I biked my entire pregnancy; in fact, I was still cycling the day before I went into labor. Not only did doing so keep me sane, it also ensured that I had a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
More and more moms that I know are biking throughout their pregnancies as well, but as I talk to them a common theme seems to emerge—a problem in finding maternity bike clothes!
When I was pregnant, I relied on one pair of Terry maternity bike shorts (that I washed A LOT). Unfortunately, Terry doesn’t even make these anymore which is SAD, but there are lots of new options that have hit the market in the last few years.
My baby bump was also relatively small so I never invested in any maternity jerseys. Instead, I would wear maternity tank tops under some of my looser jerseys, and toward the end of my pregnancy I wouldn’t zip them all the way.
If you already have maternity exercise clothes, you might also just decide to just use those and forgo buying cycling-specific clothes. Yeah, you might look like a newbie, but it’s just 9 months right?!?
If you do want to find bike shorts and some maternity specific bike jerseys, I’ve tried to save you some time to round up a list of the (very limited) options on the market. With no further ado, the best maternity cycling clothes (or items that aren’t maternity-specific but that you can make work for a pregnant belly).
Maternity Bike Shorts
- Kaden Apparel Primo Maternity Bike Shorts ($115) – These shorts have an extra tall belly band that can be worn up or rolled down for versatility, along with an articulated curve under the belly area that provides extra support. The chamois is on the thinner side, which may be a pro or a con depending on your preferences.
- Kaden Apparel Kokopelli Maternity Mountain Bike Shorts ($119) – This is the only maternity mountain bike short on the market, that I’m aware of. The waistband is soft and supportive and can be worn up or down. The 9″ inseam hits just above the knee and can also be rolled up for an even shorter look. They do not come with a chamois.
- Wild Rye B.O.B Maternity Chamois ($125) – The BOB has a high stretchy waistband and can be worn under baggies or on its own. The 6.5″ inseam is shorter than other options, which is nice if you’re trying to preserve your summer tan lines.
- Jelenew Pregnancy Bib Shorts ($259) – If you’re a big believer (like I am) in the comfort of high-quality bib shorts, you might be willing to shell out the big bucks for these maternity bibs. They have a much higher belly that provides additional compression and support.
Also consider that you dou don’t necessarily have to buy maternity-specific shorts. Bib shorts, even those that aren’t designed for pregnancy, work well for pregnant bellies because there is no waistband.
In my experience, you can order a size larger than what you would normally wear and you should be able to make them work for a full nine months. (Check out our sister site, FemmeCyclist.com, for a list of great cycling bib options).
Another, perhaps more affordable option, is just to buy a pair of cycling briefs. They are just padded underwear that will fit under your pregnant belly and you can wear under a pair of gym shorts or other bottoms.
My favorite pair is the Baleaf Cycling Underwear. They are cheap and comfortable. Or, for more padded chamois options, check out this list of women’s padded cycling underwear.
Maternity Jerseys
- Jelenew Pregnancy Jersey ($229) – This is the only maternity specific cycling jersey that I’m aware of. Like all pieces from Jelenew, it’s high quality and looks cute.
- Samsara Getaway Jersey ($121) – While this isn’t technically a maternity jersey (I have one and love it), it works well for baby bumps thanks to the loose fit and ability to unbutton the bottom. Pair with bib shorts for a super cute ‘fit.
Here are a couple of other ideas:
- Wear a mountain bike style jersey instead. These are loose around the middle. Just order up a size or two from what you would normally wear.
- Borrow a jersey from your husband!
- Wear a full zip jersey (unzipped) with a maternity tank underneath. This is what I did for the last few months of my pregnancy.
Bottom-Line
The maternity bike clothes market is pretty weak. Keep your head up and make due for nine months.
Before you know it, you’ll be back in your old bike clothes. And if you decide to start your own maternity cycling clothes line, let me know!
More Stuff You Might Like
- Bike Riding While Pregnant: 9 Things You Need To Know
- Biking With Baby: From Newborn To Infant To Toddler
- Getting Back On The Saddle After Having A Baby
About The Rascals
The Rascals are a family of three. Kristen (mom), Blair (dad), and Parker (kiddo). We started Rascal Rides when Parker was born and we didn’t want to give up our passion for biking. As we learned, we shared.
Over the years, we’ve added other families to our team and have tested hundreds of kids bikes, helmets, bike trailers, and more.
Kristen is a licensed USA Cycling coach and NICA coach, and loves to share her passion for biking with other families. Blair is a bike geek, mechanic, and mountain bike junkie. Parker is 13 now and is our resident shredder.
If you see us out on the trail, make sure to say hi!
IG: @rascal_rides
YT: @rascalrides
Hi Kirsten – it doesn’t surprise me that there is such a lack of maternity wear, but hopefully this will be a growing area as more and more mums-to-be decide to continue cycling during pregnancy. It’s out of these experiences that people tend to act to fill a gap in the market. Fingers crossed! Karen
Hi Karen–I think you are right. I know that when I was pregnant, there was a bit of a stigma around it and I think that is starting to fade. That, and the shear volume of women riders taking up cycling; eventually the cycling industry will have to respond….KB
Thank you for the article, it was a super helpful place to start my search. After a bit of digging I found a company that has released true, padded maternity cycling shorts and they are awesome! Check out evergreen activewear! https://shop.evergreenactivewear.com/collections/all/products/maternity-cycling-short
This article doesn’t (yet!) include the best option — a removable or replacement chamois (i.e. cycling pad)! These can be paired with a pair of inexpensive (non-padded) maternity bike shorts (widely available). Aero Tech Designs, based out of Pennsylvania, sells several US-made options that are all under $30.
Aero Tech’s **removable** chamois ($27.99) comes in women-specific option and has a silicone gripping bottom surface that holds the pad in place and reduces movement: https://aerotechdesigns.com/rebishchpad.html#
Their **replacement** chamois are designed to be sewn in to a pair of (fitted) bike shorts. They have a bunch of different women-specific options ($19.99 to $29.99), which you can view here: https://aerotechdesigns.com/replacement-chamois-pads.html/?_bc_fsnf=1 (note that the “women” filter on the left doesn’t work — they actually have 9 pads made for women, not just 3!). Their 9 models that are for women or unisex are:
PAD – Luna Cycling Chamois Pad – Replacement Cycling Pad – Women’s Specific
https://aerotechdesigns.com/luna-cycling-chamois-pad-replacement.html
–> $29.99 / high-performance foams / 15mm max thickness / designed for 6+ hour days
–> My assessment: heavy padding looks like a good option for pregnant women with medium to large bellies!
PAD – Gel Chamois Pad for Cycling
https://aerotechdesigns.com/padgelchpadf.html#
–> $24.99 / gel / 12 mm max thickness / designed for touring (long distance)
–> My assessment: minimal padding, probably not best option for pregnant women
PAD – Top Shelf MLP Replacement Chamois
https://aerotechdesigns.com/metopshmlpch.html
–> $24.99 / high-impact foam / 10 mm max thickness / designed for long distance cycling
–> My assessment: Good option if chafing is your main issue, otherwise probs want something with more padding.
PAD – Elite Long Distance Air Gel Chamois – Replacement Cycling pad
https://aerotechdesigns.com/cypadellodic.html#
–> $29.99 / foam / 15 mm max thickness / designed for long distance road or mountain biking
–> My assessment: Newer pad from Aero Tech that is apparently extra good at wicking and evaporating perspiration, so potentially worth trying if you’re looking for a pad that is great a wicking (which I know many of us pregnant folks are!). That said, it appears that there is not as much padding on this chamois, especially up front, compared to the Luna listed up top.
PAD – Goddess Women’s Ventilated Fit and Trim Sew In Cycling Chamois Pad
https://aerotechdesigns.com/padspcrpa.html#
–> $19.99 / foam / max 10mm thickness
–> My assessment: Good budget option, but seems to have very little front padding.
PAD – Century Replacement Chamois Pad – Endurance Molded Shape
https://aerotechdesigns.com/enmocrpad.html#
–> $24.99 / foam / max 12mm thickness
–> My assessment: Also seems to have very little front padding.
PAD – Victoria Chamois Pad – Women’s Bicycle Short Padding
https://aerotechdesigns.com/victoria-chamois-padding.html
–> $24.99 / foam / max 10 mm thickness / mid-distance cycling
–> My assessment: A bit hard to tell from the photos, but looks promising as a thinner option that still haas decent front padding.
PAD – Triathlon Chamois pad – Thin padding for Swim, Bike, Run
https://aerotechdesigns.com/padtrlimosel.html
–> $19.99 / unisex / foam / max 6mm thickness / triathlons
–> My assessment: Probably not a good fit for pregnant women due to minimal padding, unless they are specifically looking for a triathlon pad.
PAD – Classic Black One-Piece Crotch Pad, Chamois for cycling
https://aerotechdesigns.com/blpeoncrpad.html
–> $17.99 / unisex / foam / max 12 mm thickness / designed for leisure cycling or spinning
–> My assessment: Great budget option with lots of padding for shorter rides!
After thinking through all of these options, I decided to go with the removable chamois (first link) since I’m super busy and didn’t want a lack of time to sew in the chamois to prevent me from getting out on my bike! If I had more time, I would order the Luna chamois and sew it in, as it offered the best padding. (Normally I don’t like a lot of padding, but when I’m pregnant I’ll take it all!)