Short shorts?

mk1markfalkirk

Its time for me to finally bite the bullet and order myself proper cycling shorts, I've been using cycle short "liners" under normal shorts for the past 2 years, Fighting off all things Lycra and slowly giving in piece by piece. First the race jerseys and then the arm warmers etc etc...

What are the benefits of regular shorts as opposed to bib shorts and vice versa? this is the first thing I'm stuck with.

Also, happily most of my weekend rides end up at the pub, Whilst the aerodynamic crotch and ass hugging features of Lycra may be ideal for riding, for this I find they are not ideal and can become a little, um, awkward.

Are there any middle of the road, relatively tight cycling shorts out there? somewhere in between road and MTB?

Or should I just mtfu?

thanks in advance, Mark

simon_masterson

Bib shorts are the best option. They hold the pad in place very nicely and there is no need for a thick waist band. They are very comfortable, and I would not want to use 'conventional' cycling shorts.

As for 'somewhere between road and MTB'? I can't really imagine such a thing. You either have form-fit lycra or you have 'baggy'. Jerseys may come in 'relaxed' fit, but I can't see how that would work with shorts. I could well be wrong. But there's an easy solution: wear some baggy shorts on top.

cougie

Bib shorts all the way - or you have a waistband compressing you, or the shorts sagging.

It is November mind you - so I'd only buy shorts if you've unpadded tights to go over the top.

No idea on pub fashion. I prefer to come home and shower and then walk to the pub.

Maybe the MTBers have things a little less lycra-ey ?

rafletcher

A pair of these over lycra bib shorts. (you can get them for aroud £40 on ebay)

http://road.cc/content/review/61917-roh ... der-shorts

Redhog14

Try Endura Hummvee's http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... tedKingdom

In black they ae fairly non descript and the "liner" clicks into the waistband. Even although these are my preffered choice of baggies i now wear them with bib shorts as it saves on the compression around your waist.

mk1markfalkirk

Thanks for the replies folks, Just gonna order a pair of bib shorts and embrace it. The shorts above are way too baggy for me unfortunately but thanks anyway!

hipshot

Yes just do it, you'll wonder what the fuss was about after a few rides.

tiredofwhiners

hipshot wrote:

Yes just do it, you'll wonder what the fuss was about after a few rides.

+ lots

hsiaolc

Winter is coming so get Winter Bibs.
After trying out countless ones I think DHB is quite good value for money and good fit.
If you want the best then go for ASOS bibs.

mk1markfalkirk

The sizing guides for these bib shorts are ridiculous, coming in at 5ft10/11 I should be a size medium. every size medium however comes with a 35" waist! I'm a 31. urgh. just need to order a few pairs and send the ill-fitting ones back

mk1markfalkirk

Just picked up some bib shorts from Decathlon, damn cheap at £20 but look to be very good quality.

Comfortable as hell! I've been so hard done by for the last 2 years, what was I thinking not getting them sooner :shock:

Feels like I'm riding bare arsed in them though, such a strange feeling, what with having no underwear on. Suppose I'l get used to it, maybe.

diy

I would wear undies otherwise your bibs will get a bit unpleasant. For a typical 3 to 4 hour ride I will wear undies, short liners and bibs. On endurance rides (MTB) I have ridden with 3 pairs of padded shorts. Which while a bit bulky meant no chaffing despite beating in the saddle 13 hours.

Jez mon

diy wrote:

I would wear undies otherwise your bibs will get a bit unpleasant. For a typical 3 to 4 hour ride I will wear undies, short liners and bibs. On endurance rides (MTB) I have ridden with 3 pairs of padded shorts. Which while a bit bulky meant no chaffing despite beating in the saddle 13 hours.

Erm, wash the bib shorts?

diy

Of course, yes you need to do that too but you can get cycling specific undies

t4tomo

noooooooooooooooooooooo! underwear under shorts is all wrong. And padded liners are for going under MTB baggies instead of underwear.

The whole point is the chamois pad sits next to the skin to prevent chaffing. If you have a pair of duds on that have a seam in all the wrong places, you effectively get a sweaty piece of ridged cotton between you and the pad. Your lucky that you've only being riding 3-4 hours so you haven't been affected yet.

oh, and apply a bit of chamis cream / sudocream to your bits / the pad before you ride.

DavidJB

Defo dont wear undies....

mk1markfalkirk

Done 100k from London to Cambridge yesterday and the shorts were great, No shuffling about in the saddle trying to get comfortable, no sore ass today, Ideal.

Got a bit weird when we went to the pub for some food on arrival in Cambridge and The realization of what I was wearing really set in :oops: Few beers later and all was fine though!

diy

No worse than your avg motorcyclist dressed either as a power ranger or something from the village people