I saw too much today!

[OakLeaf]

Yeah, it's the sunlight thing that makes it hard to know without someone else telling you. In the gym, mirrors let me see when my shorts are getting see-through in the same light that anybody else is going to be looking at them. Outside - no mirrors. Maybe you could "moon" your reflection in a store window.

A riding buddy of mine showed up one ride with brand new kit that was totally see-through. I didn't have the heart or the chutzpah ... hopefully one of our male riding buddies gave him the word.

[lph]

I guess you could hold the shorts up to the sun and check if they're visibly much thinner in the back than somewhere that doesn't get as much stretching. My tights are virtually seethrough in back in normal lighting, but I always wear them over something else anyway.

Best way is just to ask a trusted friend to ride behind and check

[Jolt]

Sounds like what happens with swim suits...I've been the one who had to tell a guy it was time for a new suit one time, as I was the lifeguard at the pool and noticed that one could see WAY too much!

[Crankin]

I did not tell the guy I was riding behind a few years ago that it was time for new shorts. I barely knew him.
I did tell my close friend that the brand new Exte Ondo matching shorts/top set her DH bought her showed way too much of her rear. Usually, I am always in the lead when we ride; for some reason, we were in a tricky traffic situation, trying to beat a thunderstorm and she got in front . It was hard to do, even with a good friend.

[Eden]

And some shorts don't have to be old or worn out to be a bit see through..... we got the unfortunate nickname of being "team butt crack" from our shorts for a couple of years.... We had to completely end having any printing on the back panel of the shorts, cause black ink on the lycra just does not cut it. This year with a comfortably solid black lycra panel we are no longer an eyeball hazard....

[PamNY]

I stretched all of my shorts a bit and held them up to the light -- and I don't know. I wouldn't call them opaque. Mooning the store window out in daylight may be the only way to be sure.

I could see that sunlight was playing a role in the situation I described. Geez, one more thing to worry about.