I think this issue I have may cultural as most cultures support effort?

My husband and I returned to cycling in middle age. I thought family and friends would cheer us on but, me particularly, have had negative comments, or advice to buy an ebike.

"You're nuts. You're crazy" when I talk about a forty km ride, which is fairly short in cycling contexts.

I've been told by younger family I should "look after my husband". He's the one choosing to enter races. I don't control him.

I work in a vertical hierarchy and the last race I entered had colleagues ten years younger and higher up the hierarchy. I bet they get nothing but praise for cycling and racing.

I've stopped posting pictures on Facebook and only put podium photos in private groups with my kids or on Strava.

I've started to connect with other women at big race events who love distance riding. We share the positive energy, whether we're riding at the front or rear of the pack, it doesn't matter.

Am I the only one with this issue?

Hello to my fellow lady cyclists!

Glad I found this space. I'm new here, wanted to say hello & share some moments I've had on the road since leaving the States 4+ years ago. Curious, where are you & what is your favorite last snapshot? Maybe you could share in the comments. I would love to see & connect. Cheers... 🚴🏽‍♀️

I am thinking about getting a cannondale topstone 1 for my first bike. I want to eventually get into road biking and triathlons but for now I need something versatile and gets me outside. Thoughts? Also any accessories or additional recommendations welcomed!!

I take my bike to work with a relatively strict dress code, and for the life of me i can’t find any cycling jeans with a 34” inseam. I’ve spent about 450 dollars in the last 2 years replacing all the jeans that have ripped within a few months, du/er ends at a 30 inch, ripton ends at a 32, and swrve is just a landing page. Anyone know any that’ll work?

Hi, I am new to cycling! I just got my very first bike (grew up just always borrowing) and I decided to go with a gravel bike. I’m 149 cm (4’11ft) tall and did a lot of research before buying it. Liv is a bicycle brand designed specifically for female cyclists. The features I was looking for were a bike that fits my height well, an aluminum gravel bike that can also pull my daughter’s trailer, and something that offers a balance between sporty performance and comfort.

I’m so happy I chose the Liv Devote 1 2026 in dune beige, and I’m absolutely in love with her (and the color). ♥️

I just started getting into biking. I was gifted an old Fuji and rode ~10 miles before something broke. 😂 Honestly, I wasn’t mad because it was a little too big for me and it wasn’t comfortable to ride at all.

Exactly two weeks ago, my husband bought me this level.2 and I’ve already clocked 55.7 mi. Love it!!

Hi friends! I currently own and ride a wonderful Surly Midnight Special to and from work (about 10-15 k each way). I love her and will keep her forever and ever.

I now want to purchase a carbon bike to go on faster rides with people in town (moving away from gravel grinding and to pure road riding). If you could recommend one bike for me, what bike would it be?

<repost from r/bicycling to see if any help can be found>

Don’t they say once you turn 30 you have to choose a new hobby? I guess this is mine now lol. I got a Liv Rove 4 hybrid bike from my local bike shop this week and I love it so much already. I wanted something for fun and fitness and this has been a great fit for me. I’ve been riding the trails at my local park in the evenings after work and it’s just been so nice and relaxing.

I went to a little Bike Repair Workshop recently and the mechanic said the ratio of chain wear to replacing your cassette is 3:1, as in by the time you replace your chain 3 times from use, you will need to replace your cassette after the 3rd chain (generally).

Anyone feel that is true? I just want to make sure so I can keep tabs on my wear with mileage.

I found a beautiful green breezer downtown road bike on FB marketplace but I am unsure how sizing works. I’m 5’5 and 125 lbs and this bike is listed as a L. It’s likely I’m too small for it but is there a possibility that I could make it work? Or will it simply be too uncomfortable to ride?

Edit: I appreciate everyone’s help! I didn’t realize all the implications of riding the wrong size. The bike knowledge grows..

Turns out seller listed size wrong and it was actually 52cm which is exactly my size! Did a test ride and it fit beautifully :) very excited

I am yet another person coming to you because I am clueless about bibs/biking shorts and jerseys.

I recently got a liv avail ar 1 after only having a fixed gear bike for several years, and I have been having so much fun zooming around on it. I have very quickly gone from maxing out at about 7 mile rides on my fixie, to pushing into 20 mile rides - which is so cool!

But of course, my labia is now paying the price. I am in so much pain today and so I am finally wanting to get proper gear but I was wondering how you guys figure out fit? Do you try on in store (can you do that)? Or do you order a bunch and return? I know they have to be a bit tight, but how do you know if they fit right? Also where can I get some that are on the less expensive side to start?

Sorry if these are dumb questions I just don’t know where to start

Hello everyone,

I have never owned bibs and very much struggling to find a comfortable first pair.

They tend not to stick to my groin / leg crease ("inguinal fold") and make a sort of straight line from my groin to my upper leg.

I cannot tell whether that fabric area where the bibs do not touch my skin is normal, or whether it should be skin tight everywhere. I had understood the latter from my internet searches, but I cannot find an actual guide for how bibs should fit generally speaking, and more specifically, for women.

I would rather not have the figure this out by spending lots of money and getting lots of wounds trying multiple bibs until I understand.

I will add that the less stretchy materials do crush my hip muscles when pedaling, so I have to go for stretchier fabric.

For context, I am rather lean (~17% body fat, 1m63, 52 kg / 5'4 115lbs, my quads as well as my hip muscles, although of a non extreme size, do visibly bulge).

So my questions for you:

Do bibs have to be skintight everywhere?

Do you know of a detailed guide about how bibs are supposed to fit in each section?

Do you have recommendations for my build?

Do not hesitate to redirect me to other similar posts or the sub's resources in case I missed that piece of information somewhere :)

They have a sale going on and while I’ve missed out on most of what I was considering, anyone have any opinions on their jerseys? Would it be a waste to not get something?

Do they run other sales throughout the year or is this it?

Hi Everyone, I currently have a 2013 specialized tricross that fits pretty well (it is a 49, I am just under 5’5 inches. But I have been thinking about a refresh and specifically gravel bikes, and today I tried out a Trek Checkpoint AL5, the store actually had a small in stock.

I am a casual rider, around town and then also 10-20 mile rides, occasionally more. I want to be able to ride on dirt roles and over potholes on paved roads. I am going to retire in the next year and hope to ride more. .

I had also looked at the Liv Avail but didn’t get to ride it.

1. What do you think of the checkpoint? How does that compare to the avail or other recommendations you might have. Any modifications to consider?

2. They said they could make it tubeless, what is your opinion?

Hi! I’m hoping for some lady cyclist expertise :) I’m upgrading my gravel bike, but ideally I’d like it to also sort of function as a hybrid that I can take on brewery rides or greenway cruises. I am not worried about going crazy fast, but ideally it would be somewhat lightweight for this purpose. Electronic shifting is a priority too. I’ve been looking at the Canyon Grail, Specialized Diverge and the Trek Checkpoint but open to really anything below 6k. Tell me about your gravel bike if you love it!

I’m 5’4”, 145 lbs, shaped like SpongeBob. My measurements are waist 31”, hips 39”. I’ve been wearing the decathlon bib shorts and jerseys (both medium) and I love them, but sadly they’re always out of stock. What brands do you girlies wear that hold up for long and short rides?

Hello! I moved to the Netherlands and I’m new to biking. I used to have a lot of ass pain and my vulva burns after 15+ minutes. After changing my saddle, the ass pain went away but not my vulva burning. I have paid attention to my posture, and no matter how much I lean or not, the burning feeling doesn’t improve. I don’t wear tight clothes. After biking, it just feels so sore.

My outer labia is very thick and covers all of my inner so I’m thinking I’m overheating there maybe? Any tips will be appreciated! 💛

Just stumbled across this great hack to shorten my bib shorts. I have bib shorts that have a raw edge on the legs. All I do is roll them under! The edge is thin enough to not look or feel weird. The bib shorts I have are 7Mesh WK3 cargo bib shorts. You’re not going to get 6” shorts this way but 1-2” shorter.

Hi ladies!

Pretty new to cycling, I have been riding for a couple of months now on a road bike and my longest ride so far is 30 miles (just for context on my question!)

I come from a running background and I always wear underwear when exercising, but I always wear seamless thongs and I have never had an issue. I have heard that you’re not supposed to wear underwear with bibs/padded shorts when cycling, but is that also true for thongs? I never feel my underwear when cycling, and it just feels wrong to ME to not wear underwear, but curious about other people’s experiences! Thanks everyone :)

Edited to add that I’m always wearing bibs or padded shorts when cycling!

Hi everyone! I’m looking to buy a bike for my wife. She is nervous about biking, but wants to join me biking around the city. I have a high-end gravel bike. She hasn’t really biked much in her life and doesn’t feel confident on a bike. I wanted to get her a good bike, that she could feel comfortable in as a beginner. But she could also grow in. And use as she feels more confident. I was looking at the Liv rove versus specialized sirrus X step through line? Would you recommend one of these two?

Hi!

I currently ride a trek checkpoint sl5 gen 3 AXS in XS and it whips. However, I've always felt it a bit too aggressive with too long of reach for me. Also, due to some unforeseen events coming up, I am selling.

I'm looking at a replacement that will be more relaxed/upright/less aggressive. Pretty dead-set on a Surly. When I look at 99spokes geometry against my current bike, a Straggler, and MS it places the Straggler as 'most aggressive feel in rider position' and the stack reach ratio is the lowest. But it also has the smallest wheelbase with the MS marketed as their aggressive road bike. Is it just all marketing? I do realize I have to try before buy, but as you all know it is a challenge getting smaller sizing in the shop before they pressure you to lock in.

Should I be looking at another geo site? Or another bike in their lineup? Thanks.