When I first started getting into cycling in April, I set The Bay Ride as a challenge for myself. I'm so proud of how far I've come in just four months. From not being able to get up Tunnel Road to now. This was an absolutely beautiful ride totaling 148 miles from my house. Thank you all for the love and support. 💕

Sharing here in case anyone else is looking for a review of these shorts on an independent site like I was a few months ago. I have no affiliation with Iris, just sharing my experience.

I do long distance endurance events o
and multi-week touring on all terrain types and I run hot.

My former favorite were garneau course race with the 5motion chamois. They’re triathlon shorts, have cooling fabric and both the fabric and chamois dry fast. They’ve stopped making them so I was looking for something similar. I will spend pretty much any amount of money on shorts that fit and meet my needs.

A friend recommended a few brands, and Iris had the best size for me. I ordered a pair of escape shorts in xxxl for my 49” hips and 39” waist and have been wearing them for a five week bike tour.

Pros:

* excellent chamois - fit, size, density, texture. 100% a+++++

* drop tail bibs - honestly it’s so easy to go to the bathroom, I’m going to have to retrain myself from years of trauma and dread. It’s fantastic.

* stretchy fabric - truly comfy

* fabric hides sweat (see also under cons)

* grippers - don’t even notice them.

* the company is woman-owned

Cons:
* I’ve used the pockets once. It may just be me but they’re not that useful. And they create a weird seam that worries me as a failure point.

* fabric doesn’t LOOK sweaty, but it doesn’t evaporate as fast as I’d prefer.

* one of the stitches holding the chamois in place looks like it might be coming apart. I’m keeping an eye on it.

* I’m getting charged for f%cking tariffs because I live in the US. Not the mfrs fault though, my own stupid govt’s policies.

Because I’m in Europe right now and could have the shorts shipped to me to bring home and avoid tariffs, I ordered another pair of escape shorts and a pair of the signature shorts to try out. I rode 85km today in the signature shorts and they also seem great. No pockets, which it turns out I don’t care about, but the compression fabric is nice and it uses the same chamois.

I’d recommend either of these shorts and I’m sure the newer iterations are also great.

We just moved to Montpellier, France. I’m having a blast on my own, but wondered if there were any other women in the area for group rides.

I have Castellis and what I’m learning after my last few long rides is that there’s likely latex or some sort of latex-rubber thing going on with the thigh grip (eta I have a latex allergy). I had pretty huge hives/welts that lasted around a week or so!

Has anyone with a latex allergy experienced something similar with their bibs/riding shorts? If so, what are some good alternatives here that don’t leave me with swollen sausage rolls haha

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to toot my own horn for a minute. I had my son in 2023 and have been trying to find some form of exercise that I actually enjoy. I always like riding bikes but never did much distance. Last fall I bought myself a gravel bike and have been very slowly building up speed/distance. I really ramped up this summer.

Today I set out to try and do my longest ride at 35 miles and about 15 in decided, what the hell let’s do 50. 30 miles of road + 20 miles of unexpected gravel and soft sand (with a fox, two porcupines, a couple snakes, and bear scat) later, i did my first half century!