Shorts - buy to fit waist or hips?

[junetvee]

I need to buy women's bike shorts with a chamois. I have only a 5 inch difference between my waist and hips, and my hips are pretty much straight up and down (waist 37, top of hips 42, bottom of hips 42). Also, I am tall, so I need a long rise. On any manufacturer's size chart I get a two-size difference depending on whether I choose to fit my waist or my hips. Which is the best way to go? Or should I compromise and buy a size in between?

[OakLeaf]

Maybe men's shorts might fit you better. Have you tried any on?

To the question you actually posed, I'd say neither. If the waist is too tight, it'll be uncomfortable, and on me, it puts pressure on my bladder; if the hips are too loose, the chamois will move around and chafe.

Otherwise, maybe just keep trying different brands until you get one that fits. Like any other apparel, different manufacturers build for different body types.

Also, call TE. They know their stock inside and out (literally!) and can help suggest something that might fit you.

[junetvee]

Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, I considered men's shorts and tried some on. Even bought one pair and rode 10 miles in them. Waist and hip fit were comfortable, but the chamois wasn't - too big at the front and too narrow at the back. So my butt was partially off the pads. I don't mind trying several pairs to see what fits best, but how do you do that through mail order? Order several and send most of them back?

[OakLeaf]

how do you do that through mail order? Order several and send most of them back?

Call TE first and look at the pictures and figure out which ones are most likely to fit ... and then, yep. They're great about returns. I've sent so many pairs of shorts back I was starting to feel bad about it (but I sure have spent plenty of money here that stayed here ). Obviously you can't return shorts that you've worn on a ride - and you can't be 100% sure that a chamois is going to work for you until you've ridden in them - so you're still taking the same risk you would be buying at a LBS; but you can narrow it down considerably.

[azfiddle]

I'm quite short, so I don't have the identical problem, but I recently had to make a choice about whether to choose shorts based on waist or hip measurements. I went with hips (the smaller size) because in the past, I had a miserable 66 mile ride with shorts that were too big in the seat. Ended up with major chaffing right under the sit bones. Some shorts have more forgiving waistbands or have a drawstring waist. I would agree, the TE customer service rep I spoke with was really helpful in choosing the right shorts, and you can purchase more than one and return the one(s) you don't want for a refund.

[sarahspins]

My measurements are not too far off yours and prefer bibs I have both L and XL pearl izumi bibs and I prefer the L... they fit better all over.

[OakLeaf]

One thing I highly recommend when trying on new shorts, is to sit on your saddle. If you're trying them on at a LBS and don't have your bike with you, ask to sit on a bike on the floor that has a similar shaped saddle and riding position. A few pedal strokes on the trainer, or leaning up against the wall, will be enough to tell you if the chamois is COMPLETELY wrong (too thick, too stiff, wrong placement, etc.).

[junetvee]

I will be calling TE as soon as they open - another hour or so.

By the way, I see some of your signatures say "measure your sit bones". How do you do that?

[sarahspins]

You can do the play-dough method, which is probably the easiest if you're doing it yourself, or you can go to a shop and have them measured.

I measured mine with the play-dough method and then later was able to measure directly off a pelvic x-ray and got pretty much the same number.

I think the point of the sit bone measurements is that quite a few of us on this forum do have sit bones far outside of the range most bike manufacturers reference when making "women's" saddles. Our saddle options are therefore very limited.

If you are having saddle issues, it's important to have your sit bone measurement to help you choose a saddle that will work for you (and there are a lot out there, so knowing what size you need helps narrow that down). More than just the width, the "shape" of a saddle matters quite a lot too, and different things work for different people.