Affordable and durable ladies bike gear....does it exist?

For those of you ladies who use their bikes regularly i.e every day or near enough, all year round...what gear do you have and how do you rate it?


I am lucky to get 3 months use out of kit before it starts failing in the waterproof and stitching departments. I use my bike everyday near enough, all weathers and it's proving expensive. I forked out on new Hein Gericke Goretex textiles this winter and they've been great. Boot I don't have a problem with but gloves and jackets...don't do well with those at all.

It seems to me that in general, most bike clothing manufacturers have it in their heads that women don't ride bikes and just sit on the back looking pretty. Are we supposed to just shop for mens' kit? Tell me there is HOPE!

[fizzwheel]

Liz gave up in the end and the majority if not all of her kit is men's kit.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Liz gave up in the end and the majority if not all of her kit is men's kit.

Problem is I can't find stuff to fit me.

[dizzyblonde]

I bought the smallest Halvarrsson gear I could get to fit. Its still slightly big, but I don't mind that because I prefer to be able to move around and not feel like my blood supply is cut off. Womens gear always seems to be too short at the bottom of my back, in the size I want, or too big in the bust for the size of shoulder.....so very small mens is perfect for me.

But then Maria is practically teenage size compared to me, so would be a challenge to find something to fit right.

The decent Hein gericke leathers I got PRX or summat, were a bargain but I ended up going to a specialist race leather man in Bradford to have them custom fit.......coz the b00bs and Ar$e were way too big in comparison to leg and shoulder grrrrr!

[dizzyblonde]

http://www.motolegends.com/jackets/l...filter_reset=1

These people have a great range of ladies gear, and amongst it, stuff that really works.

ooops start at the lowest first, rather than random

http://www.motolegends.com/jackets/l...rice_ascending

Already got that site open Lou, funnily enough

My Mrs. uses Hein-Gericke and Belstaff cordura jackets/trousers or Belstaff leathers.
For gloves though, look no further than BMW. Excellent, quality stuff. The best we've found. So's the whole range of bike clothing TBH, but unfortunately it's a bit pricey. I have the Rallye Pro textile and, I'm not joking, it's saved my life. Warm and dry, riding all year 'round, worth every penny.
I think they do a ladies version so get your Christmas present list sorted early.

Well, the title of this thread reads....Affordable and durable ladies.....in the sub headings.

Is there such a breed?

[dizzyblonde]

Petes bought from them before. Lots for you to look at, some good stuff!

One thing is for sure, if you are a tall lady like me, I am over 5'10" with a 36" inside leg, there are NO manufacturers that make my shape. I have to get mens stuff to get them long enough, I then wear super un-sexy braces to hold them up. I even have trouble getting jackets that have long enough arms without being made for a complete gorilla, it would seem you have to have a huge chest and back if you have long arms, I don't only a totally average size 12. It took me months to get my kit, I drove the poor girl in CMW's mad trying everything on as it came in. I did finally end up with some RST mens textiles, not sexy for sure, but they do almost reach my ankles. I believe that you petite women have the same problem in reverse, I just don't think that kit manufacturers ever think of women. So far as they are concerned we are the thing on the back that gets swapped faster than the kit or bikes. Rant over.