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When you're new to cycling, you need to build the perfect cyclist's outfit to ride safely. For each garment or accessory, it is important to select the right size. Indeed, too big or too small, a garment could quickly prove to be uncomfortable. For this, it is necessary to refer to the size guide of the brand. Today, we suggest you discover how to measure your chest size.
Why should you measure your chest size?
Knowing your chest size is necessary in order to purchase certain upper body clothing. Obviously, ladies, you are even more concerned, for example when buying a bra or a sports bra. But this does not only concern the purchase of these undergarments nor only women.
In fact, man or woman, the chest size will be useful when choosing several upper body garments (jersey, undershirt, jacket, windbreaker, etc.), especially when it comes to garments with close-fitting cuts like cycling jerseys.
How to measure your chest size
To be able to measure your chest size, you'll need a flexible dressmaker's tape measure (or tape measure). For ease of use, you can get someone else to help you with this step, but you can very well do it on your own. Eventually, use an ice pack to make sure you hold the tape measure horizontally.
To take your chest measurements, stand in your underwear (or shirtless if you're a man), take the measurement by placing the tape measure around your chest and circling your chest at the strongest point, under your arms. Don't forget to run the tape measure under your armpits (arms should not be included in the measurement). Hold the tape measure horizontally so as not to distort the measurement.
If you are a woman, remember to wear a perfectly fitting bra (or brassiere) before placing the tape measure to take your chest measurement.
Read off the resulting measurement.
With some brands, you'll also need to take your bust measurement. The technique is quite similar to that for measuring the chest size, except that the bust measurement is taken below the chest.
How to choose the right size based on your bust measurement.
Once you have taken the measurement of your chest size, to know your garment size, you will have to turn to the size correspondence chart or the brand's size guide to choose the right size. Beware that this correspondence chart varies from brand to brand. So, depending on the brand you choose, you may not buy the same size as in another brand.
Depending on the brand, upper body clothing (jersey, undershirt, jacket, etc.) comes in sizes ranging from XXS to XXXL to fit as many people as possible. With some brands, clothes will only be available in S to XL. Choose the brand where the sizes fit you best so that you have perfectly fitting clothes. If you hesitate between two sizes or you find yourself at the limit between two sizes, we advise you to choose the size above.
Another parameter that can also influence the size of a garment is its cut: indeed, there are regular cuts or slim fit cuts.
If we take into account the measurement of the chest circumference, here is what each size corresponds to (size to be checked according to clothing brands of course):
- Size XS corresponds approximately to a chest size of 88 to 92 centimeters;
- Size S corresponds approximately to a chest size of 92 to 96 centimeters;
- The size M corresponds approximately to a chest size of 96 to 100 centimeters;
- The size L corresponds approximately to a chest size of 100 to 104 centimeters;
- The size XL corresponds approximately to a chest size of 104 to 108 centimeters;
- The size XXL corresponds approximately to a chest size of 108 to 112 centimeters;
- The size XXXL corresponds approximately to a chest size of 112 to 116 centimeters.
To choose a garment perfectly suited to your size, and knowing that no two people have the same morphology, in addition to the chest size, do not forget to match this measurement with your waist size also to choose the right size and with the recommendations present on the product sales site.
Now that you are able to measure your chest size, how about finding out how to measure your head size? How to measure your waistline? And how to find out your hand size for gloves?
