When I first started racing mountain bikes competitively I was excited at the prospect of my first team kit, then I tried it on…they were all men’s garments – too large and baggy in all the wrong places! The surprising thing is that this was only 3 years ago, but recently there has been a large influx of different ranges of equipment and clothing designed specifically for women. And the best thing about the boom is that the products do as the say on the tin; they fit a lady’s anatomy properly, are made from the best material and look pretty (don’t listen to the guys – it is important!).
One of my favourite pieces of kit is Fox Ladies Incline Gloves; they fit perfectly, give plenty of grip regardless of the weather conditions and although thin, protect your hands well. I also use a wide variety of shorts and tops and all have different features and benefits, whether it be pockets or the way zips are positioned (think about it ladies!). It is great that there is now such a wide choice for us biker dudettes and even though we’re all a bit different you should always be able to find something that suits from specialist retailers such as Alpine Bikes. The best thing to do is head down to Alpine Bikes, talk to the guys in the shops and try a whole lot of kit on to find what works best for you as an individual.
Ladies specific designs don’t apply only to clothing ranges; manufacturers have long been designing bikes and components for us too and it’s come a long way since the days of dropped top tubes. The aim behind most of these bikes is to distribute your weight more evenly between the hips and hands, hence making riding more comfortable. Saddles have been designed to aid comfort and brake levers and such have been developed for maximum performance and comfort. You’ll find an extensive range of bikes and components at any of the Alpine Bikes stores so again I would suggest you pop down, speak to the experts and try a demo bike if one is available to ensure you buy the product that is right for you. Their experienced and trained staff will be able to help you decide on best frame size, tyre choices, stem sizes and other areas that you may not even have thought of.
The Alpine Bikes team have provided me with some of the best advice and kit that I have come across and so I have no hesitation in recommending them to you ladies.
Cheers to the guys and gals of Alpine Bikes!
Lesley Ingram