Nstoltzner

I have to say it....I finally took the plunge and bought 2 identical cycling kits and I am absolutely in love with the way they fit while riding. I am sitting at 6'0 right around 285 so it was a stretch (no pun intended) to find a good fit. If anyone reads this and is on the fence about buying them, just do it. You won't regret it one bit.

jefnvk

Phew, I'm 5-10 and just over 200, and I can barely find stuff that fits me, I'm into a couple X's most brands at the top of the range of what most shops stock! Good on you for finding what works for you, though!

I love the jerseys for the back pockets (generally a solid color without logos), I have quickly found the niceness of a cycling shoe with a stiff sole and cycling socks, the shorts are still a take-it-or-leave-it thing for me though.

Nstoltzner

Yeah, I went to Dick's Sporting Goods and got Xl shorts and a shirt and they fit great! I forget the name of the brand.

jefnvk

Probably the Nishiki store brand, one of the few I own that runs in "normal" clothes sizes. I've got a few of those jerseys in bright orange creamsicle colors I picked up on clearance for $9, they're pretty nice in everything but hot days.

caloso

Excellent. When your clothes fit right, you'll be able to ride longer, harder, and more often. Which means you'll get fitter and eventually need to buy new clothes that fit better. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Nstoltzner

Exactly, that is why I bought 2 kits for around 130. They aren't top of the line but I am dropping weight quickly also.

Altair 4

Try Aerotech Designs: Cycling Apparel, Bike Shorts, Bike Jerseys by Aero Tech Designs

They have a wide range of sizes. Service has always been exemplary in my experience. I have found that their in-house brand runs pretty much in "American" sizes (a bit larger than some brands, a lot larger than Euro brands).

canklecat

Ditto, Aero Tech Designs. Good stuff, good prices, made in the USA.

I avoided cycling specific clothing until we had such a warm, often muggy winter, spring and summer that my regular clothes just weren't comfortable. Lightly padded liner under regular shorts and a not-too-snug poly mesh fabric jersey really feels comfortable compared with soggy cotton t-shirts.

dougmon 

I'm around 5'10" and ~220 pounds. So far, I've found that Pearl Izumi bib shorts in XL fit well.

chedarhead

I was at first little bit on the fence about cycling clothes but now I hate to leave home without wearing them. You just ride so much better when you are comfortable.

jefnvk

Past gloves, I haven't tried much of PI clothes. Hate figuring out sizing from a new manufacturer, especially online, I generally stick with what I know until I have a reason to do otherwise. Personally, I seem to be an XL in Canari, XXL in Sugoi, somewhere between an XL and XXL in Nashbar.

kermie

Sizing is really all over the place IMHO. I am 5-10 and weigh in at 215. I use XXL in jerseys and L in cycling shorts and Bibs. The only jerseys I have found to be a little loose are the Performance Bicycle gear.

Machka 

And this is why I have something in the neighbourhood of 50 jerseys.

indyfabz

Wut? I am 6'2" and about 213 right now. Something like this in an XL fits fine:


https://www.rei.com/product/878272/p...ib-shorts-mens


Once you go bib you never go back.

jefnvk

My Sugoi jersey is very much a two-X, and is not baggy by any stretch of the imagination. My Nashbar tights are single X, and I will order the next size up next time, but I got them on stupid cheap closeout and just decided to deal with it over sending them back. Like I said, I've never tried PI stuff past gloves and a pair of running shoes, so I can't say how they fit me.

Cheddarpecker

I can't do $100 for a bib at present, but I picked up a good pair of Canari shorts at Academy for about $25. They should do until that $100 is justifiable.

Also, I feel awfully backwards here, but I'm going the other way. I've gained weight since cycling, which is great because I didn't have any to lose. I can wear 31W without a belt now.

JGM411

I have several different brands. I am 5'10 and @245

Pearl Izumi and Performance fit pretty similar. I wear XL

Castelli runs small. I wear XXL

Louis Garneau Jerseys fit a bit small than PI and Perfomance, but larger than Castelli. I wear XL
I really like their pro ice jerseys... the quirky part is their full zippered jerseys zippers are backwards from what we normally have here in the U.S.


Also, re: Jerseys keep an eye on the fit, loose/relaxed (or whatever its called), semi form fit, race fit. If one is just beginning with cycling clothes, the looser fitting jerseys might be the way to go until you get used to the fit.

indyfabz

Do you carry you weight up top? I have never bought larger than an XL jersey and in some cases can get away with a L.


A few months ago I bought one of these in XL:


It's a relatively trim cut and it fits well:


https://www.desotosport.com/collecti...nt=20655190919




And are you aware that there is a difference between "club cut" and "race cut?" The latter is slimmer. I could never wear race cut if only because I have very broad shoulders.


And don't get me started on European sizing. I was riding there in 2013 and stopped at a high end bike shop. The jerseys of the XXL kits they had were way too small. I didn't bother trying on the shorts. Even one of the guys who was with us couldn't get into a L and he was pretty trim, wearing a M in U.S. sizing.

jefnvk

Fairly broad shoulders and fairly large gut. 5-10 and sitting just shy of 205 on the scale this morning.

And yeah, I am aware there are many cuts, which just adds to my annoyances. Not really a fan of having to guess between L-XXL when I swap back and forth between brands, but that is currently what is sitting in my closet!

Inara220

I love my cycling clothes! However... as a woman... it is sometimes hard to find what I want (I'm Type A and pretty picky)

I like wearing sleeveless/tank because as a fair skinned woman, cycling is the only time my arms get any sun and I don't want to end up with weird tan lines when I wear a dress. (shoulders need freckles too darnit!)

However, I don't really like all the GIRLY colors that women's cycling clothing comes in. Moxie is a manufacturer that I like the quality/fit of their stuff... but everything they sell is pink, green, light blue, purple. Where is the BLACK/WHITE/RED to match my sexy bike? UGH!

SheBeest is pretty cool looking, but sleeveless options just aren't my style.

Anyways... I have three pairs of Pearl Izumi Attack shorts (that's what fit best at REI)... considering getting another pair but I don't think I NEED another.

PaulRivers

I have a longer torso and it's a real pain to find a cycling jersey for me as well lol. I also find the padding in cycling tights to be annoying (I have a bit butt and get less "numbness" issues just riding with thing shorts and decent underwear that doesn't bunch up, exofficio is great).

I have to say that while the "look" isn't as cool, otherwise workout shorts and shirt have worked really well for me. They're always very stretchy and non-constricting, and as well ventilated as possible to let air flow through the material. And they're a heck of a lot cheaper. I went biking in Arizona this winter and brought my workout clothes with me because I didn't have anything else that could really handle the heat, and it worked fantastic.