CYCLING COMFORT TIPS FOR WOMEN.

We’ve come a long way, baby.

Women on Bikes: The early years.

• A threat to health, morals, and reputation.

• Physicians warned of “detriment to the organs of matrimonial necessity.”

• Women were encouraged to ride sidesaddle.

The Dawn of Rational Dress

• Women’s first step toward cycling comfort, as advocated by the Rational Dress Society:

• Bloomers – and freedom – to the rescue.

• The death of the corset, and the birth of the “loose” woman.

Anatomical differences & how they affect cycling comfort

• Wider hips – our sit bones are approximately 1/2-3/4” wider than a man’s so our saddles better be, too.

• Soft tissue areas are very vulnerable to pressure against the rigid nose of a saddle so we need relief up there.

• Our upper body muscles are generally smaller and placed differently causing us to sustain a higher degree of force in neck & shoulders when leaning forward.

• Our quads are significantly stronger than our hamstrings, putting ligaments at higher risk of injury (exacerbated by cycling). We’re 4-5x more likely to tear our ACLs than the guys are – bummer!

What to do if you’re uncomfortable on your bike…

Neck & shoulder pain?

• You might be too stretched out. Your bike position could use some altering.

• Buy a shorter stem or try rotating the handlebar slightly back toward you so you can ride more upright.

Feeling cramped and wobbly?

• Rarely a problem for women, but if so, scoot your saddle back slightly. If you’re maxed out, try a setback seatpost.

Having knee issues?

• If it’s in the front of your knee, it might mean your saddle is too low; if in the rear, your saddle is too high. Make TINY adjustments and go for a ride.

Saddle pain, sores or discomfort?

You’re not alone – this is the #1 complaint among women.

• Swap out the saddle that came with your bike and get the right saddle for you. Needs to support your sit bones and relieve pressure up front.

• The myth of softness is that softer = more comfortable. The reality Is that after an hour on a pillow, you’ll be ready to ditch the bike.

• Cut outs, gel and narrow noses. These are extremely effective solutions to saddle comfort.

• Positioning: height, fore/aft, tilt. These adjustments (one at a time only) can make a huge difference.

Related:

Learn about the new Raven, one of our most comfortable performance saddles >

Tricks of the cycling trade…

• Invest in good fitting bike shorts with a ventilating, non chafing chamois.

• Eliminate bagging, bunching, extra fabric in the crotch area.

• Get off and stretch – 6 deep knee bends per hour

• Hydrate with water and electrolyte replenishment to avoid cramps.

• Immediately get out of your shorts after the ride.

• Treat yourself to the occasional massage – and embrace yoga to build flexibility and reduce injuries.

Related:

What to look for when choosing cycling bottoms >