The Woman's Bike kit reccommendation thread

[LadyB]

Decent kit for women can be tricksy to find. The quality can be dubious as often made more to look good than actually protect. What kit would you recommend to women riders (and pillions) and why?

I'll start....

My Richa Racing Waterproof Gloves. Used all year around, waterproof and armoured. The women's glove has a shorter thumb, hence why they differ from men's gloves.

[Grib]

Oooh, great thread! I always find it really hard to get gloves that fit properly. I see Dainese and Alpinestars are doing ladies versions of their race gloves now, but I haven't had the chance to go and try any on. I've currently got some Weisse gloves, which are good, but still a bit long in a couple of the fingers and thumb. The best gloves I ever had were Dannisport ones, but they don't exist anymore

Other kit; Dainese Vulcan 2 piece

Leathers are always a nightmare, again often sold as ladies leathers, but they're just blokes ones with a different size tag in them. Tried these on and loved them straight away. They're a perfect fit, flattering and full of armour should the worst happen.

Sidi Vertigo 2 boots. I guess they're discontinued now, they're a few years old, but they've been fantastic. Comfortable off the bike, lots of armour and I trust them completely after my first set of Sidi's saved my foot from getting crushed between a car and the bike in a hit and run, when I was a pillion passenger.

Alpinestars Supertech boots

I've crashed in these twice now and they're looking pretty battered, but they've done their job! No foot/ankle injuries, and just a couple of holes in the outer boot, the inner boot seems OK. I wouldn't wear them out on the road bike, they're pretty uncomfortable because they're so stiff and very short (maybe good for the shorter of leg?). I prefer the Sidis for road riding.

Shoei XR1000 Fab helmet.

Comfy, light, looks good, what more could you want

Shark S800 Butterfly

They seem to just have one shell size, so it looks a bit huge on my XS size head! Nice and comfy though. I've broken the dual visor thing trying to make the dark part stay up while moving in the rain, but the place I bought it from fixed it straight away.

Frank Thomas textiles. I have no idea what they're called, sorry! Bought for off roading originally, but I've used them a lot in the cold/wet weather on the Multi and they're great. Not at all flattering, they make you look like a little barrell, LOL But when I'm warm and cosy in freezing weather, that really doesn't matter.

[stray cat]

Men's trousers shape seems to fit me better. but the sizing doesn't usually come up small enough. Women's kit is usually too small round the bust, too small round the waist, and too hewuuge round the bum. Women's kit sizing just sucks.The best two-piece I have found is a Dainese size 42 which has an elasticated waist rather than a fixed waist. I bought it "new but second-hand" from someone who got it on the continent. One day I when I have saved up lots I will get some custom-made BKS stuff. Men's gloves, in a size small, and boots fit me better too.

[littleredrooster]

Bikers Paradise in Coventry does a range of ladeez stuff. What he hasn't got off the shelf, he can modify for you. Well-made but a tad basic, p'rhaps.

[malphesius]

Get most of my basic gear from here http://www.girlsbike2.com/

[Velocette]

The Bosslady has a Revit Textile jacket and troos which have been fine over three winters and Lidl or Aldi gloves. She also has a Triumph leather jacket which looks so good she often wears it off the bike. Sod all protection though...

[LadyB]

Originally Posted by littleredrooster

Bikers Paradise in Coventry does a range of ladeez stuff. What he hasn't got off the shelf, he can modify for you. Well-made but a tad basic, p'rhaps.

Originally Posted by malphesius

Get most of my basic gear from here http://www.girlsbike2.com/

Have to say my experience with these people has been overpriced on branded goods (My Draggins +£10 than RRP!!) and unknown brands on other stuff. And don't even get me started on all the pink. Why do they think I want to wear pink because I have tits? But I liked their hoooge rocking horse thingy to sit on for trying leathers .

Originally Posted by Velocette

The Bosslady has a Revit Textile jacket and troos which have been fine over three winters and Lidl or Aldi gloves. She also has a Triumph leather jacket which looks so good she often wears it off the bike. Sod all protection though...

But all in all some protetion is better than no protection.


You have all said the key word to a lot of stuff marketed for women - it is basic and often has far less protection or attention to detail than the mens stuff. Finding boots that actually have some decent armour (and style!!), like the Sidis Grib describes, is rare as hens teeth unless you have large feet and can get mens boots. And somel arger women can get away with mens stuff too, as mentioned. I'm a size 8 and can't .

Hein Gericke does a Gawd Awful range of leather jackets, purely fashion, no armour priced at £499, and a whole range of absolutely ordinary long fashion boots (FMB style) with no armour for £80 a pair. Because it is sold in a bike shop, someone will buy that and wear on a bike. I dispair..

The Frank Thomas Ladies Range is not too bad and I have a textile jacket from them bought for £99 more than 3 years ago that is excellent for 3 season use (you will boil in them in the summer though). Good fit and reasonabe protection. The FT boots are all basic again, black, pink or mint, nothing new there.

I will report back more fully on my Wolf Two Piece Leathers when I get the trousers, which have been made to measure. The tailor was pretty nervous about doing them as he is used to fitting out guys, not curvy women. I they fit well, it's worth the £550 for a Wolf suit M2M. Love that Dainese suit though, Grib!

Womens kit is a niche market in a niche market I guess, but if we keep this thread going, at least we can give each other some ideas.

[smixxy]

Not all larger women can wear mens kit. I have gone from a size 24 to a size 18 and am still struggling to find a two or one piece to fit. Because I am curvey (big shoulders, ample bust small waist - comparitively- and broad hips) no mens gear ever fits well enough for me to risk it.

I also have size 4 feet. Kids boots are too small in the calf and to get Sidi's to fit the width of my feet, I wear a size 6!! The best boots I got were from Bikers Paradise and had full protection, toe sliders, were wide and the size 4 was just perfect!!!!!!

And don't get me started on gloves. The only pair I have ever found that felt really good were at Crowtree in Louth, and they were £100+ which I didn't have to spend at the time. So I have to save up and go back sometime I guess

I recently tried on a couple of size 18 suits at J&S in Filton. I think I'd need to be a size 14 to fit into them. I'm not fooling myself, I wear either 16 or 18 from New Look, but in leathers it seems I still can't fit an 18.

I did buy a made to measure jacket last year. Its now too huge!!! So I have to find out if it can be altered for a sensible amount.

Yes, I know this is a bit of a rant (sorry), but I've been riding for 5 years now and still haven't had kit I really like that fits well!!!

At least if the weight loss continues, by the end of this year I should be able to buy off the shelf stuff - hopefully!!!!

(Just checked GirlsBike2 - if I could afford to spend £600 on a suit that will be too big by the end of hte year, I'd get Crowtree to make one to fit properly!!!!!!!!!!!)

[stray cat]

I might be better off with a 1-piece, thinking about it. I'm only a size 10, but don't go in much at the waist, so something without a nasty tight waist would be a good idea! I like the versatility of a 2-piece, though, and don't want to look like a wannabee racer either!

[Lily]

I have a spidi Lizard pro ladies one piece suit and it fits really well. Previously I have always had blokes one piece then had them adjusted to fit.

The only downside I could see with the spidi suit is if you had large frontal areas It's relatively snug on me and i don't so lord knows if you had woppers!

i really struggle with gloves though as I want as much protection as possible but i have very long fingers and to get them to fit fingers and length I end up with them too big and lots of excess material on the palm.

[Velocette]

Originally Posted by LadyB

Have to say my experience with these people has been overpriced on branded goods (My Draggins +£10 than RRP!!) and unknown brands on other stuff. And don't even get me started on all the pink. Why do they think I want to wear pink because I have tits? But I liked their hoooge rocking horse thingy to sit on for trying leathers .

But all in all some protetion is better than no protection.


You have all said the key word to a lot of stuff marketed for women - it is basic and often has far less protection or attention to detail than the mens stuff. Finding boots that actually have some decent armour (and style!!), like the Sidis Grib describes, is rare as hens teeth unless you have large feet and can get mens boots. And somel arger women can get away with mens stuff too, as mentioned. I'm a size 8 and can't .

Hein Gericke does a Gawd Awful range of leather jackets, purely fashion, no armour priced at £499, and a whole range of absolutely ordinary long fashion boots (FMB style) with no armour for £80 a pair. Because it is sold in a bike shop, someone will buy that and wear on a bike. I dispair..

The Frank Thomas Ladies Range is not too bad and I have a textile jacket from them bought for £99 more than 3 years ago that is excellent for 3 season use (you will boil in them in the summer though). Good fit and reasonabe protection. The FT boots are all basic again, black, pink or mint, nothing new there.

I will report back more fully on my Wolf Two Piece Leathers when I get the trousers, which have been made to measure. The tailor was pretty nervous about doing them as he is used to fitting out guys, not curvy women. I they fit well, it's worth the £550 for a Wolf suit M2M. Love that Dainese suit though, Grib!

Womens kit is a niche market in a niche market I guess, but if we keep this thread going, at least we can give each other some ideas.

Forgot to mention that she has thrown away the hip pads from the Rev it trousers because they make her bum look too big.Transpires that she couldn't get them on with the pads in!

[Grib]

Check out http://www.mcaleicester.co.uk/ . They have the new Alpinestars and Dainese ladies gloves listed, as well as specific ladies boots with bigger calf fitment etc from the top manufacturers. They've got a very helpful lady in there too, who helped me and Couch with our new suits and the gloves I wrecked last year. If you can get down there, do...if not give them a call, I can't recommend them highly enough for their professional and friendly approach Some real bargains to be had sometimes too!

[smixxy]

Originally Posted by Grib

Check out http://www.mcaleicester.co.uk/ . They have the new Alpinestars and Dainese ladies gloves listed, as well as specific ladies boots with bigger calf fitment etc from the top manufacturers. They've got a very helpful lady in there too, who helped me and Couch with our new suits and the gloves I wrecked last year. If you can get down there, do...if not give them a call, I can't recommend them highly enough for their professional and friendly approach Some real bargains to be had sometimes too!

Grib - I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I have just phoned MCA and spoken to a lovely man called Dan. HOW HELPFUL!!!!!!!!!!!! I am totally stunned at the moment. I don't think I've ever had a conversation with a bike shop about womens leathers and had someone be soooooo helpful and positive!!!!!! They even do up to a size 20!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway - a trip is being planned right now to get there and look around.

Grib - thank you soooo much for posting the link. The Dianese is probably more than I would have wanted to spend for off the shelf, but I also know from my brothers experience that it is excellent kit.

Any one else - definitley ring them if you're looking. Couldn't be more helpful!!!

One happy smiley Smixxy here now

[egypt220]

Originally Posted by smixxy

Not all larger women can wear mens kit. I have gone from a size 24 to a size 18 and am still struggling to find a two or one piece to fit. Because I am curvey (big shoulders, ample bust small waist - comparitively- and broad hips) no mens gear ever fits well enough for me to risk it.

I also have size 4 feet. Kids boots are too small in the calf and to get Sidi's to fit the width of my feet, I wear a size 6!! The best boots I got were from Bikers Paradise and had full protection, toe sliders, were wide and the size 4 was just perfect!!!!!!

And don't get me started on gloves. The only pair I have ever found that felt really good were at Crowtree in Louth, and they were £100+ which I didn't have to spend at the time. So I have to save up and go back sometime I guess

I recently tried on a couple of size 18 suits at J&S in Filton. I think I'd need to be a size 14 to fit into them. I'm not fooling myself, I wear either 16 or 18 from New Look, but in leathers it seems I still can't fit an 18.

I did buy a made to measure jacket last year. Its now too huge!!! So I have to find out if it can be altered for a sensible amount.

Yes, I know this is a bit of a rant (sorry), but I've been riding for 5 years now and still haven't had kit I really like that fits well!!!

At least if the weight loss continues, by the end of this year I should be able to buy off the shelf stuff - hopefully!!!!

(Just checked GirlsBike2 - if I could afford to spend £600 on a suit that will be too big by the end of hte year, I'd get Crowtree to make one to fit properly!!!!!!!!!!!)

sorry to butt in on a ladies thread but have you looked at the m-tech range of clothing ?
not very well known but very nice stuff all the same.

the reason i am saying this is because we got offered the rest of the m-tech range by phoenix distribution so they may well sort you out a nice deal on some clothing.

we also get all the richa range.

also have you looked at wolf leathers as the make ladies stuff down in southend for the bigger ladies,as we sent a customer to them.

[Angefazer]

I have Frank Thomas 2 piece strike, jacket fits fine, however I'm not gifted with much in the frontal area, and I always have a problem when buying off the peg with the length of the legs as I only have a short inside leg.
Boots I wear Sidi black rain again as mentioned before somewhere on here, I take a size 5 and I think they are a 6.5 but they are very comfy and give a bit of protection.
Gloves I have again are FT but the ladies sizes are too short in the fingers for me, so I have the small mens!!