The publication of our landmark, award-winning story on how women cyclists can address genital pain, Cycling’s Silent Epidemic, has sparked tons of conversation and change. Our deputy health and fitness editor, Mallory Creveling, and editorial director Bill Strickland help you get comfortable with discussing the topic, recognizing symptoms and distinguishing them from ordinary aches and pains, and most importantly, finding solutions that work for you.
The scope of the issue is staggering—a survey we conducted as part of our reporting found that more than half of all women cyclists have experienced long-term swelling, disfigurement of the external genitalia, or have ridden in extreme pain. Many have been forced off the bike for extended periods of time. Yet, until now, real conversation has been lacking—hence, our article’s title. “It can be pretty uncomfortable to talk about,” says Creveling. “But even if you’re thinking that these things you feel are very odd and tough to talk about, others are experiencing them, too.”
For more information, read the story on saddle sores referenced in the video, along with our women’s guide to finding the right saddle and our list of the best saddles of 2025.
If you have questions or experiences to share about this topic, drop us a note in the comments.
Bill Strickland is the Rider-in-Chief of Bicycling. His equal passions for cycling and writing have led to the books Ten Points: A Memoir; Tour de Lance: The Extraordinary Story of Cycling’s Most Controversial Champion; Mountain Biking: The Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate Ride; and The Quotable Cyclist. His Bicycling story, “100 Pedal Strokes” won a National Magazine Award for Interactive Feature in 2008. In 2009, he assigned and edited the story “Broken,” which won the National Magazine Award for Public Interest. “The Escape,” the December, 2011, edition of his Bicycling magazine column The Pursuit, was named a Notable story by The Best American Sports Writing. Various editions of his books have been translated into Dutch, German, Hebrew, and Japanese. He uses commas by rhythm and sound, which is a terrible way to do it but makes him happy.
