If, like a few of us at Terry, you’re cruising somewhere between penia and porosis, you may be wondering what all that cycling has done for you. Here’s some of the latest research on the benefits and the unique side effects of being an enthusiastic cyclist.
Bone Density
Hardcore female cyclists who live on their bikes may be at risk of developing osteopenia or osteoporosis. According to the NIH, one season in professional cycling is enough to negatively affect bone health. I’m certainly not anywhere close to a pro but I ride every day, 2+ hours, don’t do any cross training due to bad knees, and was just diagnosed out of the blue with osteoporosis. Turns out, you can be very fit, eat a healthy diet, take lots of vitamins and hormones and still find yourself with low bone density. Half of all women over 50 will eventually develop this condition due to a variety of factors but there are some things you can do proactively to help protect yourself.
This is a good review of the research on cycling’s impact on bone density and how to mitigate risk.
To maximize the benefits of cycling while protecting your bones, here are some recommendations: ✔️ Combine with Weight-Bearing Exercises – Walking, dancing, or resistance training helps maintain bone density. ✔️ Ensure Proper Nutrition – A diet rich in calcium, vitamin D, and protein is essential for bone health. ✔️ Use a Properly Fitted Bike – A well-fitted bike ensures good posture and prevents unnecessary strain. ✔️ Ride on Smooth Terrain – Avoid high-risk activities like mountain biking, which may increase the chance of falls. ✔️ Incorporate Balance and Strength Training – Strength training exercises such as squats, lunges, and weightlifting can complement cycling for stronger bones.
Cycling & General Health
The journal Sports Medicine has reviewed 17 studies and amalgamated the results – those who habitually travel by bike live longer, healthier lives, with a 23% higher chance of avoiding premature death. Cycling improves muscle strength and balance, enhances cardiovascular and mental health, improves mobility and is a low-impact/joint-friendly activity for those with bad knees.
The following article outlines a lot of the great benefits and backs them up with published research.
Whether you’re looking for a new length, a more flattering fit, more pockets, on-bike/off-bike utility or the best new bottoms for mountain biking, this season is for you. We’ve searched the cycling universe to bring you a variety of fit options, color options, length options and padded liners that will work beautifully on the trail, but will also make you want to repurpose them for other activities, too.
Let’s face it, what goes on first can matter the most on your ride. It’s not just about the saddle and your bike. Investing in a proper bra and padded bike liner can be paramount to comfort and the duration you spend in the saddle. Get it right, and you feel great, but the wrong bra and/or bike liner can lead to discomfort, tenderness and even pain. At Terry, we’ve built the ultimate line-up of padded liners and supportive bike bras to ensure you always find a silver lining that meets your performance and comfort needs. Read on for an intimate look at our most intimate collection of women’s cycling essentials…
We’ll start in the Bra department and we promise not to keep any detail secret. For the most part, a low to medium impact bra is suitable for most cyclists and the Rosso Corsa Bra is the bra of choice at Terry because it’s intended solely for the demands of cycling with just the right amount of support, superlight stretch fabric, mesh inserts for a higher level of moisture management, molded cups with full coverage and a hook-and-eye closure for easy on and off. Add to this the meticulous craftsmanship and innovation backed by the Italian masters at Castelli, and you have one ride-enhancing support system.
We brought in the Maipo Bra from Patagonia to give you a low-impact option that also has a low impact on Mother Earth. Made primarily from recycled materials, it’s great for cycling but can be worked into your other active and everyday wardrobes, too. The Maipo Bra delivers low impact support to layer under your favorite jersey out on the road; is super soft against the skin with minimal seaming to reduce chafing for all-day comfort; and adjustable straps to dial in fit. Available in black and a lovely rock wash print.
With two offerings this season from Craft, we have you covered for the highs and lows that sport your way. The versatile Classic Bra featuring low-to-medium support and moisture wicking fabric for a multitude of training disciplines, along with the innovative Race Day Sport Top, offering exceptional support for high impact endeavors; more coverage; superior ventilation; and a hook-and-eye closure to dial in fit for added comfort and stability.
Next to having a proper saddle in place, a padded bottom is an essential asset for a more comfortable and enjoyable ride. With off-road riding, commuting and E-bikes on the rise, padded bike liners are an ideal and versatile approach to turning any bottom, no matter your riding style, into a cycling bottom—skirts and dresses, too! Here’s a brief guide to help you navigate the Bike Liners Terry offers—some made by us, and others from the brands we trust and ride with, too.
Our most sophisticated liner to date uses the best and the softest mesh available, combined with a wide crossover waistband and comes equipped with our Flex Air chamois offering soft wing technology and maximum breathability which provides a higher performance liner option you can comfortably wear all day long. 6.5 inch inseam.
A beauty to behold, our Aria Liner provides plenty of ventilation with its mesh fabrication and a very feminine approach with its stretch lace leg band that keeps the short gently in place. Equipped with our Italian Fleet Air chamois, it’s great for rides of most distances, with its 4-way stretch, multi-level and perforated foam padding and soft-wing construction.
Love these liners! They’re very soft and stretchy and not overly padded but enough cushion to do the job and fit perfectly. And they’re almost cute (we are talking about liners after all) with the lace on the edges. Very comfortable, no binding or pinching anywhere. I bought several more after trying the first one.
Universally loved and included in many of the baggy bottoms we make, our Universal Liner is an ideal mate to pair with your existing wardrobe for rides with a duration of 1 to 2 hours. Available in sizes XS-3X, it’s outfitted with our seamless Urban chamois with 4-way stretch and multi-level foam padding in a shorter shape that’s ideal for riding in a more upright, commuter-like riding position. Available in two inseam lengths, 5 inch (XS-XXL) and 6.5 inch (XS-3X)
Excellent—as expected. I wore these recently for my first-ever 20+ mile ride and they performed beautifully—just as expected. I really like the flexibility these liners provide. It makes dressing for the weather a little bit easier.
Zoic’s Essential Liner (also available in sizes XS-3X) offers a comfortable and versatile option for bike commuting and rides up tp 2 hours on your mountain, gravel, road, e-bike, or even spin bike. Equipped with their contoured, women-specific Comfort chamois constructed from medium density foam, it provides all-purpose cushioning and coverage for a wide array of cyclists. It’s made from 88% recycled materials and offers 6-panel construction with a wide, yoga-style waistband and 5 inch inseam.
If you’re looking to get more saddle time out of your liner or need a liner for your shorter shorts, then Zoic’s Barely There Liner (available in plus sizes, too) offers an advanced, Italian-made dual density foam chamois and a minimalist design with a 2 inch inseam suitable for 4 hours of ride time in one wildly printed and yet discreet package.
For even more incognito coverage, check out our Cyclo Brief 2.0. It’s our ultimate solution for sneakily converting regular clothes to bike gear. You’ll find it to be very lightweight and breathable thanks to it’s perforated nylon/spandex fabrication with a soft elastic waistband and raw cut leg openings that disappear under tight bottoms. For your riding comfort, we paired it with our Reticulated chamois that’s streamlined to eliminate bulk and highly breathable with 4-way stretch, soft wing construction and an antimicrobial cover.
Best ever! These are my new favorites. The padding is perfect, enough to stay comfortable on longer rides and it doesn’t feel like a diaper. The brief is also very cool and none of it holds onto sweat. I bought 2 pairs and want to replace all of my liners with these!
Club Ride’s ultra-breathable Drift Liner will take you from trail to town with ease. Soft and comfortable against the skin with a Level 2 dual density foam chamois; shaped for a women-specific fit and up to 2 hours of ride time. Pair up this beauty of a liner with the Joanie Capri, also by our friends at Club Ride.
Available in distinctive prints and transforming streetwear into cyclewear at a bike lane near you, Terry’s Mixie Liner comfortably keeps the pedals spinning for a couple of hours. It’s outfitted with our Urban chamois offering the right amount of padding and shape for a more upright riding position. It has a 5 inch inseam and pairs beautifully with our Mixie Skirt and just about anything else in your closet.
This liner is so comfortable I am ordering another. The length is just right and the fabric stays in place without tight compression. The fabric patterns are fun and lively—these liners will make bike skirts my summer go-to.
Back by popular demand from Maloja, the Meadow Brief is a premium-level panty option with a small, seamless pad with 4-way stretch and Polygiene treatment that neutralizes odors by stopping the growth of odor-causing bacteria, a great option for commuters and in-town pursuits. In need of a liner for the long haul? Look no further than the Plumtree liner: quick-drying, highly breathable with its open mesh structure and Maloja’s premium Liberty pad with shock absorption technology for 6+ hours of riding time. Both meticulously designed in Germany.
Three pieces of tech have our attention right now when it comes to making life on a bike safer, simpler, more gearful.
How to inflate a tire without even trying.
It’s a mystery as to how this small device can inflate your tire with the press of a button, but it does and we are here for it. Simpler to operate than a CO2 cartridge, it lets you preset the desired psi and auto stops when it reaches it. Small enough to be carried in a bike bag or jersey pocket and equipped with a smarthead for presta or schrader valves. Coming soon to terrycycling.com.
There’s nothing more disconcerting than not hearing or seeing what’s happening behind you on a bike – even if it’s a team car. In addition to being one of the brightest tail lights you can buy, the Garmin Varia Radar gives you eyes on the back of your head. It pairs up with your bike computer or smartphone and provides visual and audio alerts for vehicles approaching from behind up to 153 yards away. It’s easy to install and use, integrates sleekly onto your seatpost and provides high visibility that can be seen up to 1 mile away. I thought I didn’t need it until I rode behind someone who has one. It’s a welcome beacon in every direction.
Stop, thief!
My favorite bike shop, recovering my stolen bike…one painful piece at a time
A sad reality, but each year it’s estimated that tens of thousands of bikes are stolen, with a year over year increase in actual reported bikes stolen of 15% according to Bike Index. Nearly every cyclist has either experienced it personally or rides with someone who has. The best defense of course is to never leave your bike in a risky situation. Make sure you have your serial number safely documented (if you haven’t done this, stop reading and do it NOW), along with photos and purchase receipt. Register it with Bike Index (they have the best track record in recoveries).
One additional tech step you can take is by adding an inconspicuous AirTag that can give you some bluetooth tracking. Several of the bottle cage makers have made it easy with under bottle cage mounts that hide the tag between cage and frame. Under saddle options also exist, though not as inconspicuous.
As you might imagine, we get a lot of really great questions from female cyclists every day. Our customer service team leader, Lisa Wilkes, shares her best advice for the questions we receive most often.
How do I choose the best cycling shorts for my needs?
The topic of bike bottoms comes up often and can seem daunting at first, but if you consider the features individually, the best options quickly become apparent.
Your length preference is an essential starting point, and most of us understand what is best for our legs, comfort, and climate.
Do you like a shorter short (5″ to 7″), a bit more coverage (7″ to 9″), or a longer short (9″ to 13″)? Beyond these three preferences, knickers/capris are best for temps below 65 degrees for knee fiber health, and long bottoms offer added sun protection and warmth.
Once your preferred length is determined, we must consider your chamois (pronounced sham-mee) padding needs. Do you want the most padding and wicking available like our Flex Air, Flex Air Carbon, Flex Air Tour, and Flex Air Max, or are you looking for more casual padding for 20-to-30-mile rides found in our Flex Air Light, Fleet Air, or Comfort Chamois? Some riders need little to no padding; we offer padless and lightly padded bottoms for this group with our Fleet Air Lite, Reticulated, Slight, and Minimalist chamois options.
An often-overlooked feature of bike shorts is compression. Do you want a high compression short to support your hips and legs, or prefer a regular fit with more stretch? If you are training for an endurance or racing event, compression shorts can offer the added support needed for success.
Other features to consider when choosing shorts include the kind of leg band you like (cloth band, light grippers, or strong grippers) and what kind of rise you prefer (regular or high rise).
My last and most important bit of advice when choosing bottoms is sizing. Please find a measuring tape, wrap it around your hips where you are broadest, and match our size chart. If you are still unsure, please call customer service or do a live chat with us at terrycycling.com. We wear our products, and we can always help. 1-800-289-8379.
How do I know if I need a new saddle?
Like so many cycling decisions, this one is very personal. If you have been riding the same one forever and feel comfortable in the saddle, don’t change a thing (or sell your bike with your favorite saddle!).
The trifecta of a comfortable bike ride is a bicycle that fits you well, a saddle that supports you well, and good biking shorts for added comfort and moisture-wicking.
If you are experiencing sit bone or soft tissue issues, your saddle may be to blame. If you need help getting comfortable, please call us and ask for a saddle expert. We can examine your riding style and make recommendations.
Cycling shoes are a personal choice. When I began riding, I was training for my first century and my coach told us we would be 30% more efficient if we wore cycling shoes and clipped in; this sounded worth the old college try, and I have never looked back.
That said, training for 100 miles is a big undertaking. A stiff-soled shoe may be all you need for shorter miles or those who prefer to put their foot down untethered.
It is worth noting that your stiffest-soled shoe is your best pedaling option; it will keep your pedal stroke strong and protect your arch from strain.
What are the best tops for riding and are long sleeved ones for winter?
While we offer a variety of tops for winter riding, our Thermal and Merino options offer the best warmth; we also provide long-sleeve tops for spring, summer, and fall.
For spring and fall, when temperatures are still a bit cool, I love our Tulip top (12″ zip) and our Strada jersey, which offers a full zip and can double as a light jacket.
We offer various sleeveless, short-sleeve, and long-sleeve jersey options for summer riding. Our Soleil line has quickly become a summer riding favorite, with athletic, semi-fitted, and relaxed (Flow) fit options.
As a fair-skinned rider, long-sleeved Soleil Tops and Jerseys are critical for my skin health. Many riders also comment that since their skin isn’t baking in the sun, they feel cooler and I agree! Many of us wear Soleil tops year ’round, as they make excellent base layers for added wicking and warmth.
Note: What is the difference between a cycling jersey and a top? A cycling jersey has a zipper, and a cycling top is a pullover.
How do you ship your orders?
We ship most of our packages via the US Postal Service. However, if you request a faster delivery option (2 to 3 days or overnight), your package will ship via UPS or FedEx the same day if ordered by 2 PM EST or the next business day if you order after 2 PM EST. PLEASE NOTE: Expedited packages are not shipped or delivered on the weekend.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need an order quickly. We are always available to help you pick the best time for your rush needs.
Returns are easy at Terry Cycling; click here: RETURNS If you have any issues using the link, please reach out, and we will be happy to help. 1-800-289-8379.
Lisa Wilkes is former cycling coach who uses those skills daily in coaching the customer service team at Terry. She also handles our sponsorship efforts with many events and groups including the Wellness Revolution with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont. At the moment, she’s helping us put customer service front and center via our new website and chat feature. Test her out with your own questions about getting comfortable on your bike.
Whether you’re a committed roadie, lover of loose fits or looking for new options in bike shorts, we have you covered with something new this season. Check out our 5 innovations for 2025.
As we begin our 4th decade at Terry, we’re amazed at how much has changed. Many of you have been there with us for a huge part of our history. Here’s the first in a series of retrospectives about how things got rolling, in the words of our founder, Georgena Terry.
Who I am and Why We’re Here
Okay, let’s set the record straight. A lot of people say, “You started your business because you were short and you couldn’t find a bike that fit, right?” Wrong. Or, “You started your business to benefit maligned, frustrated women, right?” Wrong. I started my business to follow my intuition. No ulterior motives here at all. About 30 seconds after I popped out of the womb, a guardian angel landed on my shoulder and said, “Georgena, you’re a misfit and a maverick. Don’t even think about conforming. You simply can’t do it.” My nascent brain chewed on that for about a millisecond and then agreed, wholeheartedly.
With this precious bit of insight about my future in hand, I began my life’s journey. I dove headlong into whatever I wanted to do. Against my Dad’s wishes, I bought my first bicycle, a fire engine red, single speed Schwinn girl’s model. I rode that bike everywhere. It ignited a little fire in me that has burned with varying degrees of passion over the years. The freedom, the exhilaration, the independence, the solitude of cycling–just perfect for me.
By the time I started my fourth job in eight years, I knew I wasn’t long for the corporate world. It was just too hard to like somebody else’s project. I’m not a team player. Yeah, yeah–I know what the books say. Listen, the real secret in life is not to spend hours of time analyzing and trying to improve your weaknesses–it’s playing to your strengths and forgetting about your weaknesses.
Bicycling was continuing to call me. Not that I wanted to ride all the time; I just wanted to feel like I was riding. I have a degree in mechanical engineering. I have some imagination (heck, I had a control panel from the Enterprise’s bridge in my bedroom in 1956–it controlled every function in our house). What to do, what to do? I didn’t know. I just knew I had to know more about the bicycle. Not the components, the frame. The metallurgy, the construction, the flame that made it a reality.
When I was finishing my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, our senior project was to build a vehicle. Each group was given a nice little two stroke engine and told to make something neat…efficient…totally cool. Some of us were cyclists, so we set about building the best of both worlds. I found the tubing and Ed supplied a torch, flux and rods. We worked out of the basement of an old house. On a hot September afternoon, I watched Ed brazing a joint. There was something very appealing about the glare of the torch on his face, the perspiration. And it wasn’t a romantic appeal either. Maybe it was because we were in Pittsburgh where the steel mills were still pumping and it was heady to be in the presence of all that awesome power. Midnight drives to the J&L mills to feel the blast furnaces were a popular diversion. Say what you will about pollution and the plight of the working man. The country was humming.
I wanted a piece of that. So when Ed took off his goggles, wiped his face and said, “wanna try it?” I grinned and had my first lesson in brazing. It was like looking at a nonsensical throb of hot color. I couldn’t tell base metal from rod, from flux. Everything swirling around. I must have done okay, because the joint held, but I didn’t know why and that intrigued me.
So two years later, I bid a very fond farewell to the corporate world, bought a torch and some rod, read up on the metallurgy of brazing, and had a friend teach me the basics of safe torch operation. And then, in my own basement, I began the process of learning to build bicycle frames. It was as confusing at the outset as it had been in Pittsburgh, but, bit by bit, the pieces fell into place. Soon, brazing was like a good bike ride. I just got into the ryythym of it and it seemed like I could will the silver to go anywhere.
Eventually the word got out and I found myself building for others. I noticed a lot of women coming to me with common complaints–aches and pains, no off the rack bikes available. The MBA part of my brain pushed past the engineer and screamed, “Wake up! Crunch the numbers. Let’s go! Your personal revolution is about to take off.”
All these little voices inside me. They eschew even the slightest suggestion that someone knows more about me than they know. They’re apolitical, selfish little fiends. They provide the fire, I chase down the flammables. These little pals are inside everyone. You just have to shut down the interference and listen. When all is said and done, it’s going to come down to you and them. I’m really glad I heard mine from the beginning.
Our sincere congratulations to Georgena for being one of five inductees into the US Bicycle Hall of Fame later this year. You can reach her through her custom bike building site, georgenaterry.com.
