Mavic Athena women's cycling shorts review
A technical athletic fitting pair of performance shorts at the higher end of the price scales
A race fit and performance pair of shorts, which offer a good alternative to bib shorts
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Flattering and body contouring fit
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Comfortable waistline for non-bib
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Cost
You can trust Cycling Weekly.
My initial ‘short shorts’ concerns were alleviated once I had actually got the Athena shorts on, finding they had a similar healthy length to all the other shorts that have been tested recently.
Coming with a snug secure fit, the Mavic Athena women's cycling shorts manage to achieve the perfect balance between close fitting, without over compression.
I suspect this is thanks to a supportive ‘Skin Power’ fabric used on the panelled short and then a more compliant non-binding fabric for the leg cuff, along with sufficient silicone to keep it secure.
>>> Women’s cycling shorts: a buyer’s guide
The shorts come with a streamlined Ergo 3D chamois, which had padding in the right places and felt fluid with movement when on the bike.
The Athena waistline was the least noticeable of all the non-bib shorts that I have worn so far this season, squeezing in the middle gently, but thanks to a high waist it provided no risk of any jersey to shorts gaps appearing.
A great pair of shorts, but at nearly £80 they are certainly a considered purchase, but if you do indulge – you won’t be disappointed.
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Hannah is Cycling Weekly’s longest-serving tech writer, having started with the magazine back in 2011. She has covered all things technical for both print and digital over multiple seasons representing CW at spring Classics, and Grand Tours and all races in between.
Hannah was a successful road and track racer herself, competing in UCI races all over Europe as well as in China, Pakistan and New Zealand.
For fun, she's ridden LEJOG unaided, a lap of Majorca in a day, won a 24-hour mountain bike race and tackled famous mountain passes in the French Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites and Himalayas.
She lives just outside the Peak District National Park near Manchester UK with her partner, daughter and a small but beautifully formed bike collection.
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