Ask Dethroner: Are There Any Bike Shorts That Aren’t Creepy?
11 Comments Published by Joel September 25th, 2006 in Ask Dethroner, Clothes. Share This
Will writes:
Are there bike shorts out there that don’t make me look like a dork? I can’t exactly wear cargo shorts on my bike, as the flaps get caught on the chain and in general the extra fabric snags on the seat, but I don’t think I can walk around in public in Lycra; a man has gotta take a stand somewhere. Something with pockets would be nice too.
According to Wheat Ridge Cyclery’s helpful guide, it looks like you’re looking for “baggy bicycle shorts” or simply “baggies.” Baggies still have a lycra lining (complete with anti-bacterial funk fighters) but include another layer that look more like traditional hiking shorts. You’ll still get the benefit of ridding commando—no seams means no chafing your nethers—but you can walk into a store without looking like a door-to-door cucumber salesman.
I can’t speak to specific brands as I measure my bike sessions by packs smoked, but it looks like a basic pair
11 Responses to “Ask Dethroner: Are There Any Bike Shorts That Aren’t Creepy?”
- 1 Trackback on Sep 25th, 2006 at 3:02 pm
An easy answer is “NO”
The things just creep me out. Kind of like wearing a full sized speedo, but not being able to hide in the water part of the time. Do you really need aerodynamics over your sac region?
additionally, almost all mountain biking shorts are the style you’d appreciate. some are just “baggies” as noted, but there are also knickers or “knicks” that are popular with mountain bikers and bike couriers that cover 3/4 of your legs for those colder times. try pricepoint.com, they tend to have good closeouts on bike clothing, as it is generally expensive.
cheers and good riding!
I hate to break it to you, but if your cargo shorts are so long they get caught in the chain you’re not wearing shorts….we call those pants.
That, or your legs are so incredibly tiny you can’t reach the pedals anyway…and the fashionable range of your biker shorts isn’t what people are going to notice first.
“Look at the midget on the bicycle! Is he wearing men’s shorts as midget pants?!” That’s what they’ll be saying.
So said, what are the fashionable choices for bike-riding midgits? I believe that was the real question.
The best possible shorts are the lycra ones – especially if you get the nice 8 panel or even 6 panel ones. The baggies above are a great choice for mountain bikes, however, they introduce more drag when you ride them on a road bike. Anyway, why be scared of riding a bike in Lycra? The only one who cares is you, and if you really have such a complex, you might have deeper issues. Anyhow, Nashbar (www.nashbar.com) has a large selection of all sorts of bike shorts. Some even on sale.
“I don’t think I can walk around in public in Lycra”
No man should walk around in public in Lycra. I’m an avid competitive cyclist and one of the first things I learned as a road biker was if you’re not on the bike, get rid of the tight shorts. Even at races, the majority of people throw on sweats or baggy shorts before walking around.
If you like riding for longer distances and don’t have one of those super padded bar stool seats make sure your shorts have padding! You can put a cooler looking seat on your bike and still be comfortable.
I’ve had baggies from Mountain Equipment Co-op for years. I can’t believe how clean I can get these things, and they stay comfortable for hours. I’ve still got mine even though I traded in my MTB for an upright commuter bike.
Try the Hucks, which are the latest incarnation of the shorts I’ve got, or the Samurais which are part of a great line of bike wear.
L.L. Bean makes a decent pair of “baggy” bike shorts:
http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?page=comfort-cycling-shorts&categoryId=40487&parentCategory=8249&cat4=8247&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&feat=ssdpa8247
They’re $50 and non-revealing, but also allow for going commando and seem to keep the stink at bay pretty well.
Uhm… Let me answer this from a Dutch perspective:
Yes! All pants are bicycle pants. Seriously, we have secretaries of state coming to work at the parliament on a bike, in a business suit. No problem. :-).
What you want are the Dobies or Fenders from NZO (http://www.nzoactive.com/showroom.php). I’ve worn these shorts exclusively for 7 years now and can certainly vouch for their hardwearing yet non-roadie qualities. (I commute to work every day, rain or shine and only wear these shorts)
These shorts are designed to be worn commando and don’t have an inner liner. If you’re used to a lot of padding these will feel a bit different – there’s not a huge amount to speak of but it does the job well.
They have rugged canvas sides with usefully placed pockets and a central section made of a stretchy fabric they call Nzonium which is a bit like heavy tracksuiting. They’re not too tight but they don’t flap around either.
What I hate about conventional baggies is that there’s too much bulky fabric and padding to feel comfortable wearing them off the bike and they’re so loose that they get caught during mount/dismounts. With the NZO shorts that’s not an issue.
(not an employee just a devoted fan)
Veloboy
__2 wheels and a meat motor__
“I don’t think I can walk around in public in Lycra”
It’s not the material the shorts are made of or the even shorts themselves. Apparently you are uncomfortable with people seeing your package. And you seem uncomfortable seeing other men’s packages. Hangups with men’s packages are usually a sign of latent homosexuality (i.e. You are denying feelings you are having). I would say the problem lies with you, not your shorts.