Diff between Mtn bike shorts and road shorts?

[Cari]

I find that road shorts tend to have a better pad than baggies do. So far the only baggies I've tried that seem truly comfy are the Shebeest Boardrider Capris (they have a shorts version which is similarly styled). The liner shorts are removable and the pad in the liner short is the same one they use in most of their other "good" shorts. Plus the capris are nice enough to wear alone!

I've tried a few baggy mtb baggies that come with an attached liner short and they chafe like crazy because the liner short just doesn't fit right or stay in place. And of course they're less versatile because I can't wear the outside part alone.

Aside from better chamois pads, road shorts tend to offer great features like compression, better fabric, and more panels (which = better fit) than what you would find in a liner short.

So if you really feel more comfortable with baggies, I'd suggest you get the ones that come with a detachable liner. Or get some good road shorts and wear them with liner-less baggies on top.

Cari

[roguedog]

oh.. damn.. was hoping it was just aesthetics..

tks for the answer

[bcipam]

I think initially it was a matter of style... MTBer just wouldn't be seen in those bright colors lycra kits. They wanted to appear to be an "alternative" culture. Their shorts were baggy and shirts were baggy just to be different from rode riders.

Of course, I now see bright colored roadie kits on lots of mountain bikers. I wear what's clean, having more road shorts than MTB baggies but I have to say there is a real functional difference. Now I do have one complaint about most women's MTB shorts - they are so short as to make no difference and offer no protection (most coming just a few inches below my hips). Because I'm tall, I buy and wear men's shorts. They usually hit me around the knee.

In California, springtime is thistle season. Those baggier, sturdier shorts difinitely protect my legs against the thistles and stinging nettles. Also, just recently I had flats on my MTB bikes. It's goathead thorn season. Had to sit in the dirt (and in the thorns or rocks) to repair the tires. Both times I was wearing Lycra. Learned a lesson; from now on I'm wearing MTB shorts. Much better protection for my bum!!!

Road shorts usually have a better chamois but that goes along with function. If road riding I sit constantly on the saddle. While MTBing I'm up
and down alot so the chamois isn't really an issue. In fact, the lighter the better.

Hope that answers your question.

[Resi]

For mountain biking you don't need a thick padding, then you are in and out of the saddle all the time... thats different on a road bike, here is the thicker padding prefered.
Also baggy pants and lose cycling close are not aerodynamic for road biking, it should fit snug on your body.

Therese