Why One Pair of Bike Pants Costs $30… and Another Doesn’t
Have you ever wondered why cycling gear is so expensive? You’re scrolling online or walking through a bike shop, and you spot a pair of padded cycling pants for $30. A few clicks or steps later, you see another pair for over $180. They both claim to be “padded,” “comfortable,” and “great for riding.” But what actually makes the difference?
The truth is, it’s not just about the fabric or the padding. And no, you’re not just paying for a logo. You're paying for materials, ethics, design, and performance. In this blog, we’ll unpack what goes into the cost of quality cycling gear, especially padded bike pants for women, and explain why cycling gear is so expensive —and why, sometimes, it’s absolutely worth it.
Why Cycling Gear Is So Expensive: It Starts with the Fabric
Let’s begin with one of the most obvious factors: the fabric.
Affordable cycling pants are often made from thin, low-cost synthetic blends that offer minimal stretch, breathability, and moisture management. That $30 pair might look good at first glance, but after a few wears, the fabric could start pilling, losing its shape, or even going see-through when stretched.
High-quality cycling pants, like those at Birds on Bikes, utilise premium performance fabrics designed to withstand the test of time. Our Tourer and Wanderer knicks, for instance, use sustainable REPREVE® fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles and premium Italian blends like Vuelta. These offer compression, breathability, UV protection, and soft-touch comfort all in one.
Why does it cost more? Because good fabric isn’t cheap—and neither is sustainability. Choosing high-end, eco-conscious textiles can significantly raise the cost, but the result is a product that performs better, lasts longer, and feels great every ride.
Design and Fit: The Difference You Can Feel (And See)
Another reason why cycling gear is so expensive is the actual design and construction. Inexpensive bike pants are often made using generic, mass-market patterns. That means little to no thought has been given to how the pants actually sit on different body shapes. If you’ve ever had waistband roll-down, awkward seams, or chafing, you know exactly what we’re talking about.
At Birds on Bikes, we’re committed to body-inclusive, curve-conscious design. We offer sizes 6–24 and use real women’s measurements—not just a scaled-down or scaled-up template. We obsess over details like:
High waistbands that don’t roll or dig
Wide leg bands that don’t cut into your thighs
Seamless inner legs to reduce chafing
Anatomically shaped panels for support and comfort
Creating a great fit takes time, multiple samples, and feedback from real riders. It’s not a shortcut process, and it’s not cheap. But it’s worth it. Because when you find gear that fits your body, not just the “average,” it changes everything about your ride.
The Chamois: The Pad That Separates Good From Great
Let’s talk about the heart of every pair of padded cycling pants—the chamois. If you’re wondering why cycling gear is so expensive, look here first.
Cheaper knicks typically use generic foam pads that flatten quickly and offer minimal anatomical support. They’re usually cut in one shape, regardless of gender, and can create pressure points during long rides. These pads may look OK, but they feel awful after an hour or two in the saddle.
Our cycling pants feature Elastic Interface® chamois, one of the most respected names in cycling comfort. These chamois are engineered in Italy, specifically designed for women, and crafted with high-density foams that provide lasting support. Many are rated for rides of up to 6 hours or more. They also include:
Breathable perforated layers
Anti-bacterial and moisture-wicking top fabrics
Ergonomic shaping for sit bone relief
Is it more expensive? Absolutely. But when you’re mid-ride, with no discomfort, no shifting, and no sore spots—it’s worth every cent.
Ethical Manufacturing: Why It Costs More (and Why It Should)
One of the most important (and often overlooked) reasons why cycling gear is so expensive is ethical manufacturing. That $30 pair of bike pants? Chances are, it was produced in a high-volume offshore factory, where the workers are underpaid, overworked, and have minimal safety protections.
At Birds on Bikes, we manufacture everything in-house in Brisbane, under our manufacturing arm, Ethical Edge Collective. We’re proud to be an Ethical Clothing Australia accredited business, which means we undergo regular audits and certifications to ensure that every garment is made ethically and fairly. Our small but passionate team is paid a living wage and works in a clean, safe, transparent environment.
We also manufacture in small batches, which reduces waste and enables us to closely monitor quality. We don’t overproduce, and we don’t rely on cheap labour to bring prices down.
Doing the right thing costs more, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. And neither would our customers.
Small Business vs. Mass Market
Big cycling brands (and fast fashion retailers) operate on volume. They make thousands of garments per style, per colour, per size, often cutting costs through scale and automation. As a result, they can offer low prices—even loss leaders—to attract customers.
We’re not trying to be the biggest. We’re striving to be the best at what we do — creating comfortable, stylish, and ethically made cycling wear for women who want to feel seen, supported, and confident.
Running a small, local brand comes with higher per-unit costs. From pattern making and sampling to photography, packaging, and postage, we manage everything in-house. We rent a studio, pay insurance, buy machines, and power our workspace with Australian electricity rates. It’s not glamorous, but it’s honest.
That’s also why we’re transparent about where your money goes. When you buy from Birds on Bikes, you’re supporting not just a product, but a community: women, workers, designers, and dreamers.
Sustainability: Built to Last, Not to Landfill
Fast fashion encourages you to buy more, wear less, and throw away often. But when you stop to ask why cycling gear is so expensive, you’re also asking: what’s the cost of throwing away bad gear?
Sustainability is more than a buzzword for us. It’s about:
Using recycled materials
Reducing overproduction
Creating styles that endure beyond trends
Making gear that lasts season after season
If you’ve ever bought a cheap pair of cycling pants that fell apart after three washes—or started pilling after one ride—you know the real cost of throwaway fashion. Investing in quality means buying less often, riding more comfortably, and reducing your impact on the planet.
How We Price Our Gear
We believe in transparency and value. Here's a breakdown of where your dollars go when you buy a $200 pair of Birds on Bikes cycling pants:
Fabric & Materials: $35–$50
Premium Chamois Insert (Elastic Interface®): $20–$35
Labour (Australian Wages): $60–$70
Overheads (Rent, Insurance, Equipment, Power): $20–$25
Packaging, Postage & Handling: $10–$15
Marketing, Photography, Website, Admin: $10–$15
Profit Margin: modest, and reinvested into our people, products, and purpose
Compare that to a $30 pair made offshore, where wages might be less than $2 per item, the fabric is of poor quality, and zero attention is paid to ethics, sustainability, or performance. The price may be low, but the value is equally low.
When you support Birds on Bikes, you're choosing comfort, quality, and ethics over shortcuts. You're also helping us continue to make gear that serves you, not the mass market.
Final Thoughts: Invest in the Ride You Deserve
If you’re new to cycling or just trying to understand why cycling gear is so expensive, we hope this post has helped clarify things for you.
Cycling isn’t just about getting from A to B. It’s about comfort, empowerment, and confidence. The right gear can make your ride feel effortless—and make you feel seen. When you choose ethically made, well-designed cycling apparel, you’re choosing:
A better fit
A more enjoyable ride
A commitment to sustainability
Support for Australian jobs
Clothing that works with your body—not against it
You're Worth the Good Gear
You deserve bike pants that don’t dig in, don’t ride up, and don’t fall apart. And you deserve to know that what you’re wearing was made responsibly. That’s why we do what we do.
Shop our range today and experience the Birds on Bikes difference for yourself.
About the Author: Barbara Spooner
Barbara Spooner is the founder of Birds on Bikes , a brand dedicated to designing high-quality, Australian-made cycling apparel for women—especially those with curves. With a background in graphic design and ethical fashion , Barbara is passionate about creating inclusive, sustainable activewear that empowers women to ride in comfort and confidence. When she's not designing, she’s advocating for ethical manufacturing and supporting women in business.