Some more detail on sizing, our fabric, and chamois choices.
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Sizing
Being a brand initiated in the Netherlands, our sizing is based on the average Dutch woman. Which means that our sizing probably runs a little larger than traditional Italian or Asian cycling wear brands.
Or garments are not designed to be 'skin-thight'. These are not aero cycling garments, rather built for comfort and a more casual fit. Below is the sizing chart referenced for all our garments. Obviously, if in doubt, feel free to contact us and we'll try to advise.
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How tight should women's cycling shorts be?
The best women's cycling shorts should be tight but not uncomfortable. You want to be comfortable, and you don't want to be cutting off your circulation or experiencing bulging 'sausage legs'. However you also don't want them to be too loose, otherwise the chamois pad is more likely to shift from side to side as you pedal, causing unwanted friction and making it more likely that you'll develop saddle sores.
Our casual cycling shorts and 2/4 pants are designed to be a bit looser. However they are constructed from a high stretch fabirc, so for those preferring a tighter fit, the fabric will not hamper you to go down a size.
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If you measure up between sizes, it's the best bet to go for the smaller size, however our returns policy allows you to return/exchange if you did make the wrong sizing choice. If still in doubt, feel free to drop us a note and ask for some guidance..
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Fabric
Our Merino Jerseys
For our Merino baselayers and Merino Cycling Jersys we've chosen a versatile, lightweight Merino/Polyamide blend fabric. The fabric has an extremely soft feel, while maintaining the anti bacterial characteristic of Merino wool. It has good Temperature regulating and Moisture wicking properties.
The Merino blend fabric is stretchy, but the Polyamide woven into the fabric ensure it doesn't 'sag' like a 100% wool fabric. Best of both worlds.
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Our Casual Shorts and Pants
For our Merino baselayers and Merino Cycling Jersys we've chosen a versatile, lightweight Merino/Polyamide blend fabric. The fabric has an extremely soft feel, while maintaining the anti bacterial characteristic of Merino wool. It has good Temperature regulating and Moisture wicking properties.
The Merino blend fabric is stretchy, but the Polyamide woven into the fabric ensure it doesn't 'sag' like a 100% wool fabric. Best of both worlds.
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Super comfortable and 38% PES / 46% PA / 16% EL
High waist, thick leg grippers, but without silicone that is either uncomfortable, or comes off after prelonged use.
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Chamois / pad - what to consider
Finding the best women's cycling shorts for your body will be most dependent on finding a pad that you find comfortable, and that is a very personal affair, that depends largely on your individual anatomy and preferences.
Many pad manufacturers tend to be third-party, so you'll find different brands using the same chamois. Most companies have a range of different shorts all using the same pad, so buying a different pair of shorts doesn't always give a different level of comfort...
We have chosen to use the women specific pads from Teosport made from Eschler fabric and relatively thin 4mm open cell foam overall padding with additional 5mm higher density inserts in those areas that matter.
Compared to other brands, you'll probably notice that our pads our a little thinner and certainly less bulky. It is a common misunderstanding that a thicker pad is more comfortable, this is not always the case. Comfort comes from a well designed pad fitted to a pair of shorts in which the pad does not move around. Thicker pads have the tendency to move, and therefore create discomfort.
Try our shorts out, you'll be surprised
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Some other thoughts...
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Why does cycling hurt your bum?
It shouldn't, but when you think about it, it makes sense that you might feel sore downstairs after a day on the bike, because you're resting all your body weight on a small saddle.
There are so many reasons you could be experiencing discomfort, so if this is a real problem for you, we'd first of all recommend you check out the fit of your saddle. Most good bike shops allow you to measure the correct saddle width.
Wearing padded shorts abolutely increases the comfort, as it creates a cushioned barrier between your sensitive skin and the firm surface of a saddle. Using women specific chamois cream might further help, especially on longer rides.
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Underwear beneath cycling shorts?
Absolutely not! It may seem strange if you're new to cycling shorts, but one of the key jobs of the chamois pad is to absorb and wick away moisture. If you wear underwear underneath, then the chamois cannot do its job, you'll experience more sweating as a result of the extra layer, and are at a higher risk of developing saddle sores.
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This is the main reason we have developed the thin and very comfortable Sensa undershorts - they're comfortable and can be worn nearly unseen under a variety of riding and casual shorts (or skirts).
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