Baggy shorts downside

[Joe Chapline]

I’m one of those who isn’t ready to go with the skin-tight bike shorts, but have found bike shorts are needed for the road bike, and are welcome even for 20+ mile rides on the hybrid. I now have three pairs of the “don’t look like bike shorts” shorts with padded liners. The least effective of the three has a sewn-in liner; the two better ones have a liner that can be detached from the shorts. The best of the three is a pair of Pearl Izumi shorts, although the shorts don’t look like anything I would wear — unless I was applying to join an East LA street gang. They’re really long and baggy. I wore those today. The first problem I noticed was when I stood up off the saddle. I rarely do that, I was just experimenting — mostly because how long I can stay in the saddle is still the limiting factor in how far I can go. Anyway, the problem is not standing up, but when I sat back down, the ridiculously baggy shorts snagged on the saddle. Not a big deal, but it wouldn’t happen with the tighties. There was a worse problem when I finished the ride and was dismounting — somehow, the saddle ended up caught inside one leg of my shorts. Sorry there are no pictures; I was preoccupied; but it did happen. Next I will try using the good Pearl Izumi insert in the 2nd-best LL Bean shorts; see if that works.

Topic

[PotomacCyclist]

I bought a pair of the Pearl Izumi inner-liner/pad-only “shorts” last year. I thought that I might use it with regular non-bike shorts on CaBi rides and some of my mountain bike rides. But I found the padding to be too thick for my liking. They have a road bike pad, not the much thinner triathlon pad that I’ve gotten used to. I’ve only used the Pearl Izumi liners once.

I looked into the baggier “mountain-bike” shorts but I didn’t like the look either. And I don’t think I can ride with any of the shorts that have the thick road bike pad. I always feel like I’m wearing an adult diaper with the road bike shorts. (I haven’t worn my regular road bike shorts in two years.)

On some days, I ride on the CaBi bikes while wearing regular shorts or pants, up to 25 minute trips. For longer rides on my own bikes, I wear triathlon shorts. But I don’t go for the full lycra look. I almost always wear a looser-fitting tech running shirt on top. Unless I’m in a race, I don’t care so much about the aerodynamics of my shirt. The running shirts are comfortable. If you don’t want to go for the usual road cyclist look, a running shirt might be an option. They wick moisture/sweat but they aren’t as tight as most bike jerseys are.

[CCrew]

Look at the Zoic MTB shorts. More like cargo pants with a liner that’s essentially like a boxer brief with a chamois.

[Dirt]

When modesty in attire is required, I wear my regular roadie bib shorts, and put a pair of Endura baggies over the top. They make a few different models. They have ones that have a snap in liner, but I really don’t like the way that felt or worked. Endura makes shorts and knickers that are super functional, very comfy and darn near bomb-proof. My first pair of Endura knickers was worn 5 days per week for almost 18 months before they started to show signs of mortality. They’re still in use and work great. The pockets are super useful.

http://www.endurasport.com/

I’ve used their Hummvee shorts, Singletrack shorts and knickers and their Firefly shorts. The Singletracks are my favorites.

I bought one of their rain jackets. I would not recommend those. It worked great for the first month, then lost its water resistance. Great design. Great build quality. Waterproofing didn’t last though. It has been revived with some XC Ski stuff that you spray on, but it isn’t quite the same.

Good luck.

Pete

[Joe Chapline]

Thanks for the recommendations. I ordered a pair of Endura Singletrack shorts and liner. One reviewer mentioned the problem with other shorts getting caught on the saddle, and that these won’t. Nice that extra liners can be ordered separately.

I also ordered a pair of Zoic Ether shorts, which had good reviews and were on sale.

[CCrew]

@Joe Chapline 5650 wrote:

I also ordered a pair of Zoic Ether shorts, which had good reviews and were on sale.

I have them in a light tan color. Those were what made me recommend them. Love them.

[SteveTheTech]

Very interesting stuff fellas. I have two pairs of two part Cannondale ( http://www.rei.com/product/779078/cannondale-baggy-fitness-bike-shorts-mens ) shorts that I love the hell out of. Rave

I actually wore the boxer brief chamois on a 9 hour car trip recently and it really kept my lower back from driving me crazy on the way up the east coast.

[CCrew]

Joe, how did you make out with the shorts?

[Dirt]

@CCrew 6062 wrote:

Joe, how did you make out with the shorts?

This time of year I can’t imagine wearing baggies. It is hot enough in regular roadie shorts.

[RESTONTODC]

My roadie short was wet and sticky yesterday due the humidity. I couldn’t wait to take it off.

[Joe Chapline]

@CCrew 6062 wrote:

Joe, how did you make out with the shorts?

I’m the proud owner of three pairs of the Zoic Ether shorts. I really like them for the bike, and I think that without the liner they’ll be great general purpose shorts. I have some cargo shorts I never wear because the pockets all had button flaps that stick out in all directions after a couple of washings. The Zoic shorts have lots of secure pockets that zip up, no flaps.

I have one pair of Endura Singletrack shorts, but I accidentally ordered the wrong size liner, and it turns out my size (L) wasn’t available. To get the right size, I had to order from a company in the UK. Ordered two kinds of liners to try. They look like great shorts, but they might not be the best for my situation — they seem to be a magnet for cat hair. But maybe I can work it so I go for a ride, come home and sit on the couch to pick up all the cat hair, and then throw them in the laundry. It might work out.

I checked out the Cannondale shorts SteveTheTech recommended. The REI site said they were good for “hucking the big ones.” I thought I’d better find out what that means before I try them.

@Dirt: I have one pair of roadie shorts someone gave me. I think they’re too small, but how would one know? I can put them on without tearing them, so maybe they’re not too small. I’m sending them to Goodwill anyway.

Thanks, everyone, for all the good advice. I’m all set with shorts now.

[Joe Chapline]

Has this happened to anyone else? I went for a short ride this morning, and zipped up my house key in one pocket of my bike shorts. (These are some cheap shorts, not any of the fine products mentioned in this thread.) When I got home, the zipper wouldn’t open. I was out in the sun with temps in the high 90s, and I couldn’t get my key out. I had to tear the zipper out. Luckily it was a mesh pocket and I was able to tear it.

[CCrew]

I’ve had it happen with nylon zippers. I have a jersey that’s a bear to unzip when temps get high. I think it’s related to cheap zippers though.

[Dirt]

It is a security measure.

[StopMeansStop]

For the times I really cared about walking around in bibs, I just throw over a lightweight pair of gym shorts over them. Problem solved

[Dirt]

@StopMeansStop 6272 wrote:

For the times I really cared about walking around in bibs, I just throw over a lightweight pair of gym shorts over them. Problem solved

http://www.utilikilts.com/

[Author]

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