Finding pregnancy-specific cycling gear is almost impossible, so BikeRadar Women is on the hunt for products that work well for female riders who want to keep cycling, and stay comfortable, while expecting.
Although Fat Lass at the Back may not create pregnancy-specific cycling gear, it does make kit that's designed to be comfortable and supportive for larger riders, so I tested them during my pregnancy and found them comfortable and supportive.
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Fat Lad at the Back is a UK-based bike clothing company that produces plus-sized cycling kit. It's Lasses women's range covers size UK8/US6 to UK26/US24 and is designed to accommodate a curvier body shape than the average cycle kit is designed to fit.
I tested size 3 set of the Lasses Reflective Thermal Cycling Britches, which is the equivalent of UK12/14. My normal UK dress size is 10/12, and I tested the kit while 24 to 33 weeks pregnant when a significant bump had developed.
Pregnancy cycling kit
While these winter leggings are not pregnancy specific, the generous, high-cut waist band makes them a good option for cycling during pregnancy.
They are constructed from a 'Super Roubaix' material, which is both soft and stretchy, keeping you warm on all but the coldest of rides. When combined with a women's specific Enerdry chamois pad these leggings are comfy for general cycling duties.
They also feature reflective stitching on the seams and a large reflective Pixel 300 panel on the ankles to help keep you visible on evening rides
Having a bump in front of you means it's harder to reach down for your toes in general, but despite this I found these leggings easy to pull on and up and they fitted well.
The higher waist allowed for a comfortable fit over the bump as it grew, but past 33 weeks I found the waist band dug into the bump a little, but overall was pretty comfy. After this point however, cycling had become trickier anyway and the leggings were relegated to a drawer to be used again in the future.
Comfortable chamois pad
The chamois pad was the best bit about these leggings, it's really comfy, even on long rides. The pad is big enough to allow for a range of cycling positions that felt good and not cumbersome, and it still allowed good leg and body movement.
I found the waist and gusset of these leggings a far more comfortable fit than my usual commuting leggings during this middle phase of pregnancy. Towards the end, as bump got bigger, it was safety on the road and hip flexibility that slowed me on the bike before outfit comfort. The leggings would have seen me to at least 36 weeks I think, and would therefore be a good investment.
The stretchable fabric handled my growing bump well and I think that other less flexible fabrics might not accommodate this growth so easily. I wonder if other fabrics could deform with regular use and stretch over a growing bump.
The leggings also stayed put well during a ride without hitching up or falling down. Also, flexibility around the bum meant riding in a forward leaning position for long periods was comfortable and I didn't need to readjust to offload the bump, which I have found in other garments.
Overall impression
I would recommend this product to those who want to continue to cycle during pregnancy. They allow a comfortable fit over other less forgiving fabric options and the high waist and drawstring design accommodates the growing bump well.
I particularly liked the fabric of these leggings, which made them easy to pull on and fit over my growing bump. I was not convinced by the reflective panels effectiveness, however, but they're a good cold weather option during pregnancy.
Prices and availability
The Lasses Thermal Cycling Britches retail at £79.99 and you can purchase them directly from Fat Lad at the Back.
The brand does ship internationally, and while prices aren't listed in other currencies, at of time of publication the retail price equates to roughly $102 / AU$137 plus postage.