Posted: 14 Aug 2007, 9:10am
You could always get a rohloff hub with a million or so gears, only problem is they cost a million or so pounds too, and are still a hub gear - derrailleurs are much better !
Vanessas wrote:Hi, I've been cycling in London for over 7 years now and have always been frustrated by the clothing available to women - either it's too girlie, too impractical or too sporty/masculine. I'm studying design at London College of Fashion and have decided to base my final collection on clothing for female cyclists. I don't mean high performance gear - rather commuter gear that is both functional, comfortable, intelligent, adaptable and looks good so can be worn on the road and at work/out. I'd appreciate any thoughts/ suggestions. I have a questionnaire which I'd appreciate your feedback on - if you're interested in filling it out, please contact me at vanessasmuts@gmail.com and I'll send it over. Thanks in advance!
Bigger sizes.
Not all women who WANT to cycle are a (small) size 16 or less, cycle clothes for women tend to run from size 8 to size 16 only (with one or two exceptions) and the sizes to be small fitting and often figure-hugging. Whereas blokes can get up to XXL and above...
Point is that for a large woman with some weight to lose, cycling can be a really good form of exercise. But equally, basics like not being able to get padded shorts which (a) fit especially on ladies who actually have hips and (b) flatter the bigger form a little can be a big put-off I suspect.
I think if cycling clothes (or perhaps I should say clothes that work for cycling in) were available in bigger sizes at a reasonable price and reaonably flattering (think simple lines, no horizontal stripes and darker colours not pastels or stuff which makes you stand out too much) it could contribute to being an incentive for wider use of cycling by women.
JMO though.
P.
