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Road Cycling for Women
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items I took up road biking about 15 years ago when I was recovering from a knee injury and needed something low impact to stay in shape. I totally fell in love with the sport and spend as much free time as I can on my bike. This list includes Road Bike re...
Sections
5
Clothing and Accessories
Maintenance and Tools
Components, Parts & Equipment
Essential Products
Snacks and Fuel
Clothing and Accessories
Hands down the BEST road cycling shorts out there. I love them because they have a long inseam, so they're perfect for tall girls. Most companies reserve their top of the line pads for bibs (which I hate) so this is one of the few shorts you can buy ...
Louis Garneau Neo Power Motion Short - Women's - Women
If you're on the shorter side, or if you just don't like a longer inseam, these Garneau shorts have the same top-of-the line pad as the ones that I wear, but they have a standard 7 inch inseam.
Louis Garneau Neo Power Motion 7 Short - Women's - Women
My new favorite summer jersey. Form fitting, ample pockets, nice colors, and doesn't break the bank!
Santic Women's Cycling Jersey Full Zip Top
Gore jerseys are my favorite. They're warm and fitted. They do run small in the arms and shoulders so if you're gonna layer them you want to size up
GOREWEAR Spinshift GORE-TEX Cycling Jacket - Women's | REI Co-op
This summer jersey is nothing to write home about, but it has one major selling point, LOTS of pocket room. So while you're not gonna win any fashion awards for wearing it, it's great for layering in those days when the weather could go either way an...
Wulibike Women's Cycling Jersey
Did I mention I'm a big fan of Gore Windstopper fabric? These base layers are really wonderful on cold winter days when you're dealing with icy wind. They're insulated and warm, especially when you're moving fast. On inbetween days, I wear this under...
GOREWEAR Windstopper Base Layer Thermo Long-Sleeve Shirt - Women's - Women
Gore calls this a jacket, but I think of it more like a super warm jersey. It's form fitted and made using their windstopper fabric, which is really the top of the line material. It runs a little small in the arms & shoulders, so size up if you w...
GOREWEAR Tempest Cycling Jacket - Women's - Women
These things ROCK! They totally fall into the category of cheap stuff from China, but they're worth their weight in gold. They're re-chargeable and the battery is embedded in the heel. You have to remove the regular insoles from your cycling shoes. I...
Winter USB Rechargeable Electric Heated Shoe Insoles Sock Pads Foot Warmer Feet
Another thing that totally transformed winter riding for me. These winter boots are SOOO much warmer than overshoe covers. I sized up so there is plenty of room for thick wool socks and heated insoles. Happy toes!
SiDI Men's Road Bike Shoes ZERO GORE 2
If you ride at night, you REALLY need to be sure that drivers can see you. Lights are essential, but these armbands make you even more visible. In the winter when the sun goes down early, I never leave the house without them. Saved my life more than ...
Visiklit Reflective LED Arm Bands (2 Pack)
I consider the humble bandana to be an essential piece of riding equipment. In hot weather you can soak it in water and tie it around your neck to stay cool. In cool weather it's great to have as a make-shift skull cap to keep your ears warm, and if ...
Lightweight Multicolored 22"x22" Cotton Bandana 12 Pack
When I know for sure that it's gonna be cold enough that I need to cover my legs, I wear insulated leggings over my shorts, but on those days when it could go either way, these are wonderful because you can roll them up and stuff them in your pocket ...
PEARL iZUMi Elite Thermal Leg Warmer
Arm warmers are another essential article of clothing when you're riding in changing weather. Great for spring and fall days when you're not sure if you need long or short sleeves.
Castelli Thermoflex 2 Arm Warmer
If you have chronically cold hands, winter rides can be absolute misery. Heated gloves changed all that for me. These are marketed as liners, but they're remarkably warm all on their own, They're windproof and have a nice grip to them. And OMG, havin...
Rukala Heated Gloves - Rechargeable Liners
Did I mention my hands get cold? These gloves are great for layering on those maybe you need ‘em maybe you don’t rides. I bought them too big so I can easily put them on over my fingerless gloves. I can also wear them over my thin full finger gloves ...
PEARL iZUMi Thermal Lite Glove - Men's - Men
A skull cap is a must for winter riding, but what do you do with your hair! These caps are great because they have a ponytail hole which allows me to thread my hair through the opening in the back of my helmet so everything still fits right.
Hikenture Women's Thermal Cycling Cap
Maintenance and Tools
A repair stand is an essential tool because if you're gonna do any meaningful amount of riding, you're inevitably gonna have to learn how to do some basic bike maintenance. Seriously guys, if I can do this anyone can!
PCS 9.3 Home Mechanic Bike Repair Stand
Come on ladies, you can do this!!!! I know we're all taught that mechanics is something the guys do, but seriously, learning how to adjust your gears is essential, and not that hard. This video is the best tutorial I've found on the subject.
How to Adjust a Rear Derailleur – Limit Screws & Indexing
Removing your pedals is always tricky because the threading is different on each side - and I can NEVER remember which is which! This method is foolproof and easy! YES! But it only works with pedals that have “wrench flats” - which are the hexagonal ...
How To Remove Bike Pedals From a Bike the Quick & Easy Way | #AdventureBiker
Another indispensable tool - super thin to fit easily onto your pedals, but strong and reliable.
PW-5 Home Mechanic Pedal Wrench
OMG! Changing tires is never fun, but this is the BEST tool for making the job manageable, way easier to use than your standard tire lever. You have to watch the video to understand how to use it, and it does take some force to slide it around, but i...
Tyre Glider | Next Gen Tire Lever for Bikes
Instructional video for using the tyre glider.
How to use the Tyre Glider - a cycling habit to change, save time on your next bike ride
Another great tool to take on the road. My riding buddy is better at using these than I am, so I (ahem) tend to defer to him when we get a flat out on the road. He can get a tire off and on in seconds with these tools! These work really well for gett...
Prestalever III Multitool - Orange
This video shows you how to use the Prestalever - they work differently than standard tire levers.
Prestalever Bicycle Tire Installation and Removal
This pump is for home use - obviously! It's the best one I've found. It has a screw on chuck which makes it sooo much easier to use with one caveat - most tubes these days have a removeable valve core, so you want to be sure to tighten the core on a ...
Alloy Floor Drive Pump
An inexpensive but essential tool. These days, most tubes have a removeable valve core, and are shipped with the core not fully tightened. It's super important to tighten those suckers before you use them!
Park Tool Valve Core Tool - Accessories
A multi-tool is soooo important to have with you in case something goes wrong. I really like this one because it has everything, including real Allen wrenches which are so much easier to use than the flip out kind. Plus it has a chain breaker and a l...
Wayside Multi-Tool
Yes, your chain wears out and needs to be replaced every few years at the least. This little tool is indispensable for helping you to determine when you need a new chain.
Chain Wear Indicator
I've tried a bunch of different chain lubes over the years, but I always come back to my trusty T-9. It's basic, but it's clean and easy to use.
T-9 Bicycle Lubricant - 4 oz.
Components, Parts & Equipment
I've tried literally dozens of saddles, and this is the one that works for me. The Mimic technology provides both support and comfort, and the shape is perfect for my medium-aggressive riding position. This is a road bike saddle, I wouldn't use it fo...
Romin EVO Comp with MIMIC
The BEST insulated water bottle out there. It holds 3 ounces less than the Podium Chill because it has more insulation, but if you ride in the summer heat, it's totally worth it. Pro tip: fill it the night before and stick it in the freezer. You'll s...
CamelBak Podium Ice Insulated Water Bottle - 21 fl. oz. | REI Co-op
These are the best bells! They're super loud and compact. The only issue is that since they make one loud clear ding people sometimes don't recognize it as a bike bell, so it's best to ring it a few times in a row.
Spurcycle Bell - Accessories
I've had a love/hate relationship with these tubes over the years, but they're really the best quality for a butyl tube that's not ridiculously heavy and I finally figured out how to make peace with them. My problem was that the valve core kept comin...
Continental Race Light Tube - Components
I LOVE my Camelbak! I seriously can't imagine riding in the summer without it. Not only does it allow you to carry much more water than you can in a bottle, but it makes it super easy to sip as you ride so you don't get dehydrated. I fill mine with a...
Rogue Light 7 Hydration Pack
Bite valves wear out after a while and start to leak, so it's a good idea to replace them once your camelback starts to dribble.
Big Bite Valves - Package of 4
These are not my real lights, these are my emergency backups. This is another one that the guys all tease me about, but I've been caught out after dark with a dead battery on my real light and it was super scary. These are small and lightweight, so I...
Malker Silicone LED Bike Light Set - Front & Rear
Essential Products
If you spend any meanigful amount of time on a bike you're gonna deal with chafing issues in the saddle area. There are all sorts of shammy creams and butters available, but this is my goto. It's not slimy and goopy like many are, and it WORKS! Plus,...
Monistat Care Feminine Chafing Relief Powder Gel, Anti-Chafe Protection - 1.5 oz
While the Monistat anti-chafe gel is my favorite, when it's really hot and you're gonna sweat a lot, I add some of this to the mix. In terms of traditional chamois creams this is the best one I've found. It doesn't irritate like some do, and it has n...
dznuts Women’s Bliss Chamois Cream 3 Pack
For pre-ride slathering, this is my go to sunscreen. It's free from nasty chemicals and it's totally sweat-proof. Unlike most mineral based sunscreens it's actually transparent. The one drawback is that it's a little bit sticky, but once I spend an h...
Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen Cream - SPF 40 - 2.9 fl oz
If you burn easily, like I do, sunscreen is essential! I always slather before I go, but it's really nice to have some at hand in case you forget, or if the weather changes. These little packets are perfect! They look like the ketchup packets that yo...
Medique SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion Packets, 25
If you ride anywhere that you're likely to get bitten by bugs, having a few of these on hand can be a real lifesaver! They're just alcohol and lidocaine, but they WORK. In the summer I always have some with me.
Safetec Sting Relief Wipe (48/Box)
If you ride where biting flies are a problem, you KNOW how awful the bites are. This stuff totally works - it's more effective than DEET for biting flies, and significantly less toxic.
Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion - 4 fl. oz.
I generally prefer Picaridin over DEET, but during peak mosquito season I make an exception. These individually packed wipes are super easy to bring with you just in case!
OFF! Deep Woods Mosquito Repellent Wipes 25% DEET - 12ct
I started carrying these during the pandemic, and found them to be so handy that I always throw a few in my emergency kit. Especially if you tend to ride in places where there are no facilities, they're really nice to have on hand. You can also use t...
Purell Hand Sanitizer - Fresh - 125ct
Lip balm is a MUST if you spend a lot of time on a bike - either in the hot summer sun or in the cold winter, either one will do a number on your lips. Carmex is hands down the best stuff out there, and these tubes are sooo much easier to carry and u...
Carmex Medicated Lip Balm Sticks, Lip Moisturizer for Chapped Lips
These handy containers are great for carrying pills on your ride. Mine always have a few pain killers & electrolyte capsules, along with an antihistamine just in case.
humangear GoTubb Small Containers - Package of 3 | REI Co-op
When you're carrying a lot of little packets of stuff, it really helps to have something to hold them all together. These mini mesh bags are great for that purpose. Mine is like an essentials kit with lip balm, packets of hand sanitizer, sunscreen, i...
Riuog 10 PCS Mesh Drawstring Bags, 5.9x7.9in
I know this seems silly, but I can't tell you how many times I've needed my nail clippers when I'm out on the road! My nails tear and break really easily, and if I don't get to it right away it often gets caught and tears down into the quick. The guy...
Walgreens Beauty Fingernail Clipper with File
Snacks and Fuel
I'm not a huge fan of sugary drinks, but it's really important to get some electrolytes when you're riding, so I always carry a few of these on summer rides.
NutriBiotic Essential Electrolytes, 100 Ct
I'm not a big fan of bike food, I prefer more natural choices like dried fruit. These individual packs are great for taking on long rides.
Red Apple Chips - 3.18oz / 6ct - Good & Gather™
I'm not a huge fan of sugary bike food, but I always carry a pack of these with me for emergencies. I like them much better than gels (which always just taste like eating frosting to me) and the fruit punch is my favorite flavor.
Gatorade Energy Chews, Fruit Punch, 16 Pack
Another great individually wrapped snack option.
Freeze Dried Strawberry Slices Multipack - 6ct/2.1oz - Good & Gather™
OK, just to warn you, 200 packs is a LOT, like a HUGE box, so before you go buying the whole thing make sure you like them. These are my absolute favorite so I'm happy to have a bunch of them around.
Ocean Spray Craisins Dried Cranberries, 1.16oz
Another great snack option. I love having something salty to eat especially on long hot rides when you sweat a lot!
Peanuts and Cashews Variety Pack - 24ct - Good & Gather™
I'm not a huge fan of sports drinks, but there are days… I like these individual packets because you can put one or two in your pocket and have them just in case. If I use them I ALWAYS put them in my bottle as opposed to my CamelBak because the bott...
Gatorade Powder Sticks Variety Pack, 30 Ct
Another great salty snack option. These packs are actually rather large so they're also great to have on hand for those really looong rides when you're gonna get super hungry!
Nut Harvest Sea Salted Whole Cashews 2.25oz