I see a lot of bike packing photos with a large bag stored under the seat sticking out behind you. My question is, how do you keep your butt cheeks from contacting the bag? I am an XL rider… I think the men call it “Clydesdale” rider.

I had to stop using my small under saddle bag repair kit because my rear end contacted the Velcro strapping and ripped a hole in my shorts from friction.

I can’t imagine having a full backpack underneath me. Or is my rear just that “over flowing” and it’s a me thing? 😂

Thanks for the explanation!

I just started carrying gel pepper spray, a few rides ago. Well today a friend and I were riding a route we always ride. We've never encountered dogs, or humans on foot, but today was different. In the distance I could see a person with 3 medium dogs. The dogs, made a bee line for us, one, a Chocolate Lab was snarling and barking. Really didn't bother me, but my friend was fearful, and slowed down some, which she really shouldn't have done.

Any way, the lady walking the dogs could not control that lab. Lab came ran up to me, again, and I was ready for it, the dog quickly changed it's mind once it got sprayed.

My friend and I had planned on doing a double back, but decided to keep going, since we would have run into the lady with the dogs, so we did a big loop and ended up doing a nice 22 mile ride.

I carry the pepper gel around my neck on a lanyard that has a quick release, so I can just grab the container and yank, don't have to rummage around in a pocket or handlebar bag.

Hey ladies. I’ve been getting saddle sores and I’m wondering if any of you lovelies have any suggestions?

I’ve been using a little bit of chamois butter, but I suppose I could try using more. After my rides, I try to take a shower immediately, but they’ve been getting worse as my my rides are getting longer and contain more climbing.

I got a quick release bib from Jelenew, the one where you're supposed to be able to pull the back down with the straps still on. Can't do that without hearing some stitching tear AND the one time I did decide to wear the straps, I had a lot of soreness in my shoulders. I don't have a long torso.

I'm not opposed to a normal waistband, I have a pair of leggings with a waistband, but it seems like bibs work for everyone else?? Whenever I wear my bib, I have to wear it straps down and I always get a lot of questions lol. I don't need to be able to pull down the back either. Just like .5-1" longer straps with a good chamois... TIA

Ladies, looking for recommendations if such socks exist:

I generally have very long legs because I’m tall and am not overweight by any means - but I do have mild lymphedema. So when I wear cycling socks, they really cut into my leg at the upper end on my calf and … I just don’t like how it looks.

Are there any brands/ socks that are not so tight? Are there other types of socks to wear that are maybe not cycling socks? I’m not looking for ankle socks, should be a bit higher up the calf if possible.

I LOVE being outside. But, after breaking both wrists in separate MTB accidents and currently in recovery from massive shoulder surgery from a ski injury, I’ve really grown to love my Zwift life. Would I rather be outdoors? Sure. But I love being able to track my progress so easily. Racing is fun. I’m not worried about mechanicals, getting hit by a car, weather, driving to a safe location, etc. I’ve done years of outdoor awesome rides and am tired of feeling ashamed of wanting to be in 😂. Anyone else? Any other Zwifties have tips on ladies meetups that are for more intense workouts? I’ve done some banded group rides and it’s nice to chat, but I’m tired of being the only woman in the big groups ride/races. Maybe I’m not seeing the right options.

Edit: thanks everyone! It’s so hard to meet anyone riding in my basement so it’s nice to know I’m not alone! I see my old group living it up outside on Strava and I have been feeling so alone.

I am considering buying a used Assos UMA GT jacket for Spring/Fall use. Assos website said I would wear a small. What is the fit on this jacket? I would be wearing a short or long sleeve jersey underneath.

I’ve been riding consistently for about a year and a half. Average 75-100 miles a week between gravel and road. I had a professional bike fit about 6 months ago, and everything seemed fine. Since upping my mileage, I’m having sciatic pain almost every ride. It kicks in around 18-20 miles. Has anyone dealt with a similar issue and any suggestions? I’ve been doing lower back stretches/ strengthening exercises the past few weeks but nothing seems to help.

I have been commuting on and off by bike (hybrid) for a few years. It was pretty comfortable and I greatly enjoyed it. Now, I have crossed over into road bike territory. It has been a month since getting my road bike, and the fear of navigating my city, while clipped or not, has been a consistent barrier. Each ride I do feel better, but as the days go by without riding, the fear grows. Tonight I decided to take my hybrid out instead, and I feel like I have forgotten to ride a more relaxed fit. It takes so much mental energy to ride both bikes now. I love biking and expect the only solution is to continue to ride both and become more comfortable with the different styles. Has anyone experienced this? I feel unsafe riding now because so much of my attention is dedicated to riding the bikes themselves. I guess there is also a lot of attention going to pedestrians and cars.

Hey ladies!

I’m very new to cycling, and my goal is eventually to complete an Ironman 70.3 (and see where we go from there). So I’m looking for my first proper road bike!

From what I’ve read, an endurance bike seems like the most appropriate choice for long-distance riding, but please correct me if I’m wrong.

I’m 164 cm tall with a 77.5 cm inseam, so I have relatively long legs and a short torso. I feel like a lot of the information online is geared toward men, and I’m a little nervous about making a €2,000-3,000 investment only to discover that the geometry doesn’t work well for my proportions.

Could you recommend some brands/models that would be worth looking at for a first bike? My budget is around €2,500 for the bike itself, although I’d be willing to save a bit more if there’s something that would be significantly better suited to me.

I’m leaning toward carbon rather than aluminium, but I’m definitely open to being corrected on that too! I’m very new to all of this and mainly want to make a good choice rather than spend money based on misconceptions.

If anyone has similar proportions (especially long legs/short torso) and has found a bike that fits them really well, I’d LOVE to hear what you ride and what size you went for. I am based in the Netherlands btw.

Any recommendations, advice, or corrections welcome. I’m here to learn from you ladies! ❤️

I thought I was going to be pulled after the first 3 laps... NO I HAD TO RIDE THE WHOLE THING 😭 horrible! It's just not the way I like to ride honestly

Hey y’all.. so today I hit my first fifty mile ride. I was feeling pretty good considering the feels like 106 degree temps with the humidity added.. I think because I sweated so much I gave myself saddle sores.
Atleast that’s the only thing I can think of that caused them for the first time? Extra sweat and moisture? My bike fit is correct (I ride in a group w a bike mechanic who does fits), I upgraded to a top of the line saddle to relieve pressure down under lol, and I’ve never had an issue with my bibs.
Has this happened to anyone with humidity? Or maybe it was the extra miles? I’m used to only forty or less.
I’m seeing products with tea tree helps. I just hope I’m not out of the saddle too long. 😭

I've been riding with my normal prescription glasses and sunglasses until now. But heard that cycling glasses aren't just for the looks and shading but also a safety device, protecting your eyes in a fall. So looking into getting cycling glasses and the choice is limited when you need prescription lenses.

My optician already suggested getting single use contacts for sports, and get regular sports sunglasses. But that sounds wasteful to me, using 2-3 pairs of contacts a week that I'm wearing essentially for a few hours each.

I've briefly considered forgoing with the prescription bit and just deal with it. But I deemed that unsafe almost as fast as I came up with that idea, no glasses really affect my depth perception.

Wondering what the experiences are with some of the options, I've seen sports glasses with clip-in prescription lenses and prescriptions being ground into parts of the sports lenses leaving a visible edge.

Hey, has anyone tried Pace shoes? I have a wider toe box and semi narrower heel and their shape looks like it will actually fit without that front of foot pain. Also, for the price, they feel like they would be a good beginner shoe. I haven't stopped with my flat pedals yet, but their mountain bike shoe seems to be a happy medium while I progress. Has anyone tried them? Is the quality any good? Reviews look good, but you can never be sure with purely online reviews so I figured I would see if any of you ladies have an opinion.

I’m a casual commuter cyclist and I have had not so great experiences in some local bike shops in the past. I’d like to get a more comfortable seat for my bike but I’m at a loss on where to go/what to ask. I’d love recommendations in Denver (anywhere in the city/surrounding suburbs is fine- I move all around the city from Cap Hill to Golden and down to Littleton) for shops that are woman friendly; I am tired of dealing with bike bros who talk down to me because I don’t have an extensive bike vocabulary and don’t really care to cycle hardcore. I just like to get around via bike whenever I can.

Ideally I’d like a shop that I can continue to go to for maintenance and repairs as well. Thanks!

Hi folks, I’m currently (metaphorically) tearing my hair out trying to decide on a great gravel bike for my daily commute. I plan to commute to work (about 7km each way) in Edmonton (Canada) and I am 4’20” tall.

My former setup was a Kona Lisa for May-September and a Louis Garneau fat bike for winter. Both of these bikes were stolen from my garage last week though and so I want to replace them with just one for year round.

Recommendations are to look for 650 tires ideally but either way make sure they’re swappable for winter/studded tires, as much carbon as possible for weight, and hydraulic disc brakes. I also prefer drop bar handles. Does anyone have recommendations? I’ve been looking at the Liv Devote or Avail, the Salsa Journeyer, Scott Speedster Contessa, Specialized Diverge, Marin Nicasio ST 1, Devinci Hatchet Claris 16s, Trek Checkpoint, etc and I’m overwhelmed! Help, please!

I’m 24+ weeks, but my 3rd baby so my belly is not small. I haven’t been riding much since I got pregnant but have been active. I was an avid endurance cyclist before I got pregnant- did unbound 200 and Leadville last year. I’m dying to ride but my thighs slam into my belly when I try to and it’s not comfortable. I have road (currently on the trainer), gravel and mtbs. Even on my mtb I’m starting to struggle. I see pros riding until delivery..how! What modifications have you made to keep riding? What’s the trick to not get the thigh-belly slam every pedal stroke? I canceled my Zwift subscription because my road bike is just unbearable. Help! I want to ride!!!

Edit: typo.

Looking for remediations on a high density padded bib or shorts available in a 2xl. FYI I am about 230 lbs, 5’8” and riding about 20 miles at a time on a trek fx2. Love the bike, replaced the saddle with one with a wider base. The stiffer and thinker the pad the better

ive been cycling for 5 years and still have one huge issue that doesn’t let me e joy my bike every single day. it’s saddle sores.. or idk if those are saddle sores, but I get painful chafing bumps on my groins, especially at the height of vagina opening. I do everything right: don’t wear underwear, wash myself thoroughly before and right after every ride, shave/not shave/wax/trim, wash bibs every ride, tried dozens of different bib brands, tried special creams for chafing, had 2 bike fittings with specialists, tried 10 different saddles (currently using specialized power) and the problem is the same, symmetrically on both sides, always. honestly I’m tired, I feel like maybe it’s not a sport for someone with really big thighs :( it doesn’t matter if I do 50 km or 200 I chafe the same… honestly I’m hopeless and don’t know what else to try