Read the full article here: Bicycling.com/womens-gear/how-find-best-plus-size-cycling-clothing
How to Find the Best Plus-Size Cycling Clothing
MOLLY HURFORD X JANUARY 8, 2015
Whether you’re a struggling dieter or confident in your curves, there’s perfect gear out there for you.
Cycling clothing can be intimidating, no matter what size you are. The brightly colored, slim-fitting spandex has a way of attracting attention, which is unsettling for many women.
It’s even tougher if you’re in the “Athena” category, where your options are fewer and it’s harder to find something that fits right and looks cool, too. Luckily, a few companies are now breaking ground with great-fitting, attractive bikewear that’s designed for curvy women. Finding the best gear for your body doesn’t have to be difficult—you just need to know how to find it.
First of all, don’t be shy about wearing cycling gear. “I always love this one customer comment we received that has stuck with me,” explains Paula Dyba, the VP of Marketing at Terry, a women’s clothing company. “She said, ‘Thanks for making plus size apparel so I can get un-plussed!’” Terry is dedicated to creating fun, well-tailored cycling gear for women of all shapes and sizes—a vocation that obviously resonates with the company’s customers. “We find our plus customers to be extremely loyal and extremely vocal,” says Dyba.
Of course, not every company designs and constructs its larger-sized items the same. Look for a brand that sizes clothes proportionally. At Terry, for instance, the chamois pad is actually sized differently in the XS version compared with the XXL version, which is a surprisingly rare thing to see. “Plus sizes are not simply graded up—we create plus size patterns which typically are a slightly looser fit through bust and hip,” says Dyba. “Tops tend to be a bit longer and elastic free; bottoms have a slightly higher rise.”
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