Cycling Shorts, love em or hate em?

[VeloVT]

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

As if I needed proof that my thighs are ample . 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 . (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).