Race suit fit: judge it in the tuck, not standing up

Off-season is when a lot of riders buy their first one-piece suit. Alpinestars and Dainese both say a track suit is cut for the riding position, so that is where you judge it.

Why fit matters

Alpinestars says: too loose, and the armour moves out of place in a crash. Too tight, and you tire faster, lose mobility and can cut off circulation during long sessions. The suit only protects you if the protectors stay over your shoulders, elbows, hips and knees when you hit the ground.

Dainese notes that one-piece track suits have strongly pre-bent arms and legs so they fit when you are crouched behind the fairing. That is why a new suit can pull across the shoulders in the shop. Dainese says this is normal: judge the suit in riding position, not standing up. Its stores let you try a suit on a bike.

Try it on with everything

Wear the same layers you will ride in. Alpinestars says to fit the suit with your base layer, chest protector and back protector, and with a Tech-Air airbag if you use one. Dainese adds boots and gloves to that list.

The tuck test

Crouch into a full tuck: knees bent, arms out as if holding the bars, back curved forward. Then check:

• Shoulder and elbow armour stay centred over the joints with your arms extended.
• Knee armour sits over the kneecap. Standing, it should be centred; it moves up when you crouch.
• Sleeves reach your wrist bones and the legs cover your ankle bones, with no gap at the boots.
• The back protector stays centred on your spine, with no gap at the lower back.
• You can turn your head fully left and right without the collar digging in.

Alpinestars suggests moving around in the suit for 10 to 15 minutes. Two red flags: armour that shifts more than 2.5 cm when you move into riding position, and numbness or tingling in your hands, feet or legs after five minutes.

Sizing

Leather stretches 3 to 5 percent over the first few sessions, so a slightly snug new suit will settle. Real restriction will not go away.

Measure your inseam. Alpinestars says it matters more than height when choosing between short, standard and tall fits, and that sizing varies between models, so use the chart for the exact suit. If you fall between sizes and plan to wear an airbag, it suggests the larger one. Dainese also offers Short and Tall sizes, and made-to-measure suits for riders who do not fit standard sizes.