Doing a survey for the gals.
What do you like in a cycling jersey (with sleeves/not a tri top)? Design? Colors? Fabric? Team kit? Pro kit?
Truly is serious question. What catches your eye and would get you to buy THAT jersey?
Thanks.
clm
Funny you should ask. Just an hour ago, I placed an order from teamestrogen.com and bikesomewhere.com for two more of this Girodanana “jersey”…I have the coral/white color and you can get an orange/white one at bikesomewhere.com. I already had one of each and just ordered one more of each. I’m one of those people that when I find something I really, really like, I buy several of them. I like them because they are more feminine compared to traditional unisex sleeveless jerseys, but yet they don’t fit like sausage casing does like most tri-tops. I also prefer simple, color-block, no graphic jerseys (other than my team jersey) and these fit the bill, plus they serve the functional purpose of being highly visible and I really like the fabric. Only downside is that they are kind of pricey. I live in Texas, so I can wear sleeveless from March till November, so I’m not much help on short sleeve or long sleeve.
True to its name, the Shape Sleeveless Jersey flatteringly accentuates the curves of a woman’s body. This jersey avoids clinging, thanks to its technical fabric with a cotton-like feel. Contrasting colors provide a touch of style, so you look good while pedaling your way to the best shape of your life.
super soft Supplex
fabric feels like cotton but has all the moisture-wicking properties of a technical fabric unique neck line & shoulder straps provide a flattering look accent piping in contrasting colors two rear pockets for all your essentials flat seams for superior comfort reflective Giordana logo on back left pocket lightly elasticized waist keeps the jersey in place performance fit hugs the curves of your body without being too tight
Please see sizing chart below to ensure a proper fit.
I hate pink and get really insulted when I see women’s jerseys that look like they’re made solely so that the wearer feels feminine. Come on! We’re athletes! We sweat and get dirty, just like guys do. I want a jersey made out of a good wicking fabric with a long zipper so that I can adjust to changing conditions. No goofy graphics. Bright, visible colors so that drivers can see me.
oooh, I usually just read here but I’ll come out and post to talk about clothing 
Im a fashion junkie, except my “houses of fashion” are PI, Lululemon, Sugoi…etc. I just bought three jerseys in the last two days, hey REI had a sale…
I live in SoCal so I also tend like sleeveless a good portion of the year. No farmers tan! I do own a lot of jerseys with sleeves. If Im throwing down 30-70 or even more for a jersey it has to fit right.
I am a woman, I do not go straight up and down. Nipped in at the waist please! I also like jerseys that have contrasting colors down the sides. I fell in love with (and bought) this one last week. http://www.louisgarneau.com/media/images/catalogs/SU7/1020288/1020288_644_large_f.jpg One huge thing that will put me off from a jersey, is elastic in the arms! No, please, no. I also like the zipper to be on the longer side. If I can unzip down to the bellybutton we’re in business.
I like to have a zippered pocket, either one of the back three or a small inside one. Im tiny and so is my bike. I can only fit one water bottle on the frame. The bottles in the aquarack barely clear my back tire so no saddle bag will fit. That means I need to carry everything else in my jersey. So big pockets are a plus.
I really like the PI Ultra Sensor Fabric. I like that it’s meshlike and not smooth and shiny like lycra. I don’t mind smooth, I don’t like shiny.
Oh, and I guess this goes with fabric as well. I like solids with contrasting panels. I don’t like flowers, or writing, weird patterns or giving any company free advertising. Nothing cutesy or twee (a lot of the Shebeest stuff falls into this category). And if anyone ever makes a pinstriped jersey, Id buy it at any price. In fact, I want a whole pin stripped kit, shorts, jersey and gloves!!!
Lululemon makes the great fitting tech shirts but they do not do cycling gear sadly. I like their stuff for running, A LOT, very well designed. The hard sell hippies in the shop are less than appealing but I’ll go in to get the clothes. They really know how to make work out clothes feminine w/o being “cutsey” losing function.
I would LOVE to buy some team kit that actually fit!
Shebeest seems to have some really cool designs and I have a Zoot jersey that I really love.
Bright, solid colors made out of a wicking material. Reflecting material subtlely incorporated as part of the design for an element of safety in addition to the bright color. Definitely sleeves, zip top and a longer cut in back with 3 pockets one of which should zip for cell phone. Add me to the no pink list.
kelli
It’s all in the fit. I have two Sheebeast jerseys that I really like. Not too tight at the bottom and curved through the waist. Actually I hate elastic in the bottom hem. I also have a Voler (I think) jersey from Cycle Oregon last year that fits nicely. PI has some cute stuff, but the fit is off a bit. They are usually the last ones I pick from my supply. I like cool colors more than busy prints. Pockets just depend on how far I’m riding.
I’m kind of done with pink (although I love your bike Cathy.)
The top posted above is really cute. I’d be tempted to order it, but I’ve only ridden my bike about 10 times this summer and haven’t even gone through the ample supply of jerseys that I have.
I love a bright colored solid jersey. I’m not sure what the proper name is for the sleeves I like but I like the short sleeves that are half the size of normal short sleeves. Has to have a fitted waist and 3 pockets in the back. Also I hate elastic bottoms. I like the bottom to fit at mid hip or a little longer b/c it makes me look skinny! wicking material and a 3/4 zipper.
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sleeveless (except for winter), nice color, 3 pockets, fitted, but not skin tight, zipper front better than no zipper, lightweight fabric (I get way too hot riding).
-i love pink. love it, and do not understand why some women feel it lessens their athleticism by wearing it. it’s just a color, nothing more nothing less. anything pink, or different than red/black/blue/silver catches my attention–as do unusual graphics (like the Cannondale horsefly and bamboo jersey a few years ago)
-sleeves. i like them, as it is good to wipe the sweat off when riding in a peleton. also keeps shoulders cooler. i’m not ashamed of my tan–if that’s the worst thing i get from cycling, then i’m thrilled with that.
-men’s full zip. they’re longer and stay down. women’s tend to get pulled up because of the size of my boobs–and at the end of the day the top will be in my chin. why don’t women’s jerseys zip full front? it is an excellent design, the full zip, and very functional to have this.
-pockets. 3 of them. long rides require a person to carry crap. women ride long too–why is it only the men’s jerseys have big pockets?
-cool designs as i mentioned; team kit especially is my favorite. i don’t wear other jerseys outside of team kit (because i have so many now, & it just feels weird otherwise). however, a pink jersey would probably capture my attention and cause me to buy and wear.
-lighter waffle wicking fabric, or anything that is a light weave. textured weave is ok, provided the design of the weave is attractive. weight and weave of the fabric should correlate to the season…longer sleeves is a tighter weave and heavier weight and so on.
-reflection. it’s good. on pockets, around sleeves.
-graphics that aren’t the name of the company; but genuinely cool design. the most fun jersey i ever have is the lucky charms jersey (it’s sleeveless though, which i no longer like).
-tri tops suck ass IMO, i wear them as little as possible.
I like more sun protection so I go for sleeves and regular collar neckline. I need three deep pockets. Those cute little pockets that come on some jersey’s are a joke.
Colors aren’t much of factor unless they are just butt ugly. I don’t mind feminine colors but I would like a variety of choices…not the same old girlie colors.
Just picked up a jersey from Target yesterday for $8 on sale. White with pink hibiscus flowers. Three deep pockets, sleeves, wicking material and zippered front.
I’m probably echoing what others have said but my .02
- most of my jerseys are sleeveless but that’s because I had rather layer them (arm warmers, etc) than buy lots, also hard to find long sleeve ones I like
- would buy some short sleeves, haven’t found them too often
- prefer bright, more or less solid colours. Think I am more visible to drivers in bright colours.
- don’t like flowery type prints at all
- don’t like advertising at all
- long zipper
- 3 deep pockets, dont’ care if they zip, in fact I have turned down jerseys where the only pocket zips, too hard to get things out while riding
- need more than one pocket
- wicking material, lightweight waffle for hot weather and less permeable for cooler weather
- longer tail in back
- fitted at waist
- "feel good’ fabric, if it feels cheap won’t want to wear it for 6 hours
AWESOME! Thanks for the responses. Keep them coming.
clm
I’m not fussy about color or print. All I want is something that will fit right through my shoulders without feeling like it’s oddly binding my upper arms.
I love pink to. Love it. Love it . Love it. My old mtb was pink. I really wanted a pink new one, but its red 
Did you see the women’s jersey line at the vineman expo? There were orange and pink and other funky colors–they had jerseys, arm warmers, etc, made by a SF designer? I loved that line–just couldn’t afford to spend the money that day. I loved the wraps that went with the jerseys.
Otherwise, I like to match my bike, which is red. I like form fitting clothes and prefer the 3 back pockets if I’m riding long. If I’m only doing 20-30, I’ll wear a running top.
You don’t have a link by chance? Or remember the designers name?! I’ll try to find her anyway.
I also got the Target jersey with pink hibiscus flowers. $12 on clearance and that is just so cheap for a jersey how an you say no? The rest of the C9 line is pretty good so I thought why not and I do like the big pockets. Of course…I have found I have a hard time wearing it, isn’t that silly? I will only wear it if I have no other jerseys clean. I just hate the way it looks, the brightness of the pink and the stupid flowers. I guess I feel about floral designes the way most people feel about pink! I can’t help it I want to look cute when I’m on my bike is that so wrong? I feel better knowing Im not the only one who tries to match with my bike, which is blue I don’t mind pink, but prefer it as an accent color to either black or brown.
good thread… Are you gonna start a new line of bike jerseys? 
I start my taper for IMW today so I am goofin’ off all day. My two cents:
The jersey pics posted above are very attractive but wish for maybe one more color shoice. I’d snatch up that jersey if it were in powder blue with black and white accents… Bummer thing is you gotta usually ride a bit to see for sure if the jersey is a keeper or not because some rides you have more crap to carry, or ya add on arm warmers… Then ya can’t return it if it doesn’t work out. Elastic at the bottom HUGE turn off because it bugs me during the run or bricks, esp if it too short to begin with (see below)
Capped sleeves, for more sunburn protection. Three pockets, center one zipped. Flattering cut (~duh~) contrasting panels on sides. Ability to coordinate with helmet, bike and shoes. (I get a headache seeing all the clashing colors on some riders and their bikes). Simple, plain, classic. Ticks me off when the manufacturer logo is so obvious.
Trim torso fit, but not tight. AND I have a long torso. (Wish bike shorts came in long-torso style).
Ditto above posts on longer zippers.
In Fleet Feet I saw a cute running shirt with a kangaroo pocket on the front that held the matching arm warmers when you shed them. The arm warmers were of same color as shirt. Would like to see that in a bike jersey (sans the kangaroo pocket… EDIT: maybe instead make a cool kangaroo pocket on the back with side-entry pockets and an additional pocket in the middle with a zipper… hmmm! :-D) BUT no gaps, please, between arm warmers and sleeve when actually riding or ya get a weird Nike-swoosh looking sunburn on your upper arm.
(((I would pay $$ for a custom-cut jersey and shorts. Thought about asking Road-Ready to make me some of their LD bike-short-style running shorts to accomodate my longer “rise” / torso)))
I wear scrubs and “Doc-smock” for work, hang out in cheap shorts/T’s and church clothes are “blue-jeans casual”, so I like pulling together a bike/run ensemble since I don’t really get to do it for work.
Well let me know when you have my custom S/B/R gear ready for me!!
~Callie
Women’s jersey cuts tend to not fit me well. I usually find the fits to be kind of “cheesy” and I’m not sure who designs them - but my guess would certainly not be women. They often make even thin women look busty. I’m tall and pretty skinny so I just order the extra-small mens full-zip jersey when that time of year rolls around to buy team kits, always fits well.
In Fleet Feet I saw a cute running shirt with a kangaroo pocket on the front that held the matching arm warmers when you shed them. The arm warmers were of same color as shirt. <<
Do you remember what brand this was?
clm