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XL? 2XL? 5XL? Cycling has a sizing problem

In regular clothes I wear an XL top. In cycling clothes, I'm anywhere from an XL to a 5XL. Here's why cycling sizes are so confusing, my #1 tip for finding your fit, and my favorite brands making jerseys all the way up to 7XL.

Let's talk about the most confusing shopping experience in cycling: figuring out what size you are.

Take me, for example. I’m 5’2, and in regular, everyday clothes I typically wear an XL top, a size 16 dress, and size 18-20 pants. In cycling clothes? My size ranges from an XL all the way to a 5XL.

Same body. Same bust, same butt, same lipedema legs. Wildly different letters and numbers on the tag.

Even inside one brand, my size changes. In SHREDLY, I wear an XL casual top, a 2XL jersey and bib short, and a 20 in their numbered pants and shorts. If that makes your head spin, you're not alone. Cycling clothes often run smaller than regular clothes, so the size you wear every day might not be your size on the bike. Add to that vanity sizing, historically tiny European sizing standards, and quality differences between brands, and it can be nearly impossible to know your size.

And when every brand has its own size chart, "just order your size" isn't real advice. It's a guessing game, and plus-size riders are the ones who lose it most often, usually at the very end of the size run, or past it.

So what are you supposed to do? Here’s my best advice:

Ignore the tag, trust the tape measure.

Before you buy, grab a soft measuring tape and measure your bust, waist, and hips. Then check each brand's size chart and go by your measurements, not the size on the tag. It takes five minutes and saves you a lot of returns (and a lot of feelings in a dressing room). I know that measuring yourself can be triggering for some folks. If this is the case for you, I encourage you to remember that they’re just numbers and hold no value judgement.

You can ride in anything.

I want to be really clear about this: there's no right or wrong way to dress for riding a bike. Often in the summer you'll see me in sundresses and sandals and happy as a clam. If it's comfy and you can pedal in it, you're dressed for a bike ride.

So why bother with cycling clothes at all? Because once your rides get longer, purpose-built clothing really starts to earn its keep. A good jersey wicks sweat away instead of soaking it up like a cotton tee. Pockets in the back hold your phone and snacks. And clothes cut for the riding position mean way fewer adjustments: no tugging, no riding up, no stopping every few miles to fix things.

The same goes for bottoms. Never…or very very very rarely do I wear underwear when I ride bikes. Wearing underwear while biking is an excellent way to get chafing, saddle sores and wedgies from hell. A good chamois (padded short) goes on by itself, and when I have a long day in the saddle, it's the first piece of clothing I take off when I'm done riding.

Start with SHREDLY

If you're shopping for your first (or fiftieth) cycling top, I highly encourage you to start with SHREDLY. They make their tops in XS–3X and their bottoms in sizes 00–24, with styles for road, gravel, and mountain biking. Their size guide puts a 3X at a 48–51" chest, so you can check your measurements before you buy.

They also carry a variety of cycling top styles - including a traditional, close cut jersey, a boxier cropped tank top, long sleeve sun shirts, and cargo shirts!

Full disclosure: I'm biased, because SHREDLY is home to my very own SHREDLY x Marley Blonsky capsule collection! This year’s collection celebrates my children's book, The Ragtag Best Friends Bicycle Club, and the idea that every body belongs on a bike.

Shop the SHREDLY x Marley Blonsky collection

Ask your local bike shop to carry size-inclusive brands, like SHREDLY!

Here's the thing about online shopping: you can't try anything on. That's why I'd love to see more bike shops carrying full size runs when possible. Throughout 2027, I’ll also be working with SHREDLY to host pop-up shops in local bike shops, so riders can see the fabric, try on a few sizes, and find their fit in person.

So here's my ask: the next time you're at your local bike shop, share my Plus Size Cycling Tops Guide AND tell them you want a SHREDLY pop-up event! Shop owners, if you're interested in hosting one, reach out to me for more details!

More brands that go beyond XL

SHREDLY isn't the only brand making room for bigger bodies. Here are more of my picks, with the biggest size each one makes:

For product links, size details, and fit notes for every brand, check out my full guide: Cycling Jerseys That Go Beyond XL.

Let's keep pushing

All gear should be made in many more sizes, up to at least a 6X or 7X. We're getting closer, and every time we buy from brands that make our sizes and ask for more, we move the whole industry forward.

Know a brand I missed? Tell me about it!

Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy something, at no extra cost to you. I partner with some of these brands, including SHREDLY.

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