Shredly's MTB Curvy Line

I was browsing through Instagram one morning not long ago and came upon a promoted ad. It was from Shredly and I couldn't help but pause momentarily. I've been drawn to the fun patterns of their MTB shorts for a few years, and the photo and caption was no exception. About a year ago, after drooling over a pair of their shorts for months, I decided to go ahead and order a pair. It was questionable as to whether or not they would fit, but I thought if I didn't give them a try, I'd never know for sure. Unfortunately, I just couldn't quite squeeze myself in... and who wants to squeeze into a pair of cycling shorts - particularly MTB shorts anyway?

As I passed by the Shredly photo on Instagram that morning, I felt the need to leave a comment -- something I generally don't do on promoted content.  My comment was something to the effect of requesting that they start carrying larger sizes because try as I have, my giant backside/legs just aren't able to squeeze into their shorts. I didn't really expect to get a response, but I thought I should at least put it out there, as I know I'm not alone in my struggle to find appropriate gear. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, right?

*Image from Shredly.com - "The Tina"

Within seconds a response popped up informing me that they have begun a new line of shorts that they thought would work well for me: the MTB Curvy. I was ecstatic! I rushed to the website and discovered that in fact this new line of shorts is running the span of size 4-24. Fan-freaking-tastic! Although I wasn't in love with the idea of a yoga waistband, I thought that I'd give it a chance and see if it could work. I ordered a couple of sizes, just to make sure I'd have options to try as size charts don't always tell the full story in regard to fit, and set to waiting for them to arrive.

This short comes as an outer short only, without a chamois or liner. Liners are available to purchase separately or buyers can use one from another maker that is comfortable for the individual. Personally, I prefer this option as opposed to being forced to use a sewn-in liner, so I was pleased to see Shredly kept this for the MTB Curvy. Because the line is still on the newer side, there also aren't as many pattern options as with the other, longer-standing options from the company (or so I've assumed this is the reasoning). I have no doubt there will be additional choices down the road -- or, at least I will say that I hope this is the case, as I don't have any insider information on this matter.

I'm adding a couple of photos of these on just to
give an idea of fit. My sincere apologies about
the quality of the photos. I am 5'3.75" in height and
these hit below the knee on me.

When the shorts arrived, pretty quickly after ordering I should add, I tried them on and modeled for Sam to get his feedback. They seemed slightly on the long side to me, but I am not a very tall person, so I suppose that's to be expected. Plus, I knew they'd ride up as I pedal. I was also a bit thrown with the "curvy" label, given that the size chart didn't seem to be that of a truly curvy fit (I feel the need to insert a comment here to state that bigger doesn't necessarily mean a person has a curvy figure - one can be larger and have straighter measurements, just as a smaller person can have straight, curvy or somewhere in between measurements. Personally, I would define "curvy" as someone who has at least a 10-inch difference between waist/hip, but beyond that, I consider myself more of a blocky-body type, despite having a large difference between waist/hip). Even with the drawstring at the waist tightened up significantly, there was still quite a large gap at the back of the waist and I felt as though there could've been more room through the hips. Sam thought they looked fine and in keeping with the spirit of mountain bike gear, and his opinion was that if there was room to move and they didn't feel too tight, they'd probably be worth a try.

As it happened, we were preparing to try out a route that was a bit more appropriate for this type of gear than the rides I sometimes take on my mountain bike, meaning more climbing, rocks, roots, and so on.  I have to admit, as we got pedaling, I was grateful for the longer length as they ended up settling in just above my knee as we rode.

Despite the horrible photo, you may
get a sense of the wrinkling/excess
fabric at the waistband.

After a couple of hours of riding, I noticed that the waist had become even looser than it was at the start. Although I never felt as though the shorts were slipping off my body (there is a drawstring after all), the amount of excess fabric seemed a bit much and there was still quite a large gap at the waist, even with the adjustment cord. Personally, I felt as though the fabric used for the waistband could've been different so as to not create so much stretch while riding. It's nice not to have a button or snap digging in, but it's as though this fabric goes overboard with too much give.

I am so grateful to see a company like this offering bigger sizes and realizing that people of all different body types ride bikes, and I don't seem to be alone. The line has been out for a very short amount of time and many of the styles/sizes are already out of stock. I hope other companies take note and realize that there is a market for cycling clothing in larger sizes. I do, however, think this particular version could do with some additional tweaking. Ultimately, I'm not sure the label "curvy" is truly the best descriptor for this line. I think it's more accurate to describe it as a line keeping with Shredly's standard MTB shorts that just happens to have a really stretchy waist with a drawstring and comes in larger sizes than their others. If a person has a straighter lower body waist/hip measurement, these may be a great fit, but as someone with a waist that is about 13 inches different than her hips, I could've done with a smaller waist and a smidge more material in the hip area. I ended up having to go up in size to accommodate my hips and legs, which may have created the issue with excess fabric around the waistband, but if I went down in size, I am certain the hips would be too tight.

The fabric itself is a nice weight, particularly for summer conditions. It seems sturdy enough to hold up over time, yet lightweight enough to allow the wearer not to become entirely drenched in sweat when hot temperatures hit. The fabric does not seem to be as thick as that of the other line I've tried from Shredly, but neither is it as flimsy as some other brands I've experimented with in the past that have felt as though there was no substance at all. I would describe it as a lightweight running short fabric that has another light layer inside to create a very small amount of structure.

The thigh vents are an interesting feature. Both thighs are made with a long zipper that opens to create venting for air flow. I'm not certain this is a feature I will use, but for those who need it, it's great and it didn't bother me to have the zippers present either. Both hand pockets at the hip are functional and while they aren't super deep (meaning, I wouldn't carry things in them while riding), they are suitable for after-ride items when walking around. One deep, snapped pocket can be found on the right leg. It contains a small fabric loop to attach items such as keys. Most phones will likely be accommodated in this pocket as well.

If you are someone who doesn't fit into standard/straight sizes of cycling gear, these could be a great option to check out, or if you fit into standard sizing but would prefer a stretchy waist as opposed to a snap/button, these may also be to your liking. As stated prior, I am thrilled to see sizing options opening up like this new line from Shredly and the idea of making a different shape is also something I must applaud. That said, I believe there is room for improvement, or perhaps it's something that can be considered in a future line -- to keep this model, but offer a truly curvy fit for those with bigger waist/hip ratios. All in all, I consider this a decent effort by Shredly and I hope they continue to grow and expand their options.


*Just a note to say that I have not been paid or gifted any items by Shredly, nor any company for any reviews on the blog unless otherwise indicated. Opinions are my own and may not necessarily align with another user's thoughts/opinions. 

Acceptable Prejudice

Dear Mr. Marketing-Dude [Not actual name, in case that isn't obvious],

I'm responding to an e-mail you sent a few weeks ago in which you inquired as to why my last purchase at [establishment name] took place over a year ago. I'd thought I wouldn't send anything in response, but after some time to consider further, I believe I will. Even knowing going in that nothing will likely come from this note, I do think it's important to voice opinions in order to see change, so here I go...

And so this letter, sent several weeks ago, began -- even though I started and stopped many times before actually hitting "send." I wanted to express my opinion about lack of size options for a variety of individuals, but I seemed to find myself hesitating because I know that little changes in the cycling industry when it comes to what is being supplied to those in need of non-standard sizing (smaller or larger). Additionally, I grow weary of sending similar sounding notes to various manufacturers. It's exhausting to waste my breath (key-strokes?) trying to explain something to a group of people that seem to not understand at all.

Neither of the individuals in our home have an easy time finding cycling clothing. One often can't find clothing small enough, and the other struggles to find items on the larger end of the spectrum (being a male and smaller than average is nearly as bad as being a female who extends beyond a U.S. size large), and I wanted to express this to the marketing individual who had reached out (granted, in the form of a mass e-mail that I'm sure was sent to everyone who hadn't purchased from the company in some time).

What amused me most was that there was a swift response directing me to something that doesn't exist in their inventory, and that also didn't address 75% of what I had written about in the letter. Besides that, is ONE item supposed to suffice as inventory? For once in my life, I'd been concise so as to not eat up the day of the person reading my letter, but I still felt as though I received a canned/brush-off response. I'm used to this though. No one seems to have follow through. Customer service is lacking almost anywhere. From the grocery store to big box home improvement, or brick-and-mortar retail to Amazon, I find few who are willing to actually do even the very basic necessities of their jobs.

More frustrating than anything is the internal battle/argument I have before attempting to address a situation. In the weeks prior to sending the above letter, I debated myself, trying to decide whether it was futile or not to respond to such an e-mail, but I know that if nothing is said then changes never materialize.

Over the years, I've written and called many companies expressing a desire (not only for myself, but for others as well) to expand their current size line for cycling, hiking, and other outdoor wear. While I often get some sort of response, it is almost never a response that takes any of my comments into consideration, nor will these organizations acknowledge that there is a need that isn't being met.

Another example of this was an e-mail sent to a different cycling wear company back in May of this year. I had purchased a pair of mountain biking shorts online. For those who fit into standard sizing, finding a pair of women's mountain biking shorts is not a big deal. These folks can walk into nearly any local bike shop and find something that will fit their needs. If, however, you are a female who needs shorts larger than about a U.S. size 12, you can pretty much forget about ever finding something in a shop, or even in all the vast and far reaches of the world wide web.

So, when I saw these seemingly fabulous mountain bike shorts on the company's website that stated they would fit me (per the size chart), I was ecstatic! Hurrah! Hurray! Finally!!! After searching for nearly a decade for mountain bike shorts, a company was finally creating something that would fit my body!

According to the size chart, I should have plenty of room in my usual size, but I decided to go up one size to ensure that I'd have lots of extra room, if needed.

Alas, when the shorts arrived, it was a comedic sketch-in-the-making. First, when I pulled the shorts out of their packaging, they were as flimsy a material as I've ever felt. Lighter than even the thinnest swim suit I've ever seen, thinner than the skimpiest of running shorts, I was shocked at the lack of substance to this product.

But, I still wanted to give them a chance. Even if they were lighter than I'd anticipated, finding a mountain bike short that fits has been a near-impossibility. As I unfolded the shorts and prepared to put them on they seemed small visually, but this is often typical of cycling clothing. I proceeded to pull and tug in an attempt to affix these shorts to my body with great effort. Eventually, they were on my body, but they were certainly not usable in any fashion as a mountain bike short, as I could barely button them and they were excruciatingly tight.

I cannot begin to express my disappointment. With a sigh, I packed the shorts back up and put them in a return envelope.

A level of frustration and annoyance had taken over at this point and I decided that I was not going to let this go without some kind of response. I sat down and typed out a letter, expressing my dissatisfaction with a company that I had once found to be one of the few organizations that supplied cycling clothing to women with more meat on their bodies, and in particular, I wanted to express my concerns with this particular garment.

I relayed that I have other pieces purchased a few years prior from their brand that are smaller in size and still fit fine. I expressed my disappointment with the quality of the fabric as well, and also advised that perhaps using a larger sized model might help with future iterations of clothing in larger sizes (since I'd even purchased up a size from their chart measurements and still could barely squeeze the shorts on). None of my remarks were said in anger, but were expressed in a manner that I hoped would be helpful to future lines of clothing and to assist the organization in potentially adjusting their size chart (which was definitely not accurate).

Before I sent the letter though, I decided to try ordering another pair, simply to see if I'd received a short that was a blemish or somehow cut incorrectly. Unfortunately, I had the exact same results, so off the letter went in both my return envelope and via e-mail. I wanted to make sure that the information was received, as I know that not everyone is willing to take the time to express problems directly to companies.

The response I received was shockingly argumentative and frankly, almost hostile. Instead of taking in my concerns and presenting a thoughtful response, this representative decided that she would rather have an electronic battle of wills, telling me that I was wrong and that their organization already uses a plus-size model for their larger sizes.

Her lengthy response hit on almost none of what I had addressed and she read into my words far too much, making assumptions about aspects that I hadn't even remotely thought. I could only assume that she was either having a very bad day or simply was accustomed to hearing only positive comments about their garments and therefore wasn't prepared to respond to someone who simply had a few constructive critiques to provide for the future (and, I even stated that I simply wanted to express my personal experience).

Having two such interactions with cycling companies in a relatively short amount of time is off-putting (to say the least), but it's just a surface scratch of the issue. It isn't just these two companies, nor is it limited only to cycling clothing manufacturers and businesses. Although I'd guess unintentional, over time, these types of responses from organizations direct a person to believe that s/he is alone in a battle that isn't going to produce a win or even small amounts of change, and often lead to thoughts of being unworthy of appropriate clothing for regularly engaged-in activities.

A few weeks ago, I was looking for some information on training to do a half Ironman race. It's something I've thought of doing for several years, but I've always hesitated because running is not something that agrees with my body (A messed up back/pelvis/hips, and genetically fragile knees don't make for the best runner in the world, especially carrying extra weight). Whether or not I'll actually try this is still up for debate, but I like to have information at the ready, just in case I do decide to give it a go.

As I was looking for training information, I happened upon a few-year-old thread that almost immediately sent me into fired-up mode. It started innocently enough with a person asking a question about how someone could be fat and complete an Ironman. For those unfamiliar with this type of race it consists of a 2.4 mile (3.8 km) swim, 112 mile (180.25 km) bike ride and ends with a 26.2 mile (42.16 km) run, all completed within a specified time frame (from what I've seen, usually racers have 17 hours to finish, with time cut-offs throughout the event that could end the race earlier for an individual).

The responses that the original poster received were many and varied, though most were extremely derogatory toward fat individuals. I was surprised that whomever was moderating the thread was willing to let many of the comments through, until I remembered that prejudices and these types of comments toward fat individuals are the last acceptable form of hatred (sizeism, fat phobia, etc) in the U.S. Everything from people stating that the time frame for completion needed to be lowered to "keep fatties out" of the race, to suggesting that the only foods an individual could be eating while training that hard and stay fat would have to be ice cream, pizza and cake.

You can imagine the other sort of talk that was taking place in this forum, so I won't go into it further (mostly because it just gets me worked up again). All that I could think while reading these comments was How dare you say such things about someone training to and completing a massive goal! and What business is it of yours what someone eats? I seriously doubt anyone is living on pizza and cake when training for any kind of event - Ironman or otherwise - or they'd be very sick and incapable! and So, because someone doesn't complete a goal in the same amount of time as you do, it invalidates their effort, training and accomplishment? There were other thoughts as well, but you can easily see where my mind was going as I perused the very long list of individuals who were judging those that they believed shouldn't be allowed to compete in these types of events.

While this likely sounds like a lot of ranting (and it is, at least in part), occasionally I feel the need to put something here to remind myself and others that this is not an acceptable way to treat each other. Whether an organization that doesn't want to produce product for a certain population, or an individual who is spouting off anonymously (or otherwise) online, this kind of thinking and speaking doesn't provide anything positive or constructive.

Why do we as humans feel the need to make others feel lesser in order to make ourselves feel better, stronger, faster? Why does trying to invalidate someone else's accomplishment make our completion of a goal better or cause us to feel more worthy? How does tearing someone else down improve our own idea of self?

If you haven't seen it, check out this story about a plus-size model who confronted a man on a plane who was sending comments via text to a friend about her body size before a flight to Los Angeles. It's a short video, so it's a quick watch, but it assists in illustrating my point: society at large finds it completely acceptable to body shame those who are fat; and for some reason, it seems to be more acceptable to do this to females than males. Of course, that could be an entirely extended discussion about gender bias in this country as well.

I am by no means perfect, and I understand that we are all surrounded by imperfect humans. I also accept that we are each going to do or say things that we will later regret or feel differently about than at the time a statement was said or an action was made. But, how do we change the dialogue that takes place, particularly in a web-focused, easy-to-be-anonymous world, so that attitudes begin to change and hatred for others dissipates? How is a world created where we appreciate each other's differences and embrace the reality that we excel in different areas of life?

Here in this space, we come together over a love of bicycles and riding. I have no doubt that we are all of different stature, ethnicity, and weight. We come from different upbringing and backgrounds. We have different religious and political beliefs. We have different careers. Some are single, married, have children or don't. Some are gay, straight, bisexual, or transgender. Some train for cycling events, some are happy to ride for transportation only, and others can't stay off a bicycle no matter the purpose.  Regardless, we can come together over a shared love or appreciation. I suppose I find it challenging to understand why this cannot spread to other areas of life. Maybe it can.

Plus Size Women's Cycling Clothes: An Update (sort of)

*** Note: This is probably the last time I'll be able to request your assistance here on the blog before the contest ends, so if you have yet to vote, please take a very brief moment and head here to the Pedal the Plains contest page, click "like" (on 'Steeling a Ride'), or make a comment on that specific photo. If you have voted, I thank you so very much. If you have friends/family/neighbors/strangers on the street you can talk into liking the photo too, that would be amazing. You can also vote on Twitter or Instagram using #steeling AND @pedaltheplains. A bit more info can be found by clicking here.Voting ends this Friday at 5p (I presume MST, but don't wait until the last moment). Thanks! :O) ***

Occasionally, I write here about my frustration with finding appropriate fitting cycling clothing. As someone who does not meet the societal expectations of the typical-bodied cyclist, it's frustrating to look for comfortable, decent looking, well-fitting cycling clothes. For every day riding, I find wearing my regular clothes to be sufficient. Most of my wardrobe consists of wool or cotton, both of which breathe well and are easy to launder. However, when it comes to distance cycling, there are just realities to what is needed to be comfortable. Padded shorts are a necessity to keep from bruising of soft tissue and wearing super loose fitting tops just causes excess flapping of material against the skin. Wearing every day clothing to participate in more sport-type riding has not been horribly successful for me, so I'm always on the hunt for things that work.

There are a few brands/companies out there that stock larger sized women's cycling apparel. However, what is considered "larger" by cycling standards is not what is typically thought of in every day clothing as bigger. In every day clothing, I often fall in the middle of the spectrum between what is considered misses sizes in the U.S. and plus sizes. It is beneficial in that I can shop both sides of the aisle, but when it comes to cycling clothing, most items run snug (to put it nicely), so looking at plus sized options is often my only choice. Therein lies the problem.

Wearing a wool Ibex jersey and Terry cycling knickers in 2012 at the start of Venus de Miles

It's been three years since I wrote about my hunt for plus-sized wool cycling clothing for women (and four years since my original rant), and I am sad to say that nothing seems to have changed. Well, my body has changed a bit, but not enough to make this a non-issue. At this juncture, it would be nice to be able to find any material in cycling clothing that isn't unattractive and fits well. I know that all things take time, but I also hold on to similar beliefs that I had years ago... there simply must not be the demand or someone would be making these items. Still, I find that my post from three years ago gets a decent number of hits from Google, so I know I'm not alone out there on the roads. In fact I see me (and my brethren --  or sistren -- Okay, now I'm just making up words) quite regularly even here in one of the fittest states in the U.S.

My biggest beef with all of this is that no one should be punished for trying to work out - regardless of his/her size - and not being able to find appropriate clothing is punishment in my eyes (sometimes physically in that it can be painful to ride in ill-fitting/inappropriate clothes, and definitely emotionally when frustration sinks in from too many searches and not enough results). Clothing that can be found is sparse at best. Instead of having endless options for chamois thickness, materials, or lengths, there is often 1 to (if lucky) 3 choices to be found. The gap gets worse the larger a person's size too.

*Image from Road Holland

Complaining about this on a blog obviously does nothing to resolve the issue, so I did put together a small list of a few places that offer some solutions - even if it's still not exactly what I'd like to see.

Pearl Izumi stocks up to size XXL in women's cycling clothing and seems to run more true to size (generally speaking) than most cycling apparel, but they do not offer any extended options beyond.

Team Estrogen has sizes up to 4X in their "plus size" specialty shop from a variety of manufacturers, but fit has been very iffy for me on most of the brands they stock (from being far too baggy and/or too long to being too small to simply not sitting right on the body) including Terry, Canari, SheBeest, Moving Comfort (though the items I've found with M.C. have no padding and are more basic workout type clothes). Additionally, much of what is stocked is non-cycling specific gear, and the items that are cycling-specific tend to be unappealing aesthetically and/or ill-fitting.

When visiting Terry's plus size specific pages, the options are all-too-often few and far between. I have found the larger sizes in the regular sizes can have an acceptable fit for me personally (but this varies quite a bit and is always a gamble), but why isn't there a cross over to include the same options in larger sizes?

Aerotech offers a few items for both men and women who require larger sizes, but for women, much like Team Estrogen's site, the same brands are available (from Terry, Canari, etc) and are limited.

I was happy to learn from one of the owners himself that Road Holland offers shorts and jerseys up to size 3XL in women's (and I even wrote a bit about them - women's and men's, if you're interested). I do love these jerseys, but am still hoping they'll make bibs for women again and even branch out into possibly a sleeveless version of the full-zip jerseys.

My understanding is that at one point Icebreaker offered women's sizes up to 2XL, but I have not seen anything over an XL size on their website for some time now, and cycling jerseys and shorts seem to have completely disappeared.

Many of the women on cycling forums who run into sizing issues seem to head straight to men's clothing as an option, but clothing is definitely cut differently for men and women, not to mention that larger men have a difficult time finding options, which is to say that there is still often a limit in sizes for men's cycling gear as well.

Although I could rant on about the injustice and difficulty of finding the right items, I'm actually pondering the idea of making some sample items myself. I am by no means a seamstress and about the best I can usually manage is a half-way decent hem on a pair of pants, but I figure it's worth a shot - even if it's just a test for myself. In fact, I even have a couple yards of merino wool on its way to me to experiment with (since that is my preferred fabric). While I realize nothing will likely come from it, I feel as though I have to do something to ease the frustration.

If you've been on a hunt for larger women's cycling clothing, what has been your experience? Do you have brands to add to the list above? If so, please feel free to comment. When I wrote a few years ago, I had been in contact with a few different cycling gear manufacturers who had spoke about the possibility of extended sizing, but that doesn't seem to have happened (and goodness knows if history is an indicator, there won't be much variety available). Has anyone else had better luck?

**I'm editing this post to add SprintDesign to the list. When I made the original list I'd completely forgot about them, but I appreciate that they offer sizes from youth all the way up through size 6XL (both men's and women's). To be fair, I have never ordered from them, and they are in Australia, but they have an extensive collection and lots of options, so it is possibly something to check out as well. If anyone has ordered through them, please feel free to chime in. I'd be interested in hearing your experiences.

First Cold Ride of the Season

This morning, I awoke to the sound of Sam informing me he was leaving early to get into work. I'm not one to be terribly functional when first coming out of my sleep stupor, but I'm sure I managed to eek out something close to drive-safely-and-I'll-see-you-later. The last thing I remember hearing him say was, "It's about 10 degrees out."

Image here

Yikes! Really? Ten? For the non-Fahrenheit using population, that's about negative 12 degrees Celsius, or in other words, cold. Not as cold as it can get, but colder than it has been here for quite awhile. As I sat in bed, deciding whether or not I really wanted to get out of bed (but knowing I really don't have a choice), I made the choice to attempt a ride to my kickboxing class this morning. "I'll just put on layers and I'll be fine," I told myself as I scooped out the dogs' food this morning. Some part of me was insistent that it really wasn't going to be okay, but I carried on with my little charade.

Four layers of wool later (at least on the top half), I was out the door. I wish I'd been alert enough to take a photo of the ridiculousness as I headed out, but I will assure you it was quite absurd. I looked as though I was wearing everything I own (or close to it), including three pairs of gloves, an extremely thick scarf/hat, and wool socks.  With all these layers, how could one possibly be cold?

The problem became (very quickly) my face and fingers. Yes, I have a balaclava... but goodness only knows where it is, and I couldn't find my wool gloves, so I went with what I could find (which wasn't great). I stepped out the door only to discover that my bike odometer wasn't working at all (even electronics think it's too cold to be outside), but I was going to do this ride, regardless. I was leaving about 40 minutes early, so I thought I'd get in a short exercise ride before the class. That didn't happen. By the time I reached the door of the kickboxing studio, I was done. Unfortunately, no one was there yet to let me in to the building, but it wasn't long before the warmth of indoors was available once again.

I very quickly realized that I am not at all prepared to ride in winter at the moment. We've been incredibly blessed to have a fairly warm autumn and the shock of this morning was a definite wake up call. I also believe I need to invest in some thicker wool layers instead of having to layer up all of the base layers to get decent protection from the elements. Is anyone else having a bit of weather shock about now? Any tips or advice on ways to keep the extremities warm are welcome.

Some Days You're the Pigeon...

Over this past weekend I had a bit of a run-in with my bike. I was pedaling up a small hill when I stood up to get some power going. Just as I felt I was getting my groove, my pant leg wrapped around the big chain ring on the crank and ripped a nice size hole in my pants. Ugh! It's certainly not the first time this has happened, but it reminded me that when riding a bike without a chainguard, I have to remember to roll up my pant leg (which isn't fun when the temps are freezing), or wear something to keep the pant leg close to my ankle (or wear skirts). Fortunately, they were painting jeans, so it wasn't the end of the world. Still, I'd prefer not to intentionally put holes in my clothes.

I was not riding shoe-less (in case anyone is wondering), but didn't snap the fuzzy photo until I got home.

The incident wasn't one that caused a crash or anything devastating, but about half a mile up the road, my chain broke in a spot that wasn't immediately repairable, which caused me to walk the rest of the way home. Apparently, it was not my day to be on a bicycle. At least I was able to take a closer look at the happenings around the neighborhood at a slower pace, so something good came from the minor incidents. I suppose the saying is true though:  Some days you're the pigeon; some days you're the statue. Fortunately, these minor incidents aren't enough to keep me from riding, and no one was hurt.

Happy Friday to all! May your riding weekend keep you active and flying like the pigeon.

The Hunt for Women's "Plus Size" Wool Cycling Clothing

Although I truly despise the words "plus size" when referring to a woman's size in clothing, the reality is that it is the terminology most use, so I feel obligated to succumb to that particular wording here. For over a year now, I've been in search of wool cycling clothing for women of substance, and it has been a rather futile/fruitless use of time, I must admit. I've managed to find a couple of tops that are on the fitted side by purchasing the largest misses size I could locate (an XL), but finding pants/capris/shorts of any sort seems to be impossible. While the men's sizes are generally a bit more generous with fabric, the shape is just ill-proportioned for most women's bodies. Following are a few items that have potential to possibly work, at least as layering pieces in cooler weather.

Ibex Woolies Crew (base layer) side view

Ibex Woolies Crew (base layer) front view

The shirt above is from Ibex but I purchased it on sale from REI locally. It's not necessarily intended for cycling specifically, but could be used for this purpose or even others, depending on your needs. According to their size charts, this shouldn't fit me, but oddly, it works (Note: the fabric is not being stretched out as it would appear, but is rather a base piece, intended for layering, so it is thinner than some wool items. I wanted to show how it fits as a representation for others though). In the summer months, this weight of fabric seems to work well without a need for multiple layers, and I'm sure in the winter it will be great for a base (though I've yet to wear it in cold weather). I guess this just goes to show that you do have to try everything on, because even if there's a size chart, it doesn't necessarily mean it's accurate. I would also note that the color is less pajama-y looking in real life, but I believe it's a good base piece regardless.

Ibex short sleeve Echo Sport T
This should be a looser garment, but is more fitted on me

Admittedly, these tops aren't loose on me, but I'm also not hiding my size by wearing oversized garments either, and many of these weren't intended to be loose fit articles of clothing. While I'd prefer that this was available in a larger size, for now, it will have to do. According to Ibex size charts, the bust measurement on the XL size is a range of 40.5-42.5. While my chest measurement actually falls beneath the low side of this (measuring around the rib cage, just under the bust), my bust measurement is larger than the stated size, so it was a bit confusing. I'm glad I took a chance and tried these though. I will say that they do seem to give some with wear and become a bit looser fitting, and I can wear them several times before washing without the pieces starting to smell (which never happens with any kind of workout wear I own). One of the fabulous properties of wool! It also means that you don't have to purchase tons of these if you ride daily because you can wear it multiple times before it requires laundering (wonderful news, since wool isn't inexpensive). The short sleeve wool shirt pictured above is pulled down to show its length. Again, this shirt is a very light fabric, and is fitted on my body, but I tend to prefer this when cycling for sport/distance. I don't have to worry about loose things getting caught on bike parts, so it works.

Ibex Giro short sleeve jersey from the side

Ibex Giro short sleeve jersey from the rear (Kinda cool that the Ibex logo is reflective!)

I also ordered an actual bicycle jersey to try out: the Giro short sleeve jersey. It is made of a thicker wool fabric (I'd say more of a mid-weight), and fits very similarly to the tops above. At the moment though, I'm still debating whether or not to keep this one, as I am not sure about the look/fit on my body. The photos above are for additional reference purposes, as well as showing the back side of this with the cycling pockets (which can be handy, depending on how one rides). Again, I'd love to have a bit more wiggle room in this jersey, but it is what it is.

As for pants, knickers, or shorts in wool, I haven't been brave enough to even attempt to order them, as the size charts are far off the mark for me on any of the brands like SmartWool, Ibex, Icebreaker, etc, and I carry a good deal of my weight in my legs, so they likely wouldn't work. So, what am I wearing right now when I ride? I actually have a couple of options. One choice is my active pants that I purchased from Lands End a few years ago. They're almost a close-fitting yoga capri, and have held up incredibly well. They do begin to smell though after wearing for a very short time, which isn't ideal. I also have a pair of bike shorts without a chamois that I purchased about 6 years ago, however, I don't typically wear those because I prefer to have my knees covered when I ride.

Out of frustration and curiosity, I have been in contact with multiple distributors and manufacturers of wool clothing in hopes of finding a line that will work for ladies with a bit more meat on their bodies. Most of these companies have sent me a canned response stating that they are "unaware of any company that manufactures wool cycling clothing in plus sizes at this time", to which I want to respond, "Yes, that is why I'm contacting you - to change that." I can't help but shake my head when I get this sort of response. There was some light in this process though. When contacting Ibex, they said that though they do not currently carry larger sizes for women because they are still a small company, they do have hopes of doing this down the line. While I have no way of knowing how long of a wait "down the line" is, it's nice to know that at least one company realizes there is potential for money in manufacturing sizes for larger women. If you'd like to see larger women's sizes, I would encourage you to email or call Ibex and request this, so that they realize there is a market for this line. And, if you have another manufacturer/distributor you've contacted that seems open to the idea of a women's line of wool clothing in larger sizes, please leave info in the comments or e-mail me, as I'd love to contact them as well. Has anyone else had success with getting a company to start selling or making a different type or size of clothing? I would be very curious to hear about it.

Trading Goods/Services

Recently, Velouria of Lovely Bicycle! started a trading post on her blog. It's quite interesting to see all the different items that people are looking to trade. Plus, it's a great way to clear out things no longer needed, and perhaps get an item or two one might actually be able to use. In one such recent trade, I received a warm, comfy, hand-knitted hat.

My greens were clashing horribly in this photo (not to mention all the garbage - and a bicycle - in the background) because I wasn't thinking the composition through, and I anxiously wanted to see how it looked on, but I think it's a great quality item that I will be able to use through many fall/winter/spring seasons here in Colorado. I was also shocked that it fit comfortably (as in, not tight) on my huge noggin!

Let it never be said that I am not a gigantic, cheesy, goof ball! But, I do love the hat/cap, and can tell it will be a great way to keep my head and ears warm on cooler days. The color is great as well. Though it looks rather taupe colored against my super green shirt, it is actually a green (a kind of olive-ish green), and it goes great with the reddish colored hair, not to mention being a fairly versatile color for my wardrobe.

I think trading goods and services is a wonderful idea, and reminds me of my childhood during which my dad would trade services or items for something he needed. Anyone traded anything recently? Was it a positive experience?

When to say When

I was thinking the other day about excess. This is actually a frequent thought of mine, but for some reason, I really dug a little deeper during this round of "let's-be-super-annoyingly-deep-in-thought-while-ignoring-my-currently-important-tasks." Which is, by the way, one of my favorite games and ways to pass the time.

Anyhoo, so I'm in the midst of this round of the game and I start thinking about how much excess there is in life, and specifically my life. I have a bit of an obsessive personality (just a bit), and when I really enjoy or love something, it's difficult for me not to constantly want more of whatever that item or person may be. For example, my entire life has been spent acquiring an ever-changing wardrobe. It started as a small child (I'm convinced) when my father would take my very young, unable to walk, unable to talk body into my walk-in closet that my present self is completely jealous of and ask, "What would you like to wear, sweetie?"

The near-beginnings of "want"

Though I don't recall these incidents for myself, I have spent a lifetime being reminded of these moments by my immediate family (okay, really only mom). At a fairly early age I got my first 'real' job simply to provide myself income to support this constant need for different/new clothing.

Yep, I took photos of 'potential' outfits to see if I liked them before wearing - how sick

Sure, I shopped at Goodwill stores and other thrift stores, but I also hit up the local mall on a routine basis. The problem only worsened when in my sophomore year of high school I got a job at a retail clothing store in the mall.

Prior to Senior Prom, a photo op with mom - I got the dress at a huge discount
because I worked for the clothing store. This was actually prom dress #2, because I disliked the first one

Believe me, clothing was the last thing I needed then, and absolutely the last thing I need now. Today, I find myself constantly gifting or thrifting my wardrobe to others on a pretty regular basis. I have no money though, so where does all this clothing come from?

I used to have an obsession with cars. I hate to admit that, but it's true. Over the course of about a year and a half, I went through five cars. FIVE. In less than two years. That's insane! They were all perfectly functioning, acceptable cars, with absolutely nothing wrong with them, but for one reason or another, I continuously thought I needed a new one. At one point in my older teenage years I even had three cars at the same time. Yikes!

One of the 'set of three' cars on a trip to Oregon

Those three cars together only lasted about a week, but still, no 19 year old should actually own, in her own name, three cars. I don't know what exactly changed in regard to cars, but a few years ago I realized that the constant car changes were ridiculous and that I just needed a car that worked, was functional for our needs, and that we could afford. Fortunately, this obsession hasn't returned in the recent past, but I do keep an eye out for any occasional peeks from the car obsession monster.

One of the more recent obsessions has become bicycles. Sure, there are far worse things one could obsess over, but I am beginning to see a trend with wanting more than I really need. I got a cruiser bike for my birthday (thanks, Sam!)

which turned into a want for a lighter cruiser/city style bike,

which turned into a want for a mixte,

which turned into a want for a better city bicycle,

and then of course I needed a touring bike (because having a city bike just wasn't enough).

It's as though it's a never ending cycle (no pun intended) of wants that turn into more expensive wants. True, there were reasons for each of the changes, and the changes actually helped me eliminate the superfluous bicycles from my life, but where does it end? At what point is enough simply enough?

Despite all of these wants, I have seen the tougher side of life. I was unemployed, homeless and living in a sixteen year old, rusty Toyota at one point in life - literally living out of the trunk of my car. I know what it's like to go hungry, I know what it's like to lose every material possession, and I know what it is to feel certain on a cold night that a warm, comfortable bed would be worth anything and everything. I have known want and need - and I know the difference between spoiled-rotten-wants, and the I-may-not-live-if-I-don't-get-this kind of need. But I have to say, knowing the difference doesn't stop the wanting. Perhaps a certain amount of want in life is a good thing because it helps keep us motivated and moving forward, but I also believe there has to be some sort of gauge to know when to stop and just enjoy what one currently has in life. To live in the moment, and be present in that moment, rather than wishing for something else. I realize though that those times in life when I've had nothing, or nearly nothing, have contained some pretty memorable moments, and I think I appreciated the simpler things in life. I know I appreciated the nicer things more after this time in life.

A recent obsession was to obtain an early 60's stereo/record console -
This is the one we got (and for a good deal, I might add)

I don't seem to be able to force the wants away, and as stated, I think it's perfectly acceptable to want things in life, but I also often talk my way into the next thing, whether or not it's truly a need. Is that healthy? I'm not sure, but my internal monitor (conscience, I suppose) is telling me "No, it's not." Perhaps part of the problem at the moment is knowing that I have no personal income and that all money depends on Sam. Because of this, I feel guilty if I want anything out of the every day necessities. I am fortunate that he often finds a way for us to work out a situation so that my wants become reality, and I am grateful and fortunate to have such a man in my life, but I miss having my own income; I miss knowing that if I buy something that isn't a need, it isn't going to create a hardship somewhere else. I know that at some point in the future (and the not horribly distant future), I will be through with school, and life will resume as it once was. But, I suppose I'm trying to better understand why when I become so immersed and infatuated with something I always find a 'better version' of it and seem to want more. I suppose I just wonder where it all ends, and if I will be able to get myself mentally to a simpler place again where I appreciate even the basics in life. I do know that ultimately I would give it all up if it was necessary, and I suppose that is the true test.

Fall is Finally Upon Us... Tights!

Autumn is a strange season here in Colorado. It often seems to go from 85-95F degrees to 30F overnight (basically, from Summer to Winter within a week or two). It is unfortunate, because spring and fall are two of the best times of the year most places. I absolutely love the in between time of color changes and crisp mornings. Just this week, the tree leaves have begun to change color here (and even began to fall off the trees), and it reminded me that I get to wear tights and scarves again. Yay!

While I would honestly rather be sockless and completely barefoot any day of the week, I am excited about the color opportunities my tights and knee socks collection offer. I also realized that it took me some time to figure out where I could actually purchase tights that would fit my larger lower half. Unfortunately for me, weight charts have little to do with whether or not tights will fit me because a large portion of my weight is carried through my hips, thighs, and legs, rendering the weight charts virtually useless.

One of the BEST places I love to buy tights is from We Love Colors. While the actual establishment is in Florida, making it an unlikely place for me to travel to buy some tights, I am fortunate that they have a website.  They have a slew of choices, ranging from the tamer charcoals and browns

Charcoal color
* Image from We Love Colors

Brown color
*Image from We Love Colors

to more bold choices such as their Neon Pink color or the bright Kelly Green choice below, and everything in between.

Neon Pink color
*Image from We Love Colors

Kelly Green color
*Image from We Love Colors

They even have options in color swirls, or what they call 'splash' pattern tights. I haven't been bold enough to try those yet (a bit too much for my tastes), but there are definitely some interesting choices to make. The one below doesn't have a name, but is simply titled '#2132.'

#2132 of the Splash Pattern tights
*Image from We Love Colors

One of the nicest things about We Love Colors is that they come in a range of sizes that will fit individuals from as small at 4'11, 90 lbs, up to someone who is 6'0, 375 lbs. While not all of their options come in all sizes, they have a huge range for the larger sized woman, and I was thankful to find them a few years ago. The prices seem to be a bit on the steep side to me, and the fabric is thinner than I'd prefer (because it has a nylon mix to give them more stretch, I presume), but I've had some pairs that have lasted through multiple seasons. Having some fun, colorful options in tights is really great for any woman, and $5 shipping, no matter how many pair you order, well, that's just a deal waiting to happen.

Another tights mission I had set out on was to find larger sized sweater tights. Sometimes, a girl just wants to be warm, after all.  I had a really tough go of this, looking for months (literally) to find some that would work, but ultimately found some last year on the Jessica London website. They've also brought them back again this year, so good news for those looking to get some now.

Chocolate colored sweater tights
*Image from Jessica London

This year, these come in the Chocolate color shown above, a Charcoal, a Black, and a Navy color. While it would be nice to have some lighter colored options as well, I am grateful that someone is making these in a suitable size for larger ladies.  As a forewarning to anyone with larger than proportionate legs, these definitely run to the snug side, so you may want to go up a size or even two, depending on your needs. The size chart for these states that they will fit anyone from 4'11, 150 lbs up to someone who is  5'9, 335 lbs, but again, they do run snugger it seems, so perhaps someone even smaller could wear these.

For anyone not in need of larger sizes in sweater tights, one of my favorite places to look is Sock Dreams, and they even carry some of their products in larger sizes, making thicker/muscular calved ladies happy too!  Everything from wool tights to crochet tights to knee highs can be found here. I always wish that their Cable Stitch tights came in a larger size, because they are so cute.

Cable Stitch tights, in off white
*Image from Sock Dreams

Even though the tights don't come in larger sizes, there are other choices for the thick of calf. I actually own the Cherry Blossom knee socks shown below. They will stretch up to 19" calf circumference and the top band will stretch to about 20".

Sock it To Me Cherry Blossom knee highs
*Image from Sock Dreams

I also own several other models from Sock Dreams, and have been very happy with my purchases from them. I have discovered though that some of their socks tend to say they fit larger calves, but don't actually stretch as much as the given calf size, but overall, if I stick with more stretchy/elastic styled socks, I'm not disappointed. Based out of Portland, Oregon, they ship very quickly and I've never waited more than a few days to get my package from them. The best part? They have completely free shipping (or upgradeable options for express shipping)!

Since I'm on the larger calf subject, it's often difficult to find boots when one has larger or more muscular calves. Though they certainly aren't the least expensive option, Duo Boots has been a favorite shopping spot for me. Their boots are high quality, semi-custom sized, that come from England. It can be a bit scary to order items from another country, but I haven't had issue with their boots fitting my legs. From 30 cm to 50 cm, the calf size ranges are fabulous for those with little legs and those with larger legs. I have their Bern boot in two colors, and have ordered other options from them as well over the years.

Bern boot from DUO Boots
*Image from DUO Boots

I have this boot in the color pictured (which is actually a bit lighter in person than it appears on their website, as well as a cranberry color. Again, they are not inexpensive choices, but the quality is high and well worth the cost for a boot that can last for many, many years if well maintained.

While I am aware there are other options available, I appreciate the variety offered by the websites/businesses I've listed, and have had good experiences purchasing from them. Bring on the autumn season... my tights and boots are ready to go!