Women's off-road clothing

[mrsroynie]

Firstly, I apologise. I am reproducing part of a post that I originally put in the Heels on Wheels category ... here goes:

I have scoured the various threads for women's clothing topics, but none really quite hits the spot. My husband and I are booked on the BMW off-road skills course 26th/27th April, prior to a trip to the US/Alaska in June.

In an apparently largely unsuccessful attempt to minimise injuries, the good folk at BMW insist on good protective clothing and 'proper off-road motocross boots' with ankle protection. Great stuff. But can I find any anywhere? Not in France anyway, and it looks like Alpinestars Stella Tech 3 is about the only option for us girls. Seems I will have to bite the bullet and order them on-line from the UK ... unless anyone knows different?

Also, I have a trouser problem. I am 5' 9", and have longer than average legs, and I struggle to buy women's motorcycle trousers at the best of times. I had to have 4" added to the bottoms of the last pair I bought. "Buy men's", I hear you say. The trouble is I would have to buy a ridiculously enormous pair to go over my not overly enormous hips. Any ideas?

... And, for the love of God, can anyone tell me why bike clothing manufacturers think that all women want to wear pink!

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Rent from the BMW guys on the day

Also, off road gear (well at least 'Enduro' type gear) - Klim for example - tends to be much baggier than road kit so hips and stuff ought not to be such a problem.

Andres

 

[MrsPDiddy]

I too have found a similar problem to you in finding off road wear for ladies. Dirt Bike Bitz have a few items, and yes...... they have Alpinestars Tech 3 boots with bloody PINK! They do however, also have them in black and white (which I've just ordered myself). I'm booked on the off road weekend at BMW for the end of March.

As for longer length ladies trousers...I'm afraid I have quite the opposite problem as I'm a mighty 5ft 1in. This poses more problems I can assure you. Not only with clothing but with reaching the ground on bikes!

Good luck and enjoy!!!!

MrsPD (Not wearing a scrap of pink on a bike)

 

[bustupbiker]

I am sure i have seen a Ladies clobber store in one of the bike Mags, but i don't remember which one

 

[mrsroynie]

Rent from the BMW guys on the day

Also, off road gear (well at least 'Enduro' type gear) - Klim for example - tends to be much baggier than road kit so hips and stuff ought not to be such a problem.

Andres

Thanks but, as far as I am aware, the BMW boots are mens sizes only and start at 39. Good point about the baggy clothing though.

 

[Bub]

Girls bike clothing

As a BLOKE Im not sure this will help, but I seem to recall a website called "girlsbiketoo" or Girlsbike2 or similar that might help.

Not accessed their site (obviously) so dont know if they do other than pink stuff.

Good luck with the search, and the Off Road day

 

[Pathologic]

Girlsbike2 website

Hi mrsroynie,

Here is the website for you to browse.
http://www.girlsbike2.com/

SWMBO and I are going to Excel on saturday. They will be there. Pm me your measurements and Physiojo will ask them for you.

regards,

Path.

 

[mrsroynie]

Hi mrsroynie,

Here is the website for you to browse.
http://www.girlsbike2.com/

SWMBO and I are going to Excel on saturday. They will be there. Pm me your measurements and Physiojo will ask them for you.

regards,

Path.

Thanks Bub and Path. Good website. No suitable boots, but there are some decent-looking trousers and jackets - and not all pink either! I usually take a 14 in trousers. The problem for me is usually leg length (34" in bare feet). Perhaps Physiojo could ask what their standard leg length is and/or whether longer lengths are available.

 

[Pathologic]

OK.

We will see what can be done.

Regards Path.

 

[vilguy]

http://www.dirtbikestore.co.uk/acatalog/DirtBikeStore_com_Boots_12.html

Has some tech 6 stella boots, there was some reviews of womens off road kit in a road bike magazine a few months back, had loads of alpine stars etc kit and most of it WASNT pink.

Ill try and dig em out later.

 

[Pumpy]

Hi Mrsroynie,

I totally agree with you: finding decent off road gear for girls is a pain in the bum - manufacturers don't seem to regard us as a target group worth attracting...

However, after almost three years of looking and asking around, trying out and replacing parts again, I have improved my kit bit by bit to an adequate protection standard - touch wood...

Let's start from the bottom:

SIDI Mini Force boots - great features, cheaper than the Alpinestars and just plain black.

Seal Skinz Long Light socks for the occasional puddle and water crossing...

EVS SC05 Knee-shin-guards - provide good protection while still very comfortable to wear (this bit of equipment took me the longest to find: smaller knees, shorter shins but bigger calves than men... )

KTM protector shorts - protect your hip bones and coccyx - and the latest versions don't have a front fly anymore...

Alpinestars Stella Bionic 2 protection jacket - great piece of kit: chest, back, shoulder and elbow protection and very popular in the community now...

BMW Rally 2 gloves - perfect fit for me; start with size 6.

Shoei Hornet DS - gets you to the trails over thousands of miles, through every weather, comes even in XXS and there is still enough space for the goggles without removing the visor (it really depends: you either have a Shoei head or an Arai TourX shaped one... ).

My googles are from Scott - can't remember the model but they are small enough not to suffocate me by squeezing my nose.

And over all that equipment I just wear my old BMW Belice suit (yes, I have also got a newer, less scruffy looking version for work... ).

Hope this helps - if you need any further info just let me know. Good luck!

Ela

 

[mrsroynie]

http://www.dirtbikestore.co.uk/acatalog/DirtBikeStore_com_Boots_12.html

Has some tech 6 stella boots, there was some reviews of womens off road kit in a road bike magazine a few months back, had loads of alpine stars etc kit and most of it WASNT pink.

Ill try and dig em out later.

Many thanks, if you could find those reviews, that would be great. The Stella Tech 6 boots came in black as well. Unfortunately, dirtbikeexpress.co.uk have told me that they are no longer available. They have been superseded by the Tech 3 boot, available in ... pink and grey or white (with black clips). Just spoke to dirtbikestore.co.uk, and they weren't sure. Darren is going to check with his suppliers.

I suppose I shouldn't really care. Once they're covered in mud, no-one will be able to tell what colour they were anyway. It's just the principle of the thing.

 

[mrsroynie]

Hi Mrsroynie,

I totally agree with you: finding decent off road gear for girls is a pain in the bum - manufacturers don't seem to regard us as a target group worth attracting...

However, after almost three years of looking and asking around, trying out and replacing parts again, I have improved my kit bit by bit to an adequate protection standard - touch wood...

Let's start from the bottom:

SIDI Mini Force boots - great features, cheaper than the Alpinestars and just plain black.

Seal Skinz Long Light socks for the occasional puddle and water crossing...

EVS SC05 Knee-shin-guards - provide good protection while still very comfortable to wear (this bit of equipment took me the longest to find: smaller knees, shorter shins but bigger calves than men... )

KTM protector shorts - protect your hip bones and coccyx - and the latest versions don't have a front fly anymore...

Alpinestars Stella Bionic 2 protection jacket - great piece of kit: chest, back, shoulder and elbow protection and very popular in the community now...

BMW Rally 2 gloves - perfect fit for me; start with size 6.

Shoei Hornet DS - gets you to the trails over thousands of miles, through every weather, comes even in XXS and there is still enough space for the goggles without removing the visor (it really depends: you either have a Shoei head or an Arai TourX shaped one... ).

My googles are from Scott - can't remember the model but they are small enough not to suffocate me by squeezing my nose.

And over all that equipment I just wear my old BMW Belice suit (yes, I have also got a newer, less scruffy looking version for work... ).

Hope this helps - if you need any further info just let me know. Good luck!

Ela

Now we're talking! Never thought of looking for yoof boots. I'll have to see what their returns policy is though, before ordering. Was thinking of getting a new helmet too, but with the mounting costs of this Alaska trip, I will probably have to make do with my street helmet. Thanks a million.

 

[Possu]

The exchange rate is in your favour, could be worth sourcing all your gear in the UK? A Belgian friend did this recently with Arai helmets, BMW neck braces, A/stars boots, KTM parts etc. Saved a fortune even with the cost of driving over to collect it all.

 

[bhud]

You could look here

http://www.revit.eu/

They may help you too

http://www.girlsbike2.com/

 

[mrsroynie]

You could look here

http://www.revit.eu/

They may help you too

http://www.girlsbike2.com/

Thanks for the Rev-it link. Has to be the best women's clothing range I've seen yet. Have just asked for their price list.

 

[vilguy]

I managed to dig out those reviews .. i now have a stack of magazines going free in the for sale free stuff section... thanks

I cant get to them at the mo as they are in the bedroom and jaz is asleep and would promptly kill me if i disturb her.

I also looked at the rev'it gear today. Some really nice stuff, limited ladies stuff again though.

Halvarrsons do some nice gear

some names to look into are fox, airoh & ixon... oh and rukka... if your feeling flush

also this place

http://www.cmsexeter.co.uk/index.php/cPath/84_164_170

http://www.clubpromoto.co.uk/site/shop.php?sid=72

http://www.ladiesatmandp.com/proddetail.asp?prod=E4517F - this place has quite alot of choice.

Actually when you start to look at some of the ladies gear it looks so much smarter than blokes stuff. I wonder where the designers heads were at sometimes when you look at blokes stuff. Then again theres some shocking ladies stuff out there too, on a few of those websites above there are trousers etc that look as though someones just cut up a blokes pair and curved them abit... they are so baggy.

Have you had a flick through some TBM magazines? There are a few female riders who write for them... there are some email address's for them too, maybe you could contact them directly?

Paul

 

[Pathologic]

Pipped at the post

Thanks for the Rev-it link. Has to be the best women's clothing range I've seen yet. Have just asked for their price list.

Hi MrsRoyne,

The news from the bike show is pretty much as above. Rev'it have long-legged trousers for dutch ladies that can be imported upon request.

Girls bike2 have an 'ask the expert' feature on their website. Send them your requirements and they will research a solution for you.

Had a good day amongst the tool shops and snake oil salemen yesterday. There were more people there than I expected. Excel lacks atmosphere, but at least I didn't pay for travel. We arrived on bicycles! This was fine except for buying a large outdoor floor cushion for the younger offspring and having to walk back with it in the cold and wind! We are just mad.

Hope you find what you are looking for.

Regards,


Path and Physiojo

 

[mrsroynie]

Hi MrsRoyne,

The news from the bike show is pretty much as above. Rev'it have long-legged trousers for dutch ladies that can be imported upon request.

Many thanks for going to the trouble of asking on my behalf. I have the Rev-it catalogue on line, now need to check prices with a retailer. I noticed they were Dutch. Stands to reason, all the Dutch women I know are taller than me!

 

[mrsroynie]

I managed to dig out those reviews .. i now have a stack of magazines going free in the for sale free stuff section... thanks

I also looked at the rev'it gear today. Some really nice stuff, limited ladies stuff again though.

Halvarrsons do some nice gear

some names to look into are fox, airoh & ixon... oh and rukka... if your feeling flush

Again, thanks for going to all that trouble. The Rev-it gear certainly seems to tick all the boxes. Like I said to Path, all the Dutch women I know are tall.

I did look at Halvarrsons early on, as I got a catalogue through with Bike magazine. Was tempted as they listed women's sizes, but will have to go with unisex or men's for trousers. The other women's clothing manufacturers aren't worth bothering with, again due to leg length.