AdkMtnMonster

Sizing chart interpret: too fat to be a Pro; big slow oaf on A rides; just average on a mountain bike.

Troul 

I look on the chart for the size of: "Oompa loompa doompety doo, I've got a perfect outfit for you, Oompa loompa doompety dee, If you are wise you'll pick this size."

AdkMtnMonster

Thats catchy. I usually pick “I wish I was faster, taller, handsome and rich” and it never seems to fit me.

Troul 

If ya can't beat them, gain on them... with the donuts, beer, pizza, peanut butter, figs, pasta, mayo, ranch, & bbq

Mojo31

You must have a screw loose.

jack pot 

^^^^ CATastrophic thread derail

indyfabz

Explain.

unterhausen

I have noticed that Italian and French clothing companies make small clothing too. The residents of those countries are catching up to us USians in size

The French company that made the jerseys for Paris Brest Paris thinks I'm an XXXL. I usually buy Voler's large.

63rickert

First Pearl Izumi products seen at retail in US were about 1984. It was a Japanese company. Everything made in Tokyo. Quality was astonishing. You would still occasionally see Vittore Gianni in stores then, even though that company had long since sold to Castelli. Pearl was many levels above Gianni, as Gianni was a level above Castelli.

Connie Carpenter and Davis Phinney bought the brand and turned it into a commodity.

bOsscO

There's a screw on the ground between your right shoe and the cat....at least I hope that's what he was referring to.

indyfabz

Heh. Haven’t looked at the photo on a big screen in a while. There’s a contracting business that shares the driveway with the bathhouses/bunkhouse where the photo was taken, which is Rockwood, PA on the GAS trail.

Ogsarg

I have only had 2-3 pieces of PI kit but they all fit bigger than any other brand I've owned, which I find very odd. I have a long sleeve lightweight jersey in medium that is bigger than any large jersey I've ever owned. Same with a short sleeve jersey I was given several years ago.

Troul 

meow they sees it.

BlazingPedals

I am off the top of the European scale for chest size, and have been since I was 5% BF in high school. Unless you're 5'6" and 135-pounds, you're generally better served by 'Club' sizing.

KJ43

I'm 6'-0" and 180 lbs currently. I prefer a race fit and I found PI to be just as annoying to find the correct fit as any cycling clothing manufacturer.

Buy a couple of items, check them for size, then return the unwanted item. Even if a jersey or short in one line fits well, don't expect that you can buy that same size in every jersey or short from that company and it will fit the same.

Hiro11

Weird choice of a brand to choose to make this point. The Pearl Izumi sold in the US I've purchased is far from Euro-tight even at the P.R.O. level. Also, I'd say Pearl Izumi is one of the more transparent and easy to understand brands around with their fit and sizing.

Regarding cycling clothes for Americans in general, I think part of the issue is In-n-Out lard butts. The other issue is that (potential snobbishness ahead) many American cyclists don't understand how cycling stuff is supposed to fit. Cycling stuff is supposed to be pretty damned tight and many American riders don't like that. This becomes more true the newer a buyer is to cycling. As a result, more mainstream brands like Pearl Izumi are generally a little less tight fitting, especially at the lower end. The majority of mid-priced American brands like Voler also are a bit floppy. Meanwhile enthusiast American brands (Eliel and Ornot or the various American custom kit makers like Hincapie or Starlight) are much more traditional (tighter) fitting because they're selling to people who want that tighter fit..

Troul 

to a point your opinion makes sense.
Most of the time, the tighter attire have seams that will interfere with circulation points when trying to find a taller fitting outfit. I'd rather it have more give and fit better in length than wear a midget fitted combo. Ever have tanned wrists, lower back, and ankles with no other matching areas?

KJ43

This post is pretty much straight up.

I love a tight race fit and not a lot of people are comfortable that way. PI is easier to figure stuff out than, say Castelli (which I love), or other european companies. For me, even though PI is more geared to a US fit, it still involves buying something, seeing how it fits, and returning or keeping it depending on how lucky I got.

James1964 

PI was founded in Japan. I still have a pair of their wool winter tights that were made in Japan.

Hiro11

Agreed. I want a race fit that's designed to stay flat when you're in a riding position. I'm not particularly skinny (5'10", 165) and buy medium clothes. Mediums from Sportful, Giordana, Castelli, MAAP, Rapha etc all fit me very well and yet every review I read for these brands online is: "much too small, order two sizes up!". Meanwhile I buy a medium jersey from Voler and the front of the jersey is four inches too long, it's flapping in the wind and the whole thing is seemingly sized for someone who's 6'4" 220. I think people just like that "club fit".

This is what I hate about cycling clothing: you really need to ride in something for a couple hundred miles before you know if it's going to work. Once I find something I like, I tend to buy five copies of that same thing because it's not worth messing around with other options. It reminds me of running shoes: one you get something that works for you, stick with it.

James1964 

I go by the mfg (Castelli, Sportful, and Vermarc) size charts. It's not made to walk around in, but feels great when riding.