STN's Pool of Knowledge for Women Riders

[stefrrr]

I covet your bike.

Welcome!

[Sport-Touring]

[Weaselette]

I covet your bike.

Welcome!

*G* Well isn't that nice. I'd let you take it for a spin if we were closer. It's pretty great so far, 'long as I don't crack up playing with the tri-map  

[lionlady]

I'm sorry if there's another thread about this somewhere.

Who's going, where are you staying, will there be an STN meet & greet?

Wrong coast. Grrr.

P

[stefrrr]

Yeah, I'm definitely going to fly for this one. I've got so much going on around that time, that I'll have to.

Last I checked flights to Vegas aren't that much.  

Does anyone know if they rent leathers?

[Krismark]

Yeah, I'm definitely going to fly for this one. I've got so much going on around that time, that I'll have to.

Last I checked flights to Vegas aren't that much.  

Does anyone know if they rent leathers?

Barring anything terrible and unforseen Stargzrgrl and I will both be at Femmoto. They have rented leathers in years past but I don't know for sure for this year. You do not have to wear leather though. Zip together leather or textile is fine too as long as it isn't mesh.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I just got a request from this company, www.she-rides.com, to carry Nikwax. It looks like a pretty comprehensive site for women's gear and I thought I'd pass it along  

[Kath]

I've seen that one before and bought my Original Buff from them a couple years ago.  Wow...they've expanded!

[uvakat]

Wow I go on a hiatus from STN and there is a women's section...

In reference to the jobs post... I'm pretty sure riding has not hurt me and probably has helped me a little bit. I work in an engineering firm and a good portion of the engineers/staff ride. My boss just finished his MSF course and now wants me to help him find a VStrom used.

I did have a question for the girls though. I have thicker ankles and calves, is there any boot that you found that fit well? Most street boots generally don't fit around the upper part of my calves. Currently I wear the hideous looking Sidi Vertigos race boots since they have the adjustable ankle/calf, but I find myself wearing hiking boots on commutes since they are more comfortable and I don't look like I'm off of some sci fi set.

[katego]

I bought the Oxtar (now TCX) Sunray boot when I started riding 4 years ago when my calves were considerably larger. They zip, but have a strech panel and the zippers are on the inside.

I am looking for a replacement though. Does aerostich sell the combat lite boot in women's sizes?

-k

[Fourstring]

Wow I go on a hiatus from STN and there is a women's section...


I did have a question for the girls though. I have thicker ankles and calves, is there any boot that you found that fit well? Most street boots generally don't fit around the upper part of my calves.

Tourmaster Solution boot.  I bought a set for my wife and she loves them.  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I am looking for a replacement though. Does aerostich sell the combat lite boot in women's sizes?

-k

I don't recall seeing women's sizes listed, but go by the European size (US 9 = EU 41, for example). I ordered based off of this and it was pretty close. I don't know if they run a tad large or if I need a 40.5  

[jadziadax8]

Tourmaster Solution boot.  I bought a set for my wife and she loves them.  

I do love them, and yes they fit my calves just fine.  I have big meaty calves from a) being of nearly 100% German descent, and b) being a softball catcher.  For a, when Terry Pratchett talks about women who can carry a pig under each arm in his Discworld novels, I picture all the women in my family.    For b, I haven't caught in a decade, but still can't seem to lose the muscle.

[katego]

I don't recall seeing women's sizes listed, but go by the European size (US 9 = EU 41, for example). I ordered based off of this and it was pretty close. I don't know if they run a tad large or if I need a 40.5  

I wear a 39, 40 if I want thicker socks. I didn't see anything smaller than 41 on their site when I looked last week. I'll check again!

-k

[ctbandit]

OK, since someone else mentioned periods...I decided to try a Diva cup instead of lugging around a metric ton of tampons this summer.  Anyone use one?  Anything I should watch out for?  

Alright a bit weird but...

My g/f SWEARS by this. She's so thrilled with it she's turned into a semi-diva cup evangelist. Her sister turned her onto it and now she goes around telling all her friend to use it. If she posted on this site and saw someone talking about it she'd freak.. so I figured I take the initiative and post about it for her.

[katego]

I wear a 39, 40 if I want thicker socks. I didn't see anything smaller than 41 on their site when I looked last week. I'll check again!

-k

I decided to order the TCX/Oxtar Infinity, they have a size 40, and no zipper!

Like I said earlier, I have been wearing the Oxtar/TCX Sunray boots for a few years & they work well for larger calves. The strech panel works well. Waterproof (important in Seattle). Warranty service is also superb, I had a three-year old trashed pair with a broken right zipper that the distributor (Helmet House) replaced, no questions asked.

The instep is removable, width seems normal, and they look fine with work attire. I have a new-in-box pair in size 8 (EU 40) that I want to sell (bought a new pair since I didn't think that HH would replace the old ones). Send me a PM if you are interested!

-k

[Woodsatyr]

Hi!  I thought I'd toss this one out for y'all...  http://www.hairglove.com/Action07.html.  I have long hair that I wrap with a hair glove.  It keeps it from getting tangled which doesn't take much with fine hair.

Hi Barb!  

[luvtoride]

Tourmaster Solution boot.  I bought a set for my wife and she loves them.  

The Tourmaster Solution boot is not good for us chickies w/ large calves. Been there, done that one.... sent the bitches back to whence they came. I am presently wearing the Oxtar Matrix boot. It still does not fit my calves properly. I cannot zipper the boots all the way up. Luckily, there is velcro to close the top of the boots.

I've managed with them thus far... but will be buying something else when I buy new. I'll probably be looking into "Cruiserworks" boots http://www.cruiserworks.com/products.cfm. They have a couple of pairs that aren't horribly cruiser-ish w/ the buckles & such. I hear that they are extremely waterproof, last forever & large calves need apply. Also, a bit expensive... but, not over-the-top expensive.

Good luck. Please, if you find a good boot f/ calves that is worthy of touring, let me know, I don't know whether it is that I have large ankles or large calves... but I've had a real problem with finding riding boots that are not for the pencil legged.
Heidi

[LicketySplat]

I have a pair of BMW Traveler Light boots and a pair of Gaerne Stradas. I don't think you can get the Gaernes in smaller sizes in the US any more. Both pairs have zippers, but they fit my aerobics-instructor calves just fine. Both have hard plastic protection for the shins and malleoli. The current equivalent model of the BMWs is now called their Allround boot.

[jadziadax8]

The Tourmaster Solution boot is not good for us chickies w/ large calves. Been there, done that one.... sent the bitches back to whence they came. I am presently wearing the Oxtar Matrix boot. It still does not fit my calves properly. I cannot zipper the boots all the way up. Luckily, there is velcro to close the top of the boots.

I've managed with them thus far... but will be buying something else when I buy new. I'll probably be looking into "Cruiserworks" boots http://www.cruiserworks.com/products.cfm. They have a couple of pairs that aren't horribly cruiser-ish w/ the buckles & such. I hear that they are extremely waterproof, last forever & large calves need apply. Also, a bit expensive... but, not over-the-top expensive.

Good luck. Please, if you find a good boot f/ calves that is worthy of touring, let me know, I don't know whether it is that I have large ankles or large calves... but I've had a real problem with finding riding boots that are not for the pencil legged.
Heidi

That sucks that you couldn't get them to work for you.  I'm the wife mentioned above, and do love them (see earlier post in this vein).  They were a little snug at first but stretched out nicely.

[luvtoride]

I have a pair of BMW Traveler Light boots and a pair of Gaerne Stradas. I don't think you can get the Gaernes in smaller sizes in the US any more. Both pairs have zippers, but they fit my aerobics-instructor calves just fine. Both have hard plastic protection for the shins and malleoli. The current equivalent model of the BMWs is now called their Allround boot.

LS, I may need to visit my friendly neighborhood BMW dealer to try those boots that you speak of.

I wouldn't be looking for a small size. I'm 5'-8" & about 185-190 lbs. I wear a woman's size 11 or a men's 9. I'm not a small woman. My calves aren't actually fat... they are just really thick. Same w/ the ankles.

Most times I buy men's gear. I have better luck with it fitting for the most part. I figured that men's boots would fit w/o any issue. Yeah well, that absolutely did not happen.

Jad, when I got those Tourmaster boots in the mail & tried them on, I was extremely disappointed. They were a decent boot at a reasonable price. There was no concievable way they would zip up.

I have a Cycle Gear right down the road from me. It seems that all of the boots that they carry are narrow in the calf area. Leads me to believe that a lot of cycle riders are pencil-legged? Ok, I sure they aren't... but the selection of boots makes me think that.

Heidi