Why are cycling shorts so long?
10-11-22, 11:05 PM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Virginia
Posts: 218
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 180 Post(s)
Liked 85 Times
in
53 Posts
Why are cycling shorts so long?
All of my cycling shorts are the same length. I’m out in the sun so much I have tanned legs from the knee down. But since my non-cycling shorts are 1-2 inches shorter, I end up with a weird tan line.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Likes For HTupolev:
10-11-22, 11:10 PM
#3
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 4,004
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2228 Post(s)
Liked 3,412 Times
in
1,783 Posts
My legs are so short that my cycling shorts come down to my ankles.
Likes For Polaris OBark:
10-11-22, 11:13 PM
#4
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,189
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2571 Post(s)
Liked 5,602 Times
in
2,907 Posts
10-11-22, 11:17 PM
#5
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,189
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2571 Post(s)
Liked 5,602 Times
in
2,907 Posts
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Likes For rsbob:
10-11-22, 11:24 PM
#6
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 4,004
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2228 Post(s)
Liked 3,412 Times
in
1,783 Posts
One could also ride at night, avoid peak UV times, or even use a little sunblock.
10-11-22, 11:25 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,938
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3943 Post(s)
Liked 7,286 Times
in
2,942 Posts
10-11-22, 11:44 PM
#8
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,189
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2571 Post(s)
Liked 5,602 Times
in
2,907 Posts
Wear total sunblock SPF 5000 on your legs while cycling.
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
10-11-22, 11:53 PM
#9
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,369
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 996 Post(s)
Liked 1,203 Times
in
689 Posts
Road cyclists have massive (figure-it-out)s, so the shorts have to be longer to avoid indecent exposure.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
10-12-22, 06:44 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,515
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3241 Post(s)
Liked 2,512 Times
in
1,510 Posts
Something has to be done to hide the tripod leg.
10-12-22, 07:12 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,102
Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 822 Post(s)
Liked 1,955 Times
in
941 Posts
Haven't you heard?
You are supposed to rollup one short leg and hold your pack of Camels in it.
You are supposed to rollup one short leg and hold your pack of Camels in it.
Likes For CAT7RDR:
10-12-22, 07:24 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,516
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20808 Post(s)
Liked 9,450 Times
in
4,668 Posts
What's wrong with letting a wolfish grin slip while wearing sheep's clothing? 
10-12-22, 08:29 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,546
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5223 Post(s)
Liked 3,579 Times
in
2,341 Posts
+1 for sunscreen on the knees & lower thighs
is the tan-line the only issue?
is the tan-line the only issue?
10-12-22, 11:48 AM
#14
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,189
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2571 Post(s)
Liked 5,602 Times
in
2,907 Posts
You should be proud to be a cyclist. Show off those tan lines with pride! Let those who are worthless and weak marvel at your glorious gams in wonderment. Then crush a beer can between your thighs for good measure.
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
10-12-22, 01:34 PM
#15
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,779
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3583 Post(s)
Liked 3,395 Times
in
1,929 Posts
I think it's a fashion thing. Bike shorts haven't always been so long. My modern lycra shorts are much longer than my wool shorts from the 70s:
Likes For JohnDThompson:
10-12-22, 06:02 PM
#16
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,189
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2571 Post(s)
Liked 5,602 Times
in
2,907 Posts
You are right. Back in the 80s, they weren’t nearly so long, but now I prefer the standard long ones.
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
10-12-22, 06:07 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,354
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 2,946 Times
in
1,906 Posts
short of a long explanation, shorts are preferred to be longer with short sport activities & short when lounging around in during short vacationing trips.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
10-12-22, 06:16 PM
#18
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,467
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4335 Post(s)
Liked 3,958 Times
in
2,646 Posts
I wear only speedos when cycling.
Likes For veganbikes:
10-13-22, 11:41 AM
#19
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,369
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 996 Post(s)
Liked 1,203 Times
in
689 Posts
I noticed some manufacturers are now offering jersey sleeves that go all the way to the elbow. I don't understand why, but I fear that's gonna become a trend and we will soon have a thread complaining about those tan lines as well.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
10-13-22, 09:34 PM
#20
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,189
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2571 Post(s)
Liked 5,602 Times
in
2,907 Posts
in the era of aero, the maxim has emerged, Skin is slow. Pretty soon we will be completely covered and won’t have to worry about tan lines.
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Likes For rsbob:
Likes For urbanknight:
10-13-22, 09:57 PM
#22
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,189
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2571 Post(s)
Liked 5,602 Times
in
2,907 Posts
10-14-22, 05:40 AM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,381
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4387 Post(s)
Liked 4,828 Times
in
2,984 Posts
The fashion trend is definitely toward longer shorts. Some brands (Assos for example) now offer their shorts in 2 different lengths i.e. standard and long.
Likes For PeteHski:
10-14-22, 06:27 AM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,218
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18403 Post(s)
Liked 15,495 Times
in
7,317 Posts