[Closed] Waterproof shorts - Why ?

Yes get your ass dry.
Full on trousers and sealskin sock are good in winter, but not doable in mid season or summer. One can cope quite easily with dry lower when temperature is not too cold. However I found wet bottom to be most uncomfortable.
HTH

I find they strike a good balance between temperature control and comfort. You never stay completely dry anyway.

Nappy Rash!

I don't want to use a crudcatcher...

And as said already - they keep your bum dry (and lycra shorts underneath). I can whip them off, stick on some other shorts in the car park and avoid any embarrasing exposure moments (and a lot less hastle) 😉

Rear mudguards are gay.

Can you get waterproof skorts?

Can you get waterproof skorts?

Clingfilm?

Personally I hate having a wet arse, damp shins and calves I can live with…

As for using mud guards, fair point, if your commuting or just plodding along tow paths but not always practical if you’re a bit more “active” on the bike, those bloody great whale tail things get in the way and get knocked sideways quite easily riding more technical single track leaning the bike over, hanging you backside over the rear wheel and having the odd off (even more likely in the wet) and while closer mounted Guards keep more spray down they also suffer from a high potential for damage on the trails and can get clogged in proper mud…

Plus there’s all the other water to consider, spray from other vehicles if on the road, heavy rain and collected water gushing off trees or out of guttering…

It’s simply easier to try and waterproof the rider than try and prevent all possible sources of arse soaking….

They keep my willie warm and dry.

I like it more than I like my ankles... 😈

Waterproof shorts rule! As others have said you can whip them off at the end of a ride and drive home / go to cafe in your lycra. Rear crudcatchers just get in the way on fs bikes when you take air 🙂

Unless you ride like some kind of slow poke pansy, a crud catcher is not going to keep you completely dry in the short area.

waterproof anything (apart from something to keep your beer money in) is useless on a bike. FACT.

As sv said - If I ride for a few hours with a wet arse, I end up with some sore bits
Waterproof shorts prevent this

The OP obviously never rides in the rain

I do
A lot 🙂

I dont mind any of me getting wet on the whole however what it particularly nasty is riding in heavy/moderate rain and having torrents of water run down your lovely event jacket onto your thighs and soaking your shorts

Which is why I want new waterproof shorts or trousers

HTH

I knew I was going to get wet on Sunday, so I sucked up and bought some Altura waterproof shorts, and used Crud Catchers, and wore a paclite jacket. Sure enough it bucketed down, but I stayed nice and dry apart from my lower legs and hands, which was fine. More then one person said I looked very clean that day.

Crud Catchers work. End of story. My face stayed clean, everyone without one was filthy.
Waterproof shorts work. My arse stayed dry even with the rain running off my jacket.

I was comfy all day. Before I tried waterproof shorts I thought they were odd. Having tried them, they are brilliant. 🙂

plastic mud guards will make any mountain bike look like the "prize" from a kinder egg!

I don't normally run mud guards if it's a short ride. But doing my CTC trail Leader course this weekend, I'll be out in what's likely to be awful weather for two days on the trot. I'll be waterproofed and mud guarded up to the hilt.

I did the same for the CLIC24 which was torrential, never used any of my spare riding gear aside from a change of waterproof socks in the morning of day two.

As has been said, mud guards don't protect you from various aspects of the mud and the wet. Waterproof shorts are an added protection without the full 'boil in the bag' and risk of catching on stuff that full waterproof bottoms give. Try it, you'll be amazed! 😉

I've got a mudguard and by the time I got to work this morning my waterproof shorts were covered in mud.

Trimix have you actually tried any?

Is there anybody here has used them and then decided no I prefer a cold wet chaffing?

Are you missing something? No it's the rest of us missing a sore wet arse.

I love riding in the wet and do use a crud catcher. Im too old to worry about the bike looking "unfashionable" with a crud catcher fitted and they do work. I was looking at some new winter gear and wondered what waterproof shorts were all about.

Since I have a large van I dont have to get all naked in car parks when changing after the ride. Plus Id hate to sit around in a pub after a ride in only my lycra !

I dont mind getting wet, but i agree, Id not want a wet arse for the whole ride. So I reckon I will stick to a crud catcher and normal shorts.

Cheers for the comments.

Plus Id hate to sit around in a pub after a ride in only my lycra !

Since I have a large van I dont have to get all naked in car parks when changing after the ride

You're missing out there 😀

I never saw the point to waterproof shorts till I bought some in the sale last year. If you feel the need to waer baggy shorts and ride in the rain then they are fantastic, normal baggy shorts get soggy, cold and flappy in the rain, waterproof shorts don't. They are also great for commuting as the water shakes off them and you don't need to try to get your lycra dry for the journey home. I wouldn't be without a pair.

Do Waterproof Shorts lose their waterproofness if you wash them after every ride?

I was told if you use standard detergents on these fabrics it harms the fabric and doesnt retain its waterproofness.

I only ever knock the mud off my waterproof jacket or give it a wipe with a damp sponge.

I've ben using mine for over a year around 3-4 times a week and wash them once a week. I just stick them in the tumble drier after washing and they are still waterproof.

if you dont see the point in waterproof shorts you obviously dont ride long enough or in bad weather.....

Having done several endurance events and coming off the bike unable to sit down due to nappy rash ill put up with damp shins - as they dont affect my ability to sleep/drive/sit

now the owner of 2 pairs of event stealth bib longs for wet rides !

[i]if you dont see the point in waterproof shorts you obviously dont ride long enough or in bad weather.....[/i]

what a crock of arrogant toss.

Normally I'd have said they're a waste of time but since some ****er decided to throw my soaking wet clothes from the radiator onto the floor so I had to put on cold, wet and muddy clothes for the ride home, I'm reconsidering. I'm also considering finding out who it was and letting them have a 20 miler pair of soaking wet shorts around the face.

if you dont see the point in waterproof shorts you obviously dont ride long enough or in bad weather.....

what a crock of arrogant toss.

Isn't this the query?

Either you stay dry or wet, not half wet/dry

AndyP I don't think that’s 'a crock of arrogant toss' ([i]a phrase so American I feel queasy repeating it[/i]) at all. A lot of folk on here don’t ride in all weathers so don’t understand why someone would want a fully waterproof jacket, or how a helmet light is no use in fog, or how mudguards are great for commuting.

Waterproof trousers are too hot, there is no way I could ride a 20 mile commute in waterproof shorts. And I don't really get riding any distance in trousers.

[i]AndyP I don't think that’s 'a crock of arrogant toss' (a phrase so American I feel queasy repeating it) at all. A lot of folk on here don’t ride in all weathers so don’t understand why someone would want a fully waterproof jacket, or how a helmet light is no use in fog, or how mudguards are great for commuting[/i]

sorry. The post sounds as though it was written by an arrogant ****. is that acceptable?
An assumption that just because somebody doesn't think that waterproof shorts are useful, they mustn't ride in bad weather or for very long? Ridiculous. I understand that some people don't ride in all weathers. I also understand that some people do ride in all weathers and don't use mudguards or waterproofs. Like me, for instance.

I can't understand why someone would get so uptight about waterproof shorts.

who is getting uptight about waterproof shorts?

Well if you're name calling then it certainly sounds like you're not a happy bunny.

but instead of selective quoting for pedants sake you would see i did answer the question

I haven't got any waterproof shorts, but can see how they might be handy at keeping you a bit drier.

I normally find my mudguards do a pretty good job though & don't have an issue with looking unfashionable.
My rear crud guard (old flat version) doesn't get in the way when I ride & only ever goes wonky when I stack it. But, my riding probably doesn't feature that highly on the gnarly scale.

anyone who did the Transrockies this year would see the value of waterproof shorts! 🙁 while you'll never be completely dry, they keep you much warmer than wet lycra or baggies

[i]Well if you're name calling then it certainly sounds like you're not a happy bunny. [/i]
I'm not a 'happy bunny'? (a phrase so childish I feel queasy repeating it)
I'm perfectly happy, thanks. I just think it's ridiculous that someone makes a sweeping statement as to the amount of riding someone does based on whether they use waterproof shorts or not.

anyone who rode in scotland on sunday would see the benefits ....

I always thought a crud catcher would suffice, but bought some as they were only £45 and worth a punt at that price. Crud catchers do help to keep your bum dry but are no measn perfect and do nothing about the rain that falls onto you.

They are warm and keep you dry. Much better than wet lycra.

Sorry I should have used a crass American phrase instead.

I remember you getting all het up about the full guards thread a while ago. It was quite amusing.

Agreed trail_rat I was out for about three hours and my feet and hands were like blocks of ice, my arse and thighs were warm and dry though.

'all het up'?
Apologies, I don't know what that means so I can't comment.
Glad to have amused you though. I can't remember the particular instance.

SWEET JESUS WOULD YOU TWO TAKE IT OUTSIDE!!

I can't take it outside. it might rain. 😉

Back on topic...

Anyone got any particular recommendations for waterproof shorts?

Gore

altura dry line - endura super lite both served me well

Also been in touch with endura and they are gonna broach the subject of making a stealth/stealth extreme bib short at the next product devo meeting as the trousers are overkill for most of the summer but would be fine on hot wet summer days to be able to have a dry chamois. - can make or break a race when you find you cant sit on saddle down due to nappy rash

Altura Attack 3/4s from Merlin

Re the washing of waterproof shorts, in order to avoid having to fully wash them each time they get muddy, I just either rinse them down with the hose or in the shower.

Endura Stealth extreme tights, stealth jacket and a crud catcher.

Rode my commute of 12 miles off road, muddy but stayed dry.

Pieface - Member

Altura Attack 3/4s from Merlin

LOL, only ridden them once so far.

The only thing I'd think is that the seam sealant tape across the crotch looks like its the main weak point, however not sure if it would ever come to that.

I asked the same question the other week and someone had been using them for a year. I think at the price you can't go wrong.

Waterproof shorts = army camo gore tex cut down to 3/4 or 1/2 from fleabay.

Gore AlpX II short - simply brilliant XC shorts, well cut, lightweight, hard wearing. (also available as trousers... even better for proper winter riding since it keeps boots/feet dry)

Endura Venturi eVent - heavier and tougher than Gore, but still v-good shorts.