Cycling Shorts, love em or hate em?

I am very new to the cyling world and I have to say that I never imagined I would love being on a bicycle as much as I do. I started riding with my father about 5 months ago and recently purchased my first road bike. :p

As a new rider, you all know the expense that is associated with making sure the helmet matches, the jersey is pretty and let's talk about those shorts.

I purchaed my first medium length shorts and as a wide-hipped Hispanic, it seemed that the short was not flattering at all. But, being a new cyclist, I figured it went with the territory. :confused:

After my first tan line, I thought I would purchase a shorter short thinking it would look more attractive, but I was wrong. As a matter of fact, I was discouraged by the sales lady at the local bike shop to make the purchase, and stick with the longer length instead. She said it would help my legs look leaner and slimmer vs. the shorter short. She mentioned a little bag (or big bag) that bulges in my inner tighs from using a short short.

Does anyone have a personal opinion about cycling shorts? Do you think they should be more flattering? Perhaps help us tuck in our tummy, lift our butts, and avoid that bulging in between our legs? How about that elastic? I feel as though it cuts off my circulation. Something else, if I'm a medium size for everything else, why is it that I have to wear a large to get my hips in one of these cycling shorts?

I look forward to hearing your responses as I know I'm not the only one experiencing all this alone.

Bianchi Girl :)

Another Mexican gal here (well, mexican/czech hybrid, hence my user name).

I think I look extremely ridiculous in my mid-thigh length PI's but I've gotten past it. Yes I have a fat bulge where the short ends, but I really don't care about it now. I think that is something that just comes with time....like my being oblivious to walking into a convenience store in full cycling gear to buy water & have the clerk ask me "What do you do in clothes like that??" (said in a truly curious manner)

I like my cycling shorts and no other cyclist has complained that I'm an eyesore:D

That being said, my family of non-cyclists think I look better in the cycling skort (bought my first last month) and told me I should stick to those from now on. I told them if they'd like to contribute to the purchase of cycling skorts, I will gladly buy more:cool:

I, too, have muscular thighs and look totally foolish in cycling shorts, especially the ones with leg grippers made to fit 6 year old children! I do, however, suck it up and wear them on rides over about 15 miles. My husband looks as dorky as I do in spandex, so that makes me feel better!

I have tried several brands and my all time favorite ones are a pair of Trek's purchased at a yard sale for $3!!! The chamois is smaller (no diaper feeling), and the leg grippers are for normal people and do not make me look like a stuffed sausage. And they still had the tags on them when I bought them!

It has been trial and error for me. The Cannondale's I bought were size XL (EEK!!!!), the PI's were large, and the Trek's are mediums. Just like regular women's clothing, check the sizing charts! Not sure if us women with muscular (if not slightly mis-proportioned) lower bodies will ever look hot in cycling shorts.......

Given that they're a practical necessity, I've tried to get past how I look in them. That said, I prefer shorts with a longer inseam (8 inches seems to be my ideal). I don't worry about the tan line. For one, it's a badge of honor and, for another, I don't wear much (at least in public) that doesn't hide it.
Plus, I've found that some shorts make my butt look bigger than others. I've become a huge fan (thanks to Susan at TE's suggestion) of the Sugoi RS short because the material provides quite a bit of compression and the chamois stops short of padding my entire booty. I have also found that you kind of get what you pay for when it comes to shorts. The higher end models not only have better chamois pads, but the material itself seems to "lock and load" a bit better.

I love them because they're comfortable. I look awful in them, though, if the definition of awful is that they accentuate my every fat deposit and my short legs.

I have gotten over it, though. I am now more proud of what my fat body can do on the bike than I am ashamed of how that body looks in cycling clothes!

Also, it doesn't hurt that I grew up riding horses, and during clinics and so forth we would all go out to lunch wearing our skin tight breeches with tall leather boots, including spurs sometimes. I got a lot more strange comments (and sound effects, neighing and so forth) from men in those than I ever have in my cycling shorts! ;)

Hi Ladies,

Thank you for your wonderful and honest replies. I registered as a new user earlier today, so I'm still getting the hang on how to use the discussion forum.

I realize we all love the sport enough to get over how we look in our cycling shorts. I do recognize that higher end shorts, tend to look and feel better. But as the $3 trek purchase lady said, you never know what will work until you try them.

If I come up with a better solution to our cycling fashion, I will keep you posted. Thank you for staying involved.

Have a wonderful day--Bianchi Girl :)

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Originally Posted by Bianchi Girl

Do you think they should be more flattering? Perhaps help us tuck in our tummy, lift our butts, and avoid that bulging in between our legs?

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The bike shorts don't directly take care of this, but by helping you spend more time in the saddle, they'll help indirectly. The more you cycle, the less flab you'll have. The effect on the booty can be quite impressive, rather quickly, as long as you keep the miles coming!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bianchi Girl

If I come up with a better solution to our cycling fashion, I will keep you posted. Thank you for staying involved.

Have a wonderful day--Bianchi Girl :)

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I really dislike bike shorts in general and I can't figure out why they make the leg elastics as though our thighs were wrist size...what is UP with that?!?! :mad: I'm secretly convinced they make the leg elastics using the same circumference as men's without even thinking about it. :mad: They're not elastics....they're TOURNIQUETS!!!! :mad: :mad: No wonder some people have trouble with their feet going numb! :cool:

I love to wear biking knickers instead- like bike shorts with chamois but they extend to just below the knee. They look GREAT as compared to the hideous sausage effect. However, when it is over 85 degrees F they do get too hot and I switch to my bike shorts. After comparing 4 diff expensive shorts from TE, i bought the SheBeest Ultra-D largely because the leg elastics were not as tight. They look and feel pretty good so those are the shorts I use on hot days. Plus, the chamois pad is made for long distance and is very comfy and doesn't stick out all weird like diapers. You might want to check them out. I know there are other shorts that actually have no leg elastic at all- maybe someone else can recommend those?
Look into all the shorts and knickers they sell here on TE- go to the "Click to shop" link at the top of this page....plus the women on the phone at TE can help you a lot too. They know their shorts and knickers. :p

I never wear my bike shorts without a wrapper or I wear a skort. I have found lots of pretty unlined tennis skirts also I wear over shorts. Just another option.

Well, I have the skinest legs (like bird legs) and I don't like bike shorts either. The elastic gripper is not what I want against my skin. That's why I opted for shorts without leg gripper. The only downside is that they're usually pretty short, so I save them when riding alone.

Like Lisa S.H. suggested, biking knickers are another option, and they're very comfortable. I love Shebeest Shindigger and bought 2 pairs. Super comfy to wear.

As a 60 year old woman who's been back on the bike about 3 years I have to agree that bike shorts are not the greatest look for me. I use to always carry a wrap or over shorts to slip on when I got off the bike to go into a coffee shop or someplace. I still do that if I know that my destination is somewhere a bit up scale, but for the most part after a 20 -100 mile ride I just am either having too much fun or too tired to care much what other people think about my attire. I have yet to be refused service because I'm dressed funny.

bib shorts with med-to-long inseam.

You can breathe, your leg muscles are supported and compressed, and i think they are more flattering minus the tan lines. But who am i kidding, you should see my glove lines!! I have large inner thighs from a lifetime of horseback riding plus the tendency to carry extra weight in my hips and thighs. You'd never catch me in a pair of tri shorts. A lot of women's shorts don't fit me right anyway--too high in the rise and baggy in the butt and crotch area. Men's bibs all the way. :D

Boure knickers don't have elastic at the end of the leg.

Sugoi RS- for $125.00 they'd better be good! I can't imagine what is so special about them? If I could try them on and ride for 30 miles I might buy them, I'm still searching for the perfect short...

Hooray for Boure knickers. I will never wear shorts and will always wear knickers, hot or cold, rain or shine. They are much more comfortable than shorts for me, as I have plump legs. Also, they're probably not all that much hotter than shorts in hot weather, as there's only a few more inches of material.

The Terry Bellas are high compression, have a flat waist and the grippers are not so grippy. These shorts do hold you in more than the regular Terry T shorts. I tend to like 7 or 8 inch shorts, but on my short body, they are a bit long. When i wear regular shorts or a short skirt, my tan lines are obvious, but I don't care, I am proud of them! Although I am pretty thin, my upper thighs are not rock solid. The shorts with a lot of lycra do a much better job of keeping a smooth look.
I also have a pair of the Shebeest triple Ds. They are a bit shorter but still flattering. However, I have had problems with the chamois every once in awhile. I had to wash them 3-4 times when they were new so they would stop giving me saddle sores. Now, it seems like every few times I wear them, the chamois is rubbing in the crease of my legs, like its all of a sudden become too wide.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.

I really dislike bike shorts in general and I can't figure out why they make the leg elastics as though our thighs were wrist size...what is UP with that?!?! :mad: I'm secretly convinced they make the leg elastics using the same circumference as men's without even thinking about it. :mad: They're not elastics....they're TOURNIQUETS!!!! :mad: :mad: :p

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Lisa,

You might want to give Pearl Izumi Breakaway shorts a try. I just returned some I got half-price at Nashbar because the leg elastic was really loose on me! I do NOT, I repeat, do NOT, have skinny thighs for my size either - I'm short and slender, and my thighs are definitely medium-sized for my frame, not skinny. I would highly recommend these shorts for anyone who haves ample thighs for their hip size as the fabric was nice, chamois seemed very good, my only complaint was the leg grippers being too loose. The sizing runs true to size, as far as I could tell.

Emily

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Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

Lisa,

You might want to give Pearl Izumi Breakaway shorts a try... I would highly recommend these shorts for anyone who haves ample thighs for their hip size...

Emily

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As if I needed proof that my thighs are ample :D . I have two pairs of these shorts and the grippers are not loose on me at all, but they are not too tight either -- they're comfortably snug (I don't really notice them much but my shorts stay down). I'm 5'6", 125, with ahem, ample thighs :D . (In all seriousness, my thighs are big for my size. I often have trouble with the cut of women's dress pants b/c of them).

I would second these shorts though. Performance & Nashbar have been routinely selling these at half off, and they're a great deal at around $50 for a $100 short. One other thing -- this is one chamois I have to wash a few times before I can wear it comfortably. (But then I like it, although I prefer a more flexible chamois like the Terry Bellas have). The cut/seaming is more flattering than a lot of PI shorts too (on me at least).

As to the original question, I guess I'm odd because I like my bike shorts! Partly because they're functional, but I also like the way they look. I look forward to getting suited up because it's a sign that I'm going for a ride, and that always makes me happy. Sometimes I'm not crazy about the way I look in my shorts in pictures, but while I have them on I like to wear them. I feel like I look athletic and my big thighs no longer look out of place or unfeminine. And it's hard for me to dislike them because I associate positive things with them (riding).

I like bike shorts too! I agree with liza that when I wear them, it means I'm cycling, about to cycle, or just cycled, so they have positive vibes for me. :)

And by "ample" thighs, in cyclists that normally means muscle -- not fat! :D I probably should have used the term "muscular" rather than ample. Anyway, no offense intended, and liza is right; the PI Breakaway shorts have been discounted a lot lately, and I found them to be VERY nice except for the thihg gripper fit issue. I think I could go down a size and have them fit much better around the thigh, while still fitting in the hip/waist, but I haven't tried. Nashbar didn't have the next size smaller when I ordered.

Emily

I too, like bike shorts. I wouldn't show them off as a fashion accessory...and I don't exactly look 'hot' in them...BUT, when I have them on, it seems I have a REASON for my big thighs. Yes, I've always had big, muscular thighs...but now, I have an excuse....I'm a cyclist!

It's weird...but I now get compliments on my legs when I am wearing bike shorts. I guess people figure that I worked hard for these huge thighs?!? Whatever, I'll take it! :p

I like my bike shorts too

They're NOT flattering. My ample thighs are not ample from muscular-ness yet. It's in there, but there's still lots of the other stuff covering the muscles. That's okay -- there's not as much as there was, and the "sausage-look" isn't quite awful, except:

Now the top half of the shorts -- the really important part -- is too big.

So, the other day, I tried on the next size down of my current favorites, and was pleased -- though they were even less flattering, they felt really good, and they weren't nearly as tight as the originals were when I purchased them. I didn't buy the new ones yet, but soon, probably, cuz I'm down to one mostly comfortable pair these days!

Anyhow, one of the things I really like about wearing lycra: it stops the jiggles on the parts of me it covers!

Karen in Boise

OK here's a little twist on this topic. Anyone else where their bike shorts to tod other workouts in the gym? Not just spinning, but elliptical or cardio classes?

I do, but I feel a little dumb. I know I could buy lycra gym shorts, but, without the chamois, with my level of fat...well, I'm afraid they might be a little too revealing in the crotch area... :confused:

Thoughts?

Well I wore my Terry Spinnaker knickers in a swimming pool last year, with a supportive black tank top...why the heck not? They have a very thin chamois pad that adds modesty without bulk. They end at just below the knee. I don't own any bathing suits anyhow. Don't want to shave or fuss. I felt like one of those 1910 bathing beauties. It was fun! :cool:

IMHO: People at the gym who have time to worry about what you're wearing are NOT busy enough exercising.

Of course, that's not to say that I haven't on occasion decided this or that outfit over-accentuated some flaw that I didn't want to go around flaunting at the gym. But still.

Well, first, I need to investigate more types of shorts. I have found my PIs VERY comfortable for the bike, but the chamois is huge. The times I have worn them on the treadmill, etc, I do feel a little bit diapered!

Really, rather than a flaw to cover, I was sort of thinking about reducing the risk of, well, I'll just come out and say it, camel toes! :eek:

Camel toes? I've never heard of them (other than those on a live camel).
What are they?
:confused:

Camel toes=your crotch area has a camel toe bend...


Anywho, if you don't want the "grippy bits" on the shorts you can always try a pair of Ground Effect Mojos on. www.groundeffect.co.nz (go to products & click on women's) They're plain & not meant to be flattering. I'll post a pic of them when i get home.

I've never worn any other brands because of the "grippy bit" on the legs and have grown to love my ground effect items.

C

I wear lycra shorts to the gym for other activities (or yoga pants) but they are chamois-free. I've never had the camel-toe issue, but I always wear underwear with those types of 'bike shorts'.

I've worn my real bike shorts on occasion for weight lifting after a spin class, but I wouldn't make a habit of it. They are comfy on the bike....not so much walking around in a gym. ;)

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Originally Posted by Starfish

Well, first, I need to investigate more types of shorts. I have found my PIs VERY comfortable for the bike, but the chamois is huge. The times I have worn them on the treadmill, etc, I do feel a little bit diapered!

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Starfish,
you might try some of the Shebeest shorts/knickers with the hourglass chamois, like the shindigger:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=25899

or the sprint short:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=25767

I have and like both of these.

The chamois is there, and would provide coverage, but is very thin and flexible. I think the Nirvana short (no leg grippers) and their skort also have this chamois.

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Originally Posted by liza

Starfish,
you might try some of the Shebeest shorts/knickers with the hourglass chamois,

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Yes, that does look great. Thanks!

Yeah, I'm so over how I look in cycling shorts.

Since the meeting point for club rides is 20 miles from my home, I usually drive there and back. At first I was a little uncomfortable getting out of my car to run my post-ride errands, still wearing my cycling clothes. Then I figured I was better off doing that, than getting out of my car all sweaty and stinky, *without* an obvious clue as to how I'd gotten that way :D

i wanted to protect my skin as well as my pride when i decided to buy PI knickers. they were about 55.00 and i just love them. they are very comfy and make me feel a bit less like the fat of my thighs are all over the place. i really like them a lot. shorts are just too much for me. ugh! so, my advice is get a pair of knickers. i can't imagine that shorts are much cooler in warm weather, and for me, it is worth it to save my self respect... good luck!

Ok, this has been driving me nuts for years.

Why are women's cycling shorts so much shorter than men's?

Is it more comfortable? Is it just a stupid fashion thing? Or is it just is what it is, like women's shirts opening to the left and men's opening to the right?


(The apron on a kilt also opens to the right...)

Some people are concerned about the tan lines..... (I've even seen people with short shorts roll them up further). Personally I find if the shorts aren't long enough the bottom edge can rub against my saddle and be quite irritating. I don't like them knee length either, but have no interest in the 4 and 5 inch inseam shorts, tan lines or no.

I admit to not wanting to be caught dead in bike spandex earlier this year and opted for a skort as my first cycling bottoms. I have however come to love my shorts (PI breakaway shorts are my favorite so far)...and the varying tan lines that ensued :)

I know it's more about how we feel in the shorts, but honestly I don't think people look bad in bike shorts no matter what size they are. I think it's more important that you're on the bike and enjoying yourself while doing something good for your body. and ok ok...I guess this is biased since I spend more time oggling other peoples [B]bikes[B] instead of their shorts! :D I definitely get bike envy more than shorts envy.... ;)

And I totally forgot those cute over-skirts that Sheila Moon has.

Too girly for some, I know, but they're surprisingly attractive, and they definitely conceal "thunder thighs." I'm told they don't get in the way at all when you're riding - I wish I'd bought one now.

I absolutely will not appear in spandex bike shorts alone. I posted this somewhere else and people said I would get used to it, and tried to educate me on how spandex actually makes you look and feel good, but I just had to laugh at that. I've been dancing since I was 8 and teaching (since I was 12) ballet, tap and jazz. At 52 I still teach one class a week. I've been wearing spandex, leotards, legwarmers and such for 44 years and I STILL will not go out in public without a coverup. Dancing OR biking, so I don't anticipate that I will ever appear in public in bike shorts. That's why I like the Terry skorts and wraps, and I have several pairs of mountain biking shorts. Maybe it all goes back to my dance teacher's firm rule that no one left the studio in just a leotard. Maybe it's just a personal hangup, but it isn't going to change. Of course, I don't mind what others wear at all, and I don't think people look particularly bad in them, but I think the skorts and wraps look terrific on everyone.

Everyone is different, but it's good that there are plenty of options out there.

so I bought a Sugoi skort, just because it was in stock at the store, none of the regular shorts they had fit me all that well, and my left thigh is extra huge with the bump from my crash a couple of weeks ago :rolleyes:

.... and it was way too cold to wear it this morning and I'm going to be traveling without the bike for a couple of weeks. :( I'm just dying to ride in it!!!!

Rode 53 miles in my SheBeest Ultra D shorts today:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=25749

I know there are some gals who didn't care for these shorts for one reason or another, but I gotta say I just LOVE mine. That chamois is so good for long distance, and the shorts fit so nicely for me, the material is not too thin or wimpy, and no nasty tourniquet too-tight legbands. My butt feels great. :p

Love my Ultra D's. :p