Arm covers or sleeves for biking?

[Bao En-Li]

I am new to Chinese-Forums, but I searched as well as I could and didn't find this topic/answer... (read lots of interesting threads in the process though -- Thanks!)

During warm-weather trips to the PRC, I saw women on their bicycles wearing garments that were just sleeves (two sleeves connected across the shoulders that is). Saw them in Beijing and Tianjin for sure, maybe elsewhere. I tried to find these items in the streets and in stores that residents/non-tourists would shop in -- but had no luck.

Now, with gas around $3.50/gallon in my area of California, I am getting ready to use a bicycle for errands (as well as exercise) and would like to have a few of these garments myself. Does anyone know WHAT THEY ARE CALLED in Chinese?

Thanks for tolerating this trivial inquiry!

[roddy]

I used to know this, and it was bugging me so much I hunted down a native speaker and shook them till they told me . . .

[POP=xiùtào / sleeve cover]袖套[/POP] - makes sense, when you consider [POP=shǒutào /glove]手套[/POP] is a cover for your hand and a [POP=bìyùntào condom]避孕套[/POP] is a cover for your 避孕 . . . no wait, it doesn't make sense at all. Never mind.

I used to see them more in offices where (almost exclusively) women used to use them to protect their sleeves from dirt / wear and tear. pictures for anyone who can't figure out what we're talking about.

Can also be [POP=xiùlóng]袖笼[/POP] in the South, apparently.

And welcome to the forums!

Edit: Is that exactly what you are looking for? I don't think these would normally be connected across the shoulders. Guess they might be though, it's not like I ever looked.

[Mugi]

Here are some better pics

[Bao En-Li]

Roddy and Mugi --

Those are ALMOST it. In fact, the knit ones in Roddy's Google image list are essentially the same as triathlon cyclists wear for ARM WARMERS.

However, I believe the ones I saw were for sun-protection: the women wearing them were VERY fashionably dressed (with bare arms under the 套), and I only saw them worn while bicycling. They were white, thin even gauzy, and loose except for maybe at the wrist -- and I think were one piece, up and over the shoulders, connected to the other arm. Like what is sometimes called a shrug or cocoon over here, except those are usually also for cool evenings and often end at or above the elbow -- while these were at least wrist-length -- possibly some even had covers for back-of-the-hand.

It was like a blouse with the front and most of the back cut off, leaving just enough of the 'yoke' to attach the sleeves. Maybe that's what they were -- maybe people were just making their own in that June heatwave (2001?), but saw them more than once and in at least two cities. I will look for a digital photo -- but I've been through a few computers since then and my archiving is not the best.

Thanks for your answers!

保恩理

Elizabeth

[roddy]

Never seen anything like that. Will keep my eyes open though (Policeman: Sir, why have you been standing at this junction looking at girls on bikes since last Tuesday? Roddy: Research. )

Roddy

[gato]

It was like a blouse with the front and most of the back cut off,

Were they wearing anything underneath?

I guess they weren't anythng like these.

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=zh-CN&lr=&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=%E5%A4%8F%E5%A4%A9+%E8%A1%AB&btnG=%E6%90%9C%E7%B4%A2

[Bao En-Li]

Well, a little like the shrug/bolero showing up second row down clear to right side (position 10, counting top to bottom, left to right) -- but not form-fitting, not black, and not 3/4-sleeve (long-sleeved instead)... and my impression was, not so much fabric across the back...

Based on, I admit, fleeting glances; the women wearing them appeared to be going to or from work and I mean office jobs -- not casual or even student-young fashions like most in your Google... I really had the feeling the toppers were just for the ride and not part of their outfits.

Roddy, hold off on the street-corner research until I find my own pics... unless someone really can remember seeing them -- probably was a passing fashion (I've determined it was the June 2000 heatwave) anyway.

Having a need for them *now*, I think I will just cut down some of these sun-block synthetic shirts, for myself. But seems like someone with entrepreneurial spirit and a few textile industry connections really should start to make them for countries where there is public awareness of skin cancer "epidemic" (USA running distant third if that, to Australia and New Zealand).

保恩理

Elizabeth

[got_no_jaffas]

i am also looking for work sleeve covers, does anyone know where i can get them. plain white strong material preferred. i found nice ones with lace in wudaokou market but they were more fashion & not for protecting your sleeves against dirt.

[nerveandmuscle]

I've seen the garments that Elizabeth are talking about last summer in Beijing. I have no idea what they are called but I saw them being sold at a couple of the stalls at 金五星 wholesale market in HaiDian district for about 10 yuan each. Maybe someone in Beijing with too much time on their hands can follow up?

[Sam]

I know the things you are talking about. People are wearing them everywhere here at the moment. They are usually white and quite fashionable/dainty looking (well some of the ones I've seen anyway). I think you should be able to get them quite easily as so many people have them.... just not sure where. Maybe ask in a supermarket.....

[delaSOuL]

Isn't the reason for wearing them is that they want to block the sun from tanning them skin? Particularly for women, who want to keep their skin white.

[studentyoung]

Isn't the reason for wearing them is that they want to block the sun from tanning them skin? Particularly for women, who want to keep their skin white.

Indeed!

http://news.gd.sina.com.cn/local/2004-07-03/2_16_1.jpg

(for biking)

http://ec3img.pchome.com.tw/prod/M014/M01455/M0145501/prod_pics.jpg

(for driving)

Thanks!

[sarahkuang]

Hi, Bao En-Li

I know what exactly you want. I don't know it's exact name, but I know where you can get it, Hangzhou, zhejiang Province. I was once in Hangzhou in the summer. Almost every lady wore it. It was very beautiful, like butterflies flow on the streets. They can come in all kinds of texture, even in silk. Thought Shanghai is very close to Hangzhou Shanghainese don't know much about it. So you better ask someone who is Huangzhounese or from Huangzhou. One more thing go buy it in summer. No store sales this thing in winter.

Good luck!

[Quest]

They are called 手袖 or 袖套. My mom used to wear them. They are to protect ur own sleeves from getting dirty, or to block the sun obviously.

[sarahkuang]

No, I am sure not any name you gave above. We need some help from someone who have lived in Hangzhou 杭州。If you have a friend who is farmilar with Hangzhou, ask him/she. He/she will definitely know what we are talking about.

[gato]

why hanhzhou? there are many people wearing this in beijing and shanghai? but it looks like the person who asked the question is no longer here.

[sarahkuang]

Why Hangzhou? I believe it originated from Hangzhou. In the early 90s, I went to Hangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing . At that time every Hangzhou girl had one but not Shanghai girl or Beijing girl. Actually, I became the one who want to know what it exactly be called. If so many people have seen it, please come up a name.

[skylee]

If so many people have seen it, please come up a name.

Are the names (手袖 / 袖套) provided by other members not ok?

Other names also include 套袖 and 護袖. This is called 蕾丝手护袖 at taobao.

[sarahkuang]

No, What we talk about is more like cape or tippet than sleeves.

[skylee]

You mean something like this? -> 防曬袖套-短罩衫

Or this? -> 防曬披肩袖套

Or this? -> 一件式袖套

According to this report, it is probably also called 長袖披肩.

昨天，在市區各條道路上，隨處可見“全副武裝”的女性市民，身穿長袖披肩、頭頂遮陽帽或手撐太陽傘。