Cycling kit
03-22-18 | 08:32 PM
#26
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 116
Likes: 2
From: Texas
Bikes: Cannondale SR400
Shortest answer. Yes. Ask anyone of the lady persuasion about size variations in clothes sometime. Men tend to never see it or experience it (unless they're at the extremes of height or weight).
They're "saving money" and have one pattern set and going to town producing it. Catch being, the pattern set they're using is not USA centric.
You're talking about fitted clothing and populations of extreme differences in body type. Here in the USA you have an obesity epidemic and people ranging on average from medium-tall to skyscraper....whereas you go to places where most clothes are actually made (China, SE Asia, and so on), and people tend to not only not be as tall but there's not so much of an obesity epidemic. Not only is there the height/girth difference, but also leg/torso proportionality variances.
Combine with tight-fitting technical garb, and those differences come to the fore.
They're "saving money" and have one pattern set and going to town producing it. Catch being, the pattern set they're using is not USA centric.
You're talking about fitted clothing and populations of extreme differences in body type. Here in the USA you have an obesity epidemic and people ranging on average from medium-tall to skyscraper....whereas you go to places where most clothes are actually made (China, SE Asia, and so on), and people tend to not only not be as tall but there's not so much of an obesity epidemic. Not only is there the height/girth difference, but also leg/torso proportionality variances.
Combine with tight-fitting technical garb, and those differences come to the fore.
03-23-18 | 10:55 AM
#27
Poseur Extraordinaire
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 341
Likes: 1
I've bought a LOT of kit from AliExpress, so let me share my experiences:
- Summer gear: Check the size chart, which usually matches Euro race sizing (if it doesn't, order the appropriate size). Use chest size, not height or weight (works for my body type - YMMV). I have a lot of Nalini clothing, take a size 3 jersey and size 4 bibs, and find a Chinese size M jersey and size L bibs works well. The bibs inevitably aren't as comfortable as Nalini, but size XL leaves too much excess room for my junk (or maybe my junk is too small - ha, ha), but size M is too tight in the waist and legs (whereas Nalini size 3 or 5 bibs are fine if I can't get a 4). One size 'wrong' on a China-made jersey is similar to being one size 'wrong' on a Euro-made jersey.
- Gloves: go up one size. I take a size 3 Nalini glove, but order size L Chinese gloves, and even those are pretty tight (never tried an XL - afraid I'd get something too loose, which I HATE in a glove).
- Socks: My foot size is (USA) 10.5. China-made socks are frequently offered as 'one size fits all'. These aren't useless, but they are noticeably small. So, if sizes are available, I order the biggest Chinese sock I can.
- Fall/Winter gear:
--- First, fleeced vests: like summer jerseys, check the size chart which will likely match Euro race fit. I have China-made size M vests that fit perfectly. One manufacturer (I checked the size chart and ordered accordingly) sent me size S, which was perfect.
--- Fleeced Bib Tights: go up, WAY up, in size. I order 2XL or 3XL. For whatever reason, these are sized ridiculously small - in the waist, around the legs, and in length. In any event, NOWHERE NEAR as comfortable as Euro-made tights. It's been a long time since I ordered China-made tights - I spend the extra money for the 'real thing' due to comfort issues.
--- Fleeced jacket: never ordered one, so no comment
--- Non-fleeced jacket: I've ordered only one of these (according to the size chart), so not a large sample size, but while it fit well in the body, the arms were RIDICULOUSLY loose.
- Summer gear: Check the size chart, which usually matches Euro race sizing (if it doesn't, order the appropriate size). Use chest size, not height or weight (works for my body type - YMMV). I have a lot of Nalini clothing, take a size 3 jersey and size 4 bibs, and find a Chinese size M jersey and size L bibs works well. The bibs inevitably aren't as comfortable as Nalini, but size XL leaves too much excess room for my junk (or maybe my junk is too small - ha, ha), but size M is too tight in the waist and legs (whereas Nalini size 3 or 5 bibs are fine if I can't get a 4). One size 'wrong' on a China-made jersey is similar to being one size 'wrong' on a Euro-made jersey.
- Gloves: go up one size. I take a size 3 Nalini glove, but order size L Chinese gloves, and even those are pretty tight (never tried an XL - afraid I'd get something too loose, which I HATE in a glove).
- Socks: My foot size is (USA) 10.5. China-made socks are frequently offered as 'one size fits all'. These aren't useless, but they are noticeably small. So, if sizes are available, I order the biggest Chinese sock I can.
- Fall/Winter gear:
--- First, fleeced vests: like summer jerseys, check the size chart which will likely match Euro race fit. I have China-made size M vests that fit perfectly. One manufacturer (I checked the size chart and ordered accordingly) sent me size S, which was perfect.
--- Fleeced Bib Tights: go up, WAY up, in size. I order 2XL or 3XL. For whatever reason, these are sized ridiculously small - in the waist, around the legs, and in length. In any event, NOWHERE NEAR as comfortable as Euro-made tights. It's been a long time since I ordered China-made tights - I spend the extra money for the 'real thing' due to comfort issues.
--- Fleeced jacket: never ordered one, so no comment
--- Non-fleeced jacket: I've ordered only one of these (according to the size chart), so not a large sample size, but while it fit well in the body, the arms were RIDICULOUSLY loose.
03-23-18 | 04:20 PM
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
Bikes: Spcialized RockHopper (free) 1992 Trek T100 Tandem ($220) 2006 Quintana Roo Seduza ($350) 2016 Giant Fastroad ($1100)
For me, I would rather spent $34 for an outfit on Wish than paying $150 for the exact same ones with %50 off at REI.
03-23-18 | 04:26 PM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
Bikes: Spcialized RockHopper (free) 1992 Trek T100 Tandem ($220) 2006 Quintana Roo Seduza ($350) 2016 Giant Fastroad ($1100)
I buy all my cycling outfit using Wish app (iOS) or wish.com. I wear size L (U.S.) and XL on Wish. I have found that the sizing charts is accurate and buy off of that.
I budget each outfit at $40 or under including shipping. And, because it takes anywhere from 4-8 weeks for delivery, I need to plan ahead of the season. Most of the time Chinese merchants would ship within 48 hours, however, shipments frequently sit idle on the U.S. custom warehouses for weeks.
Good luck
I budget each outfit at $40 or under including shipping. And, because it takes anywhere from 4-8 weeks for delivery, I need to plan ahead of the season. Most of the time Chinese merchants would ship within 48 hours, however, shipments frequently sit idle on the U.S. custom warehouses for weeks.
Good luck
03-23-18 | 07:16 PM
#30
Clark W. Griswold
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 18,378
Likes: 6,706
From: ,location, location
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
I don't know what Wish is but what I said still rings true. You might get lucky and find stuff that fits and good for you but I like to try clothes on and support local business. I am a cheap Jew but I also value my local shops and the fine people that work there and being someone who works at a shop as well I appreciate the business as I work hard to be the best damn employee I can be. I don't play the B.S. game, I appreciate honest sales and keeping my customers happy as much of the time as possible and working with them as long as it takes to get a killer set up! Maybe I am old school or stubborn or part luddite but I don't need the internet that much for buying too much stuff. Certainly if I find a really good deal in something I know fits well and is of good quality, I may bite but generally not so much.
03-25-18 | 05:12 AM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 387
From: Great White North
Bikes: I have a few
You might get lucky and find stuff that fits and good for you but I like to try clothes on and support local business. I am a cheap Jew but I also value my local shops and the fine people that work there and being someone who works at a shop as well I appreciate the business as I work hard to be the best damn employee I can be. I don't play the B.S. game, I appreciate honest sales and keeping my customers happy as much of the time as possible and working with them as long as it takes to get a killer set up!
Last edited by daviddavieboy; 03-26-18 at 05:10 AM.
03-25-18 | 08:03 AM
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 8,290
Likes: 3,691
From: Mich
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
I'd do business with my lbs for most if not all of my bicycling related online orders if they were competitive with other online retailers I'd normally shop.
__________________
-YMMV
-YMMV
03-27-18 | 08:12 AM
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,497
Likes: 4,570
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Full Zip Fleeced Jacket Set Warm Up Windproof Windbreaker Breatheable Cycling Coat Set MTB Road Racing Outfit Green 3XL Sold by: Mangata
hope that helps
Last edited by rumrunn6; 03-27-18 at 08:33 AM.
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