Van Rysel, Decathlon’s cycling brand, has introduced a new women’s endurance range, featuring cycling shorts designed to support female cyclists during their menstrual cycle and endurance-focused bib shorts. The brand acknowledges that while women’s cycling continues to grow, product development around comfort in the saddle and menstrual health “has lagged behind.” (bikezona.com)
Élise Delzenne, women’s engineer at Van Rysel, stated, “For us, this range started with a simple question; why are women still adapting their riding around their kit?” She emphasized the need to design products that reflect the reality of how women actually ride, including moments that have historically been overlooked. The goal is to remove friction, allowing riders to feel comfortable, confident, and focused every time they get on the bike.
Van Rysel EDR Menstrual Short
The Van Rysel Menstrual Shorts (£34.99 / €39.99) feature a menstrual chamois pad, similar to those found in menstrual underwear. The pad can absorb fluid while maintaining breathability and moisture management during efforts. Tested by the SGS laboratory, the pad can hold 12ml of fluid, equivalent to a super-plus tampon or night-time sanitary pad. The objective is simple: allow riders to stay focused on the ride, not on discomfort or logistics. The shorts were tested by 19 women over several weeks, and the chamois pad is said to be long-lasting, “maintaining full effectiveness even after 25 washes.” The shorts have a smooth fit across the stomach, accommodating period bloating.
Van Rysel Ultra Bibshort
The Ultra Bibshort (£99.99 / €119.99) is intended for long-distance and ultra-endurance cycling. The shorts don’t feature Van Rysel’s menstrual chamois but instead have Elastic Interface’s Corsa chamois, said to provide comfort for more than 7 hours in the saddle. The Ultra Bibshort features a new innovation from Van Rysel, its Back Ease construction. The design enables “effortless” comfort breaks without the need to remove your jersey or bib straps. Easy-pee features are common across many of the best women’s cycling shorts. The Ultra Bibshort features Italian fabric and a leg finish without elastic or silicone. The result is a bibshort that prioritizes comfort, support, and freedom of movement, even in the most demanding conditions.
Van Rysel’s new range addresses the unique needs of female cyclists, offering innovative solutions to enhance comfort and performance during rides.