Cycling Shorts That Look Like Regular Clothes?
02-18-23, 02:55 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Cycling Shorts That Look Like Regular Clothes?
Dunno which category this should go in, so I put it here. I'd like some practical shorts to ride upwards of 15 miles in. Good strategic pockets for wallet, keys, phone, etc. I'd like them to look as much like normal shorts as possible. Removable padding would be great but absolutely necessary.
These would be for the kind of riding I do. Casual commuting with occasional group rides in the 12-14mph pace. Again, 20 miles tops. I rode in gym shorts and was REALLY nervous I was going to lose my phone or keys
Suggestions?
Guess I should add I am looking for specific links. I just put it in an order for 8 different mountain bike shorts on Amazon they seem to range from $30 to $45. Shorts at Dick's Sporting goods ran $50-140!
These would be for the kind of riding I do. Casual commuting with occasional group rides in the 12-14mph pace. Again, 20 miles tops. I rode in gym shorts and was REALLY nervous I was going to lose my phone or keys
Suggestions?
Guess I should add I am looking for specific links. I just put it in an order for 8 different mountain bike shorts on Amazon they seem to range from $30 to $45. Shorts at Dick's Sporting goods ran $50-140!
Last edited by RoadWearier; 02-18-23 at 03:01 PM.
02-18-23, 03:20 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,109
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 1,961 Times
in
944 Posts
I wear these for most of my rides now over bib shorts.
Lots of pockets with plenty of stretch and the price is right at $34.
Hiauspor Men's Mountain Bike Shorts Stretch MTB Shorts Quick Dry with Zipper Pocket
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Lots of pockets with plenty of stretch and the price is right at $34.
Hiauspor Men's Mountain Bike Shorts Stretch MTB Shorts Quick Dry with Zipper Pocket
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Likes For CAT7RDR:
02-18-23, 03:25 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I wear these for most of my rides now over bib shorts.
Lots of pockets with plenty of stretch and the price is right at $34.
Hiauspor Men's Mountain Bike Shorts Stretch MTB Shorts Quick Dry with Zipper Pocket
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Lots of pockets with plenty of stretch and the price is right at $34.
Hiauspor Men's Mountain Bike Shorts Stretch MTB Shorts Quick Dry with Zipper Pocket
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I'm 5'10 and a little beefy at 189. Some of that is muscle but a lot isn't.
So 33-34 jean at waist. I ordered a large but some people say they run small. What have you found?
02-18-23, 03:35 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,109
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 1,961 Times
in
944 Posts
They wear well and I wear them for hikes as well or just out and about.
02-18-23, 06:06 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,395
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1562 Post(s)
Liked 1,734 Times
in
974 Posts
I commute to work and I have tried a lot of MTB shorts. The one that works best without costing an arm and a leg is the Decathlon Quechua MH500:
https://www.decathlon.com/products/q...39301963644990
https://www.decathlon.com/products/q...39301963644990
02-18-23, 06:10 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,374
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2483 Post(s)
Liked 2,955 Times
in
1,678 Posts
I bought those shorts (or ones very much like them) too. I bought the first pair in one of the other colors but then another in black, because the first pair ended up with an unsightly seat area dyed black from the saddle.
02-18-23, 07:14 PM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I commute to work and I have tried a lot of MTB shorts. The one that works best without costing an arm and a leg is the Decathlon Quechua MH500:
https://www.decathlon.com/products/q...39301963644990
https://www.decathlon.com/products/q...39301963644990
Thanks I'll try these too
02-18-23, 11:34 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,763
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1109 Post(s)
Liked 1,200 Times
in
760 Posts
Any shorts you like over regular bicycle shorts. Or over an "Insert" (which is just a more minimal version of bicycle shorts). Or any shorts over bibs. Go nuts with the options!
Likes For Camilo:
Likes For downhillmaster:
02-19-23, 06:21 AM
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
That is a fine option. But I guess I'm looking for something I can wear on errands and for commutes too. Walking around stores in bicycle shorts and bibs is not for me. Plus I carry a wallet and keys and sometimes a phone in my pockets when I ride.
02-19-23, 07:27 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,374
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2483 Post(s)
Liked 2,955 Times
in
1,678 Posts
You missed downhillmaster's point. He's suggesting wearing bike shorts under any other pair of shorts that you already walk around in. I agree with him---I've been wearing regular shorts over bib cycling shorts for shopping trips in warm weather for years. Used to wear that combination for commuting, too.
Likes For Trakhak:
02-19-23, 09:44 AM
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
You missed downhillmaster's point. He's suggesting wearing bike shorts under any other pair of shorts that you already walk around in. I agree with him---I've been wearing regular shorts over bib cycling shorts for shopping trips in warm weather for years. Used to wear that combination for commuting, too.
02-19-23, 11:05 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2022
Location: USA - Southwest PA
Posts: 3,098
Bikes: Cannondale - Gary Fisher - Giant - Litespeed - Schwinn Paramount - Schwinn (lugged steel) - Trek OCLV
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1400 Post(s)
Liked 1,882 Times
in
1,083 Posts
baggy bike shorts (w / pockets or whatever) with the attached padded liner are basically the same as the baggy shorts worn over separate form-fitting padded bike shorts
I often wear Endura Humvee bike shorts - sometimes with attached padded liner but sometimes over padded bike shorts ... basically the same - and actually for distances prefer the Endura shorts worn over separate padded bike shorts because the padded bike shorts are better quality than the Endura padded liner
I often wear Endura Humvee bike shorts - sometimes with attached padded liner but sometimes over padded bike shorts ... basically the same - and actually for distances prefer the Endura shorts worn over separate padded bike shorts because the padded bike shorts are better quality than the Endura padded liner
02-19-23, 01:45 PM
#15
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
I wear rugby shorts in the summer time. They are my regular summer attire, and I wear them cycling.
I do not subscribe to the fact that you have to wear a $200 kit to ride a bike.
I do not subscribe to the fact that you have to wear a $200 kit to ride a bike.
02-19-23, 02:00 PM
#16
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
15 - 20 mile rides i wouldn't even bother with padded shorts. Regular cargo shorts with many pockets will be just fine for such short rides. If you absolutely need padded shorts for whatever reason then go with what CAT7RDR suggested. Those look like really nice and practical pair of shorts, all those pockets can be very useful.
02-19-23, 02:16 PM
#17
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Great suggestions all. Thanks.
I found at least one of the shorts I ordered on Amazon for $33 on Temu for $20! It would be great if they worked out.
That's basically the same as cheap gym shorts I'd buy at big box Mart.
I found at least one of the shorts I ordered on Amazon for $33 on Temu for $20! It would be great if they worked out.
That's basically the same as cheap gym shorts I'd buy at big box Mart.
02-19-23, 02:46 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,763
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1109 Post(s)
Liked 1,200 Times
in
760 Posts
But any "normal looking" bike shorts will have the same padding that lycra bike shorts have, probably just a built-in or removable insert. The comfort will be no different. You should just try it. If they don't have the padding, then they're just like any other regular shorts as far as comfort and utility goes.
Likes For Camilo:
02-19-23, 06:55 PM
#19
Senior Member
Lee Extreme Motion Cargo Shorts - various patterns and colors to be found at your retailer-of-choice - around $30 to 35 now, less at the end of the season.
The material AND the waist band are nicely stretchy. Even and odd sizes available. I can ride in them for many hours comfortably - without padded cycling shorts underneath. The cargo pockets are great for carrying phone, wallet, keys, etc. without having this stuff in a back pocket. Try before you buy as some colors/patterns are more stretchy than others.
Best of all you don't look like a middle-aged dork in lycra. But you do look like a middle-aged dork in camo shorts - at least I do!!
The material AND the waist band are nicely stretchy. Even and odd sizes available. I can ride in them for many hours comfortably - without padded cycling shorts underneath. The cargo pockets are great for carrying phone, wallet, keys, etc. without having this stuff in a back pocket. Try before you buy as some colors/patterns are more stretchy than others.
Best of all you don't look like a middle-aged dork in lycra. But you do look like a middle-aged dork in camo shorts - at least I do!!
Last edited by jlaw; 02-19-23 at 07:17 PM.
02-19-23, 07:11 PM
#20
Senior Member
Like law, but older, I wear Carhartt's or Wranglers shorts. They are largely synthetic, so they dry easily and have five (5) pockets. The extra one is perfect for a cell phone. The regular pockets carry wallet, pocket knife, cash money. Chafing has not been a problem. A typical touring day is 30 to 50 miles, or 3-7 hours in the saddle depending on hills, wind, and stamina. They look like shorts, maybe because they are.
02-19-23, 08:26 PM
#21
QR-disc must die!!!
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Shenandoah Valley, Northern Virginia.
Posts: 703
Bikes: '99 Trek 520, '20 Kona Sutra (FOR SALE 48cm), '21 Simon-Bikes mini-velo and a chromoly-framed folding bicycle with drop-bars and V-brakes, that rolls even while folded.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 397 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 199 Times
in
147 Posts
BDU trousers made of ripstop fabric, converted into shorts, works for me. For riding comfort, the seatddle is more important than the clothing. The most comfortable seatddle I've tried, so far, is the Brooks C15 w/cutout. It has one issue only, and that is the abrasive surface, which prematurely wears thru most clothing fabric. The ripstop poly65/cotton35 fabric seems to be immune to this, though. So, yeah, BDU 65/35 ripstop shorts. Six pockets, reinforced crotch, belt loops for my keyring. Nothing that I don't love.
Likes For beng1:
02-20-23, 04:41 AM
#23
Standard Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Brunswick, Maine
Posts: 4,272
Bikes: 1948 P. Barnard & Son, 1962 Rudge Sports, 1963 Freddie Grubb Routier, 1980 Manufrance Hirondelle, 1983 F. Moser Sprint, 1989 Raleigh Technium Pre, 2001 Raleigh M80
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1297 Post(s)
Liked 940 Times
in
490 Posts
__________________
Unless you climb the rungs strategically, you’re not going to build the muscle you need to stay at the top.
Unless you climb the rungs strategically, you’re not going to build the muscle you need to stay at the top.
02-20-23, 05:50 AM
#24
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Likes For RoadWearier:
02-20-23, 07:23 AM
#25
Full Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 413
Bikes: Trek FX 7.3, Specialized Roubaix, Orbea Terra, Aostimotor S17 ebike, Huffy RedRock (first bike)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 199 Post(s)
Liked 266 Times
in
133 Posts
If you're not in a huge rush, AliExpress sells same or similar shorts for half the price as Amazon. Takes 2-3 weeks to ship. Careful with the sizing, sometimes they are in Asian size, sometimes in EU. Just got these:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568...andl_shipto=US
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568...andl_shipto=US