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Bike Shorts For The Modest

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Old 04-10-07, 04:51 AM
  #1  
EliB
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Bike Shorts For The Modest

? Well... not modest, but it is early and my only partially caffeinated brain can't find the right word.

This is the deal, for my own reasons I choose not to wear traditional black, tight, lycra shorts. I don't have any gripes with those who do and I do not doubt that there is an absolute benefit to wearing them. I do not want to start an argument that I cannot possibly win.

Simply I am looking for something in between these traditional shorts and the baggy cargo type or mountain bike garb that I usually unhappily settle for.

For the cold, I have found what I am looking for, these pants marketed as 'commuter pants', not tights but still tighter fitting and less wind resistant. Nothing thus far for the summer.

I have looked at the sites of the online vendors and have only found the two extremes. Anyone have an idea?
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Old 04-10-07, 05:12 AM
  #2  
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You could always wear shorts over the top of them. This is what I do when I spin at the gym.
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Old 04-10-07, 05:18 AM
  #3  
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First of all, nice location.

And, did you look at specialized offerings?



It doesn't look that baggy to me.
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Old 04-10-07, 05:25 AM
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Originally Posted by EliB
? Well... not modest, but it is early and my only partially caffeinated brain can't find the right word.

This is the deal, for my own reasons I choose not to wear traditional black, tight, lycra shorts. I don't have any gripes with those who do and I do not doubt that there is an absolute benefit to wearing them. I do not want to start an argument that I cannot possibly win.

Simply I am looking for something in between these traditional shorts and the baggy cargo type or mountain bike garb that I usually unhappily settle for.

For the cold, I have found what I am looking for, these pants marketed as 'commuter pants', not tights but still tighter fitting and less wind resistant. Nothing thus far for the summer.

I have looked at the sites of the online vendors and have only found the two extremes. Anyone have an idea?
I know what you're saying I don't like walking around in a "posing pouch" myself. The manufacturer Sugoi has what they call Remote shorts. They look like normal baggies, but have breathability and padding.

Sometimes I wear the lycra bike shorts and put a decent looking baggie bathing suit over-top for "modesty" The thing you want to think about when wearing something over bike shorts is does it have minimal seams. Having no seams to cause irritation is a plus of biking shorts besides the padding of course.
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Old 04-10-07, 05:49 AM
  #5  
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Wear longer jerseys to "cover up" if you're that ashamed of wearing cycling shorts.

There's always jogging, too.
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Old 04-10-07, 05:55 AM
  #6  
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you can buy underwear with a sewn in chamois and then wear any regular short of your using over the underwear.
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Old 04-10-07, 05:56 AM
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Originally Posted by Johnny_Monkey
You could always wear shorts over the top of them. This is what I do when I spin at the gym.
+1

I simply wear short, black, jogging shorts over my cycling shorts when appropriate (i.e. if I am cycling to a church function, etc.)
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Old 04-10-07, 08:51 AM
  #8  
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like others mentioned, get a cycling liner with padding...
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Old 04-10-07, 08:53 AM
  #9  
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Originally Posted by Johnny_Monkey
You could always wear shorts over the top of them. This is what I do when I spin at the gym.
+1 on that at the gym.
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Old 04-10-07, 09:05 AM
  #10  
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I wear a longer than normal tshirt at the gym so that my pouch is hidden but even while in spin class, nothing is more comfy than padded spandex.
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Old 04-10-07, 09:10 AM
  #11  
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Why do you guys wear shorts over your cycling gear at the gym?
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Old 04-10-07, 09:13 AM
  #12  
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Or go with mountain bike specific shorts.

Last edited by eandmwilson; 04-10-07 at 09:49 AM.
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Old 04-10-07, 09:13 AM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by voltman
Why do you guys wear shorts over your cycling gear at the gym?
because im in college and theres usually a bunch of hot girls in the class with me, and it feels weird to have my junk pooching out of my cycling shorts. yes some would consider this an advatage i know...
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Old 04-10-07, 09:15 AM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by voltman
Why do you guys wear shorts over your cycling gear at the gym?
they must all be married or something.
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Old 04-10-07, 09:16 AM
  #15  
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I was in a position where I rode and wore my bibs, but didn't want to walk around in them.
+1 for just wear loose shorts over the bike clothes.
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Old 04-10-07, 09:19 AM
  #16  
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There are no modest bike shorts. They make everyone look like a squirel is having a bad nights sleep in the crotch!
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Old 04-10-07, 09:26 AM
  #17  
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Screw modesty...I just bought some white bibshorts. Can't wait to see how they look in the rain.
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Old 04-10-07, 09:33 AM
  #18  
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My son (16 y/o) goes to spin class with me. He wears gym shorts over his padded spandex. He says kids his age think cycling shorts is to cycling as speedos is to swimming. They have their place and spandex doesn't belong on guys in the gym. Funny thing is, he plays water polo for the high school and doesn't mind parading around the pool grounds with his spider webs poking out of his pouch.
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Old 04-10-07, 09:33 AM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by eandmwilson
Or go with mountain ike specific shorts.
Having tried this approach for close to a year, I can unequivocally say that it is *NOT* an acceptable solution. I don't know how those MTB kids do it -- maybe it has something to do with their being lower to the ground, or seated farther behind the bottom bracket? -- but on a road bike, most MTB shorts constantly flap against your top tube. Really freakin' annoying.

Plus they're about as aero as a drag chute.
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Old 04-10-07, 09:33 AM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by Coyote2
Screw modesty...I just bought some white bibshorts. Can't wait to see how they look in the rain.
LOL!!
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Old 04-10-07, 11:07 AM
  #21  
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i have some small running shorts i got at dicks
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Old 04-10-07, 11:47 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by EliB
? Well... not modest, but it is early and my only partially caffeinated brain can't find the right word.

This is the deal, for my own reasons I choose not to wear traditional black, tight, lycra shorts. I don't have any gripes with those who do and I do not doubt that there is an absolute benefit to wearing them. I do not want to start an argument that I cannot possibly win.

Simply I am looking for something in between these traditional shorts and the baggy cargo type or mountain bike garb that I usually unhappily settle for.

For the cold, I have found what I am looking for, these pants marketed as 'commuter pants', not tights but still tighter fitting and less wind resistant. Nothing thus far for the summer.

I have looked at the sites of the online vendors and have only found the two extremes. Anyone have an idea?
Wind resistant, yet looser than lycra
Loose, but tighter than mountain bike shorts
Good luck with that.

If you get something semi-loose and above the knee, it may bind over the course of your pedal stroke, or end up riding up your thigh (I have a pair of cheap Nashbar mtb shorts that do this).

I rode mtb only for several years, wore baggies and thought I'd never wear lycra. Now, even though I'm not a great specimen, I put function over form and am glad I overcame whatever inhibitions I had. And hey, on a group/charity ride, there are always bigger or as big folks out there sporting the same look. I don't know who's judging my ass in lycra, or what perv's staring at the frontsidem but I don't care, I just enjoy the ride.
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Old 04-10-07, 12:05 PM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by entukay
i have some small running shorts i got at dicks
I'm not touching that one with a 10-foot pole.
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Old 04-10-07, 12:13 PM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by entukay
i have some small running shorts i got at dicks
he said dicks!
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Old 04-10-07, 12:41 PM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by Coyote2
Screw modesty...I just bought some white bibshorts. Can't wait to see how they look in the rain.
Post pics.
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