Ok, so I figure that it might be interesting to start a little bit of a discussion about cycling and athletic clothing. As anyone who knows me can attest, I have a huge obsession with clothes. Its one of my favorite pastimes… Lately I have been getting more and more discouraged with the lack of cute athletic clothing out there.

I raced for 20 years. When I was younger I liked having sponsors on my clothes because somehow it validated that someone else thought you had some kind of athletic talent. But, now after years of being told what to wear, I finally have the chance to go crazy, show my own style, and lo and behold, there is absolutely zero athletic clothing on the market that I think is HOT for women. I don’t think that women want to look like guys on the bike. Most of the girls I like to shop with are looking for clothes that make them feel fun and sexy. I think that there are a lot of women out there who feel the same way but can’t find anything that works. I know because I have been trying to find stuff that I would like to wear, and I am now taking some of the cute yoga and BeBe sport stuff to the tailor to get reworked into something that I will wear on the bike. Who says that you can’t show up to a group ride in something outrageous if you like it? Confidence is sexy. Athletic women should be rejoicing, not trying to look like their cycling brothers!

OK, so right now, I think the best fitting athletic pants for women are made by a company out of Miami called Couture Activewear. The material is a super comfortable lycra blend. It packs really well if you travel a lot, and really flatters all body types. The thing that makes these pants stand out from others are the details. They have the pockets perfectly placed, and they have belts etc. to really draw the eye to our typically more flattering areas. I am shocked at how often I get compliments with these pants. I own three pairs and I love each pair. They are at home in the gym and also for going out. It’s not everyday you can find great looking pants that work with heels or barefoot in a yoga class. OK, so I admit, I have a shortened pair for gym time and tennis shoes, and longer un-hemmed versions for everyday wear with heels. I like to think that they go with my personality…. A bit feminine and sexy in an athletic sort of way. I’m definitely not your average dainty girl, but I like a feminine/ athletically tough mix. I like to think of it as a contradiction. Let’s keep life interesting and keep them guessing…

As far as mainstream athletic clothing I also really like the BeBe Sport. They have many different pants and they have been written up as the most flattering pants for women. I personally think this is true to a certain extent. Their designs are flattering and sexy but the material is a step backwards from the Couture pants that I’m obsessed with right now. But, where Bebe excels is in their selection of colors, and unusual tops at a very affordable price. I love the bright colors and the designs. You have to be careful with their clothes because if you pair too much of it together it looks a little bit Vegas-ish, but if you pair a sexy top with an all black bottom it definitely gets that edgy look. The key is to find a blend of sporty and sexy without looking cheap.

I’m doing some research on cycling shorts right now and I’ll keep you all updated. I tried a pair of really short Zoot shorts the other day and while I loved the style and didn’t even mind the triathlon chamois (ie. practically non existent) I found that after an hour my thighs were getting rubbed raw from the saddle. There was also a seam in the chamois area that was not super comfy. Maybe its because I am a little bigger than the girls that these shorts were designed for (not 100lbs..), but I think that we all are sitting on a saddle, and that saddle is going to touch your thighs so it’s a little hard to figure out. But, I admit, I’ll throw on these shorts in the summer to ride for an hour or so just because I like the lack of tan lines….
So, ladies and gentlemen, let me know why you love your shorts or jerseys or any brand of athletic clothing that you are into. I can’t be the only person out there who thinks that women’s cycling clothing is terrible right now. Guys let me know your thoughts…. This could be a win/win situation. There can be no way men like what they are seeing, and we girls love to shop. So tell me your favorites and let’s improve what your seeing out there Plus if you look on Match.com or anything, you ladies know that they way to a man’s heart is through his activities, so why not up your chances and look as put together as you do when you go out. It’s infinitely better than hanging out at Home Depot or something….