This thread is so helpful! I purchased my shorts in near-complete ignorance, but this summer want to do some more informed shopping. My shorts are as follows:

1. The Canari ones I bought at Sportmart at least three years ago. They're getting kind of worn out and baggy. Inseam: 6"

2. The Sugoi Evolution ones I bought when TE had a special offer that you could get free arm warmers with them. They're my "long ride" shorts, d/t big chamois. As I say, I bought them because they looked like "real" bike shorts, and they came with arm warmers (which I believe I've worn exactly...once!) Inseam: 6"

3. My Zoot tri shorts, with a much thinner chamois so you aren't running with a wet diaper-like pad in a triathlon. Inseam: 6"

I really have no idea what I like vs. don't like. I wear so much sunscreen that, while I do tan, it's not that noticeable. I seldom wear anything that's as short as my bike shorts, anyways. I'm 5'8", with kind of long femurs, so I wear things that would be too long on a shorter woman. I may try a 7" inseam on a pair of shorts this summer, just to have the elastic hit a little below the blobby parts!

I'm going to use this thread to go look at various shorts on the web. Thanks for your help. I really didn't know what to look for or where to start.