Marley and Ellen dive into the importance of choosing the right cycling clothing, especially for individuals in larger bodies. They share personal experiences and offer practical tips for various biking needs, from casual commuting to long-distance rides.

03:18 All Bodies on Bikes began with size-inclusive advocacy

04:18 Challenges of finding cycling clothing for people in bigger bodies

05:56 How to choose the right padded bike shorts

12:01 Gravel and road cycling fashion

13:32 How to choose cycling bibs vs. bike shorts

18:26 Do you need specific clothes for mountain biking?

19:33 How to choose clothes for your bike commute

20:36 Staying dry while bike-commuting in the rain

23:24 How to be safe & visible when riding your bike

25:11 How to layer for warmth when cycling

References

1. Check out the new ABOB Cycling Kit - sizing up to 6X!
2. Marley recommends Cleverhood (and ABOB will get a % if you buy one of these!)
3. We luv Shredly and their inclusive sizing!
4. You can pre-order Marley’s new children’s book, Rag Tag Best Friends Bicycle Club here: https://stronggirlpublishing.com/ragtag/
5. And we mentioned our episode, cycling with a uterus - listen on Spotify or Apple

Bodies are just bodies.

2

Wear what you're comfortable with.

3

I wanna focus on folks in bigger

bodies and like non-traditional

4

stuff because you know, if you're in

a, a standard sized body, it's easy to

5

go and find clothes to ride bikes in.

6

But if if you fall outside those

norms, it can be a little bit harder.

7

Good morning.

8

Ellen: Good morning.

9

Here we are.

10

We are fresh faced.

11

We've showered, we've done everything

to make sure that we're ready for today,

12

except for, in my case, pull up the notes.

13

So

14

Marley: Oh yeah, I was just in

there working because I am, not

15

to say you're not responsible,

but I am also responsible.

16

Ellen: I have moments of both ways.

17

Uh.

18

Marley: Wait, do you have ADHD?

19

Ellen: I'm

20

Marley: like neuro spicy.

21

Ellen: I think I'm suspicious.

22

And it's a lot of listening to

you, listening to a few other

23

friends, listening to Instagram

say, Hey, does this feel familiar?

24

Marley: Yeah.

25

So it's not surprising that two

neuro spicy women miscategorize

26

something, but, but we both found it.

27

Ellen: we did.

28

We both found it.

29

Marley: Yeah.

30

Well, What are we talking about?

31

jinx?

32

Ellen: oh no, someone has to be in charge.

33

Marley: We're talking

about clothing today.

34

What am I gonna wear today?

35

Ellen: Then let's do it.

36

Marley: After this, I'm

commuting to my other job.

37

I'm going to work at the sock store and

I had to think about what I was gonna

38

wear because I'm riding my bike there

and it is going to be chilly and rainy

39

and, um, I am out of practice of what to

wear in the rain when I'm riding my bike.

40

Ellen: Fair enough.

41

And I love that you're doing it anyway.

42

Marley: I put on some Ripton jeans,

it's my first pair of camo ever.

43

Um,

44

so got Ripton on the bottom

45

and then I have Shredly on the top.

46

Um, it's really not anything cycling

specific because I'm going two miles.

47

Um, yeah, which I think is probably

a, a decent place to start of

48

you can wear anything riding a bicycle.

49

Ellen: Yay.

50

I

51

Marley: But yeah.

52

Yeah.

53

I wear anything on everything.

54

Um, I've never ridden naked.

55

Have you ever ridden naked?

56

Ellen: I have not.

57

I like the idea of underwear,

making sure that the seat doesn't

58

go where I don't want it to go

59

Marley: Yeah.

60

Same.

61

Ellen: after that though.

62

I would love to.

63

I feel like this might

be a, a Europe, Ellen.

64

Marley: Mm.

65

Ellen: Europe, Ellen is

different than American Ellen,

66

Marley: What if you came to Portland?

67

We have a big world

naked bike ride up here.

68

I've never done it,

69

Ellen: Hmm.

70

Let me know when it's, if

it's in the cold, I'm not

71

Marley: No, no, no.

72

It's in the summer.

73

Ellen: Yeah, lemme know.

74

Marley: Although they did recently

have one, I think it was in November

75

to protest, they had a naked bike

ride protest, which is like the

76

most Portland thing ever.

77

Ellen: yes.

78

Agreed.

79

That's incredible.

80

Um, yeah, lemme know the date.

81

Marley: I will, I'm a little nervous.

82

Uh, well, I'm not nervous yet, but just

theoretically nervous because I think my

83

boobs are a little big to ride untethered.

84

Ellen: Untethered.

85

That's a good point.

86

You could, I don't know.

87

I feel like there's gonna be

a creative solution to that.

88

Maybe that's a, that maybe that's a

good thing for an Instagram comment box.

89

How would you handle this situation?

90

Marley: That's when All Bodies

on Bikes got an R rating.

91

Ellen: Oh yeah, maybe, maybe

92

Marley: Okay.

93

Bodies are just bodies.

94

And I, that's one of the things I,

I think I wanna talk about today.

95

It's like bodies are just bodies.

96

Wear what you're comfortable with.

97

Um, yes, there are quote unquote rules of

like what you're supposed to wear and like

98

the height of your socks, but

that's not the kind of cycling that

99

we do or love, can I tell you a

fun story about cycling clothing

100

and All Bodies on Bikes?

101

Ellen: always

102

Marley: All Bodies on Bikes was

103

Um, but for years prior to that, both

me and Kailey, Kailey is our co-founder

104

and board president, had been doing

like size advocacy in cycling clothes.

105

This was, sending messages to brands

on Twitter and writing articles because

106

we couldn't find clothing that fit us.

107

And that was really what bonded

us together to start this work.

108

Uh.

109

I ran across her on Instagram in 2018.

110

She was riding across Alaska.

111

It was a trip that was sponsored

by Specialized and they did not

112

make a raincoat that fit her.

113

Um, and so she's talked about like

being super, super cold and you

114

can look at her photos and see what

she's wearing and it's like, oh yeah,

115

you were in the Arctic Circle and

that is not an appropriate jacket.

116

Um, so you can, um, attribute

All Bodies on Bikes to the

117

fat phobic fashion industry.

118

And here we're today

talking about clothing.

119

Um, I think.

120

I think I wanna focus on folks in

bigger bodies and like non-traditional

121

stuff because you know, if you're in

a, a standard sized body, it's easy to

122

go and find clothes to ride bikes in.

123

But if if you fall outside those

norms, it can be a little bit harder.

124

Um, so I guess, you know, one of

my questions for you, why do people

125

wear specific things cycling.

126

Ellen: That is a good question

127

Marley: Why do you, like, do

128

Ellen: do I.

129

Marley: do you wear special

things when you ride a bike?

130

Ellen: I have, it depends to,

for me it depends on the distance

131

and the reason and the weather.

132

So I'm very much a commuter cyclist,

but, um, got into cycling because

133

of doing a long distance bike

ride over like a two day thing.

134

And so that is where you have

to have the right clothing

135

so that you are comfortable.

136

Not like, not like this

feels good but comfortable.

137

Like I don't have sores on my butt after.

138

Three hours in the saddle and

then doing it again the next day.

139

So there's a lot that goes

into wearing the right clothes.

140

Marley: Yeah.

141

Yeah.

142

For me, I kind of break it down

into like comfort, like you

143

talked about safety, honestly.

144

Um, you know, baggy

jeans, it's kind of silly.

145

The jeans I'm wearing today are a little

bit baggy 'cause that's like the new

146

style, like it gets caught in my chain.

147

And so making sure that

148

your clothing is not going to

get caught in your bicycle in any

149

way.

150

Um, and then I would say

another big part is shoes.

151

Um, I am notorious, people get very

mad at me on the internet for wearing.

152

All sorts of shoes when

I'm riding my bike.

153

Um, but it's true.

154

There are specific shoes that are

going to make you more comfortable and

155

efficient, and we'll talk about that.

156

Ellen: Yes, we were gonna start with,

we've hit on comfort a little bit.

157

Do we wanna, di are there more specific

things we wanna dive into for comfort?

158

Marley: Yeah.

159

Yeah, I think we should spend some

time talking about padded bike shorts.

160

Um, so I think padded bike shorts.

161

So our last episode was about bike fit

and we talked about, you know, making

162

sure your saddle is the right size for

you and not a super wide one and it

163

matches your, your sit bones and all that.

164

But another key component

is padded bike shorts.

165

Um, so you know, if you're on a

properly fitted bike with the right

166

width saddle, your butt bones are

gonna be right against that saddle.

167

And they are gonna get sore really quickly

because bones don't have a lot of padding.

168

And so that's where padded

bike shorts come in.

169

Um, you know, typically they

are gendered men or women.

170

I've never seen any unisex bike

shorts, but I guess it doesn't

171

really matter 'cause they're

all constructed the same way.

172

It's just a preference of like

how big you want the pad to be.

173

So the pad that's inside your

bike shorts is called a chamois.

174

Um, it looks like shaa-muah

175

Ellen: Uh, yeah, it's very French.

176

Marley: is very French,

177

Ellen: looks like chamex or

178

Marley: Yeah.

179

Yeah.

180

Um, but essentially it's just the

padding that's sewn into your shorts.

181

Um, fun facts.

182

It can also be used as a

menstrual pad in a pinch.

183

Ask me how I know.

184

Ellen: Yeah, I just did it 'cause

my menstrual cycle is out of

185

whack and I was out of options.

186

Marley: Yeah, yeah.

187

I've had my period start

on very long rides.

188

And then you go to the

bathroom, you're like, oh,

189

I had no idea.

190

But turns out it works

really, really well.

191

Ellen: We have a whole

episode about that too.

192

Marley: We do go listen to it.

193

Um, anyway, uh, so yeah, padded shorts,

um, is the main reason for comfort.

194

Um, a couple other things I think

about is like, um, I like wearing

195

tight clothing when I'm on the bicycle

because, well, a couple reasons.

196

One of 'em is kind of silly.

197

I feel like Superman when I wear it,

198

it's like, sucks it, like, it like.

199

Ellen: that the right, I dunno

if I have the right song,

200

Marley: I don't know either.

201

I think so, but it like sucks it all

in and it just makes me feel like

202

very, like a superhero and sleek and

efficient and like I'm in a wind tunnel.

203

Um,

204

Ellen: I love that.

205

Marley: but the other thing too is

it does just make you more efficient.

206

You don't have things like

flapping in the wind or

207

getting caught in your

chain or anything like that,

208

Ellen: You haven't accidentally created a

parachute to literally create more drag.

209

Marley: Yeah.

210

Yeah.

211

But it's funny because not all types

of cycling use, tight clothing.

212

Ellen: I guess not like mountain biking

doesn't, not required, and that's,

213

you're not trying to be sleek on when

you're mountain biking, so it does.

214

Change with the type

of riding you wanna do.

215

And again, how long you wanna do it.

216

If you're gonna do a 10 mile tootle,

then that's, you wear anything you want.

217

If you're gonna do 50 miles across two

days, you need to think about this.

218

There's one thing I wanna add about,

um, there bike padding though, is that

219

there's lots of thicknesses to choose

from and it, it makes a big difference.

220

There's different kind of viscosity to it.

221

Right?

222

So it could be foam, it could be gel

there are lots and lots of options

223

and it can, it can just affect how you

feel and how you ride in the saddle.

224

Marley: Yeah.

225

Ellen: Do you have any

suggestions for people who have

226

no idea and wanna try stuff?

227

Marley: Yeah.

228

Um, I mean, obviously once you put

something on next to your, your,

229

your nether bits, you're not gonna

return that to the store, or at least

230

please don't return that to the store.

231

Ellen: important note to always say,

don't wear your underwear your chamois.

232

Marley: Exactly with your bike shorts.

233

Don't wear your underwear I mean,

you can do whatever you want 'cause

234

you're you're a grown adult, but

235

you really don't want to trust us on this.

236

Do not wear underwear

with your bike shorts.

237

Um.

238

Yeah, I would say, you know, like

buy a middle of the road price point.

239

Um, you know, Pearl Izumi makes some

good, trusted people have been using

240

it for years and years and years.

241

I will say Pearl Izumi is not

the most sized inclusive, um,

242

long story there.

243

We can talk about that if you want to.

244

Um, but you know, Pearl Zumi, Shredly, um,

you know, there's even some Amazon brands

245

where just you can get some that aren't

super expensive and just try it and see.

246

Um.

247

I would say also like depending on how

you're riding your bike, might impact

248

the type of padding you want to wear.

249

Um, so for example, when I'm riding

my e commuter bike, if I'm going for

250

a longer ride, I do want some padding,

but I'm in a much more upright position

251

versus like my gravel bike where

I'm in a more aggressive position.

252

So I like different chamois for that.

253

Um, and that might be too, too in

the weeds, but I would say, yeah.

254

Um, look for something.

255

I mean, honestly, look on

Poshmark, look on thread up.

256

Um, folks will often sell them.

257

Sometimes on eBay you can find overstock.

258

There's lots and lots of

deals to be found out there.

259

Um, so just try things and then

if it doesn't work, you can

260

always resell it to other folks.

261

Ellen: That's a good shout too.

262

Marley: Yeah.

263

Um, fun fact, actually I got my

first cycling kit at Goodwill.

264

Ellen: That is cool.

265

Marley: Yeah.

266

Ellen: Like the whole kit.

267

That's impressive for

268

Marley: Well, yeah, I got, I got

shorts and I got like three jerseys.

269

I don't know if they still do it,

but the Seattle Goodwill used to have

270

like a cycling specific sale where

they would pull everything together,

271

um, and you could search through it.

272

And so,

273

Ellen: Oh, that's a smart idea.

274

Marley: and for me, like that was the

only way I could afford the stuff.

275

Um, and it gave me an

opportunity to try things.

276

Um, and I'm not squeamish, like

if things are washed, it's fine.

277

Ellen: Yes, agreed.

278

You can always take it

home and wash it first too,

279

Marley: exactly.

280

And of course I did that.

281

Ellen: you'll be fine.

282

Yeah.

283

Marley: I used to think that thrift

stores washed everything they got.

284

They don't

285

Ellen: What an excellent tip.

286

I would not, I assumed that too.

287

So we've all learned something

288

Marley: yeah.

289

But you think about the, the

operations of a thrift store.

290

Like where and how would they have

the time to wash and dry things?

291

Ellen: I don't know.

292

I was just hoping that they did.

293

Marley: Yeah.

294

No, I don't think thrift stores wash

your clothes before they put 'em out to.

295

Ellen: they all smell

like the same soap though?

296

Marley: I think that's

just the permeation of

297

Ellen: The

298

Marley: the thrift store.

299

because if you notice that every

single thrift store would, no matter

300

where you go, smells the same.

301

Ellen: Moving on.

302

Marley: Okay.

303

Ellen: Okay.

304

What were gonna say.

305

Marley: Oh, I was gonna talk

about like, the aesthetics

306

of different kinds of riding.

307

I'm gonna bucket these into

like three main buckets of like.

308

Mountain biking, like casual

cycling and then gravel and road.

309

Um, I'm gonna put gravel and road together

because let's be honest, everybody

310

kind of looks the same riding that.

311

Um, so I think let's start with gravel

and road, because I think that's

312

the most, like stereotypical cycling

outfits that you see folks wearing.

313

Ellen: Middle-Aged Men in Lycra: MAMLs.

314

Marley: MAMLs.

315

Yep.

316

Um, and it's, it's a lot of Lycra.

317

It's tight, tight fitting.

318

It's oftentimes bright colors.

319

It's like aesthetic stripes.

320

It's socks at a certain height.

321

Um, and it's just a

big old fashioned show.

322

I enjoy it.

323

It's kind of fun.

324

But at the same time, it can be

really intimidating, especially if you

325

don't have clothes that fit into that.

326

But the main reason that folks are

wearing those type of clothing is

327

because it makes sense out there.

328

You don't want things

flapping around in the breeze.

329

You don't want, you know, streamers

coming off your, off your rear end.

330

Um, just like a very sleek, easy, uh,

to access lots of pockets everywhere.

331

Um, one of my favorite.

332

Things that's happened in the last

10 years is cargo pockets everywhere.

333

Um, yeah.

334

You used to not be able to find

like pants or shorts with cargo

335

pockets and now they're everywhere.

336

Ellen: I love a good pocket.

337

Marley: I do too.

338

Ellen: I like that the, a lot of

leggings, and I think a lot of

339

bike shorts are starting to have

that pocket, like up on your thigh

340

Marley: Exactly.

341

Yeah.

342

That's what I'm talking

about with the cargo shorts.

343

Ellen: Oh, oh, I, sorry.

344

I took that as like a

nineties cargo shorts

345

Marley: Oh no, that's

just what they call it.

346

They call it like cargo bibs.

347

Oh, this is a good thing.

348

We should talk about

bibs versus bike shorts.

349

Do you have a preference?

350

Ellen: I think I do, but I

haven't ridden anything like

351

with uh, bike shorts in a while.

352

I think I would prefer bibs Now.

353

Marley: Me too.

354

Why do you prefer bibs?

355

Ellen: Because they stay up way better.

356

They just, I don't have to

think about, did it roll in a

357

way that now it's digging in?

358

Or is it like, do I need to

hike it up halfway through?

359

Um, I do have a question though

about gonna the bathroom.

360

Marley: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

361

Ellen: 'cause I know that

this is a passion of yours.

362

Marley: So, um, I guess let's back up.

363

Bibs are cycling shorts or pants

that go up and over your shoulders.

364

It's like.

365

Ellen: Like, like overalls.

366

Marley: Yeah, they're like overalls.

367

Exactly.

368

Um, and there's lots of

different construction of them.

369

Um, but I always go for bibs that have

what's called a drop tail feature,

370

which literally means you can pull your

shorts down in the back and go pee.

371

Um.

372

Ellen: So you do not have to take

the straps off your shoulders.

373

You can.

374

It's just like, is it stretchy

375

Marley: Yes, yes.

376

Ellen: snap situation?

377

Marley: Different brands

have different things.

378

Um, I prefer the Shredly ones.

379

Um, it's, I actually got to test

out their new, um, long length

380

fleecy pants, which are chef's kiss.

381

Amazing.

382

They'll be coming out soon.

383

Um, but yeah, Shredly just has like a

stretchy version where you just kind

384

of pull it down and then you're able

to squat or you know, use a toilet

385

or whatever and then pull it back up.

386

Um, Yeah.

387

so I would say if you are bib

curious, look for that future 'cause

388

they are not all made that way.

389

And then you are looking at, you

know, taking off multiple layers.

390

Taking straps down, getting

pretty darn exposed.

391

Um, yeah, which can be a pain,

especially if you're in a hurry or

392

just wanna be efficient with your time.

393

So,

394

Yeah.

395

But those are the main reasons

that I always get that question

396

of like, why do you choose bibs?

397

And same, it like holds my belly in.

398

It's not gonna, the, the

399

band isn't gonna roll down under

my belly, any of that stuff.

400

So,

401

Ellen: I just remembered.

402

I totally have a pair of bibs and

they're fleece there for winter.

403

I'll have to dig 'em back

out 'cause they are great.

404

Oh my gosh.

405

It's just like we're only just

now into winter riding here, so,

406

Marley: It's still like

55 degrees out here.

407

It's kind of wild.

408

I know.

409

Ellen: not that here, it's

much, much, much lower.

410

I think it's 50 degrees lower,

411

Marley: Oh God.

412

Yeah.

413

That sounds awful.

414

So,

415

Ellen: but maybe not.

416

Maybe not that dramatic.

417

Maybe it's just below freezing.

418

Marley: But still that's cold.

419

We talked about bibs, we

talked about gravel road is

420

like yeah, your sleek stuff.

421

You're looking at brands.

422

I don't even wanna talk about

brands 'cause most of those

423

brands aren't size inclusive.

424

Um, one brand I will throw out

there though is Champion System.

425

Um, they are the ones who make

the All Bodies on Bikes kits.

426

Okay, this is actually

really, really cool.

427

You can buy bibs, you can buy bike

shorts, you can buy jerseys, you can

428

buy mechanic shirts, you can buy,

um, like long sleeve trail jerseys,

429

which is more the baggier style, all

with the all bodies on bikes logo.

430

Um, and we've got two different styles.

431

We've got like really bright and kind

of pink and purple and you've probably

432

seen it all of our Instagram, but

we just released an all black kit,

433

so much more understated.

434

It still has like a little

neon, All Bodies on Bikes logo.

435

Um.

436

But those are for sale

through our website.

437

The coolest thing about Champion System

though is each piece is made to order.

438

Um, so one of the things

about cycling kit is like.

439

Sometimes the arm length is like down to

your elbow and you might not like that.

440

So you can, you can customize

the, the sleeve length, you can

441

customize the collar height.

442

So some people like a

443

tall collar, some people like a

short collar, um, you know, you

444

can even do sleeveless anyway.

445

It's really, really cool.

446

You can get into like

all the little nuances

447

and All Bodies on Bikes gets a cut of it.

448

So,

449

and it goes up to a six x, which

is the most size, expansive

450

that I've seen, which is why we

451

chose them.

452

So,

453

Ellen: awesome.

454

That's, I love that

customization feature though.

455

I didn't know that because that

is, that's where I would thrive.

456

Marley: it's really, really cool.

457

Uh, I will say, and we, we've had

folks up to about 4 to 5 x try it.

458

And it seems to be pretty true to size.

459

It's, it's

460

like, but things do tend

to get a little bit longer.

461

Um, and so still a little bit of a design

challenge, but, so just be aware if you

462

are in some of those bigger sizes, you

might get some super extra long sleeves.

463

But that's something that a tailor

can take care of really quickly.

464

Ellen: Okay.

465

So have a little wiggle room

in your budget just in case.

466

Marley: exactly.

467

And it's, or just deal with the

longer sleeves, like it's fine.

468

You just push 'em

469

up a little bit.

470

That's what I do.

471

Ellen: Okay.

472

That is exciting though.

473

Marley: It is exciting.

474

Ellen: we'll, we'll drop a

link to that in the comments.

475

Marley: Yeah.

476

Not the comments, the show notes.

477

Ellen: You know,

478

Marley: Same thing.

479

Ellen: same thing,

480

Marley: Yeah.

481

I don't know why I'm being

so particular right now.

482

Ellen: how rude

483

Marley: Oh,

484

Ellen: we, you know,

we'll make it clickable.

485

That's the main thing.

486

That's the main

487

Marley: yes.

488

Should we talk about mountain

biking or commuting next?

489

'cause they're kind of similar.

490

Ellen: Um, why don't

we do mountain biking?

491

'cause I'll have very little

to add to that, and then we

492

can both hop in for commuting.

493

Marley: Yeah, so mountain

biking, um, tends to be, um,

494

like a baggier style aesthetic.

495

Um, again, you can wear whatever you want

496

when you're riding your bike.

497

It doesn't matter.

498

I will often go out wearing

spandex on my mountain bike.

499

Um, but typically folks will wear

baggier stuff, um, longer shorts.

500

So oftentimes both men and women

will have shorts that go down to

501

their knees for protection purposes.

502

Um, and then folks will often wear.

503

Protective clothing underneath that.

504

Um, and so like knee pads, elbow

pads, chest pads, et cetera.

505

Um, I will say for folks in bigger

bodies, this is still a big challenge.

506

Um, it's something that's been on my list

forever to, you know, do some advocacy

507

and to, to reach out to brands to try

and make, um, bigger protective clothing.

508

Um, I just haven't done it yet.

509

So if anybody knows of brands that are

making sized inclusive, um, like knee

510

pads, elbow pads, body pads, let us know.

511

We would love to give them some love.

512

And then commuting.

513

Um,

514

this runs the gamut, I think.

515

It depends on how far you're

commuting and what your aesthetic is.

516

When I used to bike commute in Seattle,

I would almost always ride in dresses.

517

Ellen: Same.

518

Not in Seattle,

519

Marley: yeah, it, riding

in dresses is super easy.

520

It's, you feel cute and you

521

feel, I

522

Ellen: I feel like I'm just

breaking all the norms.

523

I feel like I'm, I'm representing

us all when I ride in a dress,

524

Marley: And part of the reason I

was able to do that is 'cause my

525

commute was super, super short.

526

It was like

527

less than a mile or two downhill.

528

Um, if I was gonna get sweaty,

I would wear something different

529

and then change clothes.

530

Ellen: When I was in London, I

would just cool off as much as I

531

could before I went to the office.

532

It was a pretty small office.

533

I wasn't in a super professional client

facing role, so there's a lot of variables

534

that allowed me to just kind of be a

sweaty mess for 30 minutes at my desk.

535

Um, if it was raining, I would wear

different stuff so that I could, I just

536

wasn't sopping wet when I would sit there.

537

But

538

Marley: Well, I think that's a good segue.

539

Let's talk about rain.

540

Um, I love my clever hood.

541

Ellen: Tell me more about what that is.

542

Marley: So it is unlike a

traditional raincoat in that it is

543

more of like a poncho parka style.

544

Um, they do have a

couple different styles.

545

They have an anorak that is a little bit

closer to your body, but their traditional

546

rain cape is just what it sounds like.,

547

It's like a big cape.

548

That you wear that has little

thumb holes, um, in the front.

549

So you can put your thumbs in.

550

We'll, we'll have to show a picture,

but you can put your thumbs in

551

and still grab your handlebars.

552

And so then the cape kind of extends

over the front of your body and

553

keeps your torso and your legs dry.

554

Um.

555

Ellen: Okay.

556

I'm picturing like a, it

makes like a pyramid shape

557

Marley: Yeah.

558

Yeah.

559

Um, and the nice thing is

super, super size inclusive.

560

Um, 'cause raincoats traditionally

are not, like, that's where we started

561

this conversation 10 minutes ago.

562

Like finding a raincoat for a

plus-sized body can be very hard.

563

Um, but rain capes are phenomenal.

564

Ellen: Well, and I, it sounds

like it would also double as

565

kind of a mud guard and more than

that, like you're just covered.

566

Marley: Exactly, and

567

they're often in very

fun colors and patterns.

568

Um, with like reflective bits in.

569

Which, especially in the rain,

can be really good to, um, make

570

sure cars and drivers see you.

571

Ellen: Yes, please.

572

Marley: Um, another bonus about Cleverhood

is they have an All Bodies on Bikes line.

573

Actually.

574

They have like a whole street

equity line of capes for different

575

organizations, like for bike, bus,

and um, a couple others where you

576

get our little logo on it

and then we get like 20% of

577

the sale price, which is phenomenal.

578

Um, yeah.

579

Cleverhood is not a big business

by any means, but they are like

580

committed to supporting bike advocacy

organizations, including us, so.

581

Ellen: Very exciting.

582

I'll have to go look.

583

'cause I did get a new jacket recently,

but it's not, it's, it is like rain

584

ish, but not good rainy, does it?

585

Wait, okay.

586

This is gonna be, this

is gonna sound stupid.

587

Does clever Hood have a hood?

588

Marley: Yes it does.

589

Ellen: Okay.

590

Marley: Yeah.

591

And the best part

592

Ellen: over your helmet?

593

Marley: um, no, I think

it goes under your helmet.

594

Um, and it has like a little brim.

595

And the point is you could still see, um,

while your like head is being protected.

596

Ellen: I get because

Yes, that makes sense.

597

Otherwise, your helmet would just pivot

598

Marley: Exactly.

599

Ellen: the hood.

600

Okay.

601

Marley: I, I have actually, I have

a, I have a Pearl Izumi raincoat that

602

they made in 3X a couple years ago.

603

Um, I was actually in Bicycling

Magazine as like, that was my

604

like gear pick of the year because

605

it came in to 3X.

606

I don't think it does anymore,

607

but I will say that one

is interesting because

608

your hood is meant to go over your

helmet, and you're right when you

609

turn your head, you're just looking

at the inside of your rain jacket,

610

which doesn't work out so well.

611

Ellen: Nope.

612

It's, uh, doesn't help with visibility.

613

Marley: Yeah.

614

Ellen: Um, you mentioned reflective stuff.

615

Do you wanna talk about safety real fast?

616

Marley: Yeah.

617

Um, be bright, be seen.

618

Um, oh my gosh, I wish I had it close

to me so I could just hold it up.

619

I just got this really cute, bright

pink Lacey construction vest.

620

Uh,

621

Ellen: I've seen those.

622

I had a friend send me the Instagram ad.

623

I think for like the, the

vests that are starting to be

624

Lacey and cute and scalloped

625

Marley: exactly.

626

Ellen: things that you want to wear

so that you don't feel like you

627

look like a high vis lumberjack.

628

Marley: Exactly.

629

Although I will say, um, for folks in

bigger bodies, especially truck stops have

630

an incredible selection of high vis gear.

631

Um, I, I realized this when I was driving

across the country a couple years ago.

632

Um, truckers are often bigger

bodied individuals, and so they

633

have vests, they have jackets, they

have beanies, they have gloves.

634

They have the whole gamut of

hi-vis stuff, which is incredible.

635

Ellen: What a sleeper tip.

636

Marley: Yeah,

637

Ellen: It makes so much sense and

I would've never gone to that spot.

638

Marley: yeah,

639

Ellen: That's so smart.

640

Marley: yeah.

641

Um, yeah, especially just 'cause

the cycling world doesn't make

642

stuff for bigger bodied folks,

especially the more technical things.

643

You know, you might be able to

find a pair of bike shorts in your

644

size, but when it comes to like the

accessories and technical stuff like.

645

Good luck,

646

but don't be afraid to look

outside the cycling industry, the

647

construction industry, truck driving.

648

They've all got size inclusive

things because their workers

649

come in all shapes and sizes.

650

Ellen: Yeah.

651

And would tick a lot of the weatherproof

boxes 'cause they work in all conditions.

652

Marley: Exactly.

653

Ellen: Oh my gosh.

654

What a fun Venn diagram.

655

Neat.

656

Marley: That's my hot tip of the day.

657

Ellen: I love that.

658

Marley: Thanks.

659

Yeah.

660

Ellen: Um, what else are we forgetting?

661

I think we're kind of coming to the

662

Marley: I think so too.

663

Um, I think the, the other

thing is just how to stay warm.

664

Layers.

665

Layers are your friend.

666

Ellen: And I just saw

something on a discord.

667

About what type of fabric to

wear so that you are not, the

668

moisture actually evaporates.

669

Marley: Yes.

670

Was it wool?

671

Ellen: I think

672

Marley: Yeah.

673

Um,

674

many,

675

Ellen: think maybe just not synthetics.

676

Marley: that's exactly what, it's so

677

many, many cyclists swear by like

Marino wool, um, which can be a

678

little bit price prohibitive, but you

can often find it at thrift stores.

679

Um, but base layers made

outta wool are incredible.

680

Um, because it is, it's gonna wick

away the sweat, um, and you'll

681

be able to breathe and work out.

682

But the other, the other thing I'd

say on this is, especially if you're

683

going for like a spirited ride where

you're gonna get warm, um, wear layers,

684

be prepared to take them off because

you will get warmer than you think.

685

Ellen: Agreed.

686

You do a lot of energy output

and that makes you warm.

687

Marley: Precisely.

688

Ellen: Well, this has been very helpful.

689

If anybody who is listening has further

questions, where should they find us?

690

Marley: On Instagram.

691

Ellen: Perfect.

692

Marley: At all Bodies on Bikes.

693

Or you can go to our website,

all bodies on bikes.com

694

and you can submit emails there.

695

You can submit questions there.

696

You can tell us what you think.

697

Um, you can tell us what you don't think.

698

I don't know.

699

Reach out, say hi to us.

700

You can also leave comments

on Spotify, um, and

701

Ellen: On YouTube.

702

Marley: on YouTube.

703

Ellen: Yay.

704

Marley: Okay.

705

Go ride your bike.

706

Wear

707

whatever you want.

708

Be warm, be seen, and enjoy your ride.

709

Ellen: ta.

710

Marley: Wait, before we go, can I,

711

um, do something self-promotional?

712

Ellen: Of course, I think so.

713

I dunno,

714

Marley: it's our podcast.

715

We can do whatever we want.

716

Um, so I wrote a children's book,

which you may or may not know.

717

Ellen: I do know.

718

Marley: And it is available

for presale right now.

719

Um, we're gonna put the link

in there, but my publisher is

720

like, Marley, you need to be as

721

you got the t-shirt.

722

So there are t-shirts, there are

baby onesies, there are kid shirts,

723

there are buttons, there's art

prints, and there's also the book.

724

Like, look at these illustrations.

725

They are incredible.

726

They're so cute and it's just like if

I do say so myself, a very cute story.

727

Um, so this will come out in

April, but pre-order is on now.

728

If you just go to

RagtagBestFriendsBicycleClub.com

729

or we'll put a link in the show notes.

730

Ellen: We'll put a link in the show notes.

731

Marley: Yeah, thanks for

letting me be self-promotional.

732

Thanks for sticking around with us,

being great listeners, and let us know

733

what else you wanna hear us blab about.

734

Ellen: Yay.

735

Marley: All right.

736

Ellen: Bye friends.

737

Marley: Bye.