Shorts

[bikerchic1]

Any suggestions on wear to pick up a few pair of INEXPENSIVE biking shorts (need them this weekend so internet is out).....

[TrailRdr]

I second the Novara shorts. There awesome for the money. You should also check out performancebike.com. Their brand is also really good quality and not tough on the bank.

[SteveC]

Dave's Bike Infirmary in Milton always has a good selection of shorts, jerseys, etc. and their prices are great!
SC

[Husqvarna]

Lycra or Baggy? All day in the saddle or a quick 2 hour spin?

For lycra i like the pearls, for baggies it's fox all the way. Its taken fox a couple of years to perfect there baggies, but by george i think they've got it. Same goes for there incredible line of forks and shocks.
The novara baggies are nice looking shorts. I bought a pair of novaras for my Maze trip in Moab, wore them one day and by the end of the day my a@@ was sore. Stuck with Fox shorts for the rest of trip and had no more discomfort.

I think if your going to spend the day on the saddle, its worth the extra change to buy a higher quality short, the difference is in the chamois. But for a few hours the cheap shorts would be fine, even a pair cutoffs would cut it for a quickie.

If your questioning my use of "lycra", i only wear them for the road bike. For mountain its all baggies, all the time.

[Jisch]

Its taken fox a couple of years to perfect there baggies, but by george i think they've got it. Same goes for there incredible line of forks and shocks.


Fox Racing Shox (http://www.foxracingshox.com) and Fox Apparel (http://www.foxracing.com) are two different companies.

For Lycra bibs, Peformance house brand is pretty dang good. I need a new pair or two, waiting for them to go on sale. I got two pairs two years ago and they are just wearing out now, I think I paid $43 for each pair. When you get them you need to do a careful inspection of the seams as their quality control is not the best. I send back any that don't look good, their return policy is excellent. Before getting those I had a pair of higher end bibs and they lasted just about as long.

Not to jack this thread, but lately I've been feeling like I should switch to baggies. I guess I'm starting to feel a bit foolish wearing lycra in the woods. I've worn nothing but lycra since I switched from jeans 15 years ago. I am noticing that fewer and fewer riders are wearing lycra in the woods - or is that just me?

John

[Coolriding]

Fox shocks and Fox clothing are two seperate companies.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FOX_Racing_Shox

[Husqvarna]

Fox Racing Shox () and Fox Apparel ([url]http://www.foxracing.com) are two different companies. John

Never realized that, just always assumed they were the same corporation.

Not to jack this thread, but lately I've been feeling like I should switch to baggies. I guess I'm starting to feel a bit foolish wearing lycra in the woods. I've worn nothing but lycra since I switched from jeans 15 years ago. I am noticing that fewer and fewer riders are wearing lycra in the woods - or is that just me? John

I like the baggies in the woods for the extra protection from abrassions that outer layer offers, and body armor just doesn't work with lycra. I should also mention a riding buddies crotch blowout when he was wearing lycra and got caught behind the the saddle on a steep descent (no names mentioned), his ride ended........short, and had to use his shirt for cover. Fortunately i was up ahead and missed it, but it took the girls a while to recover. Pretty sure he only wears baggies in the woods now.

[ArmOnFire]

Personally I like to wear Pearl Izumi UltraSensors (the best IMO) under a pair of cheap nylon shorts with pockets.

And it is hard to complain about this now, but when it is hot outside, I am sporting lycra, I guess its the roadie part of me.

Never knew the Fox thing either, I just got a pair of the Base (baggie) shorts and for the few rides with them I like them.

-Dan

[xcslowpoke]

Fox Racing Shox and Fox Clothing are two different companies. Common mistake as it was one company that had a difference of opinion between two brothers, imagine! FRS is in Watsonville, Ca and the Fox Clothing is in Morgan Hill, CA basically the two are seperated by the Santa Cruz Mtns, maybe 20 miles. Guess that was far enough to get along.

[xcslowpoke]

Lycra vs Baggy - I prefer lycra for riding (XC or road) but put on the baggies when doing my little bit of free riding. My switch to baggies is I have a tendency to crash when FR and baggies hold up better.

As for baggies - really dig my RaceFace clothing!

On a side note, when wearing lycra always wear dark colors. The VeloBella's put out an email a few years ago on podium shots. The title was, why men shouldn't wear light colored biking shorts. Hearing the women's opinions made this guy know to wear dark colors only.

[MTBME]

"Not to jack this thread, but lately I've been feeling like I should switch to baggies. I guess I'm starting to feel a bit foolish wearing lycra in the woods. I've worn nothing but lycra since I switched from jeans 15 years ago. I am noticing that fewer and fewer riders are wearing lycra in the woods - or is that just me? "

I don't mind lycra in the woods. Less likely to get the fabric hung up on something. What I don't like is it's easier for the bugs to bite you right through the lycra.

[Slappy]

Personally I like to wear Pearl Izumi UltraSensors (the best IMO) under a pair of cheap nylon shorts with pockets.


I use this method too. Tough to find a set of baggies with a decent chamois. In many cases, I've bought baggies and cut the attached inner short out and threw it away without even using it. Some companies now make them detachable or sell just the 'shell' so you wear them with a set of 'real' lycra underneath.

Haven't bought Fox mtb baggies in a few years, as I found the shells didn't hold more than a few months before the ass wore our of them and they were also somewhat constrictive around the waist (even for a skinny guy like me). Their MX stuff seems to hold up a lot better.

Best baggies I've tried so far are Nema Crown Jewels. Not cheap, but worth it. (And every once in awhile I break out my Large Hardwears for old time's sake. Anybody remember those? I'm pretty sure I had the first set of purpose-built mtb 'baggies' in New England :D )

[bikerchic1]

Not lycra......I wear baggie shorts, just bought a pair of fox shorts online at wheelworld but they are hard to get over my hips (obviously made for men) so I don't have time to order anything else right now online...need to go to REI or a store so I can try them on before I leave for Moab...

Sorry you Lycra lovin people but I hate the look of riders in lycra, even the best bodies in my opinion don't look great in lycra. I expect it from roadies but not mtn bikers...no offense but I would prefer all men in the woods to wear baggies...ha ha (please do not get offended)

Weird that most men would probably prefer the females to wear the lycras..h aha!;)

[MTBME]

Weird that most men would probably prefer the females to wear the lycras..h aha!;)

No. Not all of them.

[Slider]

Baggies, on or offroad for me. Lots to hide, and Lycra doesn't offer the, um, containment that I prefer. The family jewels are swinging in the the breeze with just Lycra.

If I'm wearing tights, I wear baggies on the outside, or regular lycra inside or out.

Thanks for the REI tip. My brother just started to work there, so he'll get a call from me soon. I have lots of Fox apparel, and it is very good. Same goes for Pearl Izumi. In general, you get what you pay for, so I'll be interested to see how the REIs hold up.

Slider

[steve_b]

Tough to find a set of baggies with a decent chamois. In many cases, I've bought baggies and cut the attached inner short out and threw it away without even using it. Some companies now make them detachable or sell just the 'shell' so you wear them with a set of 'real' lycra underneath.

Dennis - Take a look at the Hoss Ponderosa's. Their chamois is the best I've seen in baggy's - definitely better than the Fox shorts. Both Pricepoint and jenson have them for $45.

Hoss Ponderosa (http://www.hossmtb.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=1)

[Slappy]

Will do - thanks Steve.

Been meaning to check out some the Endura Humvees too - seem like they'd be sweet for cooler weather and the inner liner is detachable.

http://www.endura.co.uk/hummvee-3-4.html


Still gotta love the originals...
http://www.crazypages.de/bilder/klamotten/hose_large.jpg

[C.P.]

I use this method too. Tough to find a set of baggies with a decent chamois. In many cases, I've bought baggies and cut the attached inner short out and threw it away without even using it. Some companies now make them detachable or sell just the 'shell' so you wear them with a set of 'real' lycra underneath.



Another one to use this method also. I have a few pairs of raceface shorts I got on a supersale that are just a shell that work nicely for this purpose. For Lycra, I used to get all my shorts/knickers/tights etc through my NEBC (http://www.northeastbicycleclub.org/home/) family membership for real good prices. Otherwise, I pay full price for good quality at the LBS.
I'd try Union Cycle in Attleboro, he has a decent clothing rack with some good sale stuff too. Or hit up Bike Barn in Whitman...I haven't been to Serious Cycles yet (near your stomping ground, right?).

[mtbtom]

I'll wear Lycra if it's a long ride or hot out. Baggy shorts if I'm riding straight from work (no need to subject my co-workers to that)

For cold weather riding one thing I do not wear anymore are full length tights. Definitely NOT into the ballerina look. Instead I have a pair of sport hill
xc ski pants that look and work pretty well.

Never liked the baggies over tights either - you come off looking like the court jester.

I do wear the Lycra /knee warmer combo in cool weather despite them being called "Capri pants" by a female friend of mine.

As you can see it's a very complex subject.

[bikerchic1]

I love Serious Cycles but he doesn't carry too many shorts....but will check it out....I think REI is my best bet if not I am quite sure once I get to Moab there will be tons of bike shorts available!:p

[C.P.]

I love Serious Cycles but he doesn't carry too many shorts....but will check it out....I think REI is my best bet if not I am quite sure once I get to Moab there will be tons of bike shorts available!:p
Actually, that was my next suggestion, there are sooo many shops in Moab to choose from, and they are well stocked with nice selections (from my experience) - although pricing will be higher.

[Quo Fan]

I really don't care what I look like when I ride, as long as I am comfortable. I have long given up on worrying about what other people think about what I wear.

I own pleanty of both lycra and baggies. My favorite baggies are Zoic's. I don't spend enough time with my butt planted in the saddle to worry about my butt getting sore, and they don't catch on the saddle when the going gets steep.

For lycra, I'm lovin' the Ascent shorts that I got from Nashbar and my Performance shorts.

[Slappy]

I love Serious Cycles but he doesn't carry too many shorts....but will check it out....I think REI is my best bet if not I am quite sure once I get to Moab there will be tons of bike shorts available!:p

REI carries both Shebeest and Terry women's specific cycling clothes too. Can't say I've tried it myself, but they seem to make some pretty cool stuff.

[SloMoJo]

Sheesh ... seems people love to talk about shorts.

3 pages is quite a study... imagine when we get to the best shirt to wear. ;)

[justbill]

Sheesh ... seems people love to talk about shorts.

3 pages is quite a study... imagine when we get to the best shirt to wear. ;)


I dont know whats worse. People writing 3 pages of shorts talk, or the fact that I actually read them.

justbill