Commuter Shorts

[jordash]

I don’t wear spandex and probably never will. For this heat I found the Chrome Union shorts ideal, but unfortunately Chrome has stopped making them and doesn’t know when they’ll have more. (If someone knows where to find these, I’d love to know). On really hot days I’ve survived wearing merino wool and athletic shorts, but I’m looking for something more cycling specialized.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a moisture-wicking, anti-microbial, biker-friendly short that I can’t see my reflection in?

Topic

[PotomacCyclist]

Those Chrome shorts make you look like a no-brakes, fixie-ridin’, Pabst-drinkin’ urban hipster.

There are plenty of cycling shorts that aren’t reflective. I prefer triathlon shorts because the chamois pad is a lot thinner. I can’t stand the diaper feeling of regular bike shorts. There are a lot of options and colors, including plain black. When I saw the words “athletic shorts” in the same paragraph as cycling, I immediately thought of chafing. Non-bike shorts don’t always go so well with bikes. (I know this from experience.)

[txgoonie]

This is coming from a woman who has very little exposure to the world of men’s cycling clothing, so take this a grain of salt. This is just stuff I’ve seen before that, if I were a dude, I think I would consider.

http://www.rapha.cc/touring-shorts

http://shop.lululemon.com/products/clothes-accessories/men-shorts/Commute-Short?cc=7354&skuId=3452959&catId=men-shorts

[DismalScientist]

I get my khakis from Walmart and Target.:rolleyes:

[chris_s]

I’m partial to Pearl Izumi Canyon Shorts. They’re not super-tight, but they also aren’t so baggy as to get in your way. They consist of a liner with chamois and an over-short with a single zippered pocket. For long rides I wear the whole kit, for shorter rides I’ll often wear the liner under standard khakis.

[Bilsko]

My money goes to the shorts that SWRVE makes: http://swrve.myshopify.com/collections/knickers-shorts/
Actually, I haven’t bought their shorts, but I do have 3 pairs of their knickers and a pair of jeans. Its on the higher end of the price spectrum (somewhere between Chrome and Rapha) but really high-quality work (BONUS: all the Blk Lbl gear is made in the USA) and a good shop behind it.

[jordash]

Thanks everyone, these are some great recommendations.

[Rootchopper]

I am with Dismal Scientist on this one. Just buy regular shorts then wear underwear made out of a wicking fabric.

[KelOnWheels]

@Rootchopper 22812 wrote:

I am with Dismal Scientist on this one. Just buy regular shorts then wear underwear made out of a wicking fabric.

Y’all must not sweat much I wished I was wearing technical clothing on the Metro this morning :p

[TwoWheelsDC]

I have some Endura Humvee shorts…they may be baggier than what you’re looking for, but Endura makes awesome stuff that is reasonably priced and easy to find in area bike shops. Plenty of pockets and vents, and a removable mesh liner with a chamois if you feel inclined to use it (I do). I admit that lycra is my primary cycling wardrobe, but if I have to do anything other than ride from point A to point B, I wear baggies. But lycra works pretty freaking well, especially in the heat, so don’t knock it ’til you try it

[DismalScientist]

@KelOnWheels 22817 wrote:

Y’all must not sweat much I wished I was wearing technical clothing on the Metro this morning :p

This is just a cost my colleagues must bear.:rolleyes:

Actually, I ride almost exclusively for commuting and it is downhill in the morning. Sweating isn’t much of an issue for my lower body and I don’t want to deal with the hassle of changing in the office.

An added benefit is that I look like a middle aged schlub and can try to humiliate posers with their full kits and plastic bikes on the return trip up the hill.:rolleyes:

(This is not to say that everyone with a full kit and plastic bike is a poser! I am not calling out the entire biking community.)

[GuyContinental]

@Rootchopper 22812 wrote:

I am with Dismal Scientist on this one. Just buy regular shorts then wear underwear made out of a wicking fabric.

I used to be part of the synthetic underwear school until I got caught out in the rain a few years ago, the chaffing was so bad that after 90 minutes I was literally bleeding everywhere the seams contacted my tender bits. The physical scarring will fade, the emotional… notsomuch. I will never, ever wear anything under my bike shorts again.

[Tim Kelley]

@GuyContinental 22824 wrote:

I will never, ever wear anything under my bike shorts again.

I was recently horrified to hear that someone I knew was riding with underwear on under their bike shorts. This is a serious no-no for the very reason mentioned above.

Okay, so fess up everyone–is anyone else riding like this? If so, then stop it!!

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Tim Kelley 22826 wrote:

I was recently horrified to hear that someone I knew was riding with underwear on under their bike shorts. This is a serious no-no for the very reason mentioned above.

Okay, so fess up everyone–is anyone else riding like this? If so, then stop it!!

I will admit that when I first made the jump to bike shorts, I did this a couple times out of ignorance…then I stumbled across a forum topic about it and and had quite the “oooooooooh I see” moment.

[Tim Kelley]

@TwoWheelsDC 22830 wrote:

I will admit that when I first made the jump to bike shorts, I did this a couple times out of ignorance…then I stumbled across a forum topic about it and and had quite the “oooooooooh I see” moment.

See–doesn’t it feel good to admit that?

Now, who else?

[KelOnWheels]

@DismalScientist 22823 wrote:

This is just a cost my colleagues must bear.:rolleyes:

Actually, I ride almost exclusively for commuting and it is downhill in the morning. Sweating isn’t much of an issue for my lower body and I don’t want to deal with the hassle of changing in the office.

An added benefit is that I look like a middle aged schlub and can try to humiliate posers with their full kits and plastic bikes on the return trip up the hill.:rolleyes:

(This is not to say that everyone with a full kit and plastic bike is a poser! I am not calling out the entire biking community.)

Hey, I already feel like a poser wearing bike shorts and clipless shoes to cruise along at a mighty 8mph on my “vintage” MTB for my wee 10-mile commute. OTOH, I’d have to change clothes when I got to work anyway so I might as well wear non-work clothes on the way.

That reminds me, I think I want to get a summer helmet. My Nutcase is funny and makes me laugh, but it’s a bit toasty. (And THAT reminds me, the LBS guy informed me that my brand-spankin-new Nutcase was “ancient” and I needed to buy a new helmet. Um, no.)

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