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What are the options? There'll be for my commute. Currently using mtb shorts but they are heavy and go almost to my knees, which makes them pretty hot in this weather. Is there anything out there that's bike specific but made with lighter material and a bit shorter? A bit less über baggy wouldn't go amiss either! 🙂
The point of tight-fitting shorts is that they don't flap annoyingly in the wind and they hold the pad snugly in the right place.
Yeah... but he doesn't want to look lke a [url= http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/cyclists-to-stop-displaying-genitals-2015012094586 ]sex offender[/url], does he? 😛
Fox ranger shorts are a lot less baggy and a bit shorter than most, and made out of really light material. Great for summer riding, or indeed commuting
Vulpine?
http://www.vulpine.cc/Shop/Mens/Trousers-Jeans-Shorts/ICAT1005/MENS-SUMMER-SHORTS/ITM1161
Rapha?
http://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop-/shorts-%26-trousers/category/shorts-and-trousers
I have a pair of Valine shorts - overpriced and stitching has come apart in the crutch area!! The Mar Endura shorts are a great slim fit - again expensive but tough wearing
Sorry Vulpine shorts and MTR Endura
I can recommend the Swrve shorts - comfortable, well made and smart.
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Top Man
[url= http://www.giro.com/media/catalog/product/cache/7/image/479x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/1/s14_giro_apparel_j6a5663_1_2.jp g" target="_blank">http://www.giro.com/media/catalog/product/cache/7/image/479x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/1/s14_giro_apparel_j6a5663_1_2.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Giro New Road as well.
Lots of summer weight baggies around - they just aren't marketed as road shorts.
I have some Gore ones that aren't very baggy, and also Endura.
try your local Aldi. I got a pair pf their cycling shorts for the princely sum of £12. They are stretchy and tighter than MTB baggies and come with a reasonable liner. Had for a couple of months and no complaints so far.
I use rapha touring shorts over lycra bibs for commuting, they wear very well.
I wear them for various reasons - I like to have my phone in a secure pocket and the rear pocket on these is ideal, I like to look stealth and surprise people in full team kit tutting at me 🙂
There's some Hoy shorts for sale with Evans that might be what you're after - called urban ( or something along those lines )
Just buy light weight walking shorts from Cotswolds etc and wear those?
SWRVE cigarette shorts are fantastic ; but pretty heavyweight so are a bit sweaty for hard riding.
perfect for riding to the pub, the park the sea or a party though. which is what i got them for...
I do all my commuting in these (Bought at sale price!):
[url= http://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/touring-shorts/product/TSH03 ]Touring Shorts[/url]
Good fit, no flapping and have worn well over the last couple of years. Going back to typical MTB shorts is painful in comparison!
Just wear any pair of road bib shorts with a lightweight pair of shorts over the top if you feel shy...inadequate 😉
Even a pair of old running shorts if you're feeling cheap.
Commute in full team sky kit. its the only way.
mrchrispy - Member
Commute in full team sky kit. its the only way.
This made me laugh!
Thanks for all the suggestions, I look forward to investigating the options.....
Decathlon are good for this type of thing at the less spendy end of things.
Hilarious - I was going to recommend [url= http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/clothing/shorts/baggy/product/review-surface-clothing-liquistretch-baggy-short-11-45571/ ]Surface Liquistretch shorts[/url] - they're out of production but there were still some pairs floating around ebay recently. Had a quick search on ebay - nothing listed. Instead eBay suggested the alternative search of 'Razzle Magazine' 😯
Anyway seems like Triton Cycles and Winstanleys might still have some in stock. Or someone might leave some in a hedge for you.
Useful pockets, belt loops and a zip rather than stupid velcro. Very light weight, conventional cut but a very supple fabric so they feel right on the bike without having bike specific tailoring, slim-fitting enough not to flap in the wind. Wind and shower proof without being rustily.
This seems to work
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Rapha Touring shorts here too - been using mine everyday for over 3 years and still going strong. No signs of wear which is really impressive.
I just stick on a set of undershorts (either regular or 3/4) for the padding.
I used to wear lederhosen as a kid owing to my German heritage. They're great do-anything trousers, especially suited to high speed bannister sliding.
Just as an extra question - what do you guys normally wear along with your non-lycra shorts? I'm tending to favour a Howies merino top. And then a light shell jacket when it's a bit drizzly.
On the warmer days I might put on a proper jersey - but I can never seem to find one with a decent length fit.
growinglad
I bet.
Get back to work.
has anyone said DHB?
dhb Navo shorts from Wiggle are £18, lightweight, slim fit, durable - mine are exactly 1 year old today, are used 5 days a week for 100 miles a week and are showing no signs of wear.
[i]Commute in full team sky kit. its the only way. [/i]
Funnily enough I often see a guy on my ride home in ultra full sky kit including helmet and he even wears longs in hot weather so clearly pro. He's bloody slow though - on a 'recovery' ride I guess.
Haglöfs Lizard shorts are brilliant if you can find them cheap - they're very expensive at full whack - stretchy soft shell, good length, neat cut that's not too loose or tight. Work great over liner shorts or bibs.
Shermer75 - Both have already been mentioned but Decathlon and DHB's offerings are what I use for exactly what you've described, with liner short under.
Prezet - I favour running-type T-shirts, usually in Hi-Viz yellow flavour (I know there's another debate to get into about hi-viz, but that's my preference). Cheap, with enough of a 'fit' to not be flappng around, but at the same time not skin tight. Doubled up for those chilly spring mornings!
Get to TKMaxx and have a riffle through the "shorts" aisle. I've picked up a couple of pairs there that happen really good for riding in, for different reasons. £16 each.
It might be worth going back a couple of times, but if you want variety, there's more in there than anywhere else.
These:
http://www.rohan.co.uk/mens-travel-and-outdoor-shorts-Outrider-Shorts?ocode=03579550
I've been using these for the last couple of months. I'm very impressed.
dhb Navo shorts from Wiggle
That's what I use, had them for 2 years. They get used generally a minimum of once a week up to a max of four times, and they are still going strong. The reflective strips are good, and yet not too visible when walking off the bike.
[url= http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-navo-baggy-short/ ]DNB Navo[/url]
What's the sizing like on the DHB shorts? Normal / true? Or is Small for children and pixies?
I'll prob try decathlon first as there's one near-ish to me...
The Rapha touring shorts are really good. I used to use them for my commute to avoid the barrage of lycra comments at work. They're not cheap but they were a good intermediate, for me, between lycra and baggies
What's the sizing like on the DHB shorts?
I'm sometimes a medium, sometimes a large. I have these in a medium.
Ta! Taken a punt on the small, as it doesn't sound Italian sizing.
+1 for Giro's new road shorts. They're not baggy, just not skin tight. I did a load of road riding in the alps last year in some, they were comfortable, not flappy or annoying.
Rapha Touring shorts here too - been using mine everyday for over 3 years and still going strong. No signs of wear which is really impressive.
really? do you ride much? I've gone through 3/4 pairs in the last couple of years, I'm down to 2 pairs now, more or less 1 pair is always away at Rapha for repairs
[i]really? do you ride much? I've gone through 3/4 pairs in the last couple of years, I'm down to 2 pairs now, more or less 1 pair is always away at Rapha for repairs [/i]
I've gone through one pair and I'm on my 2nd. 1st pair lasted around 3 years, I commute 20 miles each way 3-5 days a week and wear the rapha touring shorts at least 50% of the time. I have gore waterproof shorts for wet days.
I certainly wouldn't send them back to rapha for repair as I wouldn't expect them to last forever.
It might be the difference between your saddles.
I certainly wouldn't send them back to rapha for repair as I wouldn't expect them to last forever.
why not? part of the reason i justify the high cost of some Rapha items is the repair service, shorts are almost a consumable item and if they want to repair them for free great, thrown too many shorts away from other brands
Repair Service Policy
Rapha offers a free repair service where a crash or accident has damaged a garment or a failure has occurred [b]even after significant usage.[/b]
It might be the difference between your saddles.
Fizik Antares 00
What does the repair consist of? Stitching a seam where the threads worn through? I can do that myself. I've used the repair service before for crash damage but wouldn't bother for a bit of stitching.
Flite tranalp and flite kit carbonio
Those Navo shorts look good. Unless you are smashing out a world class century covered in advertising slogons (why the **** do people ride wearing those?) - why would you wear skin tight lycra?
Walking into a cafe with your cock obviously outlined isn't fun- now I know how girls feel with a large chest= very conscious.
ANYONE in lycra doesn't look good.
[i]why would you wear skin tight lycra? [/i]
[i]ANYONE in lycra doesn't look good.[/i]
Why wouldn't you wear it?
Its not about looks, its about purpose. I don't go out on my bike to attract the laydeez.
I wear overshorts when commuting for a reason, I don't need them on nromal road rides so don't wear them.
ANYONE in lycra doesn't look good.
Who the hell cares? It's very functional.
Lycra doesn't outline my cock, there's just a lump, it's no different to tight jeans. There's a thick bit of towelling at the front that covers it, it's not just thin lycra down there.
What does the repair consist of? Stitching a seam where the threads worn through? I can do that myself. I've used the repair service before for crash damage but wouldn't bother for a bit of stitching.
they patch it up using the same fabric
[i]they patch it up using the same fabric [/i]
Yeh they did that with the top I holed in a crash. No holes in my shorts though.
Not cheap but I find my Endura MTR baggies work really well for road riding. Very lightweight, slim on the legs / barely notice you're wearing them. Feel a bit delicate for off road - single tracks better there.
Lycra doesn't outline my cock, there's just a lump, it's no different to tight jeans. There's a thick bit of towelling at the front that covers it, it's not just thin lycra down there.
Your jeans aren't thinly sprayed on with a lump centrally placed.
seriously hora.
I for one look awsomez in figure hugging cycle wear, despite not being on the schwerpz, I'm sure the ladies love it.
[i]Your jeans aren't thinly sprayed on with a lump centrally placed.[/i]
Hora I don't know what sort of lycra shorts you've tried but all the ones I have have a pad that goes up the front a touch covering the offending 'lump'. Maybe you've tried padless lycra running shorts or the issue with clearly visible male genitalia is in your head
I have have a pad that goes up the front a touch covering the offending 'lump'
Its the lump poking out the back thats offending me
Your jeans aren't thinly sprayed on with a lump centrally placed.
Neither are my lycra shorts. No cock on display here:
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No cock on display here
So having a small knob does have its advantages after all ?
OMFG! People might know I have a willy!
I ride far enough to work to get changed, so I wear cycling clothes on the bike. I've popped into pubs for a quick pint on the way home, and whilst I'll put some overshorts on if I know I'm gonna do so, I don't think anyone imagines I'm trying to show off the budgie when I don't.
(I think that pose photographed above is a bit strange looking though, possibly to avoid bulge, who knows.)
Google for pictures of cycling shorts, they are all like that.
I know there are some wardrobe fails out there though amongst pros - maybe it's the podium girls.
Google for pictures of cycling shorts, they are all like that.
I got the Polish cycling team and it wasn't anything like that 😐
[i]Google for pictures of cycling shorts, they are all like that.[/i]
Think I'll leave it for now ta
really? do you ride much? I've gone through 3/4 pairs in the last couple of years, I'm down to 2 pairs now, more or less 1 pair is always away at Rapha for repairs
Yep, commute about 15 miles every day and the occasional weekend ride (when I don't fancy getting the mtb out). I wear them year round.
The DHB shorts are good and cheap. Dunno why you'd pay more. They last ages as well, I've had a few crashes in mine and they're still not ripped. The sizing is alright, small fits my 32" waist fine.
The GBW Element Shorts are fairly lightweight and give you plenty of breathing space in these hot summer temps! I use them for my half hour commutes every day 🙂 http://www.tgstore.co.uk/element-shorts-p-6404.html
I got the Polish cycling team and it wasn't anything like that
Indeedy!
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on my daily commute (8 mile each way) I wear cycling shorts (not bibs) with some cheapo sale 'hiking' shorts that I got from Katmandu/Cotswold or somewhere similar. light weight, cheap, proved durable so far..
Decathlon's cheapo B'Twin 300 series are even better than Navos (Got both, always reach for the B'Twins). Lighter, thinner, narrower, handy poppered pocket.
Just as an extra question - what do you guys normally wear along with your non-lycra shorts? I'm tending to favour a Howies merino top.
Yep. I have two - short and long sleeve so can double up if it's a bit chilly.
Why wouldn't you wear it?
I don't put on my walking gear for a stroll to the shops.