Clothing help for “short” people.
08-05-18, 04:21 PM
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Clothing help for “short” people.
This post is for “short” cyclists only. 5’9” and under for men (176 cm), 5’4 for women (163 cm).
I say “short” because most clothing manufacturers don’t make clothes for average height people. It seems stupid to ignore 50% of the population, but they do. Most guys just buy cloths that don’t fit.
Basically sizes are all for tall people of various widths, not for various sizes of people. Where it is listed, cycling manufacturers are using 6’ tall models, with 38” chests, wearing “medium”. This is not average. Now you can talk about “racer” build all you want, but most of us don’t race, and a lot of guys I see in lycra (who are more accomplished than myself) are distinctly overweight. 6 members of Team Sky are 5’9” or under. Very tall slim guys also have problems, but this is for short people. (Start your own thread.)
I am 5’7”, thin, and nothing fits. Nothing. Jerseys bunch up around the waist, and shorts go to my kneecaps. I’m finding that size charts are useless.
If you are “short” please post any clothes you like that fit you.
Please list your (real) height and weight, the brand, model, size, fit (very important: “club”, “race”, etc.), and when you got it.
50% of us thank you!
*50% are 5’9” or SHORTER. CDC: Anthropomorphic Reference Data For Children and Adults: United States, 2011-2014
Also:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List...ight_worldwide
I say “short” because most clothing manufacturers don’t make clothes for average height people. It seems stupid to ignore 50% of the population, but they do. Most guys just buy cloths that don’t fit.
Basically sizes are all for tall people of various widths, not for various sizes of people. Where it is listed, cycling manufacturers are using 6’ tall models, with 38” chests, wearing “medium”. This is not average. Now you can talk about “racer” build all you want, but most of us don’t race, and a lot of guys I see in lycra (who are more accomplished than myself) are distinctly overweight. 6 members of Team Sky are 5’9” or under. Very tall slim guys also have problems, but this is for short people. (Start your own thread.)
I am 5’7”, thin, and nothing fits. Nothing. Jerseys bunch up around the waist, and shorts go to my kneecaps. I’m finding that size charts are useless.
If you are “short” please post any clothes you like that fit you.
Please list your (real) height and weight, the brand, model, size, fit (very important: “club”, “race”, etc.), and when you got it.
50% of us thank you!
*50% are 5’9” or SHORTER. CDC: Anthropomorphic Reference Data For Children and Adults: United States, 2011-2014
Also:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List...ight_worldwide
Last edited by Matt74; 08-05-18 at 04:47 PM.
08-05-18, 04:41 PM
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I can offer the following:
I’m 5’7”, 150 lbs.
Chest 39, waist (belly) 32, hips 38.
Pactimo and Rapha both sell bibs with short and long inseam options, but I haven’t tried them.
I recently (2018) got a pair of regular “Black Bibs” from https://www.theblackbibs.com/ . They were inexpensive and awesome. A medium fit me great, except the legs were too long, like knee caps long. I would have had them hemmed (which would have been simple because of the construction, but the pad was too thick for me. A nice pad, but a bit bulky for my taste. Some people would certainly like it. I emailed them and they made me a custom version of their medium size “Black Bibs Plus”, with a special shorter inseam and a special thinner pad. They’re a bit tighter in the legs than the regular Black Bibs (different material), but they are working for me. They said they were thinking about putting the shorter version into production - if you email them expressing an interest they might.
I haven’t found a good fit for a jersey yet.
I’m 5’7”, 150 lbs.
Chest 39, waist (belly) 32, hips 38.
Pactimo and Rapha both sell bibs with short and long inseam options, but I haven’t tried them.
I recently (2018) got a pair of regular “Black Bibs” from https://www.theblackbibs.com/ . They were inexpensive and awesome. A medium fit me great, except the legs were too long, like knee caps long. I would have had them hemmed (which would have been simple because of the construction, but the pad was too thick for me. A nice pad, but a bit bulky for my taste. Some people would certainly like it. I emailed them and they made me a custom version of their medium size “Black Bibs Plus”, with a special shorter inseam and a special thinner pad. They’re a bit tighter in the legs than the regular Black Bibs (different material), but they are working for me. They said they were thinking about putting the shorter version into production - if you email them expressing an interest they might.
I haven’t found a good fit for a jersey yet.
Last edited by Matt74; 08-05-18 at 04:49 PM.
08-05-18, 09:30 PM
#3
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I was 5'6 before I hit fifty. The decreasing height didn't get rediscovered around my middle either so...
Look at the largest youth sizes. My wife thinks it's a boon that she can find me nice clothes at a fraction of the cost otherwise. (She happens to be over 5'9.) best to you
Harv
Look at the largest youth sizes. My wife thinks it's a boon that she can find me nice clothes at a fraction of the cost otherwise. (She happens to be over 5'9.) best to you
Harv
08-05-18, 11:39 PM
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Height by itself isn't useful without cycling inseam.
I'm 5'9" with a 32in inseam, 135lb, 35in chest, 28in waist, 33in hips.
I've got x-small Rapha Classic bibs, small Pearl Izumi, medium Falconi bibs that all fit (plus a Lusso medium from Merlin that are too big), but the Rapha are much shorter. It should be easy enough buying bibs though, since you can find/ask for inseam length.
I've got jerseys from Pearl Izumi (club and race fit), Pactimo (race and aero), and Voler (club), all small and different degrees of loose, with my Pactimo jerseys being noticeably shorter than PI and Voler. I started cycling this year and lost 10lbs, which is why I'm trending toward smaller and tighter clothing. I also have some difficulty finding the right fit because most budget/mid-level brands don't seem to make smaller than small except for custom orders, and there aren't as many helpful reviews from people my size compared to ones ordering the larger sizes.
I'm 5'9" with a 32in inseam, 135lb, 35in chest, 28in waist, 33in hips.
I've got x-small Rapha Classic bibs, small Pearl Izumi, medium Falconi bibs that all fit (plus a Lusso medium from Merlin that are too big), but the Rapha are much shorter. It should be easy enough buying bibs though, since you can find/ask for inseam length.
I've got jerseys from Pearl Izumi (club and race fit), Pactimo (race and aero), and Voler (club), all small and different degrees of loose, with my Pactimo jerseys being noticeably shorter than PI and Voler. I started cycling this year and lost 10lbs, which is why I'm trending toward smaller and tighter clothing. I also have some difficulty finding the right fit because most budget/mid-level brands don't seem to make smaller than small except for custom orders, and there aren't as many helpful reviews from people my size compared to ones ordering the larger sizes.
Last edited by surak; 09-24-18 at 10:43 PM.
08-06-18, 01:44 PM
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Puleeeeeeze.
At 6'2" (in my youth 6'3") I have no sympathy for you. At least you have the option to buy ANYTHING and have it altered (tailored) to fit your smaller size. One cannot tailor anything larger. SO, as someone at the other end of the spectrum. BOO HOO! (jk)
-Kedosto
*unable to wipe my tears 'cause my sleeves are too short*
At 6'2" (in my youth 6'3") I have no sympathy for you. At least you have the option to buy ANYTHING and have it altered (tailored) to fit your smaller size. One cannot tailor anything larger. SO, as someone at the other end of the spectrum. BOO HOO! (jk)
-Kedosto
*unable to wipe my tears 'cause my sleeves are too short*
08-07-18, 04:40 AM
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At 5'7", 165lbs, 40" chest and 31" inseam, I know how the jersey fit problem goes. I don't have much trouble with shorts. I've only had the length issue with the Black Bibs shorts(11" inseam on a medium is way too long). My favorite shorts are the Performance Bike brand Ultra shorts in medium. The only jerseys I've found that aren't too long are from Twin Six. The medium fits snug and is just the right length. My only complaint is that the pockets are a bit high and hard to reach into while riding.
08-07-18, 05:06 AM
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I've pretty much abandoned 'proper' cycling clothing. I'm 5'6", 86KG (190lbs) and have a 48" chest. I do a lot of weight-training and bodybuilding so have the exact opposite of a cycling physique! I've bought a few pairs of padded undershorts and I wear unpadded gym, casual or cycling shorts over them. On top I wear my gym clothing which has excellent moisture wicking properties.
I own a few cycling jerseys but hardly ever wear them as I cannot do the zips up due to the size of my chest and shoulders. I have bought some padded cycling shorts and tights from a brand called Funkier which do fit okay. Didoo is another (cheap) brand that sells cycling clothing that fits me.
Under Armor tops (the non-base layer ones) have a nice relaxed fit for those with larger torsos and look good too.
Also, fitness clothing costs a fraction of what proper cycling clothing costs.
I own a few cycling jerseys but hardly ever wear them as I cannot do the zips up due to the size of my chest and shoulders. I have bought some padded cycling shorts and tights from a brand called Funkier which do fit okay. Didoo is another (cheap) brand that sells cycling clothing that fits me.
Under Armor tops (the non-base layer ones) have a nice relaxed fit for those with larger torsos and look good too.
Also, fitness clothing costs a fraction of what proper cycling clothing costs.
09-24-18, 06:47 PM
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Dude
I can offer the following:
I’m 5’7”, 150 lbs.
Chest 39, waist (belly) 32, hips 38.
Pactimo and Rapha both sell bibs with short and long inseam options, but I haven’t tried them.
I recently (2018) got a pair of regular “Black Bibs” from https://www.theblackbibs.com/ . They were inexpensive and awesome. A medium fit me great, except the legs were too long, like knee caps long. I would have had them hemmed (which would have been simple because of the construction, but the pad was too thick for me. A nice pad, but a bit bulky for my taste. Some people would certainly like it. I emailed them and they made me a custom version of their medium size “Black Bibs Plus”, with a special shorter inseam and a special thinner pad. They’re a bit tighter in the legs than the regular Black Bibs (different material), but they are working for me. They said they were thinking about putting the shorter version into production - if you email them expressing an interest they might.
I haven’t found a good fit for a jersey yet.
I’m 5’7”, 150 lbs.
Chest 39, waist (belly) 32, hips 38.
Pactimo and Rapha both sell bibs with short and long inseam options, but I haven’t tried them.
I recently (2018) got a pair of regular “Black Bibs” from https://www.theblackbibs.com/ . They were inexpensive and awesome. A medium fit me great, except the legs were too long, like knee caps long. I would have had them hemmed (which would have been simple because of the construction, but the pad was too thick for me. A nice pad, but a bit bulky for my taste. Some people would certainly like it. I emailed them and they made me a custom version of their medium size “Black Bibs Plus”, with a special shorter inseam and a special thinner pad. They’re a bit tighter in the legs than the regular Black Bibs (different material), but they are working for me. They said they were thinking about putting the shorter version into production - if you email them expressing an interest they might.
I haven’t found a good fit for a jersey yet.
