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).

[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

[GLC1968]

I too, like bike shorts. I wouldn't show them off as a fashion accessory...and I don't exactly look 'hot' in them...BUT, when I have them on, it seems I have a REASON for my big thighs. Yes, I've always had big, muscular thighs...but now, I have an excuse....I'm a cyclist!

It's weird...but I now get compliments on my legs when I am wearing bike shorts. I guess people figure that I worked hard for these huge thighs?!? Whatever, I'll take it!

[Kano]

I like my bike shorts too

They're NOT flattering. My ample thighs are not ample from muscular-ness yet. It's in there, but there's still lots of the other stuff covering the muscles. That's okay -- there's not as much as there was, and the "sausage-look" isn't quite awful, except:

Now the top half of the shorts -- the really important part -- is too big.

So, the other day, I tried on the next size down of my current favorites, and was pleased -- though they were even less flattering, they felt really good, and they weren't nearly as tight as the originals were when I purchased them. I didn't buy the new ones yet, but soon, probably, cuz I'm down to one mostly comfortable pair these days!

Anyhow, one of the things I really like about wearing lycra: it stops the jiggles on the parts of me it covers!

Karen in Boise

[Starfish]

OK here's a little twist on this topic. Anyone else where their bike shorts to tod other workouts in the gym? Not just spinning, but elliptical or cardio classes?

I do, but I feel a little dumb. I know I could buy lycra gym shorts, but, without the chamois, with my level of fat...well, I'm afraid they might be a little too revealing in the crotch area...

Thoughts?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well I wore my Terry Spinnaker knickers in a swimming pool last year, with a supportive black tank top...why the heck not? They have a very thin chamois pad that adds modesty without bulk. They end at just below the knee. I don't own any bathing suits anyhow. Don't want to shave or fuss. I felt like one of those 1910 bathing beauties. It was fun!

[VeloVT]

IMHO: People at the gym who have time to worry about what you're wearing are NOT busy enough exercising.

Of course, that's not to say that I haven't on occasion decided this or that outfit over-accentuated some flaw that I didn't want to go around flaunting at the gym. But still.