shorts that don't come up to your nose

[eudyptula]

(reposted from mountain biking - sorry, 1st time post)

new here. hi all.
i was wondering if anyone had come across women's bike shorts that you don't have to pull up to your chin. I consider myself an "average" height for a woman - 5'4", but it seems that all shorts have to be pulled up ridiculously high in order for the chamois to actually make contact with your delicate parts. I'm talking spandex mostly. It gets worse when they have baggies attached and you end up pulling the whole thing up 5 inches past your belly button and end up with baggies that are now booty shorts with the spandex liners showing for about 3 inches down your theighs. Pair that with a jersey that isn't long enough to cover your belly button and I feel like a real jerk on the trails. Not that I'm saying its all about fashion, but having shorts that are so high and shirts that are riding up just doesn't make for comfortable riding.
My boyfriend can buy any pair of mountian bike shorts off the rack and they all fit perfectly without having to hike them up to his nipples - and he's even on the shorter side. Please tell me there's someone out there that makes lower rise shorts!

[mimitabby]

maybe you have a short torso? I do not have that problem with any of my shorts and i am 5'3 1/2" .
I wear some smalls and some mediums.

[Eden]

The one pair of PI's (Pearl Izumi's that is) that I've ever had was quite low rise- they are actually cut scooped in the front and sit well below my belly button - I kind of found it to be a bit discomforting...

[spazzdog]

Pearl Izumi Sugar shorts (and capris)... love them! sit right at my hip bones in front and a tad higher in back.

Don't know if they still make them.

spazz

[Thorn]

Great question...I'm going to watch this thread for the opposite reason...the shorts that you will hate, I should love (I'm really high waisted). I have some PI Short Attack (2005) that have a lusciously high waist, but, like Eden, I have a different pair of PI, a pair of knickers (2006), that are so low in front that I'm constantly wondering if when I get off the bike whether I'm covered up. If the 2007 model is cut like the 2006 model, you might be happy with them.

Also, consider sending email to the TE support people. They might be able to tell you which shorts are high-waisted and which are short waisted. It could save you in return postage.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think there's some confusion here...
I believe Eudy is talking about mountain biking padded shorts, like these:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/categories.asp?catID=56

Eudy, some of the replies you will get are based on lycra road biking shorts...

[KnottedYet]

I have the opposite problem, in that I have a very hard time finding things high-waisted enough. Not into plumber's butt on the bike.

I found Zoics to be among the worst-fitting shorts I've tried. Perhaps the Zoics on the page Lisa linked would fit properly on someone with a short torso?

As for "pulling up" spandex: don't do it! Put the waistband where you want it, then use your hands to lift the chamois into place and smooth out the spandex knit. If you hoick on spandex knit from the waistband, it will stretch and stretch and stretch...

[Tuckervill]

I agree. I just put the liner where I want it and let the saddle adjust the chamois for me.

I only have 2 pair of shorts, both baggies with liners. They're famous brands but for the life of me I can't remember which. I just wear 'em, not read 'em.

Karen

[violette]

I have PI and Louis Garneau, which are both excellent fitting. LG are the most comfortable fit out of the 2 brands.

[Cari]

If what you're looking for are baggies for mountain biking, I suggest you go with the kind that have a separate liner and short.

My problem with baggies is usually that in order to put the chamois where it should be, I have to hike up the outer short too high. So I like Shebeest Boardrider Capris (they also make Boardrider Shorts and ultra-short Boardshorties) because the liner and the outer capri/short are separate. They're looped together, but you can cut the loop on the outer capri and then hook the loop on the liner short onto buttons which are on the inside of the capri.

On the other hand, if you just want low rise shorts, baggies, or capris, keep checking here for suggestions, or just call Team Estrogen customer service and ask them for that specifically.

The Pearl Izumi Sugar Knickers are a great example -- the rise is way too low for me, but you would probably love it. You might also like the Shebeest Nirvana short, has a super comfy waist that dips down a bit in the front, a thinner pad suitable for spinning and mountain biking, and no elastic at the leg opening.

Happy shopping,

Cari

[horsemom]

I have a pair of Oakley baggies that are lower waisted. I believe they were advertised that way. The padding is not removable, and a little on the 'large' size, but the shorts fit great. I also have a pair of lycra Sheila Moon shorts that are a little lower in the waist and actually have a wide waist band that comes downward in front.

Laura

[teigyr]

I'm thinking y'all are lucky! I'm 5'11" and I am forever hiking stuff up and pulling stuff down in order to not expose my midsection.

I guess we're never happy with what we have!

[eudyptula]

thanks for all the suggestions ladies! i now have a ton of shorts to google!

knot and tuck- you know, for some reason i never thought about just getting the chamois in the right place and letting the spandex sort of just lay over itself instead of pulling them up until they fit right. i went on a ride today and tried your technique with a pair of cannondale singletrack shorts, and oh man, the difference! thank you, thank you, thank you!

-tula