Baggies or lycra??

[buffybike]

I'm new to mountain biking...for XC riding do you typically wear baggy shorts with a chamois or lycra? I've got plenty of lycra from riding road...is one more comfortable/utalitarian than the other?

[limewave]

I find lycra more comfortable than baggy. The one pair of baggy shorts I tried pulled on my legs when I pedaled, I found it irritating.

[crazycanuck]

Wear whatever you wish!

Many moons ago when we started mtn biking, we wore Ground Effect baggies. I slowly realized I looked like a mushroom/marshmallow in them & gradually moved to lycra. (I would like to try baggies again..)

Most downhillers wear baggies..XC folks perhaps yes, perhaps no..Just depends on where ye are....

[pumpkinpony]

I have both, but I tend towards Lycra. Had one too many times where the baggies caught on the nose of the seat (after standing on the pedals for a climb or whatever) and nearly caused me to crash.

[chickabonita]

I like my baggies because they have a couple of pockets, but lycra is more comfortable.

[Voodoo Sally]

Lycra. Baggies catch on your seat and your skin, and for me, aren't flattering.

[Becky]

I've worn both, but I tend to wear baggies. My baggy shorts are close fitting, but not skin-tight, and I wear them over lycra or liners.

Seems to be about a 50/50 split around here.

[Aggie_Ama]

Mostly lycra in Austin, don't know if it is because I hang around the XC races but definitely baggies are the minority. I could never find baggies that fit my big thighs, wide hips and relatively short frame so I gave up. It is always lycra for me, very comfortable and I don't have to worry about anything catching.

[sundial]

I wear Lycra and capris at that.

If you like the thought of baggies but want something that is more fitted, take a look at this short. Dirtrag did a review of the men's version, the Betasso short, and said the legs were form fitting and would not snag on the bike seat.

[bcipam]

I wear both, depending on the ride and terrain. If going for longer rides, where I might be encountering thistles and heavy brush, I definitely wear a baggy shell. Also, the one time you have to stop and fix a flat on the trail you will wish for the baggy shell. All kinds or things can get caught in the lycra of a roadie short.

I no longer wear shorts where the lining/chamois is attached. Those liners just never seem to fit right and the chamois is all over the place. I cut all those out and now wearing a good cycling (roadie) short under the baggy shell. Just fits better and feels nicer.

[katherine]

Baggies. Though there's a good amount of lycra around here I like baggies better, also I feel more comfortable at the brewery after my ride in baggies, no lycra at the brewery.

[Hound Dog]

I have both as well. I perfer just lycra but when it is on the cooler side I'll wear my baggies over my lycra. Like BCIPam, I cut the chamois liner out too.... they always feel like I am wearing a diaper.

[HermitGirl]

I've ridden in it all, including *accidentally* wooden clogs (when i forgot my trail shoes once). Was a lycra rider, mostly, when I was riding with a serious attidude. However, I am just now getting back into the riding, mostly trail, some road, just backcountry from my own home, and today I went in jeans, Tshirt, and hiking shoes -- just like the forefathers and foremothers did back in the 70's & 80's. ;-)

[BellaMTB]

Lycra seems to be the most comfortable and practical (I'm also worried about catching baggy shorts on my seat), though it seems baggies are more "fashionable" for mountain biking these days. Wear whatever works for you!

XC rider

(p.s., Just don't do what I did and roll down your lycras for a quick stop behind the bushes without looking, and end up with a load of burrs inside your pants -- OUCH! I swear there are still some lurking there to this day.)

[nerdgirl]

Have always worn baggies. Don't wear lycra because of the way I ride (I'm more of a trail rider than XC I suppose). Baggies give me better skin protection. Also, lycra looks ridiculous with body armor. I can imagine crashing from a drop or small jump while wearing lycra would just take my skin off or give me a worse bruise!

But I suppose if you're doing just XC, or racing XC, the risk of crashing is more minimal, so lycra might be fine for you.