a size S while others I wear a size M. What you need to know is the ARMPIT-to-ARMPIT measurement for the chest mainly and if need be request measurements on the COLLAR-to-WAIST and SHOULDER-to-WRIST lengths. If you ordered from Nashbar they have a nice person maning thier online LIVE CHAT which I highly recommend you to use next time. I asked them a lot of questions and they went out of the way to verify the sizes and dimensions for me. I sometimes wonder if Preformance and Nashbar use the same LIVE CHAT person.
Just remember to always check the measurements and measure your chest all around. If you can't then take a jersey that fits you well then measure it flat on the ground armpit to armpit then multiply that by two to get the total chest size. If you take pics of the items you bought I might end up buying it off you.
Ok seriously tho, the size SMALL and MEDIUM vary from company to company. Some companies I wear a size S while others I wear a size M. What you need to know is the ARMPIT-to-ARMPIT measurement for the chest mainly and if need be request measurements on the COLLAR-to-WAIST and SHOULDER-to-WRIST lengths. If you ordered from Nashbar they have a nice person maning thier online LIVE CHAT which I highly recommend you to use next time. I asked them a lot of questions and they went out of the way to verify the sizes and dimensions for me. I sometimes wonder if Preformance and Nashbar use the same LIVE CHAT person. Just remember to always check the measurements and measure your chest all around. If you can't then take a jersey that fits you well then measure it flat on the ground armpit to armpit then multiply that by two to get the total chest size. If you take pics of the items you bought I might end up buying it off you.
Senior Member
Thing thing I was confused about is whether I should take the chest measurement while fully exhaled or while taking a deep breath. There's an inch and a half difference between the two which would have pushed me up into a medium for those two garments.
I didn't think to use the live chat. Thanks for the tip.
I didn't think to use the live chat. Thanks for the tip.
Senior Member
The guy I chatted with was called 'GaryTech' which was very helpful. You can catch him normally during Live Chat hours the times I've used that feature. The delay time to replies is reasonable as I'm sure most poeple ask quick questions and I think he said he has a 10:1 ratio users:techsupport. Wait times on average are ~1-2mins per reply which is reasonable given the 10:1 ratio.
From my experience with jerseys having bought jerseys for the first time last year and over time learned a bit from them what you want is to measure your chest (if you have a flexialbe tape measure) under normal breathing and take that measurement. Then take a measurement at max. inhale deep breath. Keep those measurements handy in the wallet beside the shoe/shirt/pant size and write down your EURO and USA measurements and keep in the wallet which helps when you're looking for stuff.
I find if the garment has a lot of stretch to it then the normal breathing measurement would work well as you have room to expand as you're maxing out your lungs if you train that hard. Anything with spandex/lyrca will expand. Polyester will stretch as well but not as much as the spandex/lycra would.
A good compromise is to take a middle number between your normal breathing measurement and your max inhale measurement and you will have a formfit-relaxed fit so you have some play with. Most of the times most poeple don't max out thier lungs.
Hope that helps.
From my experience with jerseys having bought jerseys for the first time last year and over time learned a bit from them what you want is to measure your chest (if you have a flexialbe tape measure) under normal breathing and take that measurement. Then take a measurement at max. inhale deep breath. Keep those measurements handy in the wallet beside the shoe/shirt/pant size and write down your EURO and USA measurements and keep in the wallet which helps when you're looking for stuff.
I find if the garment has a lot of stretch to it then the normal breathing measurement would work well as you have room to expand as you're maxing out your lungs if you train that hard. Anything with spandex/lyrca will expand. Polyester will stretch as well but not as much as the spandex/lycra would.
A good compromise is to take a middle number between your normal breathing measurement and your max inhale measurement and you will have a formfit-relaxed fit so you have some play with. Most of the times most poeple don't max out thier lungs.
Hope that helps.
Senior Member
I never bought from NAshbar before but I came close a few times. The dollar has dropped like a rock right now (I'm in Canada) so I'm losing like 15cents per dollar from parity before if I'm buying plus the extra bend over the barrel shipping and customs/duty fees. If you're in the US of A I think it won't cost you too much to ship it back for a refund/credit via the cheapest packaging mail service.
Senior Member
On second examination the Gore jersey isn't extremely tight considering the stretch but I feel it a bit when I breathe. Fits alright in the chest and would fit well in the lower torso if I lost a couple pounds. I found the culprit to my most major discomfort. There is a tag sewn into the seam running up the left hand side that is really uncomfortable. I could snip it off but what's sewn in would be left on the seam and it's scratchy.
Kinda torn on this one now but I'll probably return it. I might be able to remove the label without damaging the seam if I'm careful but I'd rather not ruin it trying. The PI is definitely going back though. I measured it armpit to armpit and it's only 16 inches! Now, my math isn't so hot but last I checked 16" x 2 = 32" and the material isn't that stretchy. No wonder it's so snug. They recommend this jersey for up to a 37" inch chest and it's supposed to be semi-form fit. I don't think so...
Kinda torn on this one now but I'll probably return it. I might be able to remove the label without damaging the seam if I'm careful but I'd rather not ruin it trying. The PI is definitely going back though. I measured it armpit to armpit and it's only 16 inches! Now, my math isn't so hot but last I checked 16" x 2 = 32" and the material isn't that stretchy. No wonder it's so snug. They recommend this jersey for up to a 37" inch chest and it's supposed to be semi-form fit. I don't think so...
Senior Member
Yes 16 x 2 = 32".
Make sure you measure from the widest part of the armpit. If you check Nashbar it shows that the PI is 35-37". Expect 35" thus why you have a snug fit. Almost skin tight.
Make sure you measure from the widest part of the armpit. If you check Nashbar it shows that the PI is 35-37". Expect 35" thus why you have a snug fit. Almost skin tight.
Senior Member
The 35-37" rating means the jersey will stretch UP TO 37" tho by default the look and measurements is 35" feel. I personally feel comfortable in a 37-39" myself. I carry belt line gear so that extra bit of room is good for the multitool pouch to slide under. If I was to go racer skin tight fit I would be wearing a 35" (with a stretchy material!!).