skort question

[archibella]

Hi! Just wanted to ask if anyone has opinions on skorts? Also, do they get caught on the saddle? Sounds silly but I was thinking about that extra fabric floating around and wondered. I feel a little self-conscious wandering around the grocery store in my knickers so I've just about decided to try a skort-- thanks everybody!

[Adventure Girl]

I have several skorts. They are all Terry Pro Race Skorts, so they are a little on the short side (so am I)... I've never had a problem with them getting caught on the saddle. I think that this is because they are a "wrap" type of skirt. I've mountain biked in "baggie" shorts before, and occasionally they would get caught. But because the hem of the skirt on a skort isn't sewn closed, when you get caught, it just pulls loose.

I did NOT make that clear, but in my head it makes sence to me!

[SadieKate]

I love my Terry's wrapper which is the skirt without the short. I only use it for my errands and tooling around town. I find that the liner short is always huge compared to the supplex skirt. Plus, I can always take off the skirt and tuck it in my bag, jersey or whatever.

Just FYI about the Terry wrapper, the current model runs a tad on the small side.

It also provides some modesty for changing in the parking lot post ride.

[fixedgeargirl]

I have a Terry Pro Racer skort which is on the short side, as am I. I love it!! My experience is the same as Adventure Girl's, baggies do hook on the saddle, the skort doesn't, as it is free to flow over the nose. Yet, it's not so free flowing that the fabric is draping down and getting caught on anything. I know lots of women mtb tour guides who wear them at work and lots of other mtb'ers who wear them regularly. I'm all for bringing some feminine fun to a sweaty,dusty ride!

Now that I live in the city, I like to wear the skort and my cleated sneakers to run errands and tow my son to events on the tag-along. I feel like I'm undercover!

[archibella]

Thanks for all the info! I'm gonna give one of the terry's a try. Wanted to ask about those cleated sneakers though-- My bike had look pedals when I bought it (used) so I got road shoes, but they're a pain to walk on for running errands. Do they make a mountain shoe or something that will work with that cleat/pedal system? I've taken to slipping a pair of cheap flip-flops in my backpack or panniers to slip on when I go to the grocer, but not having to do that would be nice...

[fixedgeargirl]

My sneaks are Lakes (got 'em at TE!) and are only SPD. Being primarily a mtb'er, all my pedals are SPD. You could do a search for touring or "casual" shoes that are Look compatible.

[dstrauss]

This is really a shallow question. I'm going on a supported bike trip in Europe. Relatively long days of riding (for me), but sometimes casual restaurants and town tours during the day.

I do wear bike shorts (took me awhile many years ago to go from ordinary shorts to bike shorts) but as I am short and have wide hips, I do not look my best in them.

I don't recall seeing other women on these trips in skorts even though they are not necesarily such strong riders.

So---do they label you as a less serious cyclist? This is an image question, you see.

Best,
Deb

[SadieKate]

Adventure Girl wore a skort all the way up Diablo last week. Ain't nobody going to call her anything but a serious cyclist!

I personally prefer to get a wrap skirt (like the Terry Wrapper) and put it on when I need to be more presentable. The flapping of the skirt drives me nuts on the bike. The Terry wrapper is very light weight supplex so takes up very little room in a bag or pocket. This also means you can wear the wrapper just as a skirt without the bike shorts.

If you do decide on a skort, be sure to try them on. I personally find that the outer skirt is always too small for attached bike short. Once again, the Terry Wrapper lets me get the right fit for both layers and use the short/chamois of my choice.