The Athena and Clydesdale Closet

I’ve been involved in triathlon for almost three years and I’ve never been able to wear sport-specific clothing because it’s just not made in my size. Only recently have certain designers started coming out with tri-specific items, but I’ve only found ONE that worked for the top, and nothing for the bottom. That is, until now.

I had to look beyond the marketing for the item and take a gamble on whether it would work. Cycling shorts rarely work because the pad is usually too thick or there are inner-thigh seams.

The Aerotech Designs Womens Plus Pro Bike Shorts are sold as cycling shorts, but the pictures and descriptions on the website told me that the pad, which really is what I’m searching for in a triathlon short, possibly could work. When they arrived, I was somewhat disappointed because there were thick seams in odd places as well as a rubber gripper — things traditionally associated with chafing. However, the shorts were designed with NO inner thigh seam, the most critical seam of all. So I decided to give them a try — since they were only $45 with shipping, they were a ridiculously good deal.

I first wore them on an 18-mile ride and was stunned that my backside had never been more comfortable. I was even more shocked that I preferred these shorts to my regular Terry ones with the big fat pad. So I wore them on a 40-mile ride, my longest ride to date. Again, my backside was incredibly comfortable. I was becoming convinced that because my backside was so comfortable that the shorts wouldn’t work in the swim and run.

So I did a test open water swim while wearing my new tri gear, including the shorts. When I got out of the water and took everything off, the pad was dryer than everything else. Moreover, I didn’t even feel the bad while running back to my car in a futile effort to avoid the hail taking aim at my head.

Result: I think us big girls have FINALLY found a real pair of triathlon shorts that not only work with the proper padding and no chafing, BUT fit our curves and give our fleshy bodies the right amount of support in all the right places. Moreover, I WILL be buying another pair so I can switch all my cycling shorts over to this style because it is so damn comfortable.

Aerotech Designs also offers triathlon shorts up to 6X, but I decided to try these cycling shorts out because I’ve had problems in the past with unisex-design shorts not fitting my curvy backside. I don’t know how their’s fit, but for the men looking for real triathlon shorts, I’d give them a shot. They come in women’s specific sizing up to what the website says is an 16-18. The shorts are supposed to fit tight and that fit runs true to size.

Finding tri-specific clothing for training and racing is difficult and frustrating when you don’t fit into the extra small, medium and large sizes that athletic clothing manufacturers develop. I’ve been racing since 2006 and each season I’ve had to get more creative with what I wear during a race.

The good news is manufacturers and designers are listening. The bad news is those sizes still are hidden or hard to find.

Yes, there are some sites that have a few pieces, but when you’re above, say a size 18, it becomes more difficult. If you are very tall, very short, have big curves, large boobs, or other characteristics, they’re even harder to find.

With that in mind, I’ve created this blog as a way to let triathletes (and other sport-enthusiasts) know where to find technical clothing that fits THEM. When I can, I’ll also post reviews on specific pieces to let you know how they work in a training or racing situation and whether dropping a major chunk of change is worth it. I also hope this blog will become a way for designers and marketers to communicate with the Athena/Clydesdale racing population and learn that these sizes and designs are desired and needed.