Today is International Women’s Day and a number of companies are hitting us up with new kit for the female cyclists among us. Pearl Izumi debuts a new drop-tail setup on their PRO Escape bibs to ease the inevitable nature break. Santini splashes tasteful color in their high-end Volo kit based on Boels-Dolmans’ light, aero pro kit. And Fizik is offering an across the board women’s gear discount for a limited time.
Pearl Izumi drop-tail Women’s PRO Escape bib shorts
As part of their Spring 2018 line, Pearl Izumi are introducing a new women’s bib short design to make inevitable nature breaks easier. The bibs use what they call a ‘patent pending v-strap drop-tail’ (a pair of rear bib straps that overlap at their low-cut base), plus the highly stretch but supportive Transfer fabric. The design allows the straps to move to the side and the shorts to be pulled down in a crouching position, without the awkward steps needed to operate additional mechanical closures like clasps or zippers. Pearl promises trouble-free nature breaks with the design. “Yet it still provides the support of a traditional bib and holds the chamois closely to your body for out of the saddle stability”, says Senior Design Managed Lynn Bush. To compensate for the more sketchy straps, they come together just behind the neck, and a front clasp allows for further customization of how the straps lie across the chest.
The $170/160€ Women’s P.R.O. Escape Bib Shorts are the highest-level women’s shorts from the company in their adventure/endurance riding category. They include their top 3-layer, dynamic stretch W PRO Escape chamois, and are constructed from premium PRO Transfer fabric with a minimal number of seams.
Santini Volo: light, aero pro-level women’s’ cycling kit
Santini’s newest Volo kit for women adapts the same lightweight & aerodynamic pro-level kit being raced (and gotten muddy) now by road World Champion Chantal Blaak in the Women’s World Tour for everyday riders. No need to ride in team replica kit, the Volo line features the same cuts and fabrics as worn by the Boels-Dolmans team.
Ultralight Volo women’s jersey
The ultralight Volo jersey is exceptionally aerodynamic and breathable. At just 100g, it has a form-fitting aero fit, combining breathable Rudy fabric on the front, sides & rear pockets with sleeves & back made from more aero Bodyfit fabric. The overall cut is inspired by skinsuits, with a low, flat cut collar and full-length zipper.
Volo women’s bib shorts
Like the jersey, the Volo women’s bib shorts are based on pro-level cycling kit with a form-fitting cut and gently compressive Thunderbike Power fabric to reduce muscle stress. The shorts use a wide compressive band around the leg with an open honeycomb pattern silicone gripper to a comfortable but secure fit. They feature a light, breathable C3Woman chamois that is sculpted, instead of bonded for higher-performance for the longest of rides.
Bib straps are wide and stretchy to ensure a comfortably secure fit, and include butterfly-shaped laser perforated mesh across the back for added breathability. Then the supportive mesh around the midsection provides a comfortable & supportive fit while on the bike.
Women cyclists get pro-level performance with a more subdued, but tastefully colorful look using a geometric butterfly pattern based on four of Sanitini’s S logos. Both Volo jerseys and bib shorts will soon be available in three coordinated colors: orange, purple & aquamarine.
Fi’zi:k Women’s Day 30% off discount
To celebrate International Women’s Day this year, fi’zi:k decided to just offer a blanket 30% off discount for women’s gear. Save on women-specific saddles and shoes, plus a number of other accessories like bar tape, socks & replacement shoe parts that are decidedly more unisex in nature. Save now through Sunday, Mar 11 by using code “WOMENFIZIK18” at checkout.
