One thing I do not think the RTCC organizers took into account in switching suppliers is that Sugoi clothing is well known for making bike clothing that fits small compared to other suppliers.
I understand that last year's jersey's fit on the larger size which was good to know as I am a larger rider. I have done a ton of fundraising and a ton of training for this ride (over 4,500 km of riding in the past 9 months). Nonetheless, I am a bigger guy, not a professional rider.
I was so excited to be part of the Ride this year (I have reached the Ambassador level - nearly $11,500 raised so far) that I went ahead and purchased an extra jersey online to have the regular jersey plus my ambassador jersey ($90 plus shipping and handling). The jersey arrived on Friday.
I ordered a 2XL, which according to the size charts should have fit me based on my waist and chest measurements. It fits skin tight. Even the arms are quite tight around my biceps. It fits too tight to wear comfortably.
I do not expect that I will wear this jersey or my ambassadors jersey.
I do not think it is acceptable to promote people of all shapes, sizes, abilities and fitness levels to take part in the Ride and then go with a supplier that cannot supply a shirt that is large enough for every rider. The Ride is so full this year that they had to close registration. I can guarantee that I am not going to be the only rider who finds the sizing of this year's jersey to be way off.
One of the things I looked forward to the most was wearing my jersey with pride. I ordered an extra jersey early as I planned to wear it to work as part of my final fundraising push.
There is no way I will wear this skin tight jersey. I will be returning the jersey I ordered online and expect the ambassador's jersey will go unworn.
A very disappointed participant.
Brent Jordan
-- Edited by BrentJ on Sunday 23rd of May 2010 05:05:26 PM
The jersey that they decided to use this year is the Evolution Jersey by Sugoi. Here is how Sugoi describes it on their own website:
"New for 2010, the Evolution Jersey provides everything you need in a cycling top. Elastic back pockets, superior wicking and breathability are key to the jersey's success. These Evolution Jerseys feature a fitted design."
Used to describe a cycling jersey, fitted means tight fitting, not loose or baggy or comfortable.
While I am sure there will be plenty of people who ordered a size that fits them I am willing to bet now that there will be a large number of participants who receive a jersey that they are less than comfortable with the fit.
I recommend if you are at all concerned about the fit of your jersey that you go down to a local bike store that stocks Sugoi Jerseys and try on the Evolution Jersey. Chances are it is too late to change your sizing, but maybe not.
I will be curious to see how many riders have an issue with the fit of the jersey they worked so hard to earn.
Yes, I am frustrated and not letting this go. I have been looking forward to earning my jersey and wearing it with pride. I am extremely upset today.
According the size guidelines for the General Store the 2XL jersey should fit a 48-50" chest and a 40-42" waist (both of which would fit met with a bit of room).
According to Sugoi's website, their 2 XL Evolution Jerseys fit a 47" chest (too small for me) and a 40" waist (should fit me).
This is a significant sizing discrepancy in my opinion!
If the jersey doesn't fit the way you like then they should be quick about taking it in return for one that more meets your preferences. Having said that I believe that it is supposed to represent a racing jersey that fits quite tight to reduce the wind resistance. My jersey from the 2009 ride fits skin tight and that's the way I like it. It actually flattens out some of the bulges, which I find quite flattering. Anyway, my opinion......
Last year they told us that there will be jerseys available at the starting line for exchange if the fit wasn't what you want. I expect they will do the same this year.
All good except for the fact that I ordered a 2 XL and they do not have a larger size than that to order, in fact it would seem that they may not even be calling it a 2XL size anymore notwithstanding the fact the jersey I received is stamped 2XL.
What I find very interesting is that the General Store has changed their available sizing since I ordered. They no longer offer a 2XL option, only an XL option which makes sense seeing as these jerseys seem to fit one size smaller than they should.
I plan to spend some time on the phone tomorrow with the Ride organizers and the General Store to see what if anything they can do about this situation. What is frustrating is that Sugoi does offer a relaxed fit jersey in the same Evolution model for custom design but instead of picking relaxed fit they went with fitted. I own a 2XL relaxed fit Sugoi jersey in another style (Hans Jersey) and it fits fine. The problem is with the fitted fit.
-- Edited by BrentJ on Monday 24th of May 2010 07:17:57 PM
Dear Brent I would like to Sugoi rise to the challenge and get going on the larger sizes. You did your best to choose the right size - I would be very surprised if this great company does not get on this issue if contacted directly ad get some appropriately sized jerserys for the many folks who will need them Come on Sugoi - I bought a ton of gear from you this year and want to in years to come!! The Ride made a mistake in choosing and you can help them fix it. Get after it Brent and RTCC! Tracy Scott
No luck getting things fixed with the General store. They will take the return and refund my money including all shipping charges which is good and I give them credit for how they handled it once I got a live person on the phone (it took a few tries). But no chance of getting a jersey that fits me from them.
On the other side of things, I am cautiously optimistic that the RTCC will be able to get me an ambassador's jersey in a size that will fit me. I spoke to someone in the Ride Guide office and within 24 hours had an answer back that gives me some hope. I guess I will know for certain when the jersey arrives in the mail but for now I am feeling some sense of relief.
All the same, try your jersey on as soon as it arrives and if it doesn't fit, call right away while there is still a chance they can sort it out for you.
They come in the mail after you've done the online check in...after you have reached your goal. I believe you have until June 6th to do the online check in.
Yeah the deadline for online check in is THIS SUNDAY June the 6th so make sure that if you have not made your minimum that you work extra hard this week. Rumours are running rampant that there are some where in the neighbourhood of 3500 riders = long lines at ride day check in!
I spoke to the Ride office today who said that the jerseys would be mailed out by the end of this week to those who have completed their online check in (I did mine several weeks ago). They say we should have a jerseys by the end of next week.
I have seen what is online at the General Store which I assume is this year's jersey design. They shipped me out what I understood was the 2010 BC Ride shirt and it looked identical to the photo posted in the General Store. It is yellow with Grey. One thing that was missing was last year the year was printed on the neck whereas the one I received had Sugoi's logo where the year was on last year's jersey.
We should know within a week as I was told by the Ride Guides that they are mailing the jerseys out this week to those who have completed the online check in.
Thanks BrentJ. I got the 2009 "training jersey" from the general store and for what it's worth, it was a little different than the 2009 "event jersey". The 09 training jersey is yellow and black, but has one shoulder and sleeve of each color and no year indicated along the side. Guess we will know soon enough!
I received mine today. Unfortunately, my tale of woe continues.
I raised over $12,000 and earned the Ambassador's jersey but that is not what they sent to me. My guess is that the mix up is due to my sizing problem. They sent me a 3XL (apparently they had a few made up just in case) but what they did not tell me is that it wouldn't be an Ambassador's jersey. While I like the jersey I received, I had been looking forward to having the Ambassador's jersey after having worked so hard to achieve it.
Although the 3 XL fits me, the choice of a fitted jersey over a relaxed fit jersey means that it is still quite form fitting, especially in the shoulders, arm pits and biceps. I guess its my fault for being a big guy (but fit enough to have ridden over 2,500 km this year in training and complete a 140 km ride in 5 hours 13 minutes!)
At this point I am just looking forward to the Ride. I just wished that this jersey thing wasn't an issue for me.
Last year they told us that there will be jerseys available at the starting line for exchange if the fit wasn't what you want. I expect they will do the same this year.
I really hope so! I really thought I ordered an XS but I guess I didn't... got an S instead and I think it's unisex type fit - it too big. I really hope I can exchange it for an XS.
I was told that they have a very limited number of XS for exchange if yours doesn't fit. You may want to contact them but most likely will be told to show up early on Saturday to make and exchange.
Just a quick anecdotal datapoint: I received my regular ride jersey yesterday and it fits exactly like I expected it to (size large). If anything, it's *less* fitted than the 2009 jersey (and a lot lighter weight, too). It's nice having the flag on the arm this year; for some reason the BC jerseys didn't have the flag in '09.
I'm so excited to get my jersey - I've phone several times in the last month....after I registered online! Now I'm out of town for this coming week and hope it's in my mail box when I get home!! And hope that it fits. Thanks for the comments. Oh btw - the picture of the cycling jersey that has blue on it - what jersey is that? Ambassador?
In the package that I received my jersey in did I read that the ambassador jersey is the same that just has a velcro arm patch on or was I dreaming? I will have to go read that letter again.
Sorry re read the letter and they are special ambassador jerseys with a velcro patch to denote the level you reached sorry for that
-- Edited by ShawnC on Monday 7th of June 2010 07:09:36 PM
Another data point: I received my jersey in the mail today, and it fits perfectly. I had ordered a medium, same as what I had ordered last year, and I find it fits a little bit looser compared with last year's jersey.
I really hope I can exchange it for an XS. 