Cycling Shorts, love em or hate em?

[Bianchi Girl]

I am very new to the cyling world and I have to say that I never imagined I would love being on a bicycle as much as I do. I started riding with my father about 5 months ago and recently purchased my first road bike.

As a new rider, you all know the expense that is associated with making sure the helmet matches, the jersey is pretty and let's talk about those shorts.

I purchaed my first medium length shorts and as a wide-hipped Hispanic, it seemed that the short was not flattering at all. But, being a new cyclist, I figured it went with the territory.

After my first tan line, I thought I would purchase a shorter short thinking it would look more attractive, but I was wrong. As a matter of fact, I was discouraged by the sales lady at the local bike shop to make the purchase, and stick with the longer length instead. She said it would help my legs look leaner and slimmer vs. the shorter short. She mentioned a little bag (or big bag) that bulges in my inner tighs from using a short short.

Does anyone have a personal opinion about cycling shorts? Do you think they should be more flattering? Perhaps help us tuck in our tummy, lift our butts, and avoid that bulging in between our legs? How about that elastic? I feel as though it cuts off my circulation. Something else, if I'm a medium size for everything else, why is it that I have to wear a large to get my hips in one of these cycling shorts?

I look forward to hearing your responses as I know I'm not the only one experiencing all this alone.

Bianchi Girl

[TexanCzexican]

Another Mexican gal here (well, mexican/czech hybrid, hence my user name).

I think I look extremely ridiculous in my mid-thigh length PI's but I've gotten past it. Yes I have a fat bulge where the short ends, but I really don't care about it now. I think that is something that just comes with time....like my being oblivious to walking into a convenience store in full cycling gear to buy water & have the clerk ask me "What do you do in clothes like that??" (said in a truly curious manner)

I like my cycling shorts and no other cyclist has complained that I'm an eyesore

That being said, my family of non-cyclists think I look better in the cycling skort (bought my first last month) and told me I should stick to those from now on. I told them if they'd like to contribute to the purchase of cycling skorts, I will gladly buy more

[indysteel]

Given that they're a practical necessity, I've tried to get past how I look in them. That said, I prefer shorts with a longer inseam (8 inches seems to be my ideal). I don't worry about the tan line. For one, it's a badge of honor and, for another, I don't wear much (at least in public) that doesn't hide it.
Plus, I've found that some shorts make my butt look bigger than others. I've become a huge fan (thanks to Susan at TE's suggestion) of the Sugoi RS short because the material provides quite a bit of compression and the chamois stops short of padding my entire booty. I have also found that you kind of get what you pay for when it comes to shorts. The higher end models not only have better chamois pads, but the material itself seems to "lock and load" a bit better.

[Starfish]

I love them because they're comfortable. I look awful in them, though, if the definition of awful is that they accentuate my every fat deposit and my short legs.

I have gotten over it, though. I am now more proud of what my fat body can do on the bike than I am ashamed of how that body looks in cycling clothes!

Also, it doesn't hurt that I grew up riding horses, and during clinics and so forth we would all go out to lunch wearing our skin tight breeches with tall leather boots, including spurs sometimes. I got a lot more strange comments (and sound effects, neighing and so forth) from men in those than I ever have in my cycling shorts!

[nonsmoker3]

I, too, have muscular thighs and look totally foolish in cycling shorts, especially the ones with leg grippers made to fit 6 year old children! I do, however, suck it up and wear them on rides over about 15 miles. My husband looks as dorky as I do in spandex, so that makes me feel better!

I have tried several brands and my all time favorite ones are a pair of Trek's purchased at a yard sale for $3!!! The chamois is smaller (no diaper feeling), and the leg grippers are for normal people and do not make me look like a stuffed sausage. And they still had the tags on them when I bought them!

It has been trial and error for me. The Cannondale's I bought were size XL (EEK!!!!), the PI's were large, and the Trek's are mediums. Just like regular women's clothing, check the sizing charts! Not sure if us women with muscular (if not slightly mis-proportioned) lower bodies will ever look hot in cycling shorts.......

[Bianchi Girl]

Hi Ladies,

Thank you for your wonderful and honest replies. I registered as a new user earlier today, so I'm still getting the hang on how to use the discussion forum.

I realize we all love the sport enough to get over how we look in our cycling shorts. I do recognize that higher end shorts, tend to look and feel better. But as the $3 trek purchase lady said, you never know what will work until you try them.

If I come up with a better solution to our cycling fashion, I will keep you posted. Thank you for staying involved.

Have a wonderful day--Bianchi Girl

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If I come up with a better solution to our cycling fashion, I will keep you posted. Thank you for staying involved.

Have a wonderful day--Bianchi Girl

I really dislike bike shorts in general and I can't figure out why they make the leg elastics as though our thighs were wrist size...what is UP with that?!?! I'm secretly convinced they make the leg elastics using the same circumference as men's without even thinking about it. They're not elastics....they're TOURNIQUETS!!!! No wonder some people have trouble with their feet going numb!

I love to wear biking knickers instead- like bike shorts with chamois but they extend to just below the knee. They look GREAT as compared to the hideous sausage effect. However, when it is over 85 degrees F they do get too hot and I switch to my bike shorts. After comparing 4 diff expensive shorts from TE, i bought the SheBeest Ultra-D largely because the leg elastics were not as tight. They look and feel pretty good so those are the shorts I use on hot days. Plus, the chamois pad is made for long distance and is very comfy and doesn't stick out all weird like diapers. You might want to check them out. I know there are other shorts that actually have no leg elastic at all- maybe someone else can recommend those?
Look into all the shorts and knickers they sell here on TE- go to the "Click to shop" link at the top of this page....plus the women on the phone at TE can help you a lot too. They know their shorts and knickers.

[Surlygirl]

I never wear my bike shorts without a wrapper or I wear a skort. I have found lots of pretty unlined tennis skirts also I wear over shorts. Just another option.

[greentea]

Well, I have the skinest legs (like bird legs) and I don't like bike shorts either. The elastic gripper is not what I want against my skin. That's why I opted for shorts without leg gripper. The only downside is that they're usually pretty short, so I save them when riding alone.

Like Lisa S.H. suggested, biking knickers are another option, and they're very comfortable. I love Shebeest Shindigger and bought 2 pairs. Super comfy to wear.

[SandyLS]

As a 60 year old woman who's been back on the bike about 3 years I have to agree that bike shorts are not the greatest look for me. I use to always carry a wrap or over shorts to slip on when I got off the bike to go into a coffee shop or someplace. I still do that if I know that my destination is somewhere a bit up scale, but for the most part after a 20 -100 mile ride I just am either having too much fun or too tired to care much what other people think about my attire. I have yet to be refused service because I'm dressed funny.

[emily_in_nc]

I really dislike bike shorts in general and I can't figure out why they make the leg elastics as though our thighs were wrist size...what is UP with that?!?! I'm secretly convinced they make the leg elastics using the same circumference as men's without even thinking about it. They're not elastics....they're TOURNIQUETS!!!!

Lisa,

You might want to give Pearl Izumi Breakaway shorts a try. I just returned some I got half-price at Nashbar because the leg elastic was really loose on me! I do NOT, I repeat, do NOT, have skinny thighs for my size either - I'm short and slender, and my thighs are definitely medium-sized for my frame, not skinny. I would highly recommend these shorts for anyone who haves ample thighs for their hip size as the fabric was nice, chamois seemed very good, my only complaint was the leg grippers being too loose. The sizing runs true to size, as far as I could tell.

Emily

[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).

[emily_in_nc]

I like bike shorts too! I agree with liza that when I wear them, it means I'm cycling, about to cycle, or just cycled, so they have positive vibes for me.

And by "ample" thighs, in cyclists that normally means muscle -- not fat! I probably should have used the term "muscular" rather than ample. Anyway, no offense intended, and liza is right; the PI Breakaway shorts have been discounted a lot lately, and I found them to be VERY nice except for the thihg gripper fit issue. I think I could go down a size and have them fit much better around the thigh, while still fitting in the hip/waist, but I haven't tried. Nashbar didn't have the next size smaller when I ordered.

Emily

[Grog]

Do you think they should be more flattering? Perhaps help us tuck in our tummy, lift our butts, and avoid that bulging in between our legs?

The bike shorts don't directly take care of this, but by helping you spend more time in the saddle, they'll help indirectly. The more you cycle, the less flab you'll have. The effect on the booty can be quite impressive, rather quickly, as long as you keep the miles coming!