There are a couple of essentials that every budding cyclist needs to invest in. Firstly there is the bike itself – you need to choose what kind of bike you want to buy, whether you’re looking for a commuter hybrid or a road specialist ride, for example.
Next up is the helmet. Are you a fashion forward commuter or are you looking to be the brightest on the road?
In our opinion the next most important thing is definitely a good pair of cycling shorts. The right pair of shorts will save you a lot of heartache and pain in the long run!
Here are 8 essential things to consider when buying a pair of female cycling shorts…
- Chafing. That horrible thing that happens when our legs rub together whilst riding. Luckily for us, buying a good pair of comfortable shorts, made from the right material can help to prevent this.
- Only buy shorts lined with chamois. The chamois is there for hygiene and comfort as it helps to reduce pressure when riding.
- The inside of women’s cycling shorts should feel little bulky to help protect our sensitive parts.
- Go to a specialist store. Yes the Amazon reviews may tempt you, but what do Amazon know about cycling? Your best bet is going to a store that knows about cycling and sells cycling specific products.
- Don’t just buy the first pair you find that happen to be on offer. We know that they can be a bit pricey, especially bib shorts, but think about the amount of time you will be riding in them. No one wants some cheap and scratchy material shoved up their bottoms do they?
- Check for antimicrobial coating. This is something that is put onto the chamois foam to keep everything dry and clean.
- Ask. We’ve all been there and have gone through a million pairs until our match was made. If you don’t know any female cyclists ask a female assistant in store, they will know what type of shorts suit which riding style.
- Bib shorts are even better. Although not for everyone, they are brilliant for keep the short firmly in place. A lot of women also find them more flattering as they avoid the dreaded muffin top which let’s face it, we all loathe.
We used Saddle, Sore, a book written by Molly Hurford as a reference for this article. You can find out more about her brilliant book here.
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