{"id":197153,"date":"2024-11-07T09:29:07","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T09:29:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=197153"},"modified":"2024-11-07T09:29:07","modified_gmt":"2024-11-07T09:29:07","slug":"how-cycling-technology-is-evolving-for-women-by-kasia-niewiadoma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2024\/11\/07\/how-cycling-technology-is-evolving-for-women-by-kasia-niewiadoma\/","title":{"rendered":"How Cycling Technology is Evolving for Women by Kasia Niewiadoma"},"content":{"rendered":"

Women\u2019s cycling gear and tech have come a long way over the past decade. Ten years ago, shopping for gear meant going straight to the men’s department, desperately searching for any XXS or XS sizes\u2014which were rare across the brands. There were simply no women in cycling gear. I vividly remember discovering these pink performance glasses\u2014it was the first sign of change in the cycling industry, at least for me. I got them and wore them until they chipped away from overuse.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Nowadays, that\u2019s no longer a problem, and I\u2019m so thankful for it! The biggest change, in my opinion, started when bike companies began producing women\u2019s frames. These bikes had different geometry, angles, and sizes that fit us women. At the same time, saddles designed strictly for women began to pop up. Without a doubt, that was one of the greatest moments for female athletes in our sport.<\/span><\/p>\n

How I’ve benefited from women-specific technology<\/b><\/h2>\n

Right now, I ride the Canyon Ultimate XS frame. It has a different geometry than the men\u2019s XS, being smaller and sleeker, which makes it much easier for me to find the perfect position to train in and perform at my best. Cycling is so advanced these days that every little detail has to be just right, and the correct frame size is the foundation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Saddles have also evolved to fit women\u2019s needs better. They\u2019re smaller, with a bit more cushioning in the front, designed to fit perfectly with a woman\u2019s pelvis. I\u2019ve been riding the Ergon SR Pro women\u2019s saddle<\/a> since 2018, and it was the first women-specific saddle I tried. I instantly fell in love with it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brands leading the way<\/b><\/h2>\n

Honestly, all the top brands are on a pretty even playing field right now. I think every company is doing its best to stay on top of customer needs and satisfy cyclists of all shapes, sizes, and genders. Personally, I\u2019ve been really impressed by Canyon\u2019s efforts to invest more and more in women\u2019s cycling. They don\u2019t just produce women\u2019s frames\u2014they also focus on proper clothing like women\u2019s bike shorts, jerseys, and jackets.<\/span><\/p>\n

My team and I do a lot of product testing. We provide feedback and remarks to clothing teams, and they work to improve and make their products even more women-friendly. It\u2019s really encouraging to be part of this process.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\"women-cyclists-who-are-making-a-difference-off-the-bike\"\/<\/a><\/div>
\n Socialising and Culture<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n

Beyond the Podium: Women Cyclists Who Are Making a Difference Off the Bike<\/span><\/h3>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n<\/div>\n

How the industry can do better<\/b><\/h2>\n

That said, it\u2019s way different for the average cyclist. The industry could help women cyclists by offering more information, especially for beginners or those looking to get more serious about cycling. It can be confusing when you don\u2019t know what saddle to choose, what shoes are best, or what wheels or bike frame to go for. Having more precise explanations could make a big difference.<\/span><\/p>\n

Changes in women’s cycling gear over the years<\/b><\/h2>\n

Right now, it\u2019s happening through a lot of word of mouth from enthusiastic riders eager to share their sport. The growth of women\u2019s cycling over the last few years has been incredible\u2014not just in racing but the entire cycling industry. I think it\u2019s been a shared effort between brands and the athletes. We\u2019ve all been open and honest about our feedback and requests, leading to a place where women\u2019s bike gear is now widely available.<\/span><\/p>\n

I remember wearing jerseys with too much material around the shoulders and not enough around the chest because men\u2019s clothing simply didn\u2019t fit our bodies. With sport-specific gear, you need tight materials for aerodynamic gains, and wearing men’s clothes was never going to work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Influencing product development and what I want to see next in women’s cycling tech<\/b><\/h2>\n

As a professional cyclist, I always focus on speed, efficiency, and comfort. But of course, we also want to look good! When a brand comes out with a new product or innovation, my teammates and I get the samples to test in different weather conditions and situations. We take notes and pass them back to the brand so they can make improvements that work for everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall,\u00a0I hope we can continue to make it more accessible, but I\u2019d love to see more women riding road bikes. I know some people might think it\u2019s an extreme sport or that it\u2019s hard to spend hours pedaling. But if women were properly informed about equipment and bike fitting, I think it would make a huge difference. I believe every bike purchase should include a bike fitting session\u2014it would prevent so many issues with discomfort or injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n

Innovations that have caught my eye<\/b><\/h2>\n

In recent years, cycling clothing has also become much more attractive. Cool designs make the sport more appealing, and I think that\u2019s encouraged more women to take up cycling. When I started, we had to wear pro team kits if we wanted to look good because there weren\u2019t many other options. Now, brands focus on getting the fit and comfort right but also making sure the designs are stylish\u2014and that\u2019s definitely caught women\u2019s attention.<\/span><\/p>\n

Advice for women shopping for bikes or gear<\/b><\/h2>\n

One piece of advice I always give is to prioritize bike fitting. When you buy a bike, getting the right fit can make all the difference and help you avoid any injuries caused by incorrect positioning. Also, pay attention to the three contact points on the bike: gloves, shorts, and shoes. Customizing your insoles can also prevent discomfort and injury.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, when it comes to buying cycling gear, one of the most important things for women is to make sure they\u2019re choosing women\u2019s shorts with the correct version of the chamois (that\u2019s the padding inside the shorts, which people new to cycling often call \u201ca diaper\u201d). Men\u2019s shorts are sewn differently, and wearing the wrong type can lead to saddle sores.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to bike frames, the difference between unisex and women-specific models is most noticeable in handling, especially when descending. Women\u2019s frames are smaller and more agile. At 165 cm, even the smallest unisex frame still felt unnatural to me. It\u2019s all about comfort and safety\u2014having the correct frame size is key to both.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Women\u2019s cycling gear and tech have come a long way over the past decade. Ten years ago, shopping for gear […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":197154,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[329,334],"tags":[8120,8119,2043,538,8118,2264],"global-categories":[3366],"class_list":["post-197153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-road-cycling","category-socialising-and-culture","tag-canyon-ultimate-frame","tag-ergon-sr-pro","tag-kasia-niewiadoma","tag-women-cycling","tag-womens-cycling-brands","tag-womens-cycling","global-categories-cycling"],"yoast_head":"\nWomen's Cycling Technology Development by Kasia Niewiadoma<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Women\u2019s cycling gear and tech have come a long way over the past decade. 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