Long shorts or short shorts?

[fatbottomedgurl]

Do you gals recommend any particular length? The long shorts boast muscle support. Is this true/necessary? I am not a skinny mini (see my moniker?) and am considering either 10" or 8" inseam. Also I am 5'2" and have short legs, the 10" will almost reach my knees. I feel like if I go with short shorts I'll be flabbing out all over. I love my capris... but warm weather is inevitable.

[Grog]

I personally prefer longer shorts, and I do find that my favorite shorts have some support in the material (they call it compression I think, and it's supposed to reduce muscle fatigue). The main problem is not warmth, but tan lines. :S I'd try a couple pairs at the local bike store and see how they feel...

[tattiefritter]

I prefer to wear longer shorts as well as my thighs just eat short shorts for fun on a bike. It ends up being really uncomfortable as they ride up whereas longer shorts stay put. I've worn short shorts for spinning as its the only time I get too warm, I had to use BodyGlide as they chafed badly when they rode up. I have the same problem with baggies as a lot of companies seem to think all women want really short shorts, not me. I will be looking into buying some longer baggies for my biking holiday this year.

My thighs are fairly muscular (the shorts don't stand a chance) and I don't blob out of them too much, don't care if I do either, a friend of mine is larger than me and wears short shorts and she flabs out a bit but doesn't give two hoots as she likes them - they still ride up her legs but it doesn't seem to bother her, it would drive me nuts and would chafe like hell on a longer ride. Buy what feels most comfortable, if possible try them on a bike to see how they feel - a bit of furious pedalling always moves short shorts for me.

[doc]

I think the "compression" and "muscle support" is a bunch of hooey. Since when do the strongest muscle in your whole body need support or actually get support from some thin lycra?
I like all short lengths, but admit the shorter ones do need the occasional tug to stay where they are supposed to be. But at 5'2" I would think 8" would count as long on you.

[Nanci]

I am 5'2" so have short legs with big quads and plenty of fat! I like the longer shorts, 8", and have even considered checking out the Terry Long shorts, if I wasn't afraid of hating the chamois. I _do_ think the compression of the lycra supports the muscles. Or maybe it just contains them and makes them feel good. I don't care about tan lines because A. I'm not a shorts person anyway, (Probably because I hate my legs) so wear pants unless it's in the 90's or I'm by water and B. I think bike tan lines are cool. I'd probably wear kinckers on the bike all year if I thought I wouldn't boil. Doesn't black make your legs look longer/thinner?

But- I have a pair of Trashy Cat shorts that are shorter- maybe 7"? that I love- they're the sunflower ones, so I just wear them and try to forget about the sausage effect!! Whatever, at least my outfit's cute! I probably look exactly like one of the models on the website when I'm wearing it! ;-)

I guess I can appreciate short shorts on cute skinny 20 year olds that have nice flat tummies and Sheryl Crow legs, though. Looks nice on them.

Nanci

[Kimmyt]

Long shorts for me. I had a pair of short ones, mid-thigh, and they cut into all my loose jiggly-bits and made me feel uncomfortable and gave me annoying elastic lines. The longer ones go down to where my legs actually get muscular so no lines from the elastic!

[fatbottomedgurl]

I think I'll stick with the longer shorts, I have baggies that I tug on so I never wear them. Nanci: what is it about the Terry chamois you hate beacause I was thinking about them too?

I wish I had thin thighs/ flat tummy, but I didn't when I was 20 and now I'm over 40...sigh. But my calves are rock-hard already.:)

[caligurl]

wow... ok... i'm the lone dissenter! i prefer short shorts! the shorter the better! my current favorites (performance ultras) have a 5.5 inseam... and i even roll that up! (kinda roll up and over on itself)....

i HATE tanlines.. and for me, personally, there is nothing worse than my shorts tanline being below my "normal" shorts hemline!

the only time i don't roll up my shorts is if i'm riding after dusk/dark or with leg warmers!

oh.. and i'm 5'2"... so short, too! that doesn't help with the shorts length issue!

(that's one of the main reasons i don't wear short sleeved jerseys too often... i HATE the farmer arm tanlines!)

[Nanci]

Well, I don't _know_ that I would hate it, but:

PI 2006 knickers, new "improved" Touring chamois- hate (giant and mushy)

Bera Exte Ondo 3/4- Giant mushy chamois (hate)

Canari Gel Knickers- VERY nice chamois (thin gel covered by cuddly black polarfleece), maternity-style rise!!!!! like up to my boobs!!!, and only four panels. Hate.

Castelli Zen Knickers- not quite as large, not quite as mushy chamois- didn't like chamois, though the rest of the styling was very nice. Sold at a nice discount. Hope the new owner likes them.

Shebeest Knickers from several years ago- caused diaper butt by large chamois and too-stretchy fabric. Never liked, gave away.

Loius Garneau knickers- in the mail. I hope they are ok...

So you can see why I'm reluctant to try new things at the moment.

Why, why, why is it so hard to put a nice, not mushy, not gigantic, without weird seams, chamois in a pair of knickers??? Or anything?

Why, when people put something on their website, and state it is the 2005 3D chamois, do they then send you the 2006 Touring chamois, which I was specifically trying to avoid?

A chamois needs to sit there and not move, not be mushing and wrinkling and bunching and all that. Too soft and billowy and covering your entire asz and halfway down the inner thighs is not a good thing!!! Less is more!! But maybe it sells well. And the manufacturers are all doing the same thing in a slightly different manner.

I just want it to be ergonomic with different heights according to what part it covers sit-bones, edges, sensitive bits), semi-firm, and reasonably-sized, not huge!!

Trashy Cat Satin Shorts where ideal, but they have mysteriously never re-stocked any more of the perfect shorts. :-(

Nanci

[Grog]

I think the "compression" and "muscle support" is a bunch of hooey. Since when do the strongest muscle in your whole body need support or actually get support from some thin lycra?

Well, I personally am also skeptical, but it seems like a claim serious enough for the racing authorities here in BC to have banned tights and knee/leg warmers at races because of the undue advantage some fabric could give to the riders.

That's annoying at the beginning of the season when it's cold. :S

(But I don't race, so I don't care that much.)

[Eden]

I thought I was the only one - I too wear shorter inseam shorts (6"), not because of tan lines - I think of them kind of like a cyclist secret handshake, but mainly because I am short and I don't like knicker length shorts. I however do not like super short shorts (sure at my height 5' even they are hard to find, but I think its PI's Sugar shorts that even I find to be too short)- if my saddle has any contact with the leg elastic of my shorts (or my skin) it drives me bananas so they at least have to be long enough to clear the tip of my saddle if that makes any sense.

[slinkedog]

I can't stand the sausage effect, so I wear longer shorts, tan lines be damned! :)

[Eden]

Well, I personally am also skeptical, but it seems like a claim serious enough for the racing authorities here in BC to have banned tights and knee/leg warmers at races because of the undue advantage some fabric could give to the riders.

That's annoying at the beginning of the season when it's cold. :S

(But I don't race, so I don't care that much.)

That sounds nuts!!! I've worn my tights in most of the early season races here and my knee warmers in the rest. Its been much too chilly to go without. Some of the pro teams make their guys wear knee warmers until the temperature reaches 55 or 60 degrees as they think the cold can cause knee damage!

I do believe that full body skin suits are not allowed in TT's, but that is because it is felt that they give an aerodynamic advantage and TT's are sometimes determined by fractions of seconds.

[bluerider]

Another 5'2 signing in...

I wear 8" as well and feel much more comfy in them. I've worn and loved the Sugoi Evolutions and am currently rotating two pairs of PI Microsensors. I have a pair of 6" but I prefer to be more covered up when riding outside. I think the 10" may be a bit long. My 8" currently leave about 2-3 inches of coverage so imagine the 10" would reach your knees.

I'm not sure I buy the muscle support bit. As long as your shorts do a good job of wicking and you pick the length you feel most comfy with, then go for it!

[Blueberry]

Shebeest Knickers from several years ago- caused diaper butt by large chamois and too-stretchy fabric. Never liked, gave away.
Nanci

I was the *very lucky* recipient of these, and I love them:D :D :D

They're the pair I'll do laundry to have ready to ride the next day (and that's saying a lot, because laundry most assuredly cuts into biking time) :D :D

I love this Chamois - they've changed it now:( This one was perfect for me - no diaper butt, and I love the soft fabric. Just goes to show we're all different:o :o

Thanks again Nanci!!

[Dianyla]

I like short shorts. I'm a smidge under 5'4" and my femurs are somewhat long compared to my lower legs. I feel like long shorts just look... weird on me. I'd rather wear knickers and get the benefit of knee warmth if I'm going to go longer. I do get a bit of "sausage thigh" with shorter shorts but it's the lesser of evils, so... :o

A 5-6" inseam is just about perfect since it's short enough to look good but long enough that my thighs don't chafe against eachother or the saddle. My favorite pair of shorts so far is the Sugoi Evolution Shorty (http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=17587) shorts. They are the perfect length, the waistline has a flattering dip in front that prevents cutting into my digestion, and the fabric is really nice. :)

Nanci, you might want to look at the normal length Sugoi Evolution (http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=17586) shorts. The Ricaro chamois is thick but firm, not mushy at all.

[Nanci]

Maybe...They all _look_ good, but when you get it out of the package in real life it's like 12 inches across.

I'd sure like to know what the $179 LG Airstreamor whatever it is that V has is like, though...

Nanci

[DirtDiva]

I have the same problem with baggies as a lot of companies seem to think all women want really short shorts, not me. I will be looking into buying some longer baggies for my biking holiday this year.
I saw some Scott ones in Evans that looked longer (maybe they were these ones (http://www.scottusa.com/product.php?UID=7785)..?), but they cost more than I had to spend (I think they were sixty/sixty-five quid), so I didn't look too closely, let alone try them on. I did try on some longer-ish Altura ones, but they didn't fit right - the liners were too big for the outers. I've tried on a lot of pairs of baggies where the liners don't seem to be made for the same person as the outers. What's up with that? there's some pretty basic physics involved in something that's going to fit inside something else needing to be the smaller of the two objects. :rolleyes: I did eventually get some Oakleys for 40% off though. :D (They're shorter than I would have ideally liked, but they're not too bad on a pipsqueak like me.)

[bcipam]

For a long time I bought men's shorts cause they were longer - women's short tended to be very short (I'm 5'8" and have long thighs) for me. I have been buying Terry's long T-Short. Love them. The length is good if you are tall. Note its a fairly padded short but the padding "adhusts" after a ride. I still wear my short-shorts in spin class or in the summer when working on a tan - hate for all that white to start just above the knee!!!!

[im4smiley]

I like the short, shorts. I am short 5' even. I like the pearl izumi sugar short, 5" inseam, they are my favorites right now. I have a longer pair, cannondale, I don't like as much, not only are they longer but the waist seems to come up to my boobs!! I also have a shorter Desente pair but there is not much support. I need to buy more, I hate to have to do laundry all the time!

[Susan Otcenas]

I'd sure like to know what the $179 LG Airstreamor whatever it is that V has is like, though...

Nanci

Nanci, Veronica has these and is pretty happy with them. She's posted here about them before. (Veronica, didn't you do your recent double century in these?)

I have a pair too. I like to test ride as many of our shorts as possible, especially the more expensive ones so I can "compare and contrast". I've worn them several times and been extremely comfortable in them, even on longer rides. Haven't had a chance to wear them in really hot weather yet, and I think that's where they'll really excel. They have vents punched though them and I suspect they will get good airflow over the chamois on hot days. Should keep the chamois drier. On a completely aesthetic note, I love the lines - very flattering on me.

To keep this thread on track, though... My preference is about 7" inseam. At 5'4" , an 8" inseam is just a little too long. And 6" doesn't usually hit me in the right spot - I'm not a small girl (25" thighs) and I confess to being rather critical of them!

Susan

[Waverly]

I am 5'8 and don't like long or short shorts :) I KNOW that isn't much help! I like them to hit about mid thigh while I am in riding position. When I first started riding I liked Pearl Izumi but the pair I had wore out very quickly, and I don't dry them. Now I am very fond of Sheebeast. I can’t remember the exact style but I really like the chamois. I believe they are a 6" inseam. I do pull on them some but only when I am feeling insecure about my legs looking fat. I have to admit to tan line vanity as well!

Jessica

[KTeach]

I hate the way my thigh fat bulges out of shorter shorts! No matter how fit or thin I get I have flabby thighs! I'm only 5'2" and I LOVE Terry TShorts in the long length. I never had a problem with the chamois and wore them for more than one century ride. They reach just above my knee so tan lines aren't a problem and my thighs look great!

[fatbottomedgurl]

Maybe I need long ones for those I-feel-yucky-about-my-thighs days. (Okay I confess I just pulled out a tape measure...oh no not again.) And some shorties for when it is SoCal HOT and need to work on my shorts tan. However I am with Nanci and find myself not wearing shorts too often. But tan fat looks better than white.

[Lise]

This thread is so helpful! I purchased my shorts in near-complete ignorance, but this summer want to do some more informed shopping. My shorts are as follows:

1. The Canari ones I bought at Sportmart at least three years ago. They're getting kind of worn out and baggy. Inseam: 6"

2. The Sugoi Evolution ones I bought when TE had a special offer that you could get free arm warmers with them. They're my "long ride" shorts, d/t big chamois. As I say, I bought them because they looked like "real" bike shorts, and they came with arm warmers (which I believe I've worn exactly...once!) Inseam: 6"

3. My Zoot tri shorts, with a much thinner chamois so you aren't running with a wet diaper-like pad in a triathlon. Inseam: 6"

I really have no idea what I like vs. don't like. I wear so much sunscreen that, while I do tan, it's not that noticeable. I seldom wear anything that's as short as my bike shorts, anyways. I'm 5'8", with kind of long femurs, so I wear things that would be too long on a shorter woman. I may try a 7" inseam on a pair of shorts this summer, just to have the elastic hit a little below the blobby parts!

I'm going to use this thread to go look at various shorts on the web. Thanks for your help. I really didn't know what to look for or where to start.

[fatbottomedgurl]

My blobby parts stop at my knees. Familiar with the term "cupid knees"?:p

[Cari]

I'm a chubby 5'4" and prefer long shorts.

* 2005 PI Ultrasensors (8.5") are currently my shorts of choice for long rides, but they need to be replaced soon. When my knee is flexed they leave about 5 inches of skin exposed above my kneecap, but at least it my thighs look ok.

* I like a pair of Cannondale Domestique shorts that I got on sale from REI last year. For some reason they make my legs look great. :D They're about the same length as the Ultransensors (maybe longer) but the leg opening is pretty roomy and the leg gripper is fabric, not silicone or bare elastic. But I don't think the chamois is appropriate for very long rides.

Come to think of it, one of my main problems with shorts is with the leg opening being too tight. I found some LG Ergo Sensors on sale here with a chamois that was surprisingly similar to the one on my PI's. But I'll have to return them because even though I bought a size larger than I normally wear, they're a bit short and the elastic at the leg is way too tight. *sigh*

I prefer knickers because those 5 or so inches of exposed skin above my knee feel like sizzling bacon when I'm out riding for 4 hours in the hot sun. My dad had some small skin lesions on his forehead from years of playing tennis and going to the beach, so I don't want to take any chances with the sun. And of course, knickers make my legs look way better than any short can. :D It's obviously pretty hot most of the time here in Puerto Rico, but as long as most of my lower leg is exposed, I'm ok. Unfortunately, I still haven't found knickers that will feel comfortable after several hours on the saddle.

* Shebeest's Pedal Pushers were great, but I had issues with the chamois.

* Shebeest Shindiggers have a great design, but the chamois isn't for long rides. They've already survived a couple of falls, so I know the fabric is durable.

* I ordered PI's new Sugar Knicker from TE, but the rise is so short (4" from the front edge of the chamois to the edge of the waistband) that I feel like I need a bikini wax just so I can wear them in public! The chamois looked like it could do the job, though, but since I'm not sure I want to keep them, I haven't taken them for a ride.

* Got a deal on some Castelli Zen 2 knickers and they fit well, but the chamois was a lot thinner than I expected, and the fabric looks a bit delicate.

So if any of you gals have some suggestions for nicely padded knickers, bibs, or long-ish shorts with ample leg openings (and with enough of a rise to cover my navel), please let me know.

Oh, and sorry for the long post. I take my shorts seriously. :o

~ Cari

[Dianyla]

* I ordered PI's new Sugar Knicker from TE, but the rise is so short (4" from the front edge of the chamois to the edge of the waistband) that I feel like I need a bikini wax just so I can wear them in public!
I just tried these on and bought some at my LBS. I felt rather unsure about the very low rise in front, but then I decided to try cinching the drawstring a little bit. I've never ever used the drawstring on shorts or tights in the past. In fact I always wondered why they even have drawstrings! Anyway, with a lightly tightened drawstring the Sugar knickers are better. They are still awfully low rise when standing up straight (and me, with a potbelly!) but cinched, with a longer jersey and bent over on a bike they're great. I have a very sensitive stomach and I frequently get digestive complaints if something is too tight on my waist.

[caligurl]

if the chamois on the sugar knickers is the same as the chamois on the sugar shorts.. i HATE that chamois! IMHO... i might as well not even wear a chamois it's THAT thin! (for comparison..... i LOVE the chamois in performance ultra shorts)

[fatbottomedgurl]

I guess everyone is different. I have the sugar knickers and the rise hits me an inch below my naval. I think the chamois is on the huge size but its comfortable. Heh - diaper butt - heh heh.

Anyone wear the InSport Stamina Cycle Short? I love the red panel down the side -- slimming. Is it a mid rise short? Th chamois looks very interesting with special WSD cutouts for the naughty bits...

[Nanci]

It's the new "Touring Chamois" (I was hoping to get a pair of 2005's with the 3D Race chamois but can't locate them) which is some powder blue XL soft dealy. Not my thing.

Nanci

[Dianyla]

Yeah, the Sugar Knickers I just bought are the 2006 ones with the beefy chamois.


Somehow the term "beefy chamois" sounds so wrong, but I'm leaving it. :p

[Nanci]

You know before "real" chamois were invented, riders in Tour de France used to sit on raw beef steaks, right?

I wouldn't call that beefy, I'd call it foamy but soft.

Nanci

[Dianyla]

You know before "real" chamois were invented, riders in Tour de France used to sit on raw beef steaks, right?
That's hysterical! :D

"No thanks, I brought my own beef curtains."

[Nanci]

"Before shorts had chamois inserts, the early riders of the Tour de France improvised. Legend has it that they would buy a cheap cut of steak from a local butcher in the morning. Ready for the off, they'd stick the slab of beef down their shorts and sit on it like a cushion. They'd ride like that all day -- tenderising the meat with their motion, marinading it in their sweat -- then hand it to the hotel chef in the evening with the instruction that it needed only a minute on each side."

[CorsairMac]

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll alrighty then! I'm a-thinking that may qualify as TMI! ROFL


as for shorts: I wear longer shorts in the winter coz I Hate that gap between my leg warmers and the bottom of my shorts. I wear short shorts in the summer coz I'm short and short shorts seems to hit me right about wear long shorts hit taller ppl!

As for shorts: I have the Performance Century Shorts and the Century Gel Short Shorts and love them both.

[Nanci]

Please describe the chamois in the Performance Gels in great detail!

Thanks,

Nanci

[Blueberry]

As for shorts: I have the Performance Century Shorts and the Century Gel Short Shorts and love them both.

I have the Century Gel Shorts (regular length) and loved them last year - Tried the this year and had a very odd thing happen - I got back from a 20 mile ride and had striped bruises :eek: :eek: near where the back sides of the chamois would hit. Hubby's theory was stitching from the shorts. Odd, I know. I'll get up the nerve to try them again, as I love the fabric and the chamois loves my rear end, but I don't want stripes *there* again...

[Blueberry]

Please describe the chamois in the Performance Gels in great detail!

I posted my last reply before I saw yours (gotta love simultaneous typing). Mine is brown and "furry." Seriously, it's fuzzy. The edges have no gel, and then the gel is, oh, about 1/4" thick with little dimples where there is no gel. Make sense? (probably not...)

I can't figure out how to copy the pic from Performance's website, but if you search for gel short, and go to the 2nd picture, it's there....

It's odd, but it works for me on shortish rides... (not that you do many of those:))

[CorsairMac]

Please describe the chamois in the Performance Gels in great detail!

Thanks,

Nanci

oh dear - ummm....let me see:

Both types are 8-panel, 6-8 mil shorts so they're heavier and very comfy.

The regular chamois is thinner than most shorts and a tad more "fitted" if that makes sense ie: they don't stick out the back or feel like a maxi pad. It has several pads along the chamois and crucial "sit" points including 2 flared pads right about where sit bones would be. The side panels are a very soft chamois that doesn't create friction where the leg meets crotch. I wear these shorts from the day I need leg warmers until the day I don't anymore. I've also layered Multiple things over the shorts and have never had any problems with saddle sores and friction burns.

The Gel Shorts are a gel pad with vent holes in them. It felt strange the first time I put them on just coz it was gel - but let me tell ya, I rode a century in them with no break-in period and no issues. I would've bought the longer shorts in gel also but they were out, and I was curious what the difference was between gel/not-gel.

as a "end"note: I don't use chamois cremes or anything thing else and I've never had a problem with saddle sores or friction burns wearing either of these shorts.

Hope this helps!