Swobo Womens Baggy Short Combo-Union 1.0

I can't help loving Swobo. So fun, so maverick, and so cute! These are my first baggies ever purchased, and my favorite thus far.

First Impression: Uh, Swobo, these don't look like the picture on your website. Even after I emailed them about it, months ago, my charcoal and gangreen shorts still don't look like the picture on the website. Still, I tried them on, and despite the rustling sound they make when I walk, I have grown to love these shorts. Cute details like a corduroy pull tab on the waist closure make them all the more lovable.



Overall Fit:
Shell: Great! Fitted look, so I feel like a girl, and no extra fabric to get caught on my saddle. The waist adjustment tabs, sturdy and secure, allow for a lot of variance, which works great for me, although I'd still like a bit more adjustment for my figure. Still a bit of diaper butt, but hey, less than other shorts I've worn.
Womens Technical Liner OS 11: Love it! the waist band is so sexy. It dips down under the belly-button like a cute bikini bottom. I love feeling like a girl!

Technical Performance: Wow. This shell never gets wet. I don't know how Swobo did it, but even on really hot days, this is a dry short. The velcro waist closure topped by a quality snap is secure and never pops open. The liner is really comfortable; the chamois is perfect - comfortable and not bulky. No matter how I move around on the bike, this combo acts like one unit, I never suffer from strange friction or getting hung-up on the saddle. All high stress areas are sensibly reinforced with attractive complementary colored bar-tacks.

The Nutshell
Love, love love:

• overall fit
  


• sturdy
  


• ultra-wicking


• attractive design
  

• well-constructed
  

Things I'd like to see:

• More like this on the market. I'm in love.
  

Overall score: 10 out of 10...

...because when you look great and feel great, your ride is great.

Under Armour Women's HeatGear® Original 2 Sports Bra

Before the 24 Hours of Adrenaline at Laguna Seca Raceway #2 in September of 2007, I needed more sports bras. I decided to try out the version of this one , for sale at the time, because of the mesh back. It was a good choice, because it turned out to be very hot that weekend. Because of a good experience, I bought more this year.

First Impression: the bra is lightweight, well-made, and shows resilience when stretched. I was attracted to it initially because of its lack of bulk and the feel of the fabric.

Overall Fit: I'm a 36 D and purchased the medium. I find the size chart to be true to chest circumference. It's not too tight or too loose. I feel safe and secure. I love it, because women my size are so often restricted to those enormous bulky bras. It doesn't give me a super shape, but it doesn't smash me either.

Technical Performance: Super comfortable, and able to support through the trials of roots, rocks, ruts, and small jumps. I never think about lack of support, so it must be really supportive. It's also cool and comfortable.

The Nutshell
Love, love, love

• overall fit
• support
• ultra-wicking
• great fabric

Overall score: 10 out of 10... because this bra exceeded expectations for its design

Harlot update

From the president of Harlot:

"Thanks for the review! Yes, belts help with that short if you are narrow waisted. You’re right - women come in so many shapes that it’s hard to create a short that fits all waist/hip combos. We are actually in the process of designing a new short for 09 that has an integrated waist adjustment system so watch for that next year. It also has a little stash pocket.

Many cheers,

Jennifer"

The next ride...

...wore a belt

It was better like that.

Athleta UPF Performance Polo

At a tech training I once won a Nike golf shirt for women. Not a golfer, I rode in it. The fabric was cool and comfortable, and the polo styling was a welcome break from the boring old cycling jersey. The only problem: it's white. White shirt and brown dirt - you get the picture. Then I found a brown golf shirt in the Athleta catalog.

First Impression: The polo looked exactly like it did in the catalog. It's really lightweight, and feels good on the skin.

Overall Fit: Overall the lines are very feminine and flattering. The bust darts and princess seams make the top form fitting. The length hits at mid-hip on me (I'm relatively tall), leaving plenty of coverage between the polo's hem and the waist of my shorts. I was pleased that the shoulder seam met the arm seam in the same actual place where my arm connects to my broad shoulder. My only complaint is that where these seams join they create a point. The squareness reminded me of epaulettes.

Technical Performance: Very comfortable, didn't inhibit my riding in any way. The eyelet-type knit of the Wick-It™ fabric kept me cool and comfortable. When I took off my pack to put on my gear, I felt an amazing cooling sensation on my back, like the heat and moisture were being lifted right off of me.

The Nutshell
Love, love love:

• overall fit
  


• breathable
  


• ultra-wicking


• attractive color

• attractive lines

Things I'd like to see:

• a rounder shoulder
  

Overall score: 10 out of 10...

...because this polo is great for getting sweaty and dirty, while still looking kinda' girly.

Athleta Drynamic™ Fitness Capri

I have a never ending quest to find fitness wear that fits both my rear and my waist. I have had the unfortunate experience of exposing crack while in certain yoga poses. After receiving the catalog, I decided to give these capris a try.

First Impression: I get bored easily with my clothes, and was tired of pant options in drab colors like black, brown, and olive, so I chose the Berry Swirl. I immediately loved the color when I took them out of the bag.

Overall Fit: The waist fit is perfect. The Drynamic™ fabric stretches in every direction, so the fit was excellent through the hip and over the rear. They hang nicely from the thigh to the bottom seam. My only complaint is that the fabric (possibly the color?) highlighted the not-so-perfect portions of my upper rear thighs.

Technical Performance: These capris really wick! I was so comfortable throughout the Vinyasa flow workout. And no slipping off of my waist! They stayed put and maintained their shape despite the series of bends and twists.

The Nutshell
Love, love love:

• the beautiful color


• the non-binding, yet secure waist band


• breathable


• ultra-wicking


• overall fit
  

Things I'd like to see:

• less snug on the rear and over the upper thigh
  

Overall score: 10 out of 10...

...because it's not Athleta's fault that I've been eating lots of pizza.

Harlot Habit Short

Encouraged by the dream of a cycling shell-style short that wouldn't give me diaper butt, I made the decision to order the black Habit short.
The shorts shipped right away. I ordered them Sunday and was riding in them the following Saturday.
Opening the box, I was amused by the extra touch of wrapping them in red tissue paper. Very Harlot - like indeed.

First impression: I tried them on, and sure enough, no diaper butt. In fact, my girl friends exclaimed, "your ass looks great in those shorts! " I love my girlfriends. I also love the styling of the embroidered logo.

Overall Fit: The waist fit is a bit big. They are made for wear over padded shorts and armor. I did wear them over a Womens Minkman Liner, however, the crotch caught on my saddle when I tried to slide forward at the end of a steep decent. I'll have to get a belt to ride in so I can keep wearing these shorts without crashing when they fall off of my waist. The shorts got bigger as the ride went on.

Technical Performance: At one rest period, I looked down to see that the Dryon™ water repellent finish was doing its job. Tiny beads of sweat sat gingerly upon my thigh, glistening like the morning dew. The shorts stayed dry throughout the three hour ride, and that says a lot. I am known to perspire. I haven't crashed in them, yet, so I'll have to let you know about the abrasion resistance.

The Nutshell

Love, love love:

• fit on the rear


• overall styling


• water repellent
  


• secure and comfortable waist closures
  

Things I'd like to see:

• those snappy things to fasten your under-chamois to the shorts


• Harlot's design of a comfortable and stylish belt to wear with these shorts


• a discreet zipper pocket on the front for little things like lip balm


• integrated waist size adjustment options because hip to waist size ratios vary so greatly from woman to woman
  

Overall score: 8 out of 10...

...because I like my shorts to stay on and not keep me from riding