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I know these are compression shorts so they are supposed to be tight.... but I see that some women bought a size up.
Just curious - if you bought a size up what is you body type?
My legs - I would say my quads (from just above the knees to the hips, including my glutes) are probably a little big by runners standards. I have a narrow waist and flat stomach though.
I'm leaning towards going with my usual size.
THanks for your input!
I personally don't understand the concept of compression shorts on a bike.
I have a couple of pairs of cycling shorts that are tight on me, but not as tight as a good comfortable fit in compression running shorts. For cycling, it means the chamois doesn't conform to my body, and they chafe. A lot.
I want cycling shorts to fit like a second skin. That's important where my real, and pretty delicate, skin contacts the saddle. :eek:
In shorts, I'm a small to medium in PI, a small to medium in SheBeest, an extra small in Terry (I think anyway, I've never actually tried on their XS but my small pair is so big that I can't wear them), a small to medium in Castelli, and a medium to large in Etxe Ondo. In LG, I'm a perfect wouldn't-change-a-thing (except maybe making them a little shorter) Large.
It sounds like I'm built similar to you. I've got some pretty substantial saddlebags, and pictures of me at foot races look enormous.
I just got my first pair, in a L, and they fit great, very supportive. I'm a M in Shebeest. I'm curvy, small waist with full butt and thighs. I'm 5'5" and 122 lbs. It's the first L I've ever bought in anything, as far as I can remember. They're very flattering and comfortable.
I have these shorts and ordered a size up. They fit well and the chamois is amazing. I am small at the waist and big in thighs. I wear a large short in everything else, and ordering the XL hurt (especially since I have lost 30 pounds over the last year and am only 10-15 pounds over where I want to be), but I am glad I got the XL.
I have two pairs of this model. I like the longer length, the chamois and the waistband. All good! I tend to wear them on longer rides (30 miles+) where the compression factor seems to help with fatigue.
For what it's worth, I'm 5'3", about 115 lbs, 36" hips, 28" waist. I find the Medium to be about as "snug" as I can stand without being uncomfortable.
My other "serious" shorts are Sugoi RS. A little shorter inseam, not quite so much compression, comfortable chamois and comfortable waist. I wear a M in those too.
Hope this helps!
That's wild ... I'm 5'3 and 119#, my hips are about 8" wider than my waist, and I've got big thighs, so not a boyish figure at all. And I wear Large and they fit me perfectly. Any tighter and the chamois would surely chafe.
I have to ask ... so we're comparing compressive fit to compressive fit ... do you own any CW-X compression gear, and if so, what size do you wear in that? By their size charts I'm in the grey area between XS and S. I've never tried on XS, though I could possibly use a bit more compression than the S gives me. But the crotch does *not* conform to my body, and that would be an enormous issue with cycling shorts.
I have some CW-X stuff...2 pairs of their Pro Shorts. I wear them underneath my capri pants at the gym. I like the compression and support they give me...as I tend to need that with my "jiggly" legs. I wear a L in CW-X...however, I don't yet own a pair of LG NEO shorts (they are on my buy list) so I can't offer any comparisons in sizing. FWIW, I'm 5'6" & about 153lbs. When wearing the CW-X gear, I do tend to get that dreaded muffin-top...so I always wear a looser top to try and conceal that as much as possible. I have a lot of loose skin in my waist area, and at 45 years old...it's not goin' anywhere.
Well this weekend I had a chance to hit the LG retail outlet in Newport, VT and got my hands on a pair of these in medium.
They were just a LITTLE too uncomfortable for me to pull the trigger in that size.
I feel like the fatty in this thread though at 5'2, 129lbs :)
Thanks for the input. Now that I've decided on a large, TE seems to be sold out of larges.....d'OH!
Don't! I'm light, but I'm not super skinny. I carry my weight in my butt and thighs, not in my chest. Still, neither of us should be a L, but the shorts are worth waiting for in that size.Quote:
Originally Posted by MtnBikerChk
The other shorts I really like, for the same price, are these: http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSB_2144.html
The logo has started flaking off mine, but other than that, they're really good. They are a little shorter than the LG, and they have a drawstring at the waist. Even though they have leg grippers, they don't do the sausage legs thing, and they have a nice little zipped pocket in the back which is great.
Just an update - I just used these shorts for my 200 miler this weekend and they were great. It was a huge leap of faith for me to use an untested (at that length) chamois on a double century, and they were great.
You might want to check the TE site again, cuz I just looked and it appears the Larges are back in stock...at least in the solid black they are.Quote:
Originally Posted by MtnBikerChk
Not for long. They are selling so fast we're having a little trouble keeping up. They really are dynamite. If you don't see the size/color combo you want in stock, just call in to customer service. We'll place an order for you and it will ship within a few days.Quote:
Originally Posted by MtnBikerChk
FYI, we have 23 pairs on hand in large in black. More red and blue are expected in size large tomorrow or Thursday.
I'm taking a pair to PBP. I turned my friend Lesli on to them and she's got 2 for PBP. They really are a fantastic long distance short. So supportive!Quote:
Originally Posted by maillotpois
Thanks Susan! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Susan Otcenas
ok so I'm big on "closure" so here it is:
I ended up going a size up and getting the larges. when I got them, I realized they are just like a pair of LGs I have (different pattern so it was tough to tell online - I got the older pair at the outlet in a size medium). And if you are a big outlet shopper, you know everything could be off from inconsistent sizes, to colors, to bad stitching etc. So I just didn't know which way to go.
older pair: They are compression and they are tight - but once I get them on and start pedaling they are super comfy.
new ones: In a size up, they just feel like regular lycra shorts - they are still great but I think I should have gone with the mediums.
when they go on sale, I may just snag another pair......don't tell DH ;)
Now I want to try the Med. Mine fit like regular bike shorts. At first they were super tight to put on; now they go right on. But, I am at a low point for weight, as usual in August, so it may just be that.Quote:
Originally Posted by MtnBikerChk
If they were a little shorter I might think about trying a smaller size (though I still can't understand how a short could function compressively and still have the chamois conform without chafing).
But I already get a little upside-down muffin top right above my knees with those shorts. Ask me how much I want a really pronounced upside-down muffin top. :rolleyes:
that is definitely the spot where my OLDER shorts look slightly off. The new ones don't have quite the same cuff and are a little more forgiving.Quote:
Originally Posted by OakLeaf
I just bought a pair of these shorts. I'm looking for something with less padding in the crotch than my old Shebeest Century shorts.
My LBS carries some LG clothing, but not this particular pair of shorts. So I went there last weekend and tried on a different pair that had the same chamois. I usually wear a medium in Shebeest shorts, but they only had the LGs in a large so that's what I tried. They seemed to fit okay, and the fabric was not very compressing. So ordered the large LG Neos from TE, and they arrived yesterday (fast handling and shipping on yet another TE order, yay!!).
I just tried the shorts on and I think they fit well. They feel generally comfortable, just a bit snug on the sides of the crotch when I'm walking around. However when I sat on the bike and started pedaling (backwards, since I'm in my living room), that problem went away.
The waistband is higher than all my Shebeest shorts, which doesn't thrill me. I have a pierced belly button and the shorts press against the ring when I lean forward. Also the top of the waistband is folding down in front as I lean. Hopefully this won't get irritating or painful during long rides.
I actually like the length. Combined with the lack of leg grippers, they make my legs look less lumpy and fat. And I've developed enough brown spots on the tops of my thighs, so covering more skin can't hurt. I also think I might be able to wear these shorts with knee warmers, which I gave up wearing years ago because they looked awful and lumpy with all my old shorts.
I'm doing a long ride tomorrow, but I don't know if I'll be able to test-ride these shorts then. I'll wash them today but I don't know if they'll be dry in time. If not, I'll test ride them next weekend.
BTW, I'm 5'7" and 145 lbs, but unlike Muirenn I"m pretty sure a medium would be too small for me.
I don't know how humid it is where you are right now, but another thing I like about these shorts is that they're the fastest-drying chamois I own.Quote:
Originally Posted by ny biker
Jumping in here, although I am a newbie on the board.
I bought a pair of these a few months ago based on the reviews and wanted to speak to the rolling over waistband issue. I am a shorty, 5'1", and the waistband does fold down a bit, but somehow it isn't uncomfortable and doesn't make any unsightly bulges. I am not super skinny, either, so bulges are possible, for sure.
I really like the fit through the crotch, the chamois never moves, its like an extension of my skin, so no chafing possible.
Okay, 54-mile test ride, almost 4 hours of riding.
The chamois is good. Definitely less crotchal pressure than I had with the Shebeest Century Elite shorts. I still had some problems during a long gradual climb, but overall the LG chamois works better with my saddle than the Shebeest Century chamois. I think the chamois is comfortable enough for my sit bones, though I won't know for sure until I see if they're sore tomorrow.
I didn't find them to be particularly compressing, compared to my Shebeest Century Elite shorts. They were definitely more compressing than my old Shebeest SSS shorts and the two pairs I tried on last week at the LBS (Sugoi RS and Louis Garneau Zone 3k).
(Note that my Century Elite shorts are a few years old, so I don't know how the current ones compare.)
The longer length was okay, though they felt a bit strange. I guess I'll get used to that. However I really did not like the higher waistband. It is seriously higher-than-mom-jeans high. I found it very uncomfortable during the half hour I spent driving to the ride start, so if you're planning to spend time sitting around off the bike in these shorts, such as during a meal break in the middle of a ride, you might not like them.
The waistband was not as uncomfortable while riding, but I was aware of it, whereas the lower waistband on the Shebeest shorts never bothers me. Also it did roll down a bit. I was wearing a loose jersey today, so it wasn't noticeable. On hot days I tend to wear tank tops that are more snug, so you'll be able to see the rolled-down waist band through the jersey.
A September trip to Newport, VT brought me back to the LG outlet - of course.
And then I landed 2 pairs of these shorts (in the team print though) in size M. They really are not too tight - you just have to get used to the idea that they should be that tight. First trip out with them - 58 miles and 3,600feet of climbing later I am so happy I bought these shorts.
I'm so in love with these shorts! Hopefully the 4 pairs I have now will last a few years :)
They're here, they're here!! By popular demand, Louis Garneau added a SHORTER version (7-inch vs. 10-inch) of this HUGELY popular short.
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodLG_1050412.html
Every woman in my office is ready to get a pair. :)
(Coming in Jan or Feb.... the BIB version!)
Susan
Oh awesome!!! They were too long.
Yay! At 5'1", the longer length was way too long for me. I'll definitely give these shorter shorts a try now.
Hmmmm. I'd prefer a little shorter but I don't know about that short. I'll see if I can find them in a LBS to try on.
Without getting out a ruler, I think the 7" version would be similar to my Shebeest shorts, so they'd be okay. But I think I might like the longer ones, since my legs have enough brown spots on them from sun exposure.
However on a hot day I might prefer the shorter version. Worth considering.