Is Your FTP More Consistent Than Your Cycling Size Too?

Yes, I own enough cycling clothing to finance another bike. The good news is that someone might actually benefit from my poor financial decisions.

But this is r/CyclingFashion after all, and if we’re going to obsess over fit, colors, and matching socks, we might as well help each other spend money a little more wisely.

I’ve lost roughly 40kg over the last year, which means I’ve gone through more cycling sizes than FTP changes.

The goal of this post isn’t to flex. It’s to save at least one person from spending €250 on a jersey just to discover they were apparently born between Medium and Large.

For anyone currently losing weight:

If you’re actively losing weight, don’t build your dream wardrobe yet. Trust me, nothing hurts quite like buying a perfect kit and then becoming the wrong size for it three months later.

Use Vinted aggressively. You can try premium brands for a fraction of retail price, figure out what actually fits you, and then invest in new pieces once your weight stabilizes.

Also, be patient with sales. A surprising number of premium brands end up heavily discounted. MAAP, for example, right now has pieces at 40–50% off. If you like something, sometimes the smartest move is simply waiting until next season.

Another thing I’ve learned: Ride the bike you like. Wear the kit you like.

Some people swear by Assos. Some swear at PNS prices. Some think MAAP is peak fashion. Some think Rapha peaked in 2018. None of them are paying for your jerseys.

If you can afford it, buy what makes you excited to ride, If you can’t, set an alert on Vinted and let someone else take the depreciation hit.

One important disclaimer: this guide is probably most useful for people who are between sizes rather than clearly inside a size range.

My measurements:

• Height: 173 cm
• Weight: 80 kg
• Shoulders: 112 cm
• Chest: 100 cm
• Waist: 86 cm
• Abdomen: 90 cm
• Hips: 101 cm
• Thighs: 60 cm

In many sizing charts, a 100 cm chest puts me right on the border between Medium and Large.

Sizing notes:

Rapha
• Medium in everything
• Exception: Powerweave Bibs → size up if you’re between sizes
• Pro Team III bibs feel easier to get on than Pro Team Training bibs
• Aero Jersey IV, Pro Team Training, Lightweight and Midweight jerseys all fit well in Medium

Assos
• True to size
• Medium in GTO, GTS, RS and R collections
• Most consistent sizing of the brands I’ve tried
• Also the most comfortable, at least for me

PNS
• Medium in almost everything
• Exception: Mechanism Pro Jerseys → size up if you have a larger chest
• Mechanism Pro bibs actually feel less restrictive at the thighs than standard Mechanism bibs

MAAP
• Medium in jerseys
• Size up in bibs if you have larger thighs
• The bib itself fits true to size, but the thigh opening runs tight
• Pro Air LS 3.0 feels almost made-to-measure

Santini & Bioracer
• True to size

Specialized
• Red Bull bibs fit in Medium, but run on the tighter side

It’s worth mentioning that all “Pro” jerseys with aero sleeves fit tighter around the arms. That’s not fashion, that’s aerodynamics pretending to be fashion.

Hopefully this saves someone a few returns, a few sizing mistakes, and at least one argument with their spouse.

I’ve basically spent the last year turning myself into a sizing chart. Next time I’ll share which brands survived countless rides and washes, and which ones started showing signs of retirement much earlier than expected.

Remember: this is based on my body shape (173 cm, 80 kg, broader chest, larger thighs). Your measurements matter more than your weight, I plan to go to 76kg to reduce body fat so I'm hoping those jerseys or bibs that feel tight, become perfect later on.