Sizing question for anyone with the thermosheild jacket. Size up or down compared to jerseys? - I usually go XS on the jerseys (bit snug chest and arms but torso is right). That being said I'm thinking of going w/ the small in the Thermosheild. Figure less stretch and may want to layer underneath.

In the funky one pocket design I sized up to a medium and don't regret it. Just enough room to layer up for very cold days. I've raced in it for a few early season below freezing Branchbrook races. Kinda loose, but the material is stiff so isn't necessarily flappy like a loose jersey would be.

SeanMiles said:

@MaxThorn

They work fine and I have done several long rides in them, but if I could go back. I'd trade every two pairs of non-razor shorts for one pair of razors. Just me.

What makes them so comfortable, in your experience?

MaxThorn said:

If there's one piece of kit everyone seems to get behind, it's the WindGuard vest. @mugwump, on the Meet Kissena ride I noticed how the letters on your vest lined up with those on the jersey. Did they not do that before you had it tailored? I like that detail. In any case, I'm glad to hear the wind vest such a reliable layering piece throughout the year. I look forward to mine. 

Max,
     On the old design vest, there was no lettering on the shoulders.  This is the one I had altered.  on the new design vest, our designer, Ros, seemed to have worked overtime so things like this would look good, so yes, the new one lined up from the start.

If the Thermoshield jacket is the same as the one with the high offset/zipper collar that I own, I would size up. I ordered a large and still find it too tight in the arm-pits in riding position. But I think that Jules said that jacket was discontinued...my old heavy jacket from the previous generation of kit design fits just fine in a medium.

THAT said, if there's a theme here, is that "past performance does not guarantee future results."

I think there exists the possibility that quality control allows for some members to receive items that fit better or worse than others who had ordered the "same" item. For example, a few years back when we first had the option of a "better" pad, I got one of those endurance (or whatever they called it) pads and HATED it. And that comment prompted all kinds of "What are you crazy? I LOVE the endurance pad, it's better than ice cream on Sunday."

And then a year or so later, all kinds of people were having pads that were literally coming loose and getting all reconfigured in unusual ways. And that got me thinking, maybe I just got a badly sewn endurance pad or something.

Anyway...I guess this is why it's good to solicit multiple opinions.

Wait, I don't get it...this expensive stuff from CS is unpredictably crappy?

DelnaWeil said:

Wait, I don't get it...this expensive stuff from CS is unpredictably crappy?

I wouldn't say its unpredictably crappy. I would say there are variables of each person's shape like Jules has freakishly long limbs, while Marc has oversized underarms. Combine that with inconsistent pattern cutting of ChampSys production, two individuals could purchase the same item and have wildly different opinions on sizing and fit. 

That's why it is either a good idea to try on stuff you can borrow from someone before buying or not getting too much of any one thing before knowing how it will fit. 

Dan Reiners said:

DelnaWeil said:

Wait, I don't get it...this expensive stuff from CS is unpredictably crappy?

I wouldn't say its unpredictably crappy. I would say there are variables of each person's shape like Jules has freakishly long limbs, while Marc has oversized underarms. Combine that with inconsistent pattern cutting of ChampSys production, two individuals could purchase the same item and have wildly different opinions on sizing and fit. 

That's why it is either a good idea to try on stuff you can borrow from someone before buying or not getting too much of any one thing before knowing how it will fit. 

I think Dan's getting to the point.  But really, I think the main issue is that people are shaped differently and that you shouldn't expect consistent sizing from one company to the next.

In my experience, Champ-Sys has been relatively consistent for the same size across time (that discontinued jacket seems to have been an exception).  I feel their sizes have slightly creeped larger over the years, but it could be my idea of fit has changed (fwiw, I feel that Giordana's clothing has also gotten larger over the years as well).  I've learned that I do better when I size down relative to other clothing companies.  I think it's crazy that I wear an XS skin suit in CS, but that's what works for me.  I started off with medium shorts, but then accidentally got a pair of smalls,and they work much better.  I even have a few XS jerseys, but that might have to do with my thirst for marginal gains more than anything else.  

Wait wait wait, JP you wear an XS skinsuit??? I think we are roughly similar in stature and the small makes me feel like a Nathan's red hot.  I may have to order an XS next order.

$55 for a jersey is the least expensive kit you can get.  And white kit, from anyone, will get stained and grungy after racing at Floyd.

Wow, Delna brought us together to defend champsys!  Never thought I'd see the day.  Especially after I placed my order and got a 404 error page.

Wait (again)--did I do something wrong? Because the only thing that was $55
for me was a pair of leg warmers...Every other piece I ordered (bella razor
bib, bella razor jersey) was between $130 and $150 each. I also got the
thermoshield jacket for $158, which seemed more normal...but is this
pricing right? Maybe it's because I'm cat 4? Is it that women get paid less
but charged more by CS???? Still, please let me know if I missed
something--I definitely bought through the Kissena team store and used the
link sent out over email, so not sure what's going on here if others get to
pay $55 for a jersey and I paid almost triple the price.

Also, I must defend myself (what else is there to do on this forum?)--a
chamois coming loose and getting reconfigured in unusual ways for all kinds
of people still sounds kind of crappy.

But by all means, let us unite and "defend."

Delna - you bought the really nice premium kit! The standard jersey is $55 and pricing is same through the team shop across the board for everyone. 

The chamois bunching issue has happened with a few nice Giordana bibs I have as well. CS has since changed the chamois so that issue should be resolved with new orders. As far as the stitching coming loose, CS standard bibs from close to 3 years ago are still solid for me.

OH. I owe you a beer, @David Yang  because you just saved me a bunch of money--I emailed Chris (our CS rep) and he changed my order to reflect the fact that I am not fast enough for >$100 per piece kit. Thanks!!!

Max - I just don't find the jacket warm enough in the 30s (and that's the whole point of owning this jacket right?) So for that temp range, I found that a fleece pullover or long sleeve works best topped off with the wind jacket.

Phil Maronilla said:

I'm not a fan of the thermoshield jacket. I prefer the fleece long sleeve jersey with a long sleeve wind jacket or windguard vest when it gets cold out. 

Why don't you like the Thermoshield jacket? I definitely see the sense in your system, though. If I could afford it, I'd have added the fleece long sleeve jersey and a wind jacket to my order. Layers! Options!

I think we should all be happy with the selection afforded to us with different types of bibs, jerseys, skinsuits, and jackets. Most of you may not remember the good old days when Kissena kit was really limited to one of each type and maybe two choices of chamois with distinction-less names like endurance and performance (the "All Natural" of clothing descriptions).  

David Yang said:

The chamois bunching issue has happened with a few nice Giordana bibs I have as well. CS has since changed the chamois so that issue should be resolved with new orders. As far as the stitching coming loose, CS standard bibs from close to 3 years ago are still solid for me.

I've never had any chamois bunching but if I remember right the folks I know who it did happen to where able to get some resolution from ChampSys (fixed or replaced, I can't remember).

David Yang said:

Wait wait wait, JP you wear an XS skinsuit??? I think we are roughly similar in stature and the small makes me feel like a Nathan's red hot.  I may have to order an XS next order.

Spandex stretches, though I'm pretty much at the limit of the leg grippers.  You are welcome to try one of mine on.  

I did pick up a fancier skin suit from a member leaving Kissena, in XS.  The paneling was a bit better, and not having to deal with leg grippers was a bit more comfy. 

The fancy shorts seem to get fairly universal praise, as do the fancier jerseys.  I'm sufficiently cheap and sufficiently satisfied that I chose not to shell out for the pricier stuff.  I've heard that CS makes clothes for some more famous companies, and I'm guessing that the fancier stuff comes from wherever those goods are produced.   

Orange down to the HRM strap.



polar soft strap.

I've proposed a fleece arm-warmer trade/buy over on the marketplace thread. I purchased size medium in the latest team kit order and they're simply too big around the bicep.

I'll pause for a second so you can make a weightlifting joke.

Okay, so in the chance that no one in Kissena has size small fleece arm warmers that they're willing to trade or sell, can anyone recommend a tailor that can alter these to fit? @Jules, @mugwump told your might have a reliable one. 

Max, I'm thinking any tailor would do.  It is a really easy adjustment. 

BTW the lightweight wind vest indeed lives up to the hype.

.

Leg-warmer protocol: http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/03/news/road/champions-legwarmer-code_397158

Jeffrey White said:

Leg-warmer protocol: http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/03/news/road/champions-legwarmer-code_397158

Righteous

David Yang said:

BTW the lightweight wind vest indeed lives up to the hype.

I am glad you've come around to the side of light instead of darkness.

Defunkit:  http://defunkit.com/

http://www.outsideonline.com/2067301/stink-free-workout-clothes-its-now-thing

Thinking about this for winter jackets and long sleeve jerseys.

Left my bibs too close to the dangerous wall heater - I just got these a couple months ago so I'm sad. Anyone know of any place that would attempt to repair these?