Choosing women's bike shorts: the Mavic guide

Women's shorts cut: lines, waistband and fabric

On Mavic women's bike shorts, the cut is designed for the female anatomy, with lines shaped to the hips and waist and a waistband that doesn't dig in. Thighs, pelvis and lower back are held without creases or rubbing points, and the leg hems don't mark the skin.

The Aksium Short Women shorts, the Aksium Bib Short Women bib shorts, the Cosmic Bib Short Women bib shorts and the Aksium Knicker Women 3/4 knickers are made from a 4-way stretch fabric that gives the muscles light support.

The Aksium Short Women shorts have raw-cut hems and silicone grippers that keep the leg hem snug on the thigh.

Women's chamois pad: ErgoEssential and ErgoContact Women

On Mavic women's models, the chamois pad comes in two versions: the ErgoEssential for rides up to 3 hours, the ErgoContact Women for rides up to 7 hours. Because a woman's pelvis has a wider base, the main cushioning zones of a women's pad sit further apart.

The ErgoEssential pad on the Aksium models has a women-specific design and two foam densities for progressive support. Mavic has redesigned the shape and curvature of its chamois pads for more flexibility and freedom of movement.

The ErgoContact Women pad has three layers and an OrthoLite® insert. On the Cosmic Bib Short Women bib shorts, this pad has an anatomical shape adapted to the female body, for even comfort over the hours. These bib shorts are made from Italian fabric.

Beyond 7 hours in the saddle, the women's range has no higher-level chamois pad. For long-distance bib shorts with a women's cut, the two Cosmic models are the top of the range.

Women's bib shorts or waist shorts

The Aksium Bib Short Women are women's bib shorts with ergonomic straps that limit pressure on the chest. On the Cosmic Bib Short Women, the straps hold the shorts in place without uncomfortable pressure.

The Aksium Short Women shorts have no straps; their waistband is built to keep the shorts in place over the abdomen. Shorts without straps are easier to put on and take off, which is handy for short rides and commuting.

The Aksium Short Women and the Aksium Bib Short Women share the same fabric, 78% polyamide and 22% elastane, and the same ErgoEssential pad. Between the two, choose the hold you prefer: the waistband, or straps that keep the shorts up without pressure at the waist.

Les cuissards cyclistes femme Mavic

AKSIUM THERMO BIBTIGHT WOMEN

COSMIC THERMO BIBTIGHT WOMEN

AKSIUM BIB SHORT WOMEN

COSMIC BIB SHORT WOMEN

Shorts, 3/4 knickers or long tights

Mavic women's cycling bottoms come in three lengths, from shorts to long tights, with 3/4 knickers in between. In the warm months, wear cycling shorts: the women's range has three for the road, the Aksium Short Women, Aksium Bib Short Women and Cosmic Bib Short Women, plus a cargo short designed for trails as well.

The Aksium Knicker Women are the only 3/4 knickers in the range and cover the knees. Wear them on rides where the afternoon gets too warm for long tights and the cool morning makes shorts uncomfortable. They are cut from the same fabric as the Aksium Short Women shorts.

Among women's cycling tights, the Aksium Thermo Bib Tight Women are made from fleece fabric, for rides below 15 °C. The Cosmic Thermo Bib Tight Women are in brushed Superroubaix®, with a water-repellent treatment that makes spray bead off, and they have the same ErgoContact Women pad as the Cosmic Bib Short Women. You will find them in the autumn-winter cycling clothing collection, alongside the rest of your cold-weather kit.

Model	Format	Straps	Chamois pad	Time in the saddle	Price	Use
Aksium Short Women cycling shorts	Short	No	ErgoEssential	Up to 3 h	€89	Summer, short rides
Aksium Bib Short Women bib shorts	Short	Yes	ErgoEssential	Up to 3 h	€99	Summer
Aksium Knicker Women 3/4 knickers	3/4	No	ErgoEssential	Up to 3 h	€99	Spring, autumn
Aksium Thermo Bib Tight women's tights	Long, fleece	Yes	ErgoEssential	Up to 3 h	€109	Winter
Cosmic Thermo Bib Tight women's tights	Long, Superroubaix®	Yes	ErgoContact Women	Up to 7 h	€169	Winter, long rides

Which size of women's shorts, from XS to XL

All eight Mavic women's shorts and tights come in XS to XL, on a size chart specific to the women's range. The size you take in shorts is also the right one for long tights in the range.

To find the right cycling shorts size, measure your waist and your hip circumference, then check them against the size guide on the product page. From XS to XL, the waist runs from 61 to 87 cm, the hips from 89 to 115 cm and the chest from 79 to 105 cm. In M, for example, the chart gives a 70 to 75 cm waist and 98 to 103 cm hips.

Choosing your women's bike shorts

To choose your women's bike shorts, start from your usual ride, then check the size on the product page guide. For short rides and commuting, take the Aksium Short Women shorts; for summer training, the Aksium Bib Short Women bib shorts; for long summer rides, the Cosmic Bib Short Women bib shorts. In spring and autumn, switch to the Aksium Knicker Women 3/4 knickers; in winter, to the Aksium Thermo Bib Tight Women tights, or the Cosmic Thermo Bib Tight Women tights for long rides.

All eight models, with or without straps, are in the Mavic women's cycling shorts range. The guide to cycling shorts explains how to choose a chamois pad for your ride time, and a format for the season.

FAQ: choosing women's bike shorts

The inseam of the Aksium Short Women shorts is 20 cm, the only leg length given in figures in the women's range. This short leg limits tan lines and increases freedom of movement. The other short models in the women's range, the Aksium Bib Short Women bib shorts, the Cosmic Bib Short Women bib shorts and the Crosstrail Cargo Short Women cargo shorts, have no leg length listed on their product page. To compare their leg length, try them on in the riding position.

For gravel or trail riding, the Mavic women's range offers the Crosstrail Cargo Short Women cargo shorts, with the same ErgoEssential chamois pad as the Aksium models. They are designed for training rides on road or trail. With two flap cargo pockets and a zipped rear pocket, you carry your food, phone and keys on the shorts themselves. They have no straps, and the women's range has no off-road bib model. They come in one colour, black.

The mesh back on women's bib shorts lets air through under the jersey. On the Aksium Bib Short Women bib shorts, this highly breathable mesh back is 90% polyester and 10% elastane. The Cosmic Bib Short Women bib shorts have a back panel of the same composition. The Aksium Thermo Bib Tight Women tights combine a highly breathable mesh back panel with perforated straps, which let air through too. The Cosmic Thermo Bib Tight Women tights have a seamless back panel that avoids pressure points on the shoulders, and bonded seams on the straps to prevent chafing.

The Aksium Thermo Tight Women are the only long tights without straps in the Mavic women's range. They share the fleece fabric, the ErgoEssential chamois pad and the below-15 °C use of the Aksium Thermo Bib Tight Women, which have straps. They cost €99, against €109 for the bib version. They come in two colours, green and black, while the bib version is only available in black. If you prefer a waistband to straps for winter riding, these are the tights to choose.

Five of the eight Mavic women's shorts and tights have reflective details. On the Cosmic Bib Short Women bib shorts, they sit on the thighs. The Aksium Short Women shorts, the Aksium Thermo Tight Women tights and the Aksium Thermo Bib Tight Women tights have them too, for better visibility in low light. The Cosmic Thermo Bib Tight Women tights have reflective prints. The Aksium Bib Short Women bib shorts, the Aksium Knicker Women 3/4 knickers and the Crosstrail Cargo Short Women cargo shorts have none.

Mavic women's bike shorts cost from €89 to €169, from the Aksium Short Women shorts to the Cosmic Thermo Bib Tight Women tights. The Aksium Bib Short Women bib shorts and the Aksium Knicker Women 3/4 knickers are €99, the Aksium Thermo Bib Tight Women tights €109, and the Cosmic Bib Short Women bib shorts and Crosstrail Cargo Short Women cargo shorts €129. Between the two bib tights, the €169 pair has the ErgoContact Women pad and brushed Superroubaix® fabric, the €109 pair the ErgoEssential pad and fleece fabric.

If you ride several times a week, a second pair to alternate between rides close together means you never set off in women's shorts that are still damp. Six of the eight Mavic women's models have the ErgoEssential chamois pad: the Aksium Short Women shorts, the Aksium Bib Short Women bib shorts, the Aksium Knicker Women 3/4 knickers, the two Aksium Thermo tights and the Crosstrail Cargo Short Women cargo shorts. In spring and autumn, when the temperature changes from one day to the next, alternate shorts and the 3/4 knickers to keep the same cushioning from one ride to the next. The ErgoContact Women pad is only on two models, one short and one long. To alternate in summer with the same pad, get two pairs of the Cosmic Bib Short Women bib shorts.