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Cycling shorts

Old 06-06-21, 04:44 AM
  #1  
Awesomeguy
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Cycling shorts

I own a fitness hybrid bike and want to get cycling shorts. I notice there is mountain biking shorts and the road bike shirts , I like mountain biking Ones because they have pockets and look more casual , but is the comfort going to be worse ?

which type should I get and how much should I spend ?
please recommend some models that are reasonable priced
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Old 06-06-21, 05:45 AM
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I have both mountain bike style and road style. I notice very minimal differences in comfort. Being a looser fit, the mountain bike shorts may hang up a bit on the saddle when I stand to pedal, but nothing that is a show stopper. I pick them up when I see them on sale at places like Academy Sports and probably pay around $30 bucks or so. I'm a casual rider so I don't see the need to go full on Fred and pay a ton of money for them. Canari is the brand typically sold in stores like I mentioned. They have affordable jerseys as well.
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Old 06-06-21, 07:37 AM
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Old 06-06-21, 07:44 AM
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Old 06-06-21, 08:54 AM
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There is also the option of getting shorts designed as liners. That will get you the chamois and snug fit of bike shorts but allow you to wear whatever pants/shorts you want. Many of the companies that make bike clothing offer them.
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Old 06-06-21, 09:10 AM
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I wear regular cargo shorts. I like them because they have a lot of pockets. If I need more comfort on a longer ride I wear padded bike shorts underneath my cargo shorts.
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Old 06-06-21, 09:20 AM
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These are well made, inexpensive, and they get great reviews for fit and comfort:

https://theblackbibs.com/collections/mens-bottoms

No pockets in these shorts. Pockets belong on the back of jerseys.
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Old 06-06-21, 10:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Awesomeguy
I own a fitness hybrid bike and want to get cycling shorts. I notice there is mountain biking shorts and the road bike shirts , I like mountain biking Ones because they have pockets and look more casual , but is the comfort going to be worse ?

which type should I get and how much should I spend ?
please recommend some models that are reasonable priced
Depends on where you are at in your riding. Some beginners start with hybrid and then get in aerobic shape soon to discover that their conditioning now takes center stage. The rides get longer and fitness becomes better and an overall well being both on and off the bike.

That hybrid may soon become a transition towards a road bike. If so, the baggy bike shorts with pockets won't cut it.
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Old 06-06-21, 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Garfield Cat
Depends on where you are at in your riding. Some beginners start with hybrid and then get in aerobic shape soon to discover that their conditioning now takes center stage. The rides get longer and fitness becomes better and an overall well being both on and off the bike.

That hybrid may soon become a transition towards a road bike. If so, the baggy bike shorts with pockets won't cut it.
I’ve only been riding for 8 months , and did think about a road bike but I so far only riding 30-45 minutes, and the fitness bike is reallly nice for it, I love it , maybe if my rides begin to average 1-1.5 hour or longer I will entertain the road bike.
but for rides I do I think the control of flat bar and quick access to brakes really great and super seeds the road bike
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Old 06-06-21, 01:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Garfield Cat
Depends on where you are at in your riding. Some beginners start with hybrid and then get in aerobic shape soon to discover that their conditioning now takes center stage. The rides get longer and fitness becomes better and an overall well being both on and off the bike.

That hybrid may soon become a transition towards a road bike. If so, the baggy bike shorts with pockets won't cut it.

Speak for yourself. I rode 138 miles this weekend on a road bike wearing cargo shorts.
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Old 06-06-21, 02:06 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
Speak for yourself. I rode 138 miles this weekend on a road bike wearing cargo shorts.
And the seams of those and underwear don't get you?

I recall on a ride across WA state, in the shower trucks, one guy was complaining about chaffing. There were about 5 or 6 of us guys in there and asked about his clothing. He then showed us his canvas jock strap and we all cringed in unison!!! Really, it was one of those old fashion heavy duty jock straps.
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Old 06-06-21, 02:14 PM
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Originally Posted by kahn
And the seams of those and underwear don't get you?

I recall on a ride across WA state, in the shower trucks, one guy was complaining about chaffing. There were about 5 or 6 of us guys in there and asked about his clothing. He then showed us his canvas jock strap and we all cringed in unison!!! Really, it was one of those old fashion heavy duty jock straps.
On long distance rides I wear padded shorts underneath my cargo shorts. No problems with chaffing or discomfort.
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Old 06-06-21, 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Garfield Cat

That hybrid may soon become a transition towards a road bike. If so, the baggy bike shorts with pockets won't cut it.
What's wrong with wearing baggy cargo shorts on a road bike ??
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Old 06-06-21, 02:16 PM
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My advice would be to buy a good pair of (plain black) bib shorts and try them out.
You can always wear loose shorts over them if you want.
I've just started riding again after a multi-year layoff, so I'm trying to avoid 'saddle sores' and chafing.
As your fitness improves, so will the length of your rides, and problems can arise. If you get a sore spot, you'll probably have to takes some time off the bike for healing.
(BTW, anti-friction products- Sport Shield, Friction Zone, etc. - or 'chamois cream' are useful, no matter what your shorts, IMO.)

For less-expensive: BlackBibs or 'Falconi' bibs from love2pedal would be worth a try.
I've used the love2pedal bibs and they are OK, but nothing near the quality of RedWhite ($130), which are my current favourites.
I also bought some (new) Hincapie bibs on eBay that are well-made and very comfortable.

I tried mountain bike shorts with a liner with padding but they weren't comfortable and I got chafing/saddlesores.
Perhaps they were poor quality (from MEC) but the liner fabric and the chamois/padding was nothing like the 'real' bibshorts.

Everybody is different, so saddles and shorts are in the 'you have to try it for yourself' category for me.

Remember, some of the folks here at BikeForum (not me!) have many many thousands of miles of cycling behind them - and on their behinds!
A**es of steel, probably.
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Old 06-06-21, 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by kahn
And the seams of those and underwear don't get you?

I recall on a ride across WA state, in the shower trucks, one guy was complaining about chaffing. There were about 5 or 6 of us guys in there and asked about his clothing. He then showed us his canvas jock strap and we all cringed in unison!!! Really, it was one of those old fashion heavy duty jock straps.
Light boxers, not much in the way of seams. I did get some prickly heat, but that goes away with a shower, and is somewhat inevitable in 90+ degrees.

I have latex sensitivity, so I need to avoid most cycling clothes.
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Old 06-06-21, 02:22 PM
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Originally Posted by terrymorse


No pockets in these shorts. Pockets belong on the back of jerseys.
That's just your own opinion and preference.
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Old 06-06-21, 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by VicBC_Biker
My advice would be to buy a good pair of (plain black) bib shorts and try them out.
You can always wear loose shorts over them if you want.
I've just started riding again after a multi-year layoff, so I'm trying to avoid 'saddle sores' and chafing.
As your fitness improves, so will the length of your rides, and problems can arise. If you get a sore spot, you'll probably have to takes some time off the bike for healing.
(BTW, anti-friction products- Sport Shield, Friction Zone, etc. - or 'chamois cream' are useful, no matter what your shorts, IMO.)

For less-expensive: BlackBibs or 'Falconi' bibs from love2pedal would be worth a try.
I've used the love2pedal bibs and they are OK, but nothing near the quality of RedWhite ($130), which are my current favourites.
I also bought some (new) Hincapie bibs on eBay that are well-made and very comfortable.

I tried mountain bike shorts with a liner with padding but they weren't comfortable and I got chafing/saddlesores.
Perhaps they were poor quality (from MEC) but the liner fabric and the chamois/padding was nothing like the 'real' bibshorts.

Everybody is different, so saddles and shorts are in the 'you have to try it for yourself' category for me.

Remember, some of the folks here at BikeForum (not me!) have many many thousands of miles of cycling behind them - and on their behinds!
A**es of steel, probably.
Totally agree on the "try things for yourself" approach . I'm always amused by people who don't ride 1/4 of what I do telling me that this or that item I don't wear is an absolute necessity. I've basically decided that if they don't try to convince me I need it, I won't try to convince them they don't. I figure people are the best experts on what works for them. I do advise newbies who say they're self-conscious about not being "serious" if they find they don't need stuff that that's probably taking marketing nonsense too seriously.
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Old 06-06-21, 02:33 PM
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Casual/hybrid type rider here too.

I wear these UA shorts mostly:
https://www.amazon.com/Under-Armour-.../dp/B089MNFKBZ

Sometimes with these padded under shorts:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Old 06-06-21, 02:39 PM
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Look at Voler’s website, American made cycling jerseys, bibs and shorts, great quality and like me, made in the USA!!
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Old 06-06-21, 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by terrymorse
Pockets belong on the back of jerseys.
Originally Posted by wolfchild
That's just your own opinion and preference.
I don't make the rules, and I don't enforce them. Obey them or don't, but be aware of the consequences.

Ref: Rules 30, 31, 39, 77.
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Old 06-06-21, 02:46 PM
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My typical rise is 3 hours and I don't find shorts to be a comfort issue. I use MTB style cargo shorts.
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Old 06-06-21, 04:41 PM
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Does your saddle have much padding? If so, a thick pad may make you more uncomfortable than you are now.

A note on Voler. They usually have 'mystery' stuff listed under the sale tab of their website. They are true bargains. Right now, they have triathlon shorts for $19. Tri shorts have thin pads.
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Old 06-06-21, 06:03 PM
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I mostly buy used on ebay and Poshmark but if I'm buying new, I buy American, from aerotechdesign.com in Pittsburgh. I loooove their wild spandex shorts! and I can wear a child's size!!!

I prefer padded mens shorts but I only take spin class, about 10 miles at a time over 45 minutes My daughter rides outside and prefers padded underwear but has 5-fingered a ton of my gear over the years !!!
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Old 06-07-21, 07:16 AM
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I like the mountain bike shorts on a road bike, for the same reasons, but my normal rides are 40 miles or less. On longer rides I might want to try something else.
Tim
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Old 06-07-21, 10:45 AM
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I have nothing useful to contribute to this thread. Interesting to see the warring factions align themselves, though.

My advice to the OP is to not overthink it, and to not use a survey of BF General Cycling as your sole tool to reach to any conclusions.

I've read the arguments of the "other side" in this debate and believe them to be pure crap. But my beliefs are simply those...mine. You do you.
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