Women's (non lycra) Cycle Wear

I'm really struggling to find casual tops that i could use on a bike.
Plenty of base layers on the market, but nothing that could be worn as a midlayer without looking too technical.
I like the rapha mens city range (merino rollneck and long sleeve jerseys).
I'd like to see something like that for women.
Some nice rollnecks and merino jumpers.
With good length sleeves and body length.

Have you tried the Uniqlo merino roll-necks?

(sorry if this is obviously not going to work, I'm a bloke, but I remember MM waxing lyrical about them as being nice and not too pricey)

I don't like the fit. They're not long enough on the body and sleeves are at least 2 inches too short.

Okay – I'll show myself out then ...

No, uniqlo is good stuff. If it fits you.
I like icebreaker but some women are complaining that sleeves and body length are too long.

I don't like the fit. They're not long enough on the body and sleeves are at least 2 inches too short.

I'm wearing one today and although it's really warm, I have exactly this ^ problem. I look like a child :-/

somewhere in between to avoid unpleasant displays of lower back. makes it easier to wear normal non-cycling tops.

also if you want any guinea pigs re toughness of fabric just shout. my saddle eats normal jeans for breakfast and then rapha jeans for lunch.

thanks again for this feedback, it's really helpful.

I pick up my full length trouser sample on Monday! I'm really excited and will be posting some pictures soon. I can confirm that there will be no cracks, camel toes or muffin tops - and if there are the pattern will be changing! Same with the fabric - i've chosen some with a long history of workwear strength - but if it doesn't stand up to cycling, then it's back to the drawing board.

Trouser fabrics are all dark colours - I've never really understood light colours for cycling trousers. Although I am looking into 'wine' coloured cotton... which I really like.

I am hoping that I have got all the necessary cycling specific features to make them really functional, without too many stylised functions to make them unaffordable. I'm looking forward to your feedback anyway.

I have a 'Ninja Style' black merino base layer and snood sample on the way too - with long arms and long body! Can't wait...

By the way - do people like to wear their trousers on their hips - waist, or somewhere in between? I'm a hips girl myself, but realise that I might not be in the majority.

yep, definitely a bit higher than the hips on the back! natural waist is a bit too high though. and I can't deal with leaning over something that high on the front :/

I'm really struggling to find casual tops that i could use on a bike.
Plenty of base layers on the market, but nothing that could be worn as a midlayer without looking too technical.
I like the rapha mens city range (merino rollneck and long sleeve jerseys).
I'd like to see something like that for women.
Some nice rollnecks and merino jumpers.
With good length sleeves and body length.

I get cheap ladies merino jumpers from eBay. Not sports clothing, just quite long tops. I recently picked up a couple of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221039511376?var=520092128794&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

For £9 each and are the ideal weight for a non-sports ride. I also used them snowboarding last week under an insulated jacket and they worked perfectly just as a single layer - I was really pleased. They aren't great quality but that's actually better as they are a little lighter-weight than most casual jumpers but still thick enough to wear in public without looking like you came out in your thermals.

I also have a great lightweight merino zip up cardie with an argyle pattern from Ibex that is perfect bike-to-bar, but it wasn't cheap. http://shop.ibex.com/Apparel/Womens-Long-Sleeve/Juliet

Although I am quite short so a long top on me may be short on others. The eBay ones are about mid hip on me.

Thanks for the tip but they're actually quite short.
Bargain for some though.

Hey good luck with the venture :)

My two cents:
Can't get technical trousers... SWRV/Levis only do blokes (which never will fit me, I take a bold curve model in Levis...) and the UK shops don't do water resistant fashion trousers either.
For tops, I end up changing top anyway at work. Even in cycling tops that wick sweat the top will still have some smell.

So trousers like SWRV, Jeans and Warehouse style skinny trousers etc. that are waterproof/repellant with practical touches like pockets, lock loops would get my vote :)

RE coats, I just end up wearing Gore Bike wear. A short nice waterproof jacket would be good, but I despise the mandatory hi-vis. Dots of reflective material are spot on though, or turn-ups that reflect.

And maybe make some cycling hats when at it? People can flash out more cash for accessories if just right. I can't find a Gore belgian cycle cap, wool gets soaking wet, and things like trouser straps and other nice "decoration" items can also be good.

Hey good luck with the venture :)

My two cents:
Can't get technical trousers... SWRV/Levis only do blokes (which never will fit me, I take a bold curve model in Levis...) and the UK shops don't do water resistant fashion trousers either.
For tops, I end up changing top anyway at work. Even in cycling tops that wick sweat the top will still have some smell.

So trousers like SWRV, Jeans and Warehouse style skinny trousers etc. that are waterproof/repellant with practical touches like pockets, lock loops would get my vote :)

RE coats, I just end up wearing Gore Bike wear. A short nice waterproof jacket would be good, but I despise the mandatory hi-vis. Dots of reflective material are spot on though, or turn-ups that reflect.

And maybe make some cycling hats when at it? People can flash out more cash for accessories if just right. I can't find a Gore belgian cycle cap, wool gets soaking wet, and things like trouser straps and other nice "decoration" items can also be good.

Thanks JWestland, I totally agree re: trousers, which is what got me started on this in the first place... Are the Levi trousers genuinely water resistant, or just treated with something that wears off over time?

Oh and I found you a gore cap... Hot off the press it seems. Not sure if the uk site does them.
http://swrve.myshopify.com/products/goretex-belgian-cap

Thanks :) SWRV UK site had them but only for kids which is still the case :S

Levis not sure...it's water resistant I believe, if soaking down you still get wet. But you can't have breathing + full water resistance. Gore says they do, well Paclite is a little better than a plastic binliner but not much :) The touring forum consensus was you get wet either from sweat or rain if it's really bucketing down.

Also those fabrics are expensive and probably they don't sell in small batches, so might not be handy for you atm. There's a competitor to Gore, and Gore has better stuff than Paclite but again not sure they will sell small rolls.

It also rarely buckets down on the way to work so spray proof might be what commuters buy anyway.

The manfriend has SWRV water resistant trousers, I can ask him how well the proofing lasts?

Hi there, just to let you all know that I have set up a facebook page for so I can update on the cycle clothing. Search for 'Velocity Urban Cycle Wear' for a few pictures and a logo! Feedback etc appreciated.

Can someone post pictures here for those not on Facebook?

Are the Levi trousers genuinely water resistant, or just treated with something that wears off over time?

Late to this, sorry, they are coated. And even when brand new they were of limited waterproofing, as the moment the material stretches/has pressure on it (hello skinny jeans) the water just bleeds through, like a tent shell.

That said, they dried very quickly, I was quite happy riding in mine for about 45 miles over the weekend (I have cut them to shorts and had tights underneath), but was perfectly happy sitting around in them afterwards. I would probably go for breathable and quick drying over waterproof tbh

Can someone post pictures here for those not on Facebook?

Yes sure, I'll post them up here in the next few days.

I have used M&S heatgen tops, which come in different colours, they are very soft and dry quickly (I tend to overheat). I sometimes cycle in heatgen top to botom, long sleeve tshirt and leggings with a skirt. The leggings are the most durable I have had so far, they are not lycra but they do the job =)

So... here goes. These are some quick pictures of the samples I have so far. I am still testing the cut, style, fabrics etc.

I have one pair of full length trousers - in very thick, dark brown moleskin. The fabric is amazingly warm - and pretty shower resistant due to its density. It's wearing well after weeks of daily use. It's gone slightly shiny on the seat - i'm not sure if this a common thing or not?

They have a raised waist at the back, reinforced seat, reinforced belt loops and articulated knees.

The 3/4 length pair have the option of rolling them up above the knee. They also have reflective piping on the back pockets - for a high-viz behind!

The base layer is pretty simple - long arms (that can be buttoned up when not cycling), longer in the body at the back. I have designed the snood to cover the shoulders so that it can be worn with tops that are lower around the neck. It's funnelled so it fits like a polo neck - but with the advantage of being able to take it off when you're hot.

I've also attached the branding i've been working on... any thought on that would be great too!

4 Attachments

Nice one, well done!
Thoughts - flat seams on neckline, actually, wherever possible on the top.
Snood looks v cool, would be v interested in that. My current "tube" is fine but so not cool.
Trousers & 3/4, both look great.

Ooh! The snood coming lower is a great idea, mine always looks and feels weird with a scoop neck top. The 3/4s look very comfy and practical too. Look forward to having more trouser options on the market! Any idea of pricing point yet?

The only thing I would say is that Velocity is a very common name in the cycling industry; Velocity rims, Velocity bikes, VeloCity blog, etc. I'm sure you've already thought of that though!

thanks for the replies... flat seams is a good shout. I will get onto that!

I'm not 100% on pricing yet, I will update when I know what the price will be - I am trying to keep the price down, but not overdoing the features.

Velocity is kind of common in cycling, but there doesn't seem to be a clothing range of that name - i was going for something that reflected the 'urban-ness' of cycling. I guess it's also good to have a name that relates to cycling somehow.

thanks again...

May I make a suggestion on the logo? I'd swap the type weights for the two tag lines, to emphasise Urban Cycle Wear, or possibly just do them both in the same weight

moleskin is great for walking but I would've thought that shiny patches is inevitable with cycling. and doesn't it rub strangely on saddles? any saddle with a flock/suede finish is going to drag on it.