With the nights drawing in and the subtle hint of chill in the air becomes even more prominent, this is when the autumn colours of yellow, brown and red hues line the trails, and the spiced pumpkin tipple of choice features post-ride. Or a hot drink, at least. You may even think of getting those lights out of the drawer or braving your first-ever nighttime ride this season. We have some lovely advice here with top tips to help you prepare when you still want to ride during the dark evenings.
- Mountain bike vs hybrid bike – understanding the differences
- Cyclo-cross vs gravel bike: what are the differences?
- Komoot vs Strava – which cycling app is best for you?
Where clothing and women’s specific tech are concerned, I’ve got your back on this and hopefully will give you inspiration and courage to keep on rolling when it’s getting spooky out there. It’s all about being prepared and comfortable and ensuring you enjoy it. This month, we look at saddles tailored for the female anatomy thanks to Fizik, and we share Zwift’s latest programmes to help women keep training throughout the darker months and all whilst being pregnant, too. Cycology has released a ‘Frida’ inspired custom print across its clothing range, including accessories, and London-based female-focused clothing company Petrichor Projects has an innovative collection.
Frida-inspired clothing range released by cycologygear
Mexico’s finest artist, Frida Kahlo, was a painter known for her many self-portraits and works inspired by nature and the country she grew up in, Mexico. Frida is an icon to this day with her uncompromised creations, and her colourful spirit still lives on through various mediums, particularly Cycology’s cycle clothing. The Frida MTB Gloves are packed with colourful floral artwork, lightweight constructions, and a full palm print grip.
The Frida gloves use synthetic leather with perforations for breathability, and Silicone on the palm offers grip. There is no padding on the palm, so be aware of this if you’re keen on a pair. They lack squishy support but focus instead on increased dexterity and handlebar feel. Costing only £25, we think they are worth a purchase if only for the abundance of colour you will get to show off.
Fizik saddle gravel and MTB-specific range for women
If you’re looking for comfort for your bum and we all know how important this is when it comes to sitting for hours at a time, Italian brand Fizik produces saddles to suit every type of rider shape and riding style. Choosing the correct saddle is crucial to overall comfort and performance and with the brand’s ‘saddle finder’ online, you can narrow down the options to suit you personally. Gone are the days when women make do with a narrowly designed ‘male orientated’ saddle as brands are more inclusive and catering for different width sit bones.
One of the main touch points while cycling is the bum and the saddle. With every ‘body’ being unique, getting the width, length and shape right makes a big difference. Fizik’s Argo range covers each discipline, with the Terra engineered for gravel riding. New innovative technology using 3D printing for padding has allowed the brand to create a line of saddles which supports riders with finely tuned multiple zones of carbon cushioning, allowing for better weight distribution and less pressure. The Vento Argo R3 Adaptive saddle is available in widths up to 150mm and it’s highly versatile with a short nose, and the cobweb style printed shell offers added breathability.
Zwift’s ‘Baby on Board’ online training programme for mums to be
A very niche training programme, Baby on Board, has been designed and aimed specifically for riding while pregnant. Zwift has partnered with Rebecca Charlton and Dani Rowe, who have first-hand experience with such occasions, to help mums-to-be, new parents or riders looking for less intensity to have the right type of access to carry on training. You will see a collection of shorter workouts of 30-40 minutes with a prenatal focus workout on there with names such as Tantrum, peekaboo, and mom-ology, all to keep your legs and heartrate pumping along nicely, all while being safe.
If riders want to go all in and have the full Zwift experience, they can also purchase the Zwift RIDE bike. This is a great way to get that tailored bike fit with various ways of adjustability for women during pregnancy.
7mesh Women’s Foundation Biking Brief
These are something rather special – a subtle but transformative product to increase cycling comfort. They are a garment that comes in handy when you want ‘just enough’ cushioning for support but nothing too heavy and chunky like you find in fully padded cycling shorts. The overall design of the 7mesh Foundation Biking Brief is sleek with minimal fuss, especially in areas including the non-invasive waistband and the chamois being ‘low-profile’ and discrete underneath your cycling attire.
With the chamois being thinner than the full coverage of the typical cycling bottoms, the briefs are more suited to shorter rides and gravel meanders, where there may be a pub visit at the end, and you still aspire to that ‘nappy’ feeling whilst sipping a cocktail. If you want more of a boxer style, the brand also offers this option. There is a selection of colours, and they cost £40.
Petrichor Projects innovative Women’s Bib Shorts
Based in London and fuelled by one woman’s passion for sportswear design, Petrichor Projects focuses on women-specific cycling clothing and accessories. With a passion and drive to create female-specific cycling clothing using high-performance materials, entrepreneur Claire decided to make that move and build exactly that. There is a growing number of brands adding to its female-specific range but only a handful offer premium materials, a tailored shape, versatility, valuable features, and overall comfort for the female shape.
The Classic Bibs meet all your needs, with features to enhance your cycling experience, comfort and performance. Premium and recycled fabrics provide support, and the very useful ‘pee break’ feature will be a game changer for eliminating the need to delay in a field.
Sizes range from XXSmall to XXXLarge and cost £165.
- Find out more petrichorprojects.co
Ride Concepts Accomplice Boa shoes
Wrap your feet in these supportive, lightweight, rugged, space-looking off-road cycling shoes this autumn with the Accomplice Boa by Ride Concepts. These shoes have one goal: to help you in all your cycling scenarios. They are your partner in crime. A rugged exterior with internal comfort and support, plus internal TPU toe protection. They are versatile with a four-way slip tongue that provides a secure feel and wrap-around comfort that holds your foot in place. These shoes will look the part on the bike and the apres ride, such as a cafe or pub. They have features to help you feel good during any pedalling adventure.
We have a Cycling shoes guide to help you when looking for your next pair of cycling shoes.
