In November 2023, while taking part in the Women’s Komoot Rally in Arizona, the long days on the bike, combined with wearing the same bib tights for several consecutive days without washing them, and the rather precarious hygiene of those days, caused a rash in my perineum area that made me suffer like never before. It got to the point where I had to pedal the last kilometers of each day practically standing because I could no longer sit on the saddle.

When I returned from that rally, I was determined to find a solution to prevent ending up in a similar situation on future trips.

Analyzing the reasons for what happened, I concluded that, in addition to what I mentioned about the time spent on the bike, reusing the same bib shorts day after day, and cleaning myself only with wet wipes…the chamois of the bib tights played a huge role.

During the Arizona Rally, I used Rapha bib shorts, which are a top brand, so what went wrong? Well, while they are perfect for long rides, if you can’t wash them (or properly clean yourself), the fabric of their chamois is not the most suitable because it doesn’t breathe as well as I would have needed at that time.

For women, the breathability factor of the chamois is very important, because with discharge, sweat, and other fluids that may saturate the chamois, if it doesn’t breathe properly, it can cause significant discomfort down there, as it did for me.

 

Since then, I’ve tested other bib shorts, all top brands, and these are my favorites, ranked from least to most:

Gobik: Good quality fabric; fits and compresses quite well. If you have curves, it might not be the best option and also runs small. Great for daily rides, but I don’t like it so much for traveling. For chamois comfort, I’d rate it a 3 out of 5.

Rapha: Soft, pleasant fabric with some compression and practical side pockets for traveling. I’d rate the comfort of its chamois a 3.5 out of 5. It’s comfortable but doesn’t breathe as well as I’d like it to. I love it for day rides or trips where I can wash them.

Etxeondo: Runs small but has a great chamois. Very breathable and comfortable. I’ve washed mine countless times, and it hasn’t lost any density. A very good option for traveling. I’d rate its chamois comfort 4.5 out of 5.

Velocio: One of my favorites, with an ingenious strap system that allows you to go to the bathroom without unclipping, you just pull it to the sides at the hips and crouch down. Very simple and clever. Its fabric is also my favorite, perfectly blending softness and compression. The chamois is very comfortable; it might breathe slightly less than Etxeondo’s, but it’s great overall. I’d give it 4 out of 5.

Iris: So far, the best I’ve tried. The fabric feels great, fits well, and adjusts perfectly. The straps allow you to unclip them for bathroom breaks; I prefer Velocio’s system, but this one’s still good. However, the chamois is the standout, it’s the most comfortable and breathable I’ve tried. I’d rate it a 5 out of 5. 

Iris is one of the sponsors of the Rare Femmes festival, but that’s not the reason for me to speak so highly of their shorts. In this case, the chicken came before the egg: We loved their products so much that we reached out to them to collaborate for our first festival and were lucky they responded positively. I would have praised their shorts even if they hadn’t sponsored us.

Aside from bib shorts, the saddle also plays an important role in the comfort of the pelvic area for women on bikes. There are many articles on saddles, and I’ve tried various ones until I found the most comfortable one for me, recommended by Maia Fish. She was absolutely right.

In any case, I’ve concluded that a good women’s saddle must meet these criteria:

• Be relatively small so the support rests on the ischial bones (hip bones).
• Offer various sizes so you can choose the one that fits your hip measurements.
• Have a central cutout (or a different softer material that cushions) to avoid compressing the perineal area.
• Not be excessively soft—a very soft saddle might work for short rides, but for long days, it’s better to have one rigid enough not to deform or cause nerve compression in the area, which can have long-term effects.

Author of the article: Celia Martin.