Cycling apparel sizing is not the same as regular clothing. A jersey that feels fine in a changing room can feel like a sail at 40km/h. A pair of bib shorts that seem snug standing up will sit exactly right in the riding position. The rules are different, and most riders who order online and get it wrong did not know the rules going in.
This guide covers how cycling jerseys and bib shorts should fit, how to measure yourself correctly, and how our sizing works. If you want to go straight to the chart, the size guide page has measurements for every product.
How a Cycling Jersey Should Fit
The right fit for a cycling jersey feels wrong when you first put it on. It should feel snug upright, almost uncomfortably so. In the riding position, bent forward over the bars, that snugness relaxes into a close, aerodynamic fit. If the jersey feels loose standing up, it will flap at speed.
The key areas to check:
Chest and shoulders. The seams should sit at the edge of your shoulders, not dropping down your arm. The chest should be firm but not restrictive. You should be able to take a full breath without the jersey pulling across the back.
Torso length. In the riding position, the hem should sit at or just below your waistband. A jersey that is too short leaves a cold gap above your bib shorts on descents. If you are 190cm or taller with a long torso, consider sizing up one even if your chest measurement fits within a smaller size.
Sleeves. Should finish just above the elbow without bunching at the armpit or restricting arm movement.
Back pockets. Should be accessible without stretching awkwardly. If you cannot reach all three pockets comfortably, the jersey is too small.
The standing-to-riding test
Put the jersey on and bend forward at the hips to simulate your riding position. The back should lie flat, the front should not gap, and the hem should stay put. If the jersey rides up your back in that position, size up.
Our Cut: What to Expect
All Caffeine and Cranks jerseys are cut to a race fit: close to the body, designed to perform in the riding position. This is the cut used by serious bunch riders, club racers, and cyclists who want kit that works rather than flaps.
In practice, that means three options depending on how you like to ride:
True to size gives a close, performance fit. If your measurements match a size M, a size M will sit aerodynamically and feel snug upright.
Size up one for a more relaxed fit through the torso. This is the right call if you are doing long rides where comfort matters more than aerodynamics, or if you run between sizes.
Size up two for a looser, more casual feel. Less common for road riding but right for some.
It comes down to how you ride and how much fabric movement bothers you at speed. Browse men's cycling jerseys and women's cycling jerseys.
How to Measure Yourself
You need a tape measure and ideally someone to help. Take measurements over your underwear or base layer, not over thick clothing.
Chest. Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your chest, under your arms. Keep it horizontal and snug but not tight. This is the most important measurement for jersey sizing.
Waist. Measure around your natural waistline, the narrowest part of your torso. Less critical for jerseys but relevant for bib shorts.
Height. Stand straight against a wall, feet together. Height affects torso length. Taller riders with long torsos may need to size up to ensure the back covers properly in the riding position, even if their chest measurement sits comfortably within a smaller size.
Once you have your measurements, compare them against the size guide for the specific product you are buying. Measurements vary slightly between styles.
Size Table: C&C vs International Sizing
International cycling brands, particularly European ones, run noticeably smaller than standard Australian sizing. A size M from a European brand is often equivalent to an Australian S. The table below covers the men's range.
| C&C Size | Chest (cm) | AUS/US Equivalent | EU Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2XS | 80–84 | XS | XS |
| XS | 84–88 | S | S |
| S | 88–93 | S–M | M |
| M | 93–99 | M | L |
| L | 99–105 | L | XL |
| XL | 105–112 | XL | 2XL |
| 2XL | 112–120 | 2XL | 3XL |
| 3XL | 120–130 | 3XL | 4XL |
For exact measurements per product, use the interactive size guide. Measurements can vary slightly between styles and are listed individually.
How Bib Shorts Should Fit
A poorly fitting chamois is the most common reason Australian riders end up with saddle sores on longer rides. It is not always a product issue. Often it is a sizing issue: shorts that are too large allow the chamois to move against the skin rather than moving with it. Getting the fit right costs nothing and fixes a lot.
Bib shorts follow the same logic as jerseys: snug standing up, right in the riding position. A chamois that fits correctly when you are upright and moving on the bike is doing its job. One that bunches or shifts during a ride is either the wrong size or the wrong product.
Chamois placement. The pad should sit centrally and flush against your body without folds, gaps, or bunching. Any gap between chamois and skin is friction waiting to happen. On longer rides, that friction becomes saddle sores. More on the connection between fit and saddle comfort in our guide to saddle sores and numbness.
Leg grippers. Should sit comfortably 3-5cm above the knee without cutting in or sliding down. If grippers leave visible marks after a short ride, size up. Laser-cut silicone grippers hold more consistently than stitched bands and are worth looking for.
Bib straps. Should hold the shorts in place without digging into your shoulders or restricting breathing. In the riding position, they should feel almost absent.
Seat area. No bunching or excess fabric behind the knee or at the hip. Folds in the seat mean the shorts are too large. This causes friction on long rides the same way a misfitting chamois does.
Browse men's cycling bib shorts and women's cycling bib shorts. For detailed guidance on choosing between models, the complete bib shorts guide covers chamois tiers, gripper construction, and what the price differences actually mean.
Women's Sizing
Women's cycling apparel has a long history of being adapted from men's patterns rather than designed from scratch. The result is kit that fits poorly at the shoulders, bunches at the waist, and uses a chamois positioned for a different body geometry. We do not do that.
Our women's range is engineered independently: shorter torso cuts, tapered waist, narrower shoulder widths, adjusted sleeve curves, and a women's-specific chamois pad geometry in all bib shorts. The bib strap system is also designed with practicality in mind for female riders. The fit difference on the bike between properly engineered women's kit and an adapted men's pattern is significant, particularly on rides over two hours.
Women's sizing runs true to standard Australian women's sizing. If you are a women's M in other technical athletic wear, start with a women's M and cross-reference your chest measurement against the size guide. The same size-up logic applies: true to size for race fit, one size up for relaxed.
Full range: women's cycling jerseys and women's bib shorts.
Buying Tips for Online Orders
Measure your chest before ordering. Your regular clothing size means very little in cycling apparel. A chest measurement takes two minutes and removes most of the guesswork.
Decide your fit preference first. Race fit: order your measured size. Relaxed: size up one. Loose: size up two. Knowing this before you order means you are choosing deliberately rather than guessing.
Tall riders with long torsos. If you are 190cm or over, consider sizing up one for jersey length even if your chest measurement sits comfortably within a smaller size. Back coverage in the riding position is worth more than a slightly looser chest.
Not sure? Email us at hello@caffeineandcranks.cc. We are a small Australian team and will give you a straight answer based on your measurements. We also offer free first exchange on sizing for Australian orders, so there is no risk in trying.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should a cycling jersey fit: tight or loose?
Snug when standing, right in the riding position. A jersey that feels comfortable upright will feel like a bag of air at speed. Order to your chest measurement for race fit, or size up one if you prefer a more relaxed feel.
Should I size up in cycling jerseys?
Only if you want a relaxed fit, or if you are between sizes and your chest measurement is near the top of a size range. If your measurements fit within a size, that size will give you a close race fit. One size up gives you more room through the torso without losing coverage.
What does race fit mean for a cycling jersey?
Race fit means the jersey is cut close to the body and designed for the bent-forward riding position. It is shorter in the torso than a regular jersey, close through the arms and chest, and sits tight when you are standing. In the riding position it relaxes into a snug, aerodynamic fit with no excess fabric to catch the wind.
How do I know if my cycling bib shorts fit correctly?
The chamois should sit flush against your body with no folds or gaps. Leg grippers should hold 3-5cm above the knee without leaving marks. Bib straps should feel almost absent in the riding position. Any bunching in the seat or behind the knee means the shorts are too large.
Do Australian cycling brands run true to size?
Caffeine and Cranks sizing runs true to Australian sizing. A size M chest of 93-99cm is a standard Australian M. European cycling brands often run one to two sizes smaller than Australian equivalents, which is why the comparison table above is useful if you are switching from an international brand.
Still not sure? The interactive size guide has measurements for every product, or email hello@caffeineandcranks.cc and we will sort it out.
Browse men's cycling jerseys, women's jerseys, men's bib shorts, women's bib shorts, and accessories.
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