Comparing 3 TE distance shorts/fit

[DarcyInOregon]

Lisa, once you get out cycling in your shorts, you will forget how you look in them. Within a month or two you will glance in the mirror on your way out of the house and think you look awesome. Seriously. No matter how big or small a female cyclist is, or how the cyclist worries about the look of the shorts, eventually the perceptions change and what you see in the mirror is an athlete wearing spandex shorts.

Your next concern will be how fast the shorts wear out. I have a pair of pink Canari shorts I've been wearing as an underlayer under my winter tights because last summer's shorts are worn out. The pink shorts have a wonderful chamois, and the chamois on my winter tights are worn out, so I've gotten the protection I need on my longer rides. This morning I put on the pink shorts and there is a big hole in the front. No kidding. And I never got to wear these shorts as real shorts, all pink and wonderful, with a pink jersey on my pink bike. I have a second pair that I haven't touched yet, but gosh it rankles that I wore these shorts out at only around 800 miles.

Anyway, don't worry about how the shorts look on you. Most of what you perceive is only you, not others. And honestly, I just don't see cyclists gathering and thinking somebody looks fat or skinny. Cyclists are too busy talking about cycling and their bikes and rides and all of that. You will only get noticed if you are not wearing cycling clothing or your bike is particularly odd.

Darcy

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Thistle- yeah tell me about!...odd. It seems to me that capris will fit more forgivingly than shorts will- I certainly seem able to wear size Medium capris no problem, though they are pretty snug and I could probably wear either medium or large in capris equally well.

Darcy-
Of course you are RIGHT about all that. Most of the time I can simply choose my daily clothes knowing that I like the way I feel and look in them. No issues.
But snug lycra shorts- well I don't normally wear shorts because they are usually terribly unflattering, and that simply makes me feel uncomfortable. Our choices in bike shorts are way more limited as compared to "normal" clothes. I love my biking capris. But yes I realize our self images can get in the way, and I do try to keep that in perspective. I believe there's a happy healthy balance that lies somewhere in between not caring at all how you look and being too wrapped up in how you look.
Happily, the XL shorts fit snugly in general but don't cut into the leg much at all, so I'm cool with the "little" amount of sausage thing going on.

SUSAN- thanks for that input, I was beginning to think I was losing my mind! I know now I made the right choice for me and that I'll be comfortable when I ride.

[alforfun]

I was just wondering if it is the shorts thing. Because even for regular clothes when I wear a size 12 in certain brands for pants and capris they are too "snug" as shorts. What's up with that?? (peeved because I've spent too much time looking for shorts for next week when I go to Arizona). I only own 1 pair of cheapy bike shorts, which I've worn under a pair of tights this whole cold season. They no longer look new and I am definitely gonna have to find at least one more pair.

[maillotpois]

Well, just did a 60 miler with the Sheebeest Ultra D's and they were great. I'd been having "sitbone" pain last ride or 2 (L side only, must be just some phase because I have never had it before - and there's certainly enough padding down there! .) Anyway, that was not an issue with these shorts. I was worried the chamois might be too stiff or thick, because it does seem a little bigger than the other SB shorts I have. But it stayed in place and didn't "intrude".

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well, just did a 60 miler with the Sheebeest Ultra D's and they were great.

Oooh...I can't wait to try mine on a long ride soon...thanks!

[roguedog]

mp,

did you like 'em better than your ypros or any of your other long distance shorts? I think you have ypros don't you?

[kelownagirl]

Can anyone tell me how the Shebeest Ultra D's compare to my old faves, the 2006 Sugoi RS Flex?

And has anyone seen the 2007 RS Flex shorts? How do they compare to the 2006 shorts? I desperately want to buy another pair of the old ones. I'm afraid to spend big bucks on the new ones without knowing what they're like.. sigh....

And Lisa, fwiw, I wear a size 6 in pants and small in tops etc and have LARGE Sugoi shorts. And there's no way I can squeeze into a size 6 swim suit either. I usually have to buy a 10 or 12 in swim suits. Go figure.