Pro Deals for the Everyday Cyclist: ONE DAY CLEARANCE SALE!

Friday, September 2nd

10:00am - 6:30pm

Location:

BicyclingHub.com
642 SE Stark St.
Portland, OR 97214

Show up for the great deals on cycling apparel; stay for the FREE BEER from Hopworks Urban Brewery!

SAVE 50% or more on top-performance brands including Pearl Izumi, Descente, Bellwether, Canari, and Giordana. Find us at 642 SE Stark St. Portland, OR 97214, call 503-234-9898, or shop online 24/7 at www.bicyclinghub.com

Maternity cycling clothing for expectant moms who wish to ride through pregnancy

Forget the Stork--it's Sheila Moon who delivers!

Cycling clothing manufacturer Sheila Moon stopped by BicyclingHub.com headquarters last week to show us a sneak preview of her Winter 2011/Spring 2012 collections. Her latest brain-child? A new line of women's maternity cycling clothing, answering an unmet need (and multiple requests from many moms and moms-to-be across the country) who wish to remain active and healthy during their pregnancies and continue to ride their bikes, be it for transportation, exercise or recreation.

What makes women's maternity cycling clothes different than just ordering up a couple sizes--or switching over to an XL men's jersey, for example? When this question was posed, Moon enumerated the key differences:

1. "First of all, when women are pregnant, the size one's back doesn't change. These maternity cycling jerseys still retain their fit in the rear, maintaining a nice shape."

2. "Secondly, most traditional cycling jerseys normally go UP [so as not to hang down when you're folded over the handlebars]. My maternity jerseys are elongated in the front to go DOWN, cupping under the belly and eliminating any gapping between belly and short."

Also new for 2012: the introduction of knicker skorts, providing women an alternative choice with a second layer of fabric (and thus second layer of warmth) once cooler weather arrives. Fans of her traditional knee-length skort (introduced last year) will be pleased to see its return, this time with a bit of extra flair. In addition to the basic black and solid white colorways, Moon now offers a solid skirt overlay with a print pattern underneath (along with matching jerseys to compliment the ensemble): "It's a little kooky, but pretty awesome at the same time," Moon laughs.

Speaking of matching jerseys, come Spring 2012 all summer jerseys from Sheila Moon will offer a new, lightweight waffle fabric that feels and breathes incredibly well. The cycling dress, introduced only last year, is back with the same functional back pockets and five new color patterns and designs. Already on the fast-track to becoming a classic, one can easily transition from the commute into work to a meeting in the boardroom to a casual happy-hour gathering with friends--all without ever having to change your wardrobe.

Loyal fans will be pleased to learn Moon's entire line of cycling shorts, knickers and tights will their form-pleasing fit and non-elastic yoga waistbands will be returning in force. However, she's upped her game with the introduction of Sheila Moon cycling bib shorts for women for Spring 2012. "When I was racing and training a lot, I would always wear men's bibs," Moon recalled. "I couldn't stand the elastic waistband digging into me. For my women's bib shorts, my #1 goal was COMFORT. I designed the bib straps to go around the bust so it's not chafing; it goes around [the torso] as if it were a swimsuit." Unlike men's, these bib shorts were made specifically for women, factoring in female torso lengths and inseams into the equation. Another innovative new feature on these bibs is the IPhone-sized back pocket to stow important valuables.

We have history! Sheila Moon and BicyclingHub.com owner Doug Duguay met 8 years ago at a cyclocross race in Portland and have been doing business ever since. Sheila is one of our favorite suppliers. Both BicyclingHub.com and Sheila Moon have survived many years while other businesses in cycling apparel haven't made it.

Since founding her business in 2003, Sheila Moon Athletic Apparel has enjoyed a steady rise. Indeed, as of August 2011, the first half of the year's sales have equaled all of 2010, with a second production of jerseys needing to be run because they were sold out before May. Moon attributes to her success to reputation, brand recognition, and maintaining competitive pricing while still being based in the San Francisco Bay area. She also recognizes that while she's categorized in the bicycling industry, Moon regards her brand as residing in the apparel industry first and foremost, which guides her decisions on cuts, fabrics and styles. With the advent of the newly launched Women's Lounge at Interbike 2010, Moon feels that additional exposure introduced her to new markets where her brand would would do exceptionally well.

Sheila Moon's target audience for women's specific cycling gear? "Women who are athletes, but still want to look like a girl." Two guiding principles inform all of Sheila Moon's pieces:

1. "It's about FASHION. If you have clothes that are comfortable and make you feel good while riding, you're going to want to ride more."

2. "Women shouldn't be afraid of being strong and competitive while also being feminine. You can wear flowers and still go out and kick some booty."

SAVE UP TO 35% OR MORE ON SHEILA MOON when you shop at BicyclingHub.com!
Most of our 2011 Sheila Moon cycling apparel is currently on sale to make room for next season's arrivals. Check out our clearance items to stock up and save!

Obsessed with Bib Shorts

Over a decade has passed since Doug Duguay started selling cycling clothing online in the spare bedroom of his home in Portland, Oregon. As one of the largest Internet retailers of cycling clothing in the United States today, he remains just as passionate about riding as the day he launched BicyclingHub.com in 2002.

It's a well-known secret that Duguay is "obsessed" with bib shorts, as well as a self-identified cycling addict. Owning over 25 different pairs of men's cycling bibs (that's riding almost every day for a month without having to do laundry once!), he's constantly on the lookout for the next great pair to hit the market. "As a company and as an individual, I have been committed to finding really comfortable bib shorts...It's professional as well as personal goal to find quality cycling products. Riding is what I DO."

When asked whether he remembers his first pair of bib shorts, his eyes light up. "In 1989, I bought a pair of Tomasso bib shorts from Gregg's Green Lake Cycles in Seattle, Washington. They were typical 80's style--black lycra with bright neon yellow stitching throughout, I would constantly reach for Tomassos, casting aside other shorts in favor of the bibs and washing them constantly. And back then, it was a REAL chamois, made of softened leather--manufacturers didn't switch over to synthetics until the late 1990's/early 2000's."

Main Entry: cham·ois Pronunciation: \ˈsha-mē, sense 1 also sham-ˈwä\

Chamois
The chamois, Rupicapra rupicapra, is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe, including the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, the European Alps, the Gran Sasso region of the central Italian Apennines, the Tatra Mountains, the Balkans, parts of Turkey, and the Caucasus. Source: Wikipedia

Duguay's private bib short collection includes such well-known manufacturers as Castelli, Pearl Izumi, DeMarchi, Santini, Nalini, Etxe Ondo, Canari, Giordana and Descente. In 2010, BicyclingHub.com was looking into creating their own brand of bib shorts, but couldn't locate a manufacturer to produce a bib a a certain price point with the chamois and quality Duguay was looking for. While the project is currently tabled, Duguay sanguinely remarks, "If you're going to put your name on [something], it better be something you can stand behind."

When it comes to product testing, the staff at BicyclingHub.com don't have be asked twice to throw a leg over their frame and put the cycling gear through the rigors of field testing. Awarded a Silver-Level Bicycle Friendly Business Award by the League of American Bicyclists earlier this year at the National Bike Summit, BicyclingHub.com boasts a nearly 100% biking or walking commuter rate to the office and staff are encouraged to post honest and thorough reviews on the gear it sells. "It's important to be able to offer a knowledgeable response when a cusomer calls regarding fit, sizing, etc." Duguay observes. "[As the owner/buyer], it helps me make decisions about what we carry. I like to evaluate bib shorts as if I were the consumer and put them under the tests of riding, laundering, durability and fit. If I purchase a pair of bib shorts and they fall apart, I'd certainly think twice about stocking them."

After meeting with a representative from Sugoi about bringing in some men's and women's pieces for the Spring 2012 line, a free pair of Sugoi bibs were offered for testing. Duguay pointed to a box in the office and said, "I have 26." "Oh, you don't want them then?" "You bet I still want them--I'm OBSESSED with bibs!" Duguay exclaimed with a smile.

Bikes, bibs, and smiles: BicycingHub.com owner Doug Duguay shows off some favorites in his personal collection.

For him, the bibs vs. cycling shorts debate was resolved in 1999, the same year Duguay hitchhiked around France while following the Tour and cheering Lance Armstrong on to his first TDF victory. "I was heading to a race in Portland, Oregon and I forgot my favorite pair of trusty bib shorts, so I stopped by a local bike shop and didn't want to spend a lot of money. I picked up a pair of regular shorts, and quickly found they didn't fit the need long-term. "A lot of the time, cycling shorts fall down; the don't stay in place; the waistband collects sweat and moisture. Around the office, we have a saying: 'Once you go bibs, you never go back.'"

Favorite brands on the market?

1. Castelli
"I wear Castelli most of the time. It's our #1 brand in terms of sales and most customer interest." Next time you have 20 minutes, just ask him about his Castelli Claudio bib shorts:

	DOUG SAYS: I rode my bike across Montana in my Castelli Claudio Bibs! On September 3, 2010 I left for Montana to ride the Park 2 Park Montana. The temperatures in Montana were unseasonably cold and I didn't pack enough cold weather gear aside from my Castelli Claudio Bib Shorts. Not only were the temperatures down in the 30's in the mornings, we also were in more than one rain shower and we even rode through a hail storm! No problem, the Claudio Bib Shorts handled it all while repelling moisture off of the garment, keeping me warm and dry and very happy. One other note, the Claudio bib shorts feature Castelli's Kiss 3 pad. I have tried the top of the line Progetto X2 pad from Castelli this year but I hadn't tried the Kiss. The pad in these bibs shorts were very comfortable and I rode up to 80 miles and didn't experience any discomfort. I was amazed at how much I liked these bibs. The Claudio bibs match up with Castelli's Nanoflex Arm, Knee and Leg Warmers.

2. Santini
"I like Santini bib shorts a lot, and up until 2010 we carried them. But through changing distributors, availability has been spotty and I haven't always been able to guarantee them for my customers. "

3. Pearl Izumi
"Pearl is one we like to offer our customers because the fit is more generous and with three tiers of production (Quest, Elite and PRO), you can usually find something that fits."


Why this "obsession"?
Duguay's passion for cycling apparel (and finding the perfect cycling jersey to match all those bibs) is rivaled only by his passion for the bike. "Well, it goes back to our commitment to our customers. We're not just a faceless online retailer; we take the time to have conversations with fellow riders who call with questions. We know our products inside and out--how long the inseam is, whether the lycra's too thick or too thin, what the quality of the chamois is. Employing a knowledgeable and committed staff who all rides means the people who work here are able to make recommendations based on our customer's needs and our personal experience, be it road, mountain, cyclocross, commuter, long-distance touring or track."

Top three recommendations from the man who makes his living studying, testing, and selling bib shorts?

I. For construction and durability: Giordana
II. For style: Castelli
III. For value: Pearl Izumi

For more information, consult BicyclingHub's Buyer's Guide to Bib Shorts. Need sizing help, guidance or personal recommendations? Call BicyclingHub.com toll-free at 1-888-817-8060 or email customerservice@bicyclinghub.com and a staff member will be glad to tell you what to wear and when to wear it.

"Neva Div Up"

By Guest Blogger Belinda Williams

When I was asked to tell my story, I thought it would be easy. After all, it’s me we’re talking about. But when it comes down to it, it’s not always easy to let the outside world into one’s life, or explain what things have been like to those who haven’t actually lived through them.

As a youth in the San Francisco Bay Area, I was into everything athletic. I don’t think I had any special abilities; no matter what the sport, I just loved to play. I had good natural strength and balance, but wasn’t the fastest, tallest, or possessed the most endurance. However, I was very competitive. I roller-skated, ran track and cross-country, served volleyball, and even did the steeplechase and some triathlons. Running led to a recruitment trip at Colorado State University: I fell in love with the mountains, and instantly knew I was home.

Injuries put an end to my competitive efforts early on, but since athletics weren’t everything to me, that was ok. I remained active, worked on my studies, changed majors a couple of times, and then took some time off for a paid internship doing genetic research and development in California. I was aiming for graduate school, where I hoped to study medicine.

Everything changed just as I was preparing to take that next step. I’d been back from my internship one semester when one by one, things began to go wrong. At first, it seemed relatively simple… a bad reaction to a spider bite, then hypothyroidism and seemingly mild anemia. It was summer, so I had time to deal with those things… easily treated, right? It was when I developed an odd rash that I realized it wasn’t so simple. That day, my doctor drew another complete blood count, and the next thing I knew, he was calling a hematologist and getting me in that very day for a bone marrow biopsy. I wasn’t just anemic. Everything was low. I had no immune system. I was making the cells, but they weren’t surviving to make it beyond my bone marrow- they weren’t reaching maturation.

That was bad enough, but less than two months later I was on a referral to see a different hematologist at CU Denver and for a blood transfusion (I had about ½ the normal count by then and was ghostly white) when yet another diagnosis was made in addition to the blood disorder. I’d developed collapsing glomerulopathy- a kidney disease usually seen in people with HIV. I didn’t have HIV, though. No one truly knew what I had. I was basically told at the time of diagnosis that the kidney disease had a rate of 100% end stage within 5 years, and recurrence in transplants. I was told recovery was unheard of.

I went home and began treatment. My doctors back in Fort Collins were never so pessimistic, but they didn’t try and give me false hopes either. I began scouring all the research I could find, tracking every change, every treatment. In one year, I spent over 4 months in hospitals, generally with life threatening infections. I tried to keep my studies up- it was all I had left that was normal, but my grades suffered. The University let me go through graduation in December 1999, as I wasn’t expected to survive to complete my studies by then. In the end, I was lucky. Somehow, I recovered. No definitive diagnosis was made of the blood disorder, although we have ideas. My case has also led to some direction for research to take that may help others.

I was finally able to finish my undergrad studies. While not completely well, I was steadily improving and getting stronger. I graduated and began working in research at Johns Hopkins, then George Washington University, taking some graduate courses at GWU using the tuition benefits that came with my job. I began getting active again, inline skating part of my commute, getting off the Metro a few stops early. I have to admit, I LOVED jumping stairs where I could find them, shouting “Skater on the stairs!” to make sure the way was clear. I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie.

Fast forward twelve years post-diagnosis. I’m now healthy. I’ve completed my pre-clinical studies in medical school, and am looking forward to taking step one of the boards before starting my clinical rotations. There’s always been the constant fear, though, that it could all come back. No one knew just what my kidneys could handle. Until two years ago, I was living in constant fear that this might just be a temporary reprieve.

Two years ago, when my mother suggested I fix up the old bike I’d once done triathlons on as a teen, I took it to my doctors. I was tired of being afraid. I didn’t want to just ride, as my mother had suggested… I wanted to pursue challenges I had once dreamed of as a youth. I wanted to ride up the highest mountains. I wanted prove to myself that my past health doesn’t have to limit me. I aimed for the biggest event I could think of at the time: the Triple Bypass. As an added incentive, I decided that while I was doing this for myself, I’d like to help others as well, and looked into raising funds for the National Kidney Foundation as my chosen charity that first year.

It wasn’t easy. I never expected it to be. I knew I was starting from square one, and that this would be harder than any athletic achievement I’d ever aimed for, and I wasn’t even aiming to win. I just wanted to finish. More than anything, though, I wanted to see just what I could actually do. I did my best to fix up my 1987 vintage Vitus 979, an old aluminum frame literally glued together at the seams, and way too big for me. I had a wheel build done on the old 126mm hub, and modified everything I could to try and make it fit just a little better, climb a little easier. In September 2009 I began to ride.

The first time I hit a steep hill, I had to walk up. That was the only time. There were times I felt like I was practically moving backward, but I rode all the way up every climb after that. No walking, no stopping. By the end of October, I rode up Lookout Mountain for the first time. It took me nearly an hour, but I made it. That was when I discovered just how much fun downhills could be! Unfortunately, in mid-December, I failed to take into account sand left by snow plows. I was once again riding Lookout on an icy day, taking great care in the areas I knew were slick, speeding up as I approached the bottom where it was dry. WHAM! Next thing I know there’s another cyclist bending over me asking of I’m ok. I wasn’t. I needed shoulder surgery.

So, it was surgery, rehab, then back training. With only two months before the Triple, once I was fit to ride, I pushed things even harder. Three weeks later, I was climbing Mount Evans from Echo Lake, the highest paved road in North America: 14,130 ft. elevation at the parking lot, 14260 atop the footpath. It took me 4 hours.

The day of the Triple Bypass, my mom ran SAG (support and gear). It took over 13 hours to ride the 120 miles, with over 10,000 ft. vertical and three passes, the highest at 11990 ft. elevation. Evergreen to Avon, up Juniper pass, down to Idaho Springs, a steady climb to Georgetown, then up Loveland Pass, skirting down into Keystone in mild sleet. I continued over Swan Mountain into torrential downpours through Frisco and Copper Mountain. The sun came out on Vail Pass. I finished about 30 minutes before they stopped serving the barbecue in Avon, just as the heavens exploded with another torrential downpour. I was exhausted, completely bonked and cranky as heck, yet thrilled beyond anything I could have hoped for. I’d done it.

I’ve now ridden the Triple Bypass twice. That first summer, I also rode the Mount Tam Century in California and the Wapiyapi Classic, a fund raiser for childhood cancer, in Aspen. I’ve had two new bicycles since that first season, and have completely given up my car. In 2011, my total ride time for the Triple was just under 10 hours. I wasn’t cranky, but exhilarated. It was a lot easier… and harder. I’d been the victim of a hit and run in mid-March. The bicycle I’d purchased just after Thanksgiving was destroyed. I broke ribs, had a bad concussion, injured my shoulder, and herniated a disk in my neck fairly badly, which is compressing my spinal cord between my 4th and 5th vertebrae. I’m doing physical therapy in hopes of avoiding surgery. I already had one spinal fusion when I was 18 (another bike wreck- don’t ask) and don’t want to go through that again.

I’m back on a bicycle, though! A friend helped me replace the one that was destroyed, and I intend to pay him back. I’m still riding for charities. This year I rode in Elephant Rock for Colorado Neurological Institute with Team CNI and JUC Spokespeople, just 3 weeks after getting back on a bike. For most events, I’m raising funds for Doctors Without Borders, although my efforts are off to a bit of a late start. I’ll also be riding my second Wapiyapi Classic in September.

Last week, I rode in the Bob Cook Memorial Mount Evans Climb. It was the first time I’d ever ridden all the way from Idaho Springs to the very top (without even a stop at Echo Lake): 28 miles and 6500+ ft. vertical in 4.5 hours. I’m happy with how I did. It’s my best time yet for that ride, twelfth time I’ve ridden the mountain, third time this year, and only my fourth time from Idaho Springs. In another week, I’ll be riding in The Copper Triangle. My big challenge will be Deer Creek Challenge on August 21st. I hope to successfully navigate the century and claim the challenge finisher’s jersey.

Next year, I’m already signed up for the Alta Alpina 8 Pass Challenge, a double century in Tahoe with over 20,000 feet vertical. I was supposed to ride it this year, but there was no way I could do it after the hit & run. One day, I’d like to ride in Race Across America, perhaps fill in for my friend Robert, “Robo” Baldino with Team 4 Gone until he’s able to ride it again (he was badly injured when struck by a semi during this year’s race, but is expected to recover). Perhaps one day I’ll ride even farther. I have no limits!

People frequently ask me why I do what I do. I have two answers for them: “Because I can!” and “Why not?” Why survive, when you can live? As a young hero, 5-year-old Coleman Larson used to say as he battled brain cancer, “Neva Div Up!” I never will. Tailwinds to you!

About the author: Belinda Williams is an avid cyclist, riding for charities and involved in numerous cycling advocacy and safety efforts on local, state and national levels. She is also working full time while studying for her medical boards. In August, she will be helping out with stage 6 of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Golden, Colorado, and will be a course marshal on the course for stage 2 in Aspen, Colorado. Belinda also writes a column for the Denver newsletter, The Back Fence.

Why I Ride...One Man's Personal Story of Why he Supports the Tour de Cure

By Ray Bransky

Fifty-five years ago, four years before I was born, my sister was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of four. For most of my life I always thought my sister had a normal childhood. Sure I knew her diet was a little different and she needed to take insulin injections, but for the most part the challenges she faced were similar to most. Because of our age differences, my sister and I rarely shared "coming of age" milestones. High school, college, dating, work, marriage, children were all events we passed on separate calendars. In truth, our parents and the family visits they encouraged were our mainstay in spanning the generational as well as geographical differences. When my father, our last surviving parent, passed away 5 years ago, I made a promise to myself to put more effort into staying in touch.

Oddly enough, cycling became that connection. Being avid century riders, my son and I are always looking for new events and rides. Because my sister lives in Portland we started looking for organized rides that could bring us into her town for a visit. When we found the Tour de Cure, we knew we found our event. The first year it was just my son and me raising a small sum and riding the century. The next year we formed a modest team, Linda’s Loose sprockets, in honor of my sister. Riders included my son and myself on the century, my wife, niece and two of my sister’s friends (including “Red” Jennifer, a red rider diagnosed in her teen years) pedaling the 27-mile route and my sister and brother volunteering at the stadium.

Even though I had grown up with a diabetic in my family that year, as Linda’s Loose Sprockets gathered for our post celebratory dinner around my sister’s table, I think I finally had a better understanding as to what diabetics really faced. My sister talked about the changes she has seen in her lengthy tenure as a type 1 diabetic. She remembers my father sharpening needles and having to boil glass syringes to sterilize them for reuse. She spoke of learning to count calories at an early age to balance out her blood sugar and insulin levels. With pride she recounted her testing of some of the earliest insulin pumps, one of which allowed her to successfully navigate the gestational cycle that produced her daughter, my niece and now our fellow rider. “Red” Jennifer, in turn beamed about my sister’s current health and her ability to control diabetes. She shared the challenges she faced as a rebellious teen diagnosed with diabetes and subtly wondered what health issues lay ahead for her due to the choices she made as an adolescent.

All of this made me realize that my sister, and diabetics face anything but a “normal” life. In a way, I see my participation in Tour de Cure as an opportunity to pay back all those before me who have helped my sister, through research, education and technology, live a half-century and beyond with diabetes. But in truth what I really hope is that my riding might be a small step that helps someone else diagnosed with diabetes enjoy a life that is at least as long and fulfilling as that of my sister.

NOTE: Join the BicyclingHub.com Team at the Portland Tour de Cure tomorrow (Saturday, July 30th). Look for the BicyclingHub logoed jerseys en route and introduce yourselves. Can't make it to the start line? You can still DONATE TODAY to help put an end to diabetes and spread the word.

What else is happening at the Hillsboro Stadium? Here's the latest word from Kris Bockmier, Portland Tour Organizer.

Stick around! Here's What's happening at the stadium before and after the ride:
Join us for breakfast and coffee, 5:30am-10:00am, brought to you by Ambridge Event Center. Breakfast will include fruit, bagels, PB & J, yogurt, granola and boiled eggs. Gleukos will be available at 5:30am to fill your bottles and is also the sports drink on the course. Located next to food area. Bring your swimsuit, shorts and towels so you can enjoy the Wild Rapids waterslide after you return from your ride. Lunch will be served by Helvetia Tavern. They will be grilling burgers and veggie burgers, along with a salad and chips. Fruit, snacks and soda will also be available. Extra meal tickets for your friends and family are available for $7.00. Bring your ID and cash for the beer garden.

Form and Function: A Clothing Buyer's Guide for Women

Imagine BicyclingHub's surprise when we opened our July 2011 issue of Velo News and discovered some of the products we carry were featured in their Women's Gear Guide! That's great news for the more than 16 million women in the U.S. ride road bikes looking for performance-enhancing apparel built with the female figure in mind. Below are some of the highlights, showcasing some of our favorites found on BicyclingHub.com.

Form and Function: A Clothing Buyer's Guide
by Rebecca Heaton

When it comes to cycling clothing, women have a dizzying array of options to choose from. To help with all the choices, we selected short-sleeve jerseys and shorts in small, medium and large sizes from 10 different companies. Then we gathered a group of 10 female cyclists of all interests, shapes and sizes — several road racers, a few casual triathletes, and a number of women who enjoy putting in serious miles at endurance events, century rides and multi-day bike tours — to try everything on and give their feedback wearing the clothes both on and off the bike.

WHAT OUR TESTERS LOOK FOR IN A JERSEY

COLOR AND PATTERN: Fun colors and prints, but nothing transparent or frilly.

FIT: Tight, but not too tight. The jersey shouldn't slide up and expose skin.

FABRIC: Soft, light, breathable fabrics are best, nothing scratchy.

POCKETS: Three pockets — a small zipper pocket for key and cell phone is a bonus.

BOTTOM BANDS: Minimal elastic, as tighter band tend to slide up on women with an hourglass figure.

FRONT ZIP: Three-quarter to full-length zippers.

WHAT OUR TESTERS LOOK FOR IN SHORTS

WAIST BAND: Wider, softer bands and those that drop down a bit in front.

LENGTH: Nothing too long, although longer styles offer better compression.

FABRIC: Strong and thin, but not flimsy or see-through.

LEG GRIP: Need a gripper in the leg band, but not too grippy or sticky, and not so tight as to cause sausage legs.

CHAMOIS: Soft and comfortable, but not bulky.

STITCHING AND STYLING: Flat stitching is a must, and subtle style touches are welcome; basic black is still the most popular.

BIB VS. NO BIB: The jury is out; interesting option, but bathroom stops remain a challenge.

BODY TYPES

In the clothing descriptions, we note which pieces fit these four body types:

^P PETITE BUILD: 5'2" – 5'4", chest (30"–32"), hips (32"–34")

^B BROAD BUILD: 5 '4" – 5 '7", c hest ( 36"+), hips (39"+)

^M MEDIUM BUILD: 5 '5" – 5 '7", chest ( 32"–36"), hips (34"–38")

^T TALL BUILD: 5'8" – 6', chest (33"–36"), hips (33"–38")

Pearl Izumi Ultrastar Women's Cycling Jersey

"Designed with a semi-form fit, this jersey uses wicking, textured fabric with UPF 50 protection. Three back pockets offer up great storage for clothes and snacks, and a few reflective hits keep a rider visible early morning or when the sun sets."

PROS: Well constructed; great color and design; comfortable fit; good pockets; good value

CONS: A bit heavy for warm days; styling best for recreational riding

BEST FIT FOR: Petite, Medium, Broad builds. A bit too short in torso length for Tall builds.

Pearl Izumi Women's Elite Drop Tail Cycling Bib Shorts

"These shorts live up to their name with a unique “drop tail” flap in the back to make bathroom breaks easier. Made with a soft and breathable UltraSensor fabric in a multi-panel design, the Drop Tail features a seamless ELITE 3D Chamois, which is antimicrobial, breathable and padded in just the right places."

PROS: Great mesh in the bibs; soft, breathable fabric; comfortable, padded chamois; nice flatlock seams.

CONS: Drop tail flap — it works, but it's awkward.

BEST FIT FOR: Petite and Medium Builds. Bib didn't fit longer torsos well.

Descente Women's Aero-X Cycling Shorts

"Made with Descente's Aero-X fabric, a blend of nylon and spandex, these shorts provide great compression and stretch on long rides. An elastic-free waistband makes for a comfortable fit at the waist, and the women's lightweight Stealth chamois is antimicrobial and breathable."

PROS: Comfortable waistband; simple styling; no-nonsense chamois; well constructed, form-fitting fabric.

CONS: Overly simple styling; no leg grippers.

BEST FIT FOR: Petite, Medium, Broad builds. Too short for Tall tester.

Castelli Perla Women's Cycling Jersey

"Made with Castelli's Softlex fabric, this jersey feels like soft cotton and is wicking and form fitting with seamless arm and neck bands, each with a nice hit of color. The full-length zipper allows for maximum venting, and the plethora of pockets — three elastic and one zip — allow for plenty of room to store ride necessities."

PROS: Comfortable fit; soft fabric; well constructed; classy, feminine styling; trim detail matches shorts; good pockets.

CONS: Poor fit for longer torsos.

BEST FIT FOR: Petite, Medium, Broad builds. Too short for longer torsos.

"No Guts, No Glory:" Schleck and Team Leopard-Trek Grab Yellow in an all-out battle to win the Tour

Photo source: versus.com

"No guts, no glory" is what Team Leopard-Trek's Andy Schleck told reporters yesterday at the end of Stage 18 of the 2011 Tour de France after his team's meticulously executed plan to break early with 60 km of serious climbing to go netted him the stage win and put Schleck within spitting distance of the yellow jersey, narrowly held onto by Europcar's Thomas Voeckler. Frenchman Voeckler gave the performance of his life as he sprinted to an uphill finish atop Galibier to retain the leader's yellow jersey for a 10th stage win, and Team BMC's Cadel Evans stamped out his determination with his every pedal stroke not to let his bid for the maillot jaune slip through his fingers.

The excitement continued in today's "hillier than thou" Stage 19 climbfest, ending with a guns (and legs) a'blazing battle on the road up the fabled Alp de Huez.

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Voeckler's fellow Frenchman and Europcar Pierre Rolland escaped the pack to achieve an important stage win at the top of Alp de Huez, while Andy Schleck took over the yellow jersey from Voeckler as leader of the 2011 Tour de France. Schleck enters Saturday’s critical final time trial with a 57-second gap ahead of Evans, a noted time-trialist, while defending champion Alberto Contador from Team Saxo Bank sits nearly four minutes behind Schleck in 6th place overall.

Will Andy find his wings?

[Photo left: Andy Schleck raises his arms in thanks after winning Stage 18 on the mountain-top finish of Galibier after a long solo effort. Source: Team Leopard-Trek.] When asked whether he'll be able to hold Cadel Evans at bay in the 40km time trial stage tomorrow and ride into Paris as the Tour Leader, Schleck replied, “The yellow jersey gives you wings and I hope that is the case tomorrow.” We'll know for certain tomorrow at the conclusion of Stage 20…But in the meantime, BicyclingHub.com thanks Andy the Team Leopard Trek for providing one of the most exciting Tours to watch with baited breath in a long time.

Cheer Andy on to victory with an official Team Leopard Jersey or Team Kit!

Team Leopard-Trek boasts some of the strongest riders in the world, from the animated Fabian Cancellara to Stuart O'Grady and Jens Voight the lanky Luxembourgers Frank Schleck and Andy Schleck and newcomer Jakob Fuglsang. If you are a fan, then this official team replica kit is a must have.

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