Confused About Cycling Shorts-Tights-Knickers.

[Yelsel]

Quality: you want flatlock panels. 8 are the best, 6 intermediate, 4 not so great (probably your $20 cheapies). It is harder to find good deals on shorts than on jerseys, but rei-outlet.com and backcountryoutlet.com are two good places to try. You should be able to find $80-100 shorts for half off... more expensive shorts don't seem to go on sale. I have two pair of longer shorts with grippers (Sugoi) that are comfortable that I adore - $90 and I paid $40 at rei-outlet. If you want to try thinner padding, go with a triathlon short.

I prefer purchasing shorts that I like, and wearing non-chamois knickers or tights over them. This means that I am not tied to bike-specific warm overclothes, either - I also have tight-fitting soft-shell and breathable rain shells. Shorts are the cheapest, and you'll build up the largest collection of these.

I use knee warmers when I am starting out and the temp is below 50 degrees F; it is important to keep your knees warm, since both the sinovial fluid (lubrication in the joint) and tendons must be warm to work effectively and protect the cartilage from wear. Knees are a weak point genetically on both sides of my family, and I still have problems flare up occasionally with a decade-old IT band tendonitis, so I want to protect them as much as possible. I like arm warmers as well... but haven't found legwarmers to be useful for me. (Like many people, I prefer long wool socks to warm the lower leg.)

[nsandz]

This is great, I am glad I asked for advice before my purchase! I didn't realize that they made knickers without padding (I'm naive). Okay, so I think I will buy my first pair of GOOD shorts with 8 panels (can't wait to feel the difference!) and some non-padded knickers to go over them and then some knee high socks, either polka-dotted or stripes! I think however I will pass on the pigtails, for now...

[LoriO]

While they aren't originally inteded for bike riding, I have found that my english riding pants work great for riding my bike on colder day. If I am doing a short ride I am fine with them as is, if I am doing a longer ride I just wear a pair of padded underwear underneath. Riding breeches are great for biking because they fit nice and snug and are made with lots of give and stretch.

Riding breeches come in a lot of different styles from a regular pull-on with zipper type to riding tights which just pull on. I am looking into getting a couple pairs of the riding tights for me to use for this fall and winter.


Oh, nsandz not sure where in CT you are but I am in Berlin, if you ever want to get together for a ride let me know. I'm usually stuck riding by myself but it would be nice to have company once in a while!

[fatbottomedgurl]

I think I might be looking for some of those big thick bright colored knit leg-warmers and rock the 80's look!

[mrhughes]

You mention that you are "full figured". Not sure what that means to you, but I'm pretty heavy for a cyclist. Size 18 in street clothing. I've been road biking for 13 years, at an average of 2,500 miles per year, so I've been through a LOT of shorts. You're going to find they are as personal a decision as is a good saddle. There's a different short for every bottom! But the advice to always buy 8-panel construction is spot-on.

My favorite is the Pearl Izumi Short-Cut Short, size XL. They are VERY hard to find, so I've got a good supply on hand. I like my chamois substantial, and the leg length at no more than 7". Too short & my chubby thighs rub my saddle bag, too long & I look like a stuffed pork sausage. I, too, roll back the gripper on the bottom edge of the leg. Mostly I don't want a tanning line that is lower than my street shorts & skorts, so 7" crotch length is my limit.

I used to wear Sugoi's, but found the chamois wore out in just 2 years or so. I wash bike shorts in warm water/cold rinse and ALWAYS line dry them. Other brands have lasted much longer. I found Shebeest to be the thinnest, least serious shorts, made mostly for fashionable Spinning classes.

I always tell women who are reluctant to spend $$ on good shorts "honey, I don't know what your "specials" are worth, but I think mine are worth protecting!".

[OakLeaf]

I found Shebeest to be the thinnest, least serious shorts, made mostly for fashionable Spinning classes.

Not my experience at all. I've got probably 2000-2500 miles each on two of my five pairs of SSS shorts and they show no sign of wearing out. I don't like the leg grippers, they give me a rash, but I tolerate them (and usually roll them up) because I haven't found a more comfortable chamois in a multi-panel short. It's a little bit thicker than is comfortable, but I haven't found better. Except for the unpadded fleece in my ancient (vintage about 1992) four-panel Terry shorts.

Actually, if the legs weren't so short, most "spinning" shorts have a minimalist chamois that is SO much better for road cycling than most of the diapers they put out there. I so wanted a pair of expensive shorts this summer, I was willing to spend $200 and really loved the construction of at least one pair I tried on, but I couldn't find a pair with a chamois that even looked comfortable.

[nscrbug]

You mention that you are "full figured". Not sure what that means to you, but I'm pretty heavy for a cyclist. Size 18 in street clothing. I've been road biking for 13 years, at an average of 2,500 miles per year, so I've been through a LOT of shorts. You're going to find they are as personal a decision as is a good saddle. There's a different short for every bottom! But the advice to always buy 8-panel construction is spot-on.

My favorite is the Pearl Izumi Short-Cut Short, size XL. They are VERY hard to find, so I've got a good supply on hand. I like my chamois substantial, and the leg length at no more than 7". Too short & my chubby thighs rub my saddle bag, too long & I look like a stuffed pork sausage. I, too, roll back the gripper on the bottom edge of the leg. Mostly I don't want a tanning line that is lower than my street shorts & skorts, so 7" crotch length is my limit.

I used to wear Sugoi's, but found the chamois wore out in just 2 years or so. I wash bike shorts in warm water/cold rinse and ALWAYS line dry them. Other brands have lasted much longer. I found Shebeest to be the thinnest, least serious shorts, made mostly for fashionable Spinning classes.

I always tell women who are reluctant to spend $$ on good shorts "honey, I don't know what your "specials" are worth, but I think mine are worth protecting!".

Just an FYI...you can find your favorite shorts here:

http://www.coloradocyclist.com/product/item/PEAWAS5R

[nscrbug]

On cooler rides, I wear cycling shorts (usually PI) with a pair of Under Armour Cold Gear tights on top. This combo keeps me warm...sometimes almost too warm. I also have a few pairs of New Balance running tights that I use as a top layer over shorts. I've been searching for a decent pair of padded long cycling tights, as I would like to try a cooler ride with just 1 layer (I get warm easily)...but I haven't been able to find a pair that I'm happy with. I've tried the PI Thermafleece padded tight...but I felt it didn't sit high enough on my hips. I really prefer my cycling bottoms to come up a tad bit higher in the back, as I tend to have problems with the waistband sliding down in the back...drives me nutty! I also tried a pair of Performance Bike Radiator padded long tights, and they were awful. I wore them for one ride, and they've been collecting dust ever since....anyone want them? I'd be happy to give them away, because I know I'll never wear 'em again.