Bike shorts (no lycra, I'm lumpy)

secretsam

With summer coming (cue laughter :shock: ) thoughts turn to something suitable to wear on my truly ghastly legs

Anyone recommend some good value shorts suitable for short legged, chunky-monkey guy who's a few pounds heavier than he should be?

No bulge-enhancing lycra humilition, please

Mog Uk

Go for some mountain bike baggies with lycra/padded inserts.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/CategoryProducts.aspx?categoryName=Shorts%20-%20Baggy&cat=cycle

redddraggon

I don't get the embarrassment of lycra, you're already a geek on a bike and people are already looking at you funny.

BentMikey

Lycra is the way to go. Bibshorts are good at holding in a little bit of that tummy bulge, plus they're more comfortable than std shorts.

Clever Pun

get lycra put them on and do some lunges... you'll feel fine then

I bought some Oakley baggies years back, they were great... but not in the reasonably priced bracket I'm afraid

GrantyBoy

Endura Humvee's for me

ChrisLS

...ditto with the Humvee's...but lycra is the most comfortable if you're not shy :oops: ...

Kafka\'s Doll

Cheap bibs (the DHB Earnleys are ideal) with whatever you like on top -- soccer shorts if you like.

secretsam

redddraggon wrote:

I don't get the embarrassment of lycra, you're already a geek on a bike and people are already looking at you funny.

Spare tyres + Lycra = :shock:

richardast

Humvees for me too.
Shorts or 3/4s.
Loads of pockets means your keys, phone, wallet, tissues, etc can be reached without having to dig through your rucksack.

nwallace

Padded undershorts and Addidas trackies with bike clips to save tucking into socks.

pete236

Padded lycra underneath with over the knee baggies on top. Unless you turn upside down (back flip off the speed bump?) no one will know any different!

Gambatte

I've been using the 3/4 humvees. I've several pairs of padded lycra shorts for underneath.

Looking round for some plain lightweight shorts for over the top in summer. Cant seem to find any that don't have the built in inner shorts and I don't want to have 3 layers!

dirk_van_gently

Love these, just put a pair of loose baggy shorts over the top.

http://wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360030443&N=dhb%20Earnley%203/4%20Bib%20Tights

andylaw79

Go for some DHB Halnaker Baggy Shorts from Wiggle pretty cheap and they have a decent lycra short insert that clips to the short and stays pretty stable.

jedster

I'd really recommend lycra bib shorts (DHB are fantastic value for money) with baggies over (the endura ones are good, I have gore ones which are also good and I bet DHB do some cracking ones). You want baggies with no pad or a removable pad given you'll have one in the lycra.

The great benefits are
a) comfort of lycra
b) holds tummy in without creating any bulges

I'll leave it to you to judge which is most important!

Cheers,
J

snooks

I've got a couple of solutions...Like you, my physique is hostile to lycra...so I've got from cold days to hot:

Lycra tights and wear board shorts over the top
OR
a couple of pairs of baggies padded lycra inside baggy on the outside
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... y%20Shorts
But haven't found the zips a very good quality
OR
Padded brief shorts and again wear board shorts over the top
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... d%20Briefs

Board shorts are surf shorts without the inner mesh to keep everything in place. They are knee length and I cot a couple of pairs of branded shorts in the sales for £15 each...nice and baggy and no ugly lycra bulges or budgie smuggling

But if you shop around in some cheap high street store you can usually find cheap board shorts all year round

Belv

Tracksuit bottoms year round are perfectly suitable.

Gambatte

Belv wrote:

Tracksuit bottoms year round are perfectly suitable.

For some....

carlessbrit

I am using bike shorts liner, choose one that is light weight and thin but with decent chamois, then wear whatever lightweight shorts you want over the top. I believe those 2 layers are likely gonna be cooler than the one heavier weight lycra style road bike shorts that is the alternative in terms of comfort and breathability.

check out this bike clothing company, their shorts liner is good price and well made and good fit.
http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/product-d ... UL-SHO.htm
Ground Effect

robmanic1

Endura singletracks are my choice when not lycra'd. They're a little less "flappy" than the Humvee's and are actually water repellent too.

Jamey

I think that has to be officially one of the latest genuine forum replies I've ever seen.

prawny

If your commute isn't too long and you live near a decathlon the rock rider shorts are ok if you're on a budget, the liners button out so you can wash them and wear a different liner underneath without washing the whole shebang every month

Jamey

Hello? Am I the only person that bothers to look at dates? :roll:

robmanic1

Jamey wrote:

Hello? Am I the only person that bothers to look at dates? :roll:

We have to allow for satellite delay oop north! :oops:

Gambatte

Hmmm... the last reply before today was from me...'Up North'

It has been a long time. That post was before my 3rd lad came along. He's now walking!

robmanic1

Perhaps the post has been re-listed due to the fact that we went from spring straight through to autumn last year, thereby missing summer altogether. Poor old Sam probably never had the chance to wear shorts after all.

Gambatte

ahh, but we did have summer.. although probably (like me) he was working that day

Jay dubbleU

Altura Altitude shorts - going for around sixteen quid of ebay - Ron Hill tracksters underneath when its cold - very elegant 8)

Jamey

And still they come.

pst88

I really don't like the cut of the Endura Coolmax briefs. The crotch to waist band distance is way too high! If you pull them up the waist band is almost up to your chest! I also have some of the DHB Earnley padded undershorts which I prefer but still aren't perfect. The sizing of them is a little odd, medium is 35 inch waist (too big around the waist for me but wearable) and small is 31 inch (way too small!). Still yet to find the perfect undershort for a reasonable price, maybe I should just MTFU and wear head to toe lycra.