Tag: women’s bike shorts

Best Women’s Bike Shorts Roundup

Terry Freedom 2-in-1 Bike Short, with Soleil Long Sleeve Flow in Zoom | Blue

Whatever type of cycling you enjoy, we aim to bring you the best women’s bike shorts available. It’s a big part of our mission to help more women enjoy riding bikes, comfortably and beautifully!

With that in mind, we’re introducing an exciting new array of bike shorts for women cyclists this year. There are new options for all kinds of riding, from versatile bike shorts that can adapt seamlessly through to other activities, to hard core padded cycling shorts for road and multi-day tours.

The common goal is helping you achieve optimal performance, while feeling and looking your best. No matter what kind of cycling you like, we have bike shorts that will help you enjoy the ride even more.

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What Makes the Best Bike Shorts for Women?

Finding your ideal bike shorts can feel like a lifetime quest. To start with, we are all different shapes and sizes, so finding shorts that fit your particular shape comfortably can be challenge enough.

Most importantly, your best bike shorts will be those that let you ride in comfort for as long as you want to, without chafing or saddle sores. Fabric choices, amount of compression, chamois options, panel construction, leg length, hem height and gripper styles all come into play.

Then of course, cycling encompasses a real variety of activities. All are united by two wheels, but different cycling pursuits involve very different environments, positions, durations and demands.

Those varied requirements put the emphasis on different features for different riders. The best bike shorts for one type of riding won’t be so good for others, and what’s most comfortable for one rider might not be comfortable at all for another. It’s a very personal thing.

On top of all that, there’s fashion. Black bike shorts are classic for a reason: they go with anything, anywhere, anytime. That said, color and pattern let you mix things up, and make the ride more fun. We are all in favor of that!

All of this means that setting out to offer the best in bike shorts for female cyclists really means offering a lot of different choices, all of which are the best in different ways.

Keep reading for highlights of our new women’s bike shorts lineup for 2022, and the details you need to choose the right pair for you. At least one just might become your new favorite…

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Our Best New Women’s Bike Shorts

Best bike short for leg-band-free comfort – Easy Rider Bike Short

The Easy Rider is completely focused on comfort, featuring a sensuous performance fabric with a luxurious matte-sueded texture. The waistband is extra high, and there are no leg grippers at all! The raw cut legs are designed to rise a little as you ride, giving blissful unrestricted comfort even on long rides.

Shop the Easy Rider

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Best all-round women’s bike short with extra visibility – Br eakaway LTD Bike Short

Delivers great performance features at an attractive price point, with 6 panel construction and moderate compression. The Breakaway LTD adds hits of high-viz fabric to give you extra bio-motion visibility.

Shop the Breakaway LTD

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Best women’s performance cycling short with extra visibility – Bella Bike Short Limited Edition

The Bella has earned its place as the standard by which all women’s performance cycling shorts are judged. This Limited Edition features the same beloved fabric, style, fit, padding and compression, with the addition of reflective trim applied throughout the contrast seaming.

Shop the Bella Bike Short Limited Edition

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Best bike short for trails and beyond – Vista Short

Vista opens new possibilities, with an innovative wide waistband and unique stretch twill fabric that gives a wonderful fit for many different body shapes. It’s paired with our new Cyclo Brief 2.0, so you can wear it for serious cycling or without the liner for hiking, travel, you name it.

Shop the Vista Short

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Best performance bike short with optional liner – Freedom 2-in-1 Bike Short

The Freedom 2-in-1 is a new concept in bike shorts that can bridge the gap between performance cycling and many other activities where a liner is not required. That means a sleeker look and no chamois seaming. Think yoga, shopping, club?

The short features moderate compression in a nylon/spandex blend. Paired with the new Cyclo Brief 2.0, with our minimalist Reticulated Chamois, it’s capable of serious cycling performance when lighter padding is sufficient.

Shop the Freedom 2-in-1 Bike Short

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Best options to turn anything into cycling gear

You’ll be spoilt for choice this year! We’re introducing an array of new options in cycling liner shorts, so you can combine your favorite pieces with a liner that will go the distance in comfort, no matter what kind of cycling you enjoy.

Cyclo Brief 2.0 – lowest profile liner, with minimalist Reticulated Chamois

Universal 5 inch Bike Liner – length to clear your saddle, good for up to 2 hours

Performance Bike Liner – best choice for serious cycling, premium chamois

Mixie Bike Liner – transforms streetwear into bikewear, coordinates beautifully with our Mixie Skirt

Cyclo Brief 2.0, Universal 5 inch Bike Liner, Performance Bike Liner, Mixie Bike Liner

Shop all liners

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Best Women’s Bike Shorts for Different Cycling Pursuits

Terry Metro Below The Knee Bike Capri, with Henley Jersey

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Best loose fit bike shorts for trails & travel – Metro Below the Knee Bike Capri

For those who prefer a non-lycra approach, the Metro BTK is a great option – its stretch woven fabric and tapered-but-not-tight fit provide comfort and protection for trails, hiking, work or travel.

Shop the Metro BTK

Shop all Metro

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Best women’s bike shorts for road cycling & high performance – Power Bike Short

A classic in the making, with compression and comfort taken to a new level. If you ride hard and long, and demand more, these are for you.

Shop Power Short

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Terry Rebel Bike Short with Sun Goddess in Blue Spokes

Best women’s bike shorts for Peloton, spin, & indoor cycling – Rebel Bike Short

The Rebel Short is designed to excel in high heat. Features moderate compression, for an adaptable, flattering fit. Super lightweight, highly breathable, with stylish, playful accents doing double duty as ventilation – these are a great choice for staying cool while looking hot!

Shop Rebel Short

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Best budget bike shorts – Actif Bike Short

Recognized by Bicycling magazine for best value under $60. The Actif doesn’t cut corners on comfort, with best-in-class fit, features and chamois padding.

Shop the Actif Short

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Best bike shorts for everyday comfort – Bike Bermuda

Built in the USA and ridden everywhere. The Bike Bermuda features the same silky fabric and chamois as the ever-popular Breakaway, with a longer leg, higher rise, handy pocket and moderate compression for a forgiving fit, and great comfort.

Shop Bike Bermuda

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Mixie Tank and Wayfarer Short in Azurite

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Best women’s bike shorts for touring – Wayfarer Bike Short

Luxurious fabric and fit for all-day comfort; longer length and pockets. A great choice for long and multiple rides, in exciting new color choices for perfect coordination with your top.

New for 2022 – Wayfarer 7

Featuring the same gorgeous, next-to-skin performance fabric, construction and features, in a shorter length. Great for hotter conditions or higher tan lines.

Shop Wayfarer

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Best high-waisted women’s bike shorts – Hi Rise Holster Bike Short

Hi Rise Holster is a Terry best-seller, thanks to the comfort of its extra-high-waisted fit. Many customers say these are the best, most comfortable shorts they have ever owned. Sculpted panels, long length and deep pockets. A versatile short, ready for touring, gravel, or MTB.

Shop Holster Hi Rise

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Soleil Short in Black | Digi Sunset, with Soleil Racer Tank in Synthesized | Sun

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Updated with new prints for 2022 – Soleil Bike Short

Updated with a great selection of coordinating prints for 2022. Soleil Short is becoming a firm favorite for comfort, UPF protection and versatility. Best women’s bike short for performance with personality.

Sh op Soleil Short

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Those are just the highlights! We make cycling shorts for just about every shape, size and type of rider. Shop our complete selection here.

If you would like some help with choosing the right shorts, our customer service team has lots of experience matching riders with the best gear for their needs. Give them a call or shoot an email over, they would love to help!

800-289-8379 or customerservice@terrybicycles.com

February 12, 2022
BAGGY BIKE SHORTS IN THE LIMELIGHT.

Baggy Bike Shorts are now easier to find on the Terry web site

Not everyone loves the lycra look – a fact we have known at Terry for a long time.

Although we are famous for high-performance, compressive and comfortable “lycra” shorts like the Bella, Chill and new Power Short lines, quite a few of our best loved, best reviewed bike shorts are actually loose fitting, non-lycra options that fall into the “baggy shorts” category.

Up until now we didn’t have an easy way to locate those items separately, so we fixed that!

If hanging loose is your thing, you can now shop our new Baggy Shorts category, and see just the kind of shorts you prefer. We have a number of excellent Terry options like Metro and Fixie, and selections from other manufacturers that meet different needs and preferences.

Take a look at all our Baggy Shorts here…

June 19, 2021
CHILL TRI – OUR BEST TRIATHLON SHORTS YET

Terry Amabassador, Kathy Hahn, in Chill Tri Shorts & Sun Goddess Jersey in Mont Ventoux

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Terry Ambassadors agree – Chill Tri Short Sets a New Standard for the Best Triathlon Shorts

Whether it’s the infamous Ironman with its 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and full marathon run to the finish line, or a local event that’s more do-able for mere mortals, triathlon is a uniquely demanding sport. Whatever length the race, competitors are training to high standards in three very different disciplines.

Triathlon also presents challenges when it comes to choosing equipment, including apparel. Time spent transitioning from each leg of a race to the next is an important factor in overall performance, and to keep that time to a minimum it’s a big advantage to have an outfit that can be worn for all three. That way you don’t lose time changing clothes between stages.

What are the Best Shorts to Wear in a Triathlon?

The outfit that helps a triathlete swim, ride and run as fast as possible is fairly specialized, as you might imagine. These days, apart from cold water events where some kind of wetsuit is needed for the swimming leg, most triathletes choose either a one-piece or two-piece triathlon suit, designed to be worn throughout the race and perform well in each stage. The one-piece is essentially a short sleeved or sleeveless body suit. The two-piece resembles a pair of bike shorts and bike jersey, but with some specialized features. It’s more versatile and easier to deal with than a one-piece, especially for nature breaks.

Terry Chill Tri Short

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The two piece configuration is where the Chill Tri steps in, and it’s designed to stand among the best triathlon shorts available. It features quick drying, high compression fabric that aids performance and muscle recovery, and is both hydrodynamic and aerodynamic. The 6 inch leg length is optimized for performance and comfort throughout the swim/bike/run stages of a triathlon.

The chamois is a critical component of the Chill Tri Short. It provides a critical level of on-bike comfort for both racing and training, but is smaller than a typical chamois. A regular cycling chamois would absorb a lot of water during the swim and be a real hassle to deal with afterwards. Our new Tri Comp chamois avoids that problem entirely. It’s designed to drain and flex so it is comfortable during the swim and run portions of a triathlon.

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How Does the Chill Tri Perform in Competition?

We turned to a couple of our Terry Ambassadors to put the Chill Tri to the test in real world triathlons.

Stacy Dietzler

Stacy, based in Tennessee, competes in triathlons and endurance cycling events. She was among the customers who requested a triathlon specific short, so we really value her opinion of the Chill Tri.

I was so excited to see the new Terry Chill 6 Tri Shorts! I have been a loyal Chill 7 shorts wearer for the past several years. The tri shorts are as comfortable as the Chill 7 shorts and the compression feels great along with the light fabric. They don’t ride up and the legs stay put.

I’m wearing them 3-4 times a week as I begin to train for a Half Ironman in October. I look forward to wearing them during open water training swims and testing out the light-weight chamois, which has no bulk, eliminating any drag. Because I live in a hot and humid city, the Chill Tri will be ideal for running as well.

I appreciate Terry putting a lot of effort into the needs of a triathlete and launching the Chill Tri Shorts!

Kathy Hahn

Kathy lives in Pennsylvania, and competes in triathlons and other multi-sport events, in addition to enjoying century rides.

This year, with Covid restrictions beginning to lift, I was able to compete in a local in-person short course duathlon. I planned to wear the Chill Tri Short, and added a Soleil Long Sleeve Jersey to my collection, as the weather in early May in Pennsylvania can be quite unpredictable!

As expected, race day morning started off in the mid 40’s along with 15 mph winds, and by the end of the race, progressed to the high 50’s and lower 60’s. Since there was so much “Chill” in the air that day (pun intended LOL) I ended up wearing the Chill Tri shorts under a pair of old running capris so I’d have a little more coverage on my legs, but they were awesome to run/bike/run in!

Ordinarily, I NEVER wear 2 pairs of bottoms when I run or ride, as I can’t stand the feel of two waist bands. However, these Tri shorts have a super soft, wide waist band, so I didn’t even know they were there! Also, the thinner chamois was perfect for this short course duathlon and I did not feel them on the run at all! I am certain they would be well suited for longer distance events, as well.

The long sleeve Soleil jersey totally “checked off all the boxes,” as I was comfortable throughout the entire event, both running and riding!

My first official Tri is not until later in the summer, but I always make it a habit to wear new things in training before actual race day.  I look forward to doing my open water training swims in the Chill Tri Shorts in June, in preparation for the New Jersey State Triathlon on July 18th!

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Inspired? Maybe you should try a Tri too – and when you do, Terry has you covered top to bottom, with our best triathlon shorts, the Chill Tri Short, plus a multitude of high performance jerseys to mix and match.

May 28, 2021
ALL ABOUT COMPRESSION IN BIKE SHORTS.
So what is compression in bike clothing, and how does it help me?

All close fitting bike shorts feature some amount of compression. Here’s how to decide how much compression is right for you, and how to work with that to get the best fit…

What are compression shorts, and how do they work?

The idea of compression clothing is that a tight fitting garment creates a certain amount of pressure on the blood vessels of the muscles it covers. Compression stockings have been used for a long time to help people with varicose veins, and other compression garments aid recovery for patients after surgery. The compression pressure is useful for getting more complete flow of blood through the veins.

Compression and athletic performance

During strenuous activity, muscles accumulate lactic acid, which is responsible for the sensations of fatigue and loss of power as an athlete pushes her limits. Compression clothing helps remove lactic acid more efficiently, and by improving circulation allows more fresh, oxygen-rich blood to flow into the muscle tissue. Athletes often find that compression shorts, socks, and other garments help them boost performance and recover faster from intense efforts.

Compression and comfort

Compression clothing definitely feels different because of the sensation of pressure and constriction it creates. However, the amount of compression can vary a lot. Some specialized compression garments for medical use can feel quite uncomfortable, and there are options for people in activities such as weight lifting or crossfit that would be really unsuitable for cycling. Bike shorts are made to ride in for hours, so even if they are described as high compression they are still relatively comfortable once you get used to the sensation.

That said, high compression bike shorts are not for everyone. It’s a very individual preference, and something you will only find out by trying some different options to see what works for you.

Compression and fit

Achieving high compression in bike shorts means using fabric that feels harder to stretch, so there is less flexibility with fit and sizing in high compression shorts compared to those with low compression.

A short like our Breakaway has minimal compression, which means the fabric is able to stretch more, and can adapt to fit comfortably for a wider range of body types and shapes at any particular size.
- When choosing bike shorts, or any other bike bottoms for that matter, it’s important to take compression into consideration as well as size. In general, you can balance compression and size to get the performance you want with the fit and comfort that feels best for you.
- With a high compression option you can size up to reduce the amount of compression and still enjoy a good fit, because the fabric is resistant to stretching.
- The reverse of that applies also. With a low compression short you can size down to gain more athletic compression, while the “give” in the fabric still allows it to fit well.
Soleil LS in Blanche with Terry Power Bike Short

High compression bike shorts for high performance
- Our long-time best-loved Bella Short features high compression, along with the Euro, and newer options like the Chill line and the all-new Power Short.
- Choose high compression options for longer, harder rides when you are looking to push your limits.
- Shop all our high compression shorts here.
Moderate compression bike shorts for both comfort & performance
- We offer lots of options in moderate compression bike shorts: Peloton LTD, Touring, Wayfarer, Bike Bermuda & Holster Hi Rise, Rebel and Breakaway LTD.
- Choose moderate compression bike shorts when you value a little extra performance boost or support, but don’t want to compromise much in comfort.
- Shop all moderate compression shorts here.
Minimal compression Breakaway Short in Charcoal

Minimal compression bike shorts for comfort and forgiving fit
- Breakaway, Actif, and Club are among our bike shorts with minimal compression.
- Choose minimal compression if you want a more relaxed level of comfort, or don’t enjoy the pressure of athletic compression. Minimal compression options are also your best choice for flattering fits over curves that produce uncomfortable tightness in a compression fabric.
- Shop all minimal compression shorts here.
Fixie Short, a great option for a bike short with no compression

What to Wear For Bike Shorts With No Compression
- Loose fit bike shorts are a wonderful way to go for riders who want to avoid the lycra look, or just enjoy the relaxed, airy feeling. Others prefer the versatility of clothing that moves comfortably from cycling to completely different activities.
- Our Metro, Liberty, and Fixie lines are excellent places to start.
Check out all our new shorts for 2021 here.
February 6, 2021
BICYCLING MEETS BELLA BIKE SHORTS.

Bella Bike Shorts Lined Up with the Best of the Best

Bicycling Magazine ran a round up of the best in shorts for every type of rider, and featured – ahem – us!

For “The Best Cycling Shorts for Every Type of Rider” the Bicycling Editors say they “tested everything from thermal bibs to ultra-thin summer kit to find your next favorite pair of cycling shorts”.

Of course, we’re delighted that our Bella Short made their list of the best choices in women’s bike shorts.

We like their one-liner summary of Bella Bike Shorts: “Comfy shorts without bib straps just for women,” and as they put it, “The Bella shorts come in at a reasonable price and won’t intimidate newer riders who are leery of bib-short options.”

They were nice enough to add that “Terry is also known for providing a wide range of sizes and styles for all different body types, not just the racer build that often gets the most focus from brands.”

Our Bella bike shorts were named by Bicycling as the Editor’s Choice winner for women’s shorts in the past. One tester enjoyed features such as the Bella’s “distinctive hot-pink perforated chamois, which delivered on its promise for increased comfort and breathability by wicking away moisture so I didn’t feel like ‘I’d wet my shorts after a ride’.”

Check out the full article here.

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Take a closer look at Bella Bike Shorts on our main site, for full product details and reviews.

Bella Bike Shorts are also available in a short version, great for shorter riders and those who prefer higher tan lines.
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Since Bella Bike Shorts first caught the eye of the Bicycling Editors, we have introduced some exciting new options in women’s cycling shorts. If you are interested in comfort and function be sure to take a look at our Chill 7 and Holster Hi-Rise bike shorts.

Shop our full line of bike shorts for women here, and see this post for expert advice on choosing the right bike shorts for you.
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June 14, 2019
SUMMER SIZZLERS.

Last day to save up to 50% on a select group of summer-ready cycling bottoms, shorts, capris and casual bottoms.

Shorten up.

Highly rated Bella Short Short with 6″ inseam $76 (reg. $109)

Ride a little more intensely.

Switchback Short $63 (reg. $90)

Switchback Comp Bib $105 (reg. $150)

Speed Capri $49 (reg. $69.50)

Ready for High or Low Tide.

Softest baby corduroy, stretch Willow Short $45 (reg. $64)

Staff favorite: rr stripe, light & stretchy, Costa Capri $53 (reg. $76)

Carve’s lightest weight Southold Sweatpant $50 (reg. $72)

Go Soft & Loose.

Multi-pocketed, loose & flowing, Drape Short $64 (reg. $92)

Lakeside Skirts – at 50% off, get one in each color $32 (reg. $64)

June 2, 2016
Summer Preview :: Course au Soleil.

Race to the Sun.

2013 marks the 100th edition of the Tour de France. It will be notable for that alone, but with the addition of a spectacular prologue (Corsica) and mainland departure/team time trial (Nice), it is certainly century worthy. We used this as our visual reference for the 2013 Terry Summer line, and a new collection we’ve named Course au Soleil. Here’s a glimpse from our photo shoot last week.

Breakaway Jersey, NEW Riviera Stripe; NEW Breakaway Short

Sun Goddess, NEW Persian Paisley; Bella Short Short

Sun Goddess, NEW Riviera Stripe

Mandarin Jersey, NEW Persian Paisley; NEW Wraparazzi

NEW Coquette Tank; Spinnaker

NEW Tournesol Tunic & Crocus Combo Skort

NEW Julie Dress

NEW Tomboy

Bella Jersey, Adrenaline Bloom; Bella Short

NEW Echelon Knicker

Terry Echelon Skort

Terry Metro Short in NEW steel gray

Cyclotank, Rosehip; Flare Skort, Spokes

Touring Jersey, Radiant Ride; T-Short, regular length

Tourista, Surf; Stretch Mini, Chrono

Tri Sleeveless Top; Tri Short

March 10, 2013