skort question

[archibella]

Hi! Just wanted to ask if anyone has opinions on skorts? Also, do they get caught on the saddle? Sounds silly but I was thinking about that extra fabric floating around and wondered. I feel a little self-conscious wandering around the grocery store in my knickers so I've just about decided to try a skort-- thanks everybody!

[Adventure Girl]

I have several skorts. They are all Terry Pro Race Skorts, so they are a little on the short side (so am I)... I've never had a problem with them getting caught on the saddle. I think that this is because they are a "wrap" type of skirt. I've mountain biked in "baggie" shorts before, and occasionally they would get caught. But because the hem of the skirt on a skort isn't sewn closed, when you get caught, it just pulls loose.

I did NOT make that clear, but in my head it makes sence to me! :confused:

[SadieKate]

I love my Terry's wrapper which is the skirt without the short. I only use it for my errands and tooling around town. I find that the liner short is always huge compared to the supplex skirt. Plus, I can always take off the skirt and tuck it in my bag, jersey or whatever.

Just FYI about the Terry wrapper, the current model runs a tad on the small side.

It also provides some modesty for changing in the parking lot post ride.

[fixedgeargirl]

I have a Terry Pro Racer skort which is on the short side, as am I. I love it!! My experience is the same as Adventure Girl's, baggies do hook on the saddle, the skort doesn't, as it is free to flow over the nose. Yet, it's not so free flowing that the fabric is draping down and getting caught on anything. I know lots of women mtb tour guides who wear them at work and lots of other mtb'ers who wear them regularly. I'm all for bringing some feminine fun to a sweaty,dusty ride!

Now that I live in the city, I like to wear the skort and my cleated sneakers to run errands and tow my son to events on the tag-along. I feel like I'm undercover!

[archibella]

Thanks for all the info! I'm gonna give one of the terry's a try. Wanted to ask about those cleated sneakers though-- My bike had look pedals when I bought it (used) so I got road shoes, but they're a pain to walk on for running errands. Do they make a mountain shoe or something that will work with that cleat/pedal system? I've taken to slipping a pair of cheap flip-flops in my backpack or panniers to slip on when I go to the grocer, but not having to do that would be nice...

[fixedgeargirl]

My sneaks are Lakes (got 'em at TE!) and are only SPD. Being primarily a mtb'er, all my pedals are SPD. You could do a search for touring or "casual" shoes that are Look compatible.

[sarahfixit]

Cannondale makes the most normal looking and nicest walking SPD shoes I know of. Not neccesarily racer specific(but I use them for that too) but they are great all-day shoes. FC-610 is the model.

[battlemaiden]

I've been eye-ing both the Terry and Shebeest skorts. Anyone tried both and have a recommendation?

[emily_in_nc]

I've been eye-ing both the Terry and Shebeest skorts. Anyone tried both and have a recommendation?

I haven't tried both, but I've got two Terry racer skorts with shorts underneath and like them very much. The fabric, cut, and the shorts are nice. Be advised that the chamois in the shorts of the racer skorts is not really thick. I'd use them for rides of 30 miles or less. They're nice for riding in-town to shops or restaurants since you feel more dressed when you go in places. They run true to size; you don't need to order up a size as with some cycling apparal.

Emily

[Kat Rider]

I just found this wrap skirt online, similar to the ones I was looking at in the Terry catalog - but only $9.99 on sale! Sorry I haven't received it yet to let you know how it is, but it looks like it'll do the trick! See link (http://www.eddiebaueroutlet.com/Search/Controller.asp?f=m&Nty=1&N=0&Ntk=Main_Search&Ntt=water+skirt&D=water+skirt&Fs=1&lp=h4&Ne=200442&s=s&Ntx=mode+matchpartialmax&Dx=mode+matchpartialmax&referringurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eeddiebaueroutlet%2Ecom%2F)

Kat

[DeniseGoldberg]

That's a great price, and very cute. But for me, the 14" length on the Eddie Bauer skirt is a bit short. Terry actually changed their skort lengths (on the wrapper, at least) to 16" on the short version and 19" on the tall version. I'd actually like something in between (like 17"!). I always carry my Terry Wrap (the version without the shorts - I can always throw it on top of my shorts if I need it, but I'm more likely to wear it as my after cycling attire) when I travel - it's great to have something lightweight & small that looks nice.

But let us know how the Eddie Bauer wrap skirt works for you.

--- Denise

[Surlygirl]

Mec makes a nice wrapper skirt for biking and they are only 29.00. They come in Navy, black and charcoal. I have a couple pair and love them.
www.mec.ca under the cycling section on page 3.

[Irulan]

Mec makes a nice wrapper skirt for biking and they are only 29.00. They come in Navy, black and charcoal. I have a couple pair and love them.
www.mec.ca under the cycling section on page 3.

hmm, that's only about $22 US....not counting shipping....

[dstrauss]

This is really a shallow question. I'm going on a supported bike trip in Europe. Relatively long days of riding (for me), but sometimes casual restaurants and town tours during the day.

I do wear bike shorts (took me awhile many years ago to go from ordinary shorts to bike shorts) but as I am short and have wide hips, I do not look my best in them.

I don't recall seeing other women on these trips in skorts even though they are not necesarily such strong riders.

So---do they label you as a less serious cyclist? This is an image question, you see.

Best,
Deb

[SadieKate]

Adventure Girl wore a skort all the way up Diablo last week. Ain't nobody going to call her anything but a serious cyclist!

I personally prefer to get a wrap skirt (like the Terry Wrapper) and put it on when I need to be more presentable. The flapping of the skirt drives me nuts on the bike. The Terry wrapper is very light weight supplex so takes up very little room in a bag or pocket. This also means you can wear the wrapper just as a skirt without the bike shorts.

If you do decide on a skort, be sure to try them on. I personally find that the outer skirt is always too small for attached bike short. Once again, the Terry Wrapper lets me get the right fit for both layers and use the short/chamois of my choice.

[Cinzia]

I wore skorts (Terry) while touring Italy last year. I felt a little "dressed up" when we got off the bikes for lunch or shopping in the little towns along the way...and the bike shorts underneath gave me the necessary comfort level needed for long days in the saddle!

[RedCanny]

I recently got the Pearl Izumi Tango skort, and for the most part, I love it. The skirt part -which evidently is detachable- is made of heavy enough fabric that it doesn't flap much as I'm riding. Since it's in two parts (bike short and skirt), though, there's quite a bit of material stacked up, back where the labels are, so I may be removing said labels, soon. Of course that's more of a bother when I'm sitting in a car seat or chair, after the ride. Though the padded bike short underneath is the shortest I own (I have long legs), it's surprisingly comfortable. The padding in the short is sufficient, if just a bit bulky. This skort, with its 2 side zippers, is pretty kicky... it's fun to wear!

The skort is ideal for when I ride somewhere to meet people or do grocery shopping. It's fine for longer rides, too, but I usually go with just shorts for those rides.