Women's Foundation Collection
Comfort at its core
Backed by research and development
The result
- High-quality technical fabrics that have been sourced, collectively ridden over thousands of kilometres by our trusted community of kit testers, and selected based on their outstanding comfort and technical abilities.
- Carefully-considered tailoring to create functional pieces that fit fantastically and are cut for a riding position.
- Finished with our custom women’s Foundation chamois pads designed in collaboration with the world’s best pad manufacturer, Cytech Elastic Interface, with their outstanding endurance-focused fabric technology designed to provide lasting saddle comfort.
Expertly tailored for women
All of our women's garments are designed, tested and tailored by a team of experienced female cyclists and clothing experts, including our own Attacus co-founder, so you can trust you're buying products developed specifically for female-focused comfort and fit.
"Testing and development is the backbone of everything we do at Attacus, especially when it comes to our women's collections. When we began developing models for our very first kits half a decade ago, it became clear to me that 'standard' factory sizing for women's kit just wasn't cutting it. The shoulders were broad and saggy, the hips too narrow, while the proportions of things like pockets, collars and leg grippers felt ill-considered or, as I began to suspect, not considered at all. I requested pattern measurements, only to discover they were identical to the men's models, but simply shrunk a couple of sizes.
"It became clear to me that if we wanted to offer tailored cycling clothing choices for a wider range of women, we would have to start from scratch. So that's exactly what we did, and continue to do to this day.
"Working with expert seamstresses, we've taken bust, waist, hip and height measurements from a cross section of real riders to find commonalities in fit. We then optimize the proportions and positioning of everything from pockets, zips and collars to stitching and chamois pads, creating prototypes which are put to the test by riders of different abilities. We use all of our findings to develop brand new, uniquely-tailored clothing models for each of our collections. Five years later, and the feedback we get from customers about the Foundation Collection is fantastic. It makes me proud of what we've achieved."
Emily Childs, Managing Director and Head of Women’s Product Development at Attacus
Foundation Jersey
What our customers say 
“The fabric is so soft you hardly feel like you are wearing it, on long endurance events there are no seams or edges that dig in or cause any discomfort. The length is also great even for shorter people like me! It’s comfortable and flattering.”
Helena Knightly, All Points North finisher and Attacus kit tester
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Foundation Bib Shorts and Waist Shorts
Our shorts are the real star of the Foundation Collection. Each set is made with our custom women’s chamois pad, which has been carefully developed to provide pelvic support and relieve common female pressure points which tend to build and cause discomfort on longer rides. The fabric of the shorts also offers just the right amount of stretch and compressive support. They're designed to gently hug your body, reducing friction caused by micro-movements that can often cause discomfort over time. Not to mention, they feel great when you pull them on.
What our customers say
"You need proof a pair of cycling shorts is comfortable? Try riding 3460km in them in just 21 days! Myself and my nine teammates did exactly that, and I can say with total confidence that the Foundation shorts are a dream.
"The padding is next level - no more saddle sores, no more numb bits. They’re excellent quality, comfortable and durable, as is all of the kit. I can’t recommend them highly enough, whether you’re riding for one hour or 24 hours."
Louise Gibson, team rider for the InternationElles
The Foundation Chamois Pad
Never underestimate the importance of a good chamois. It could literally make or break your ride.
At Attacus, we’ve always believed that the key to any good piece of cycling clothing is one that feels as comfortable and supportive after 24 hours as it does after just one. It’s why all of our Foundation shorts and bib shorts are fitted with our custom women's Foundation chamois pads - a top of the range endurance-focused pad developed to deliver all-day support.
Designed in collaboration with one of the world’s leading chamois manufacturers, Cytech Elastic Interface, this pad is the culmination of months of research and testing led by female riders, including our own Co-Founder and Head of Women’s Product Development. Designed to relieve common female pelvic pressure points which we identified can cause discomfort on longer rides, the pad is constructed from fine layers of high density foam which provide lasting cushioned support. It’s what makes the shorts perfect for epic adventures, as well as shorter days on the road. Meanwhile its neutral, single width not only offers a more anatomical fit, but makes it compatible with virtually any saddle.
It's this commitment to comfort that means our shorts and tights are now trusted by female athletes who have taken on some of the world's toughest tests of endurance - including the entire route of the Tour de France.
Made from recycled materials, this eco-friendly pad is also woven together with yarns that have antibacterial properties, providing better protection for multi day activities. It’s even perforated to speed drying times.
Seriously, it’s a dream to sit on.
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Foundation Vest
Clothing keeps us warm by trapping warm air next to our skin. But when you’re on a bike travelling at speed, the force from any cold air or wind can obliterate that warmth you’ve built up. It’s why a reliable, thin, packable windproof layer is such a useful piece of kit to have of your cycling armour.
"The Foundation Windproof Vest contains a thin membrane barrier that blocks cold air and water, while allowing warm air to continue circulating around your core. So it’s perfect for popping in your back pocket and calling on when the temperature drops.”
Emily Childs, Managing Director and Head of Women’s Product Development at Attacus
“It’s so comfortable and light, while still giving an extra layer of warmth and protection. It also packs down super small, so you can just roll it up and stick in in your back pocket or bike bag.”
Helena Knightly, All Points North finisher and Attacus kit tester
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Foundation Base Layer
The newest addition to our Foundation range, our Foundation Base Layer is a super-lightweight, highly sweat wicking summer layer is perfectly designed to keep you cool on warmer days.
“Made from a lightweight, stretchy mesh that draws excess moisture away from the skin and aids heat regulation, this lightweight base layer is perfect for mild and warm weather riding. It's been tailored to be close fitting, with minimal seams, so that it feels both comfortable and discreet under your jersey. The length on this base layer has also been specifically cut to sit at the same height as our jerseys, in order to avoid visible bunching that can often happen when your base layer is tucked into bib shorts.”
Emily Childs, Managing Director and Head of Women’s Product Development at Attacus
