The importance of well-fitting shorts!

Bluetree · 08-04-2006, 09:22 AM

OK, this is pretty embarrassing, but anyone who has posted questions about the fit of shorts needs to hear this.

I'm new to biking so I've been tailing along with some experienced friends who have been showing me the road rules. One of my male friends gave me a pair of Pearl Izumi Shorts (size S). He originally bought them for his daughter to try to entice her to ride, but she never did. So he gave them to me, with tags and all.

I'm kinda on the small size. I wear size 0 or 2 in pants and thanks to my Asian ancestors, have no a** to speak of. When I put on the shorts, the lycra shrunk enough so they stayed put. Not snug, but stable. The chamois seemed a little big. It didn't wrap around my butt like my other shorts. The back end of the chamois stuck out a bit, looking as if I had a small tail under my shorts. Yeah, it looked funny, but the padding protected my girly bits and my other shorts were still damp from a wash. So I wore them.

Move forward to the next scene. We're stopped at a light at a major intersection and my two male buddies are in front of me. I'm straddling the top bar with one foot on the ground, ready to go. The light turns green. I hop onto the saddle. At least I tried.
The front, pointy end of the saddle somehow hooked onto the back of my shorts, right above when the chamois departed from my hiney. As I swung, up, the tip of the saddle held the chamois (and my shorts) down. I went up, my shorts did not. AARRGGGHHHH.

A few seconds later, my buddies looked back to see why I wasn't following. All they saw was me back at the light, "adjusting" my shorts. I didn't tell them what happened, in fear that if they laughed too hard they would drive into oncoming traffic.

Moral of the story? Get shorts that fit. You won't regret it.

Trekhawk · 08-04-2006, 09:26 AM

LOL - that is so funny. Sorry I know its not suppose to be and I do agree with the shorts thing. My first shorts were a little big and they use to get snagged on my saddle. I got rid of them quick smart.

SadieKate · 08-04-2006, 09:30 AM

Sorry, dear, but it might also have been operator error. That happens to the best of us. If your shorts were too loose they might have come down farther, but cyclists have to learn how to hoist themselves up onto the saddle without spearing their saddles.

That's why WTB developed dropped nose saddles for MTBing and why mtb'rs like thin chamois or at least the v-cut at the back of the chamois - to avoid the dread short suck.

I know, still embarrassing . . .

KSH · 08-04-2006, 10:01 AM

Quote:

The front, pointy end of the saddle somehow hooked onto the back of my shorts, right above when the chamois departed from my hiney. As I swung, up, the tip of the saddle held the chamois (and my shorts) down. I went up, my shorts did not. AARRGGGHHHH.

I have Pearl Izumi's... and this happens to me on occasion too! I thought it was just me.

Well, I always move myself back down the minute the padding gets caught... so I don't moon anyone... but you aren't alone in it getting caught.

This even happens with my Peral Izumi's that are TOO TIGHT on me.

Geonz · 08-04-2006, 10:10 AM

Chamois-hang-up happens on my cheap Nashbar shorts, and not on my other ones. I always attributed it to the less streamlined sewing job.

Luci · 08-04-2006, 10:45 AM

Oh too funny . . . I mean it's not funny . . . I mean I'm laughing with you . . .
Seriously. How embarassing!

I've snagged too, but it's only been monentary and my shorts are all thinner chamois -exept for the brand spankin new PI's I just bought and can't wear. I'm more likely to snag the nose of the seat at the end of the ride when I'm tired.

Bluetree · 08-04-2006, 10:54 AM

Well, I'm sure glad that I wasn't the only one who had this happen, although unlike me, it sounds as if all of you were able to "rescue" yourselves in time. This definitely wasn't in the "Intro to Road Bikes" book...

On the positive side, I'm sure all those drivers on the boulevard will have interesting watercooler conversations today!!!

emily_in_nc · 08-04-2006, 03:31 PM

This happened to me (the shorts snag but not mooning!) on a metric when I was remounting my bike in a rest stop parking lot. It actually threw me off balance to the point that I went right down on my side since I couldn't get clipped out in time. I was an experienced cyclist and experienced with clipless pedals as well so had never had this happen before. I surely felt sheepish after that - especially since a lot of other cyclists at the rest stop witnessed it!

Emily

bcipam · 08-04-2006, 03:51 PM

I wouldn't be to embarrasedd - it's happened to most even when shorts fit right. As SadieKate said, it's a matter of getting one's patooty up far enough on the saddle to avoid the nose suck. Hate it when it happens. Thank goodness its never caused a fall!

spokewench · 08-04-2006, 03:57 PM

Yeah, it happens to me occasionally on the mountain bike cause I move around alot on the bike and all of a sudden, the shorts will grab on the seat and it is so disconcerting especially when I'm trying to get unhooked from the octopus seat and also trying to negotiate a rocky drop off! Yikes, where did those tentacles come from?

Bluetree · 08-04-2006, 04:24 PM

So it's called a "Nose Suck" eh?

Yesterday, I learned never to talk about bonking to Kiwis and Aussies.
Today, it's all about nose sucking.

I'm learning something new every day on this Forum!

Duck on Wheels · 08-05-2006, 12:19 PM

Hi there. I've been lurking lately while waiting for bike and helmet and self to all be in the same place at the same time. Hope that'll be soon. Meanwhile, thought you might find comfort in a similarly embarrassing story. No need for details. Suffice it to say that my wraparound skirt came untied once, in the pedestrian crossway of a busy intersection in Washington DC. Nothing else to do but grab it back up, tie it on, and keep walking. Anybody remember Lill Lindfors doing something like this as announcer for Melody Grand Prix? Wish I'd had legs like hers, and that dress designed to drop down a replacement skirt.

08-04-2006, 09:22 AM	#1
Bluetree Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,011	The importance of well-fitting shorts! OK, this is pretty embarrassing, but anyone who has posted questions about the fit of shorts needs to hear this. I'm new to biking so I've been tailing along with some experienced friends who have been showing me the road rules. One of my male friends gave me a pair of Pearl Izumi Shorts (size S). He originally bought them for his daughter to try to entice her to ride, but she never did. So he gave them to me, with tags and all. I'm kinda on the small size. I wear size 0 or 2 in pants and thanks to my Asian ancestors, have no a** to speak of. When I put on the shorts, the lycra shrunk enough so they stayed put. Not snug, but stable. The chamois seemed a little big. It didn't wrap around my butt like my other shorts. The back end of the chamois stuck out a bit, looking as if I had a small tail under my shorts. Yeah, it looked funny, but the padding protected my girly bits and my other shorts were still damp from a wash. So I wore them. Move forward to the next scene. We're stopped at a light at a major intersection and my two male buddies are in front of me. I'm straddling the top bar with one foot on the ground, ready to go. The light turns green. I hop onto the saddle. At least I tried. The front, pointy end of the saddle somehow hooked onto the back of my shorts, right above when the chamois departed from my hiney. As I swung, up, the tip of the saddle held the chamois (and my shorts) down. I went up, my shorts did not. AARRGGGHHHH. A few seconds later, my buddies looked back to see why I wasn't following. All they saw was me back at the light, "adjusting" my shorts. I didn't tell them what happened, in fear that if they laughed too hard they would drive into oncoming traffic. Moral of the story? Get shorts that fit. You won't regret it.

08-04-2006, 09:26 AM	#2
Trekhawk Honky Nut Dodger Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: WA, Australia Posts: 3,180	LOL - that is so funny. Sorry I know its not suppose to be and I do agree with the shorts thing. My first shorts were a little big and they use to get snagged on my saddle. I got rid of them quick smart. __________________ The most effective way to do it, is to do it. Amelia Earhart

08-04-2006, 09:30 AM	#3
SadieKate Inner Geekette Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bendemonium Posts: 9,068	Sorry, dear, but it might also have been operator error. That happens to the best of us. If your shorts were too loose they might have come down farther, but cyclists have to learn how to hoist themselves up onto the saddle without spearing their saddles. That's why WTB developed dropped nose saddles for MTBing and why mtb'rs like thin chamois or at least the v-cut at the back of the chamois - to avoid the dread short suck. I know, still embarrassing . . . __________________ Frends know gud humors when dey is hear it. ~ Da Crockydiles of ZZE.

08-04-2006, 10:10 AM	#5
Geonz Sue Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,862	Chamois-hang-up happens on my cheap Nashbar shorts, and not on my other ones. I always attributed it to the less streamlined sewing job. __________________ SueJ, webmastress http://www.resourceroom.net http://bicycleuc.wordpress.com/

08-04-2006, 03:31 PM	#8
emily_in_nc Boston Terriers rule! Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Land of the Elves Posts: 2,853	This happened to me (the shorts snag but not mooning!) on a metric when I was remounting my bike in a rest stop parking lot. It actually threw me off balance to the point that I went right down on my side since I couldn't get clipped out in time. I was an experienced cyclist and experienced with clipless pedals as well so had never had this happen before. I surely felt sheepish after that - especially since a lot of other cyclists at the rest stop witnessed it! Emily __________________ Emily

08-04-2006, 10:45 AM	#6
Luci Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 24	Oh too funny . . . I mean it's not funny . . . I mean I'm laughing with you . . . Seriously. How embarassing! I've snagged too, but it's only been monentary and my shorts are all thinner chamois -exept for the brand spankin new PI's I just bought and can't wear. I'm more likely to snag the nose of the seat at the end of the ride when I'm tired.

08-04-2006, 10:54 AM	#7
Bluetree Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,011	Well, I'm sure glad that I wasn't the only one who had this happen, although unlike me, it sounds as if all of you were able to "rescue" yourselves in time. This definitely wasn't in the "Intro to Road Bikes" book... On the positive side, I'm sure all those drivers on the boulevard will have interesting watercooler conversations today!!!

08-04-2006, 03:51 PM	#9
bcipam Club rider NOT! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tustin, CA Posts: 1,191	I wouldn't be to embarrasedd - it's happened to most even when shorts fit right. As SadieKate said, it's a matter of getting one's patooty up far enough on the saddle to avoid the nose suck. Hate it when it happens. Thank goodness its never caused a fall! __________________ BCIpam - Nature Girl

08-04-2006, 03:57 PM	#10
spokewench Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Flagstaff AZ Posts: 1,287	the dreaded octopus seat Yeah, it happens to me occasionally on the mountain bike cause I move around alot on the bike and all of a sudden, the shorts will grab on the seat and it is so disconcerting especially when I'm trying to get unhooked from the octopus seat and also trying to negotiate a rocky drop off! Yikes, where did those tentacles come from?

08-04-2006, 04:24 PM	#11
Bluetree Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,011	So it's called a "Nose Suck" eh? Yesterday, I learned never to talk about bonking to Kiwis and Aussies. Today, it's all about nose sucking. I'm learning something new every day on this Forum!

08-05-2006, 12:19 PM	#12
Duck on Wheels The Hills! The Hills! Eek Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Trondheim, Norway Posts: 1,448	Hi there. I've been lurking lately while waiting for bike and helmet and self to all be in the same place at the same time. Hope that'll be soon. Meanwhile, thought you might find comfort in a similarly embarrassing story. No need for details. Suffice it to say that my wraparound skirt came untied once, in the pedestrian crossway of a busy intersection in Washington DC. Nothing else to do but grab it back up, tie it on, and keep walking. Anybody remember Lill Lindfors doing something like this as announcer for Melody Grand Prix? Wish I'd had legs like hers, and that dress designed to drop down a replacement skirt. __________________ Just 20 miles from H€ll you'd think we'd have temperatures above 5 Fahrenheit !

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