Bike Shorts--comfy or bunchy and hot

[Michelemarrano]

Gang--can you recommend bike shorts that provide adequate protection from chafing but do not feel like a diaper?

I have a few brands of of bike shorts, pearl izumi, canari, rls,etc.. What might be one woman's comfort is another woman's mega-overnight-post partum kotex?

BTW--I have a 36" waist so my existing bike shorts are from the men's department--as the athletic world assumes that any active woman is age 20 and size zero.

FYI--for rides under 30 miles I just wear cotton fitted bikey-style exercise shorts with no chamois.....Any ideas for next year's MS 150 ride?

[runnergirl]

Terry makes plus size shorts that may work for you (www.terrybicycles.com), but regardless of brand a chamios takes getting used to. They are a bit diaper-ish at first, but after a while you adjust.

[Nanci]

My waist until recently was about 40", and I had no problem fitting into any manufacturer's womens shorts. They stretch. I go by my hip measurement.

I think in order to not have the diaper effect you need shorts that are very form-fitting, so the chamois doesn't bag, and I prefer the kind of chamois that doesn't come way up in back, which looks baggy.

Trashy Cat makes a short, the Satin Short, which Bicycling Magazine named as the best short under $100 in 2005. The shorts are 8 panel, nice elastic, very nicely fitted, with a substantial contoured chamois (pic on the website) which still manages to not be bulky at all. I love them. Don't be intimidated by the models on the site- I weigh 142 pounds (5"2") and fit in the size L with no problems.

Nanci

[JesTutripup]

Ditto Runner..

I'm a Terry supporter at 3x-4x between shorts, skorts, knickers, and padded tights. Since you're smaller in size than I am you have options on the actual chamois. Get sum butta too; you'll find once the fit's fine you'll always have friction. It's just the by-product of the sport.

[HipGnosis6]

I'm a really big girl.... 42" waist, 230 lbs, 6" tall. I haven't bought a lot of shorts but I've found that I can get into MOST size XL shorts despite it all. I can't find a jersey or a jacket, though, even in the men's deparment! I'm a competent seamstress and should finish the jacket I cut out, and I'll eventually attempt my own shorts, too.

[caligurl]

ok... i have no idea on the sizing.... but i wear the performance ultra shorts and LOVE them! they do make a men's version.. but now sure if the chamois is similar!

no chamois on under 30 miles rides? i can't imagine doing even a 15 miles ride with no chamois! you are one BRAVE lady!

[Michelemarrano]

I find I have less chafe if I wear my cotton spandex-style exercise shorts--I think the chamois is causing rug burns!! I do sweat more in chamois vs. thin cotton.

Not an issue now since I live in Ohio and all my riding is in the living room!!

[runnergirl]

If the chamois is too wide for you it will chafe-the stiffness of the chamois makes it want to be flat, rather than bent, if it's too wide it sort of "pops up" into the inner leg which then chaffes with every pedal stroke. The width down there has nothing to do with your overall size-so you might need a narrower chamois than most. I'd compare men's and women's, and try the narrower to see if that relieves the problem.

[mary9761]

I'm a really big girl.... 42" waist, 230 lbs, 6" tall. I haven't bought a lot of shorts but I've found that I can get into MOST size XL shorts despite it all. I can't find a jersey or a jacket, though, even in the men's deparment! I'm a competent seamstress and should finish the jacket I cut out, and I'll eventually attempt my own shorts, too.

I'm a big [but shrinking] gal and I can't much of anything off the rack. So far I have made 3 pair of shorts, a pair of tights, 2 jerseys, a feece vest with matching arm warmers [hopefully soon leg warmers]

http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-...patternid=2375 for the jersey and shorts, I highly recommend this pattern. I would recommend making copies of your pattern pieces by tracing them onto freezer paper. You can reuse them and you iron them to the fabric to cut them out. For the larger pattern pieces, you will want to piece together more than one piece of freezer paper. Also, photocopy your directions off the pattern sheet, it saves wear and tear from folding and unfolding for directions.
http://photobucket.com/albums/a361/m...0and%20shorts/ I have photos of some of my shorts and jerseys here.


http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M3...niforms&page=2
I don't have the photos uploaded of the vest and arm warmers I made [used the leg pattern on the tight pattern above for the arm warmers I've made not from fleece (these are NOT the same as in above photo)] I will post photos or links later of what I made using this pattern. I added a pocket panel to the back of this vest since I made it to wear cycling.

[mary9761]

ok... i have no idea on the sizing.... but i wear the performance ultra shorts and LOVE them! they do make a men's version.. but now sure if the chamois is similar!

no chamois on under 30 miles rides? i can't imagine doing even a 15 miles ride with no chamois! you are one BRAVE lady!

I don't have a chamois in ANY of my shorts and I've ridden as much as 75 miles on my longest ride. I do however suffer if I don't remember my chamois buttr at times.

[caligurl]

I don't have a chamois in ANY of my shorts and I've ridden as much as 75 miles on my longest ride. I do however suffer if I don't remember my chamois buttr at times.

no chamois! ok.... you ladies are TOUGH!!!!!!!!!

[HipGnosis6]

I'm a big [but shrinking] gal and I can't much of anything off the rack. So far I have made 3 pair of shorts, a pair of tights, 2 jerseys, a feece vest with matching arm warmers [hopefully soon leg warmers]

I've seen you and Irulan's posts on making cycling gear before - and love it! Yay!

I've got a high visibility yellow jacket cut out, based on Green Pepper #418 - Men's Diamond Peak ski jacket. I've modified it quite a bit though. The contrast stripe got continued across the arm and is in reflective-coat ripstop, and it has a contoured hem with drawcord instead of ribbing. The cuff ribbing was replaced with a hook and loop tab adjustable cuff, and a vent was added at the back. I have wicking mesh to use for liner.

I have w/p/b orange yardage for a vest, as well. And I've worked with more than a little lycra and we have a flatlock machine at work (and a flat feller, but nobody knows how to thread it), so when I'm ready to tackle shorts it'll be a breeze.

[RoadVixen]

I am obsessed w/ the Sugoi RS flex shorts- my boyfriend wears the men's version (they look exactly the same) and cannot shut up about the comfort- mind you, we're probably both what most of ya'll would consider weenies- they do have quite a bit of padding- but I wouldn't compare them to a diaper by any means. If you see some, you should give em a try.....

[Trekhawk]

I am obsessed w/ the Sugoi RS flex shorts- my boyfriend wears the men's version (they look exactly the same) and cannot shut up about the comfort- mind you, we're probably both what most of ya'll would consider weenies- they do have quite a bit of padding- but I wouldn't compare them to a diaper by any means. If you see some, you should give em a try.....

Im a big fan of the Sugoi RS flex shorts too. Tried a few other brands but like the flex best.

[mary9761]

I finally got photos of the vest and arm warmers that I'd made. I took The Little Navigator That Could out for a short [very short] ride of 1 mile up and down the street in front of the house. It was late in the afternoon and only 29F with a 17F windchill. This by far was my COLDEST ride ever. I was only out for around 25-30 minutes with both the Trek and testing the MTB. I'd forgotten just how ILL fitted it was until I brought it out today. I didn't ride it very far and it beat me up. I'm still feeling it in my neck, that and/or I'm coming down with something. I'm still trying to figure out if I have enough of the matching material to at least make some knee warmers.