General Cycling Discussion - Shorts - How Tight Should they Fit?

50% of total calculated lycra stretch? Tight enough to display your 'package' to its best advantage? Tight enough to cut off the circulation in your legs? Depends on aerodynamic testing in air tunnel? Other?

50% of total calculated lycra stretch? Tight enough to display your 'package' to its best advantage? Tight enough to cut off the circulation in your legs? Depends on aerodynamic testing in air tunnel? Other?

I'd stop just short of cutting off your circulation. I'm pretty sure proper fitting shorts are still comfortable.

Even shorts that are too big, can't help but display your "package":D

Just remember to always wear black shorts. If you don't believe me, do a search of the Roadie forum for the "don't wear red shorts" thread.

Websites like Performance have sizing charts to help you out. European companies tend to run small; my Santini jersey is a large while everything else I wear is medium and even then isn't skin tight.

You don't want shorts so loose they move about, bunch up, and then chafe you to death. This is also why you don't wear underwear underneath; it'll chafe. If you are just cruising around the neighborhood for a few miles it doesn't matter but longer rides require some attention being paid to comfort.

You can wear mountain bike shorts (baggies) that are looser but still have the chamois.

[QUOTE=randya] Tight enough to display your 'package' to its best advantage? QUOTE]

Reminds me of the song, You're so Vain by Simon. But why not.

IMO, simply tight enough that nothing is loose (for reasons bbattle mentioned), and the, er, package is supported to the extent it isn't getting in harms way. Loose is waaaayyy worse than tight.

Tight everywhere except the crotch, where it should be comfortably snug. Length at waist and cuff should be adequate. If you worry about ripping them when you put them on, either they're too cheap or they're too small.