Cycling Shorts, love em or hate em?

[OakLeaf]

Yeah, I'm so over how I look in cycling shorts.

Since the meeting point for club rides is 20 miles from my home, I usually drive there and back. At first I was a little uncomfortable getting out of my car to run my post-ride errands, still wearing my cycling clothes. Then I figured I was better off doing that, than getting out of my car all sweaty and stinky, *without* an obvious clue as to how I'd gotten that way

[yes, please]

i wanted to protect my skin as well as my pride when i decided to buy PI knickers. they were about 55.00 and i just love them. they are very comfy and make me feel a bit less like the fat of my thighs are all over the place. i really like them a lot. shorts are just too much for me. ugh! so, my advice is get a pair of knickers. i can't imagine that shorts are much cooler in warm weather, and for me, it is worth it to save my self respect... good luck!

[boy in a kilt]

Ok, this has been driving me nuts for years.

Why are women's cycling shorts so much shorter than men's?

Is it more comfortable? Is it just a stupid fashion thing? Or is it just is what it is, like women's shirts opening to the left and men's opening to the right?


(The apron on a kilt also opens to the right...)

[Eden]

Some people are concerned about the tan lines..... (I've even seen people with short shorts roll them up further). Personally I find if the shorts aren't long enough the bottom edge can rub against my saddle and be quite irritating. I don't like them knee length either, but have no interest in the 4 and 5 inch inseam shorts, tan lines or no.

[Rumblefish]

I admit to not wanting to be caught dead in bike spandex earlier this year and opted for a skort as my first cycling bottoms. I have however come to love my shorts (PI breakaway shorts are my favorite so far)...and the varying tan lines that ensued

I know it's more about how we feel in the shorts, but honestly I don't think people look bad in bike shorts no matter what size they are. I think it's more important that you're on the bike and enjoying yourself while doing something good for your body. and ok ok...I guess this is biased since I spend more time oggling other peoples [B]bikes[B] instead of their shorts! I definitely get bike envy more than shorts envy....

[OakLeaf]

And I totally forgot those cute over-skirts that Sheila Moon has.

Too girly for some, I know, but they're surprisingly attractive, and they definitely conceal "thunder thighs." I'm told they don't get in the way at all when you're riding - I wish I'd bought one now.

[uforgot]

I absolutely will not appear in spandex bike shorts alone. I posted this somewhere else and people said I would get used to it, and tried to educate me on how spandex actually makes you look and feel good, but I just had to laugh at that. I've been dancing since I was 8 and teaching (since I was 12) ballet, tap and jazz. At 52 I still teach one class a week. I've been wearing spandex, leotards, legwarmers and such for 44 years and I STILL will not go out in public without a coverup. Dancing OR biking, so I don't anticipate that I will ever appear in public in bike shorts. That's why I like the Terry skorts and wraps, and I have several pairs of mountain biking shorts. Maybe it all goes back to my dance teacher's firm rule that no one left the studio in just a leotard. Maybe it's just a personal hangup, but it isn't going to change. Of course, I don't mind what others wear at all, and I don't think people look particularly bad in them, but I think the skorts and wraps look terrific on everyone.

Everyone is different, but it's good that there are plenty of options out there.

[OakLeaf]

so I bought a Sugoi skort, just because it was in stock at the store, none of the regular shorts they had fit me all that well, and my left thigh is extra huge with the bump from my crash a couple of weeks ago

.... and it was way too cold to wear it this morning and I'm going to be traveling without the bike for a couple of weeks. I'm just dying to ride in it!!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Rode 53 miles in my SheBeest Ultra D shorts today:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=25749

I know there are some gals who didn't care for these shorts for one reason or another, but I gotta say I just LOVE mine. That chamois is so good for long distance, and the shorts fit so nicely for me, the material is not too thin or wimpy, and no nasty tourniquet too-tight legbands. My butt feels great.

Love my Ultra D's.