biking shorts

[tl12]

Welcome to TE Tl12!

What kind of riding are you doing?

Do you have a particular budget for the shorts?

Road bike. At this point budget is not an issue, comfort is.

[westtexas]

A lot of finding the right shorts is trial and error. When I first started I got PI (Pearl Izumi) shorts, but have since found that nothing PI makes actually fits me well. Their chamois' are too thick and actually cause my legs to go numb on long rides. Since then I have learned to read reviews - the ones here at TE for the products they sell are usually very good and spot on from the buyers.

Through all my trial and error I have found that my first preference for shorts is Castelli - their chamois is perfect for me. But they are super expensive and I haven't noticed an overall quality difference in their shorts versus my second favorite - Louis Garneau. I like thin chamois' that are barely there and I need fabrics that wick like crazy (super hot here and when I ride in Houston, super humid). Jerseys from these companies are another story completely. A third brand I have recently tried is Primal - I like their stuff a lot, especially their jerseys, and the shorts were great, but they don't breathe as well as I'd like.

Really the secret is to find what you prefer by experimenting. Lots of ladies on here sell gently used shorts for a lot less than the MSRP, you could always start there.

[tl12]

@westtexas
Thanks for the reply. I will continue to listen and look. I live south of Houston and it is also quite windy down here.

[Artista]

Call Team Estrogen customer service. They're very helpful. You can describe your riding goals and figure type and they'll help you narrow down the selection. They also have a reasonable return policy on un-worn garments.

[zoom-zoom]

I'm falling in like with Gore stuff...after trying nearly everything else and ending up with sandpapered hooha.

[Bike Chick]

I like Louis Garneau and Giordana. A good rule to follow when buying shorts is to buy the smallest size you can wear and the most expensive you can afford.

[azfiddle]

Ditto on talking to customer service at Team Estrogen. They are extremely helpful.

I also don't love Pearl Izumi. I have just one pair of shorts, and I like the fabric but I don't like the big chamois either and they seem to cut for a taller person than I am. I really like the pair of Shebeest I have (though they are not really available now) and also like Giordana.

If you can at least try them on locally, that will give you an idea of size, even if you don't find your preferred brand.