Cycling Shorts


Bike shorts fall into two distinct types, Lycra body hugging race shorts or the baggy beach-bum-mountain biker style. Both are comfortable, but its unlikely you’ll see one group wearing the others style of shorts. All cycling shorts must have a comfortable seat; jeans are probably the worst because of the seam down the middle.

Comfortable Cycling Shorts lycra cycling short

First the Lycra race shorts, they used to be woollen, great until it rained then they were baggy and uncomfortable and when they stretched it was possible that they would flap in the wind, very un-cool!

Then tight fitting Lycra was invented, not the warmest, but very comfortable. Any colour with team sponsors names printed on them, anything is possible.

You can get shorts, but bib-shorts are better, these have built-in braces to keep them up and are much more comfortable.

Lycra shorts also have an elastic strip around the legs to keep the shorts from riding up. All shorts need padding in the seat, this used to be chamois, now it’s made from synthetic material and is a must for serious, comfortable cycling.

Baggy mountain bike shorts would fit in down at the beach in California with the surfers, except for the built in padding in the seat.

Camouflage colouring or plane, but never too bright, the baggier the better, with pockets on the front, back, sides and down the legs. You can cheat by wearing any baggy shorts with Lycra shorts underneath, this is a trick down hillers use, so they look cool at the same time as being comfortable.


3 Responses to “Cycling Shorts”


Naman Gupta August 17, 2009

Hello , I recently started riding a cool Road Bike & was wondering whether Biking Shorts/Tights or Support (used to hold ur jewel in boxing etc.) are kinda necessary to protect your areas , as for now I ride in my Jean or Cargo wearing a boxer inside.Any suggestion or comment would be richly appreciated !!Take care & Enjoy Life !!Thank youNaman

McQ August 17, 2009

Naman,I too was a jeans/shorts wearing rider for many years. I tried wool shorts with chamois, but was never comfortable riding in Southern California in them. Lycra is much more “revealing,” but infinitely more comfortable than wool shorts, which never chafed like jeans, but were still uncomfortable. When used with Assos cream, I have NEVER been more comfortable!I have a pair of Mtn Bike shorts with built in padded lycra and they are fine on both my road and mountain bikes. There aren’t any clothing nazis in our area, so I’m fine so far…

Grant Hess August 17, 2009

plain not planespell check does not do well with synonyms.I was still using woolen shorts up until last year. They were always too hot for me, but I in the warm weather I would just use running shorts. I broke down and bought Lycra shorts last year and did not know what I had been missing. This year I bought cycling shoes and Ultegra pedals, but have yet to try them. Always used toe clips and cross country shoes before. I still use my early 80’s Fuji America. It has sealed wheel bearings 18 speeds 33/44/53 and 14 to 28 gears. I looked into a new Ridley and a Cervelo carbon fiber bike, but dental implant surgery, a new house and two kids in college put an end to that. I have put so many miles on the Fuji America that it is too comfortable to change. I suppose if I were to ride one of the new bikew I might never go back. I also have a Trek 7200 for liesurely trail and neighborhood riding. I realy like the look of the Pinerello bikes.