Mountain Biking - tight shorts a go or no??

ok. Now when i go mountain biking i usually wear one of my jerseys Or a thin shirt with some of my raggedy shorts. Does anyone hear wear those really tight shorts that are made? you can find them at places like coloradocyclist.com Theyr made for biking.. Whats the big advantage about them and does any one wear them when riding trails?? i wear a pair of old shorts so if i rip or tear em up its no big deal.. Any thoughts to this??

I wear bike shorts underneath regular board shorts or athletic shorts. The extra padding in the shorts helps you go the distance and makes your ride more comfortable.

I'd say buy a pair and try em out underneath your raggedy shorts they dont get in the way at all and it makes the ride more enjoyable especially with a hardtail.

I hate the tight shorts, but it's DEFINATELY far more comfortable with the chamois, like your ass nerves or whatever get pinched without it. Buy some baggy mtb shorts w/ a chamois in it.

Edit: Of course, if you have big ripped legs...

sweet. thanks for the help. i didnt realize they have padding in them . i can see wher that would help cuz 15 miles and up on a bike can be hard on the rear .. Thatnks again for the help

The way I ride I'm in an out of the saddle a lot, workin' it up hills, and hangin' over the back on descents. For me it's important to have a smooth, unobstructed contact with the seat. I used to wear baggie shorts but got tired of them getting hung up on the seat. So unless it's an easy, laid back ride (like around town or something) I wear the lycra shorts and don't wear baggies - they just get in the way.

I like the feeling, but these days it's a fashion feaxpaus. So I'm wearing my lyrcra shorts under a pair of Fox Demos, and also have a pair of baggies with built in pad. Skin tight stuff is out except for roadies.

... and ladies. :D

Tight shorts? NO SHORTS!

RIDE NEKKID!

who/what on earth is this troll thing??

I typically wear Lycra shorts on the MTB; who cares about fashion? I don't like the shorts getting hung up on the seat when I'm sitting down after a climb.

Lycra shorts keep things from ummm.... bouncing around....

I wear the bike shorts. I ride cross country and don't like getting the baggy shorts hung up on the seat. Under other synthetic shorts can be slippery too. Lycra on polyester is like ice. Who cares if the free ride community doesn't like it.

I too, used to be against the look of lycra when i ride so i'd wear a pair of mesh shorts over the stuff. Then i realized the majority of the ride you're out in the middle of nowhere and nobody gives a dam. The airyness of the tight stuff and the freedom far outweighs the 5 minutes of looking odd in the parking lot. Besides its as close as you can get to freeballing in public

The airyness of the tight stuff and the freedom far outweighs the 5 minutes of looking odd in the parking lot. Besides its as close as you can get to freeballing in public

LOL,:D :lol: :roflmao: :lol: :D

That has got to be the BEST rational I've heard yet!

BTW, I still wear baggies!

now that you all mention all the good points about wearing tight shorts i think ill go get me a pair! I have gotten snagged on my seat before with baggy shorts but ive learned to manuver around that .. thanks for the help

Originally posted by shaun16
who/what on earth is this troll thing??

A.troll is a 5-inch (not counting hair) little gorgeous doll with lots of boyfriends here on Bikeforums. And she will probably want YOU to be her boyfriend, too, when you grow up!

:D

P.S. Read this thread: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19527&highlight=troll+poll

or this one: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19534&highlight=troll+poll

That should explain Trollie better than I can.

ok. Now when i go mountain biking i usually wear one of my jerseys Or a thin shirt with some of my raggedy shorts. Does anyone hear wear those really tight shorts that are made? you can find them at places like coloradocyclist.com Theyr made for biking.. Whats the big advantage about them and does any one wear them when riding trails?? i wear a pair of old shorts so if i rip or tear em up its no big deal.. Any thoughts to this??

I usually wear baggies when I ride with friends, but I wear regular "tight shorts" when I ride alone or with people who aren't going to make fun of me. They are just more comfortable. The longer the ride the more of a difference they will make in your comfort level.

I prefer the lycra cycling shorts, they dont get caught on the seat, they are cooler, Im not a free rider, I dont have any fashion sense anyway, and they do increase circulation, which my wimpy chicken legs need!

I wear the tight shorts. They're comfy and allow me more freedom of movement. I own 3 pair of baggies, but the padding is less, the overshort gets hung on stuff and they're generally uncomfortable. I'm not fashion conscious in anything else, why care now?

Since this thread was bumped anyway...




How high on the Gay-O-Meter do lycra cycling tights rank? And is it considered stupid to wear a pair of baggies over them? There are certain things you just dont do when wearing lycra.. like ride without a shirt. But is it dumb to wear anything over lycra full length tights? And what are my other options other than wearing tights? Anything baggy gets caught in my chain rings and doesn't work well for riding.

I wear both and here's some comments:

- Baggies look cool, but may not be as comfy as lycra. I have short, tree trunk legs. So they fit tight on the upper thigh and its hard to find ones that aren't too long. The cuff on mine moves up and down just above the knee. Its not to the point where it chafes, but its annoying. Perhaps better shorts (expensive) may not have this problem. They are also more abrasion/tear resistant so you reduce the chance of showing some skin after a crash.

- Lycra is more comfy and is what I prefer to wear. They also make wearing tights over them in cold weather easy. There are a lot of folks wearing these mtbing here, so I never even think about it. Going to pick up some things at the grocery store is possibly the only problem.

Athough I gave up trying to be hip a while ago, one thing I do try to avoid is wearing lycra shorts with a t-shirt or t-shirt style jersey. I usually try to wear a tight fitting road type jersey with lycra and my t-shirt jerseys with baggies. Any comments?

Dave

Yeah, I never wear lycra when riding on the street or in the public, just at the trails. And I always wear a race-fit jersey (No freeride style ones that are oversized and baggy) and I don't feel uncomfortable in the slightest. I just tend to wear baggies more these days.

No chance. No where, No how. I like big and baggy but made not to get caught on the seat. Tight stuff just doesn't work on me :D

I always wear my lycra. I look like crap as I am 230 lbs, but I really feel more comfy with the support given by them. I can throw a pair of "sport shorts" on over them if going to the store etc...

i usually wear baggies but i've been out with lycra showin off my man bags

summer I wear cotton shorts, like jeans cut off or whatever.

winter I wear long underwear, jeans and rain pants over those. I don't seem to have an issue with my seat getting in the way.

Baggies with a BMX/DH/freeride Jersey or T-shirt.

I wear baggies but I think I'm going to get some lycra soon. The whole shorts catching on the seat is getting annoying. Plus I hear that chicks dig guys in tight shorts. :D

I like baggy over lycra or baggies with the lycra inserts. Crashing in lycra sucks. It offers almost no protection for your legs, I watched a guy I ride with go down and rip up his lycra shorts, tear up his legs, plus he had to ride back to his car with half of his ass showing.

No fun at all. Baggy is not the same as saggy, if you're catching your shorts on your seat then the crotch of the shorts is probably too low.

How high on the Gay-O-Meter do lycra cycling tights rank? And is it considered stupid to wear a pair of baggies over them? There are certain things you just dont do when wearing lycra.. like ride without a shirt. But is it dumb to wear anything over lycra full length tights? And what are my other options other than wearing tights? Anything baggy gets caught in my chain rings and doesn't work well for riding.
i have seen a lot of the bike couriers here that ride around downtown toronto wearing full length tights with baggie shorts over them. they're usually decked out like the guy in the beginning of kranked 2 is. i've also seen a bunch of people who ride to work in their work clothes using some florecent velcro strap thingy that they wrap around their pant leg to prevent it from getting caught up or dirtied by their chainrings or chain. maybe you can do something similar to your baggie pants so they don't get caught up.

Plus I hear that chicks dig guys in tight shorts. :D

At one of our Wednesday night in town XC races there were a bunch of teenage girls who were rating all of the guys 'assets' as they rode by! Kind of ego inflating. ;)

Lycra all the way for me, I don't give two craps about what is fashionable thus it's function all the way.

I met this lady who owns a company that makes these boxerbriefs for bikers. They are like biker shorts with all the padding in the right places only you wear them like underwear. So far I really like em. As I can wear whatever shorts I want to, but have the comfort of biker shorts.

MBD

Lycra cycling shorts = Speedo Swimming Trunks.

The chicks will love you for it!!! :roflmao:

Now I know what those mountain bike chicks really hang out with us for.


;)

I definitely have to wear some padded biking shorts. If it's super hot out, I'll wear the short shorts by themselves (though I don't like people behind me watching my a$$ jiggle), but all other times I wear baggy mountain biking shorts with the built in liner/padding. They are not too short/long and super cute.

Wearing padded bike shorts with regular shorts over them does not work for me. Gets too bunched up.

My favorite pair are Yuba by Zoic.



Originally Posted by Jim311
How high on the Gay-O-Meter do lycra cycling tights rank? And is it considered stupid to wear a pair of baggies over them? There are certain things you just dont do when wearing lycra.. like ride without a shirt. But is it dumb to wear anything over lycra full length tights? And what are my other options other than wearing tights? Anything baggy gets caught in my chain rings and doesn't work well for riding.


I don't think it looks stupid. I have friends that wear the baggies over their tights. Padded shorts, then the tights, then the baggies. My husband does it like that. Maybe he doesn't like his nooks and crannies out there for the world to see. One friend of mine wear tights then her baggies w/inserts over to get the padding. I think that would feel uncomfortable with the seem of the tights right at your crotch. For long layers I don't really like tights, they don't keep me warm, so I use some biking windpants from Bell Weather. THey are slim fit, and don't get caught in my chain. I think getting that layer of air between my skin and pants to heat up as I bike keeps me warmer. Then I can wear my shorts or baggie w/inserts with the pants over them.

What baggies would you guys recommend for overall comfort, looks, and durability... that don't snag on the seat? I really don't like the spandex look, and my other shorts snag on my seat because the inseam is too deep.

Put me as another who prefers lycra. My reasoning is purely functional - I've tried baggies and they always bunched up and got caught on the horn of the saddle. I also suffered more chafing with baggies than lycra; for the most part the lycra stays put, the baggies don't.

As for any perceived "gayness" factor (as someone called it) of lycra, people can think whatever they like. All I know is I'm comfortable wearing it - both physically and mentally - and have yet to hear anybody laughing at me (although it probably happens after I'm out of sight. ;))...

I stick with lycra also unless cruising with my kids(they dont want to be seen with someone in their underwear is what they say)if you can find baggies that fit right they are more fahionable but what about when baggies go out of style.i hope coaching shorts never come back in style cuz they are FUNNY LOOKING(Magnum P I on a mountain bike).ive had plenty of crashes in both and prefer to crash in lycra because they keep my valuables in place.ive tried boxerbriefs also but they were a little lacking on the padding.my favorites are the cotton lycra blend even though they are harder to find cuz they breathe much better for me.i too have short legs and a spare around my waist so i usually wear a baggie shirt to cut down on windresistence(ha ha)and you are right when in the woods the squirrels and deer only care about getting out of the way although an occasional crow may get a good laugh.i honestly have never seen anyone on a serious ride in anything but lycra(im sure they are out there just never seen it)most people ive seen going crazy fast down a mountain ive seen were wearing leather.ive had too many wrecks trying to shift my weight to go back to any other unless i see some that will work better than ive seen locally.good topic here too thanks for bringing it up.and what is a GAY-O-METER.i thought is was about personal performance and love of the sport.GAY-O-METER that is toooo funny will have to remember that one(still LOL)

[QUOTE]Tight shorts? NO SHORTS!

RIDE NEKKID!

In one of my mags (MBUK) Some roadies didnt used to wear any shorts when racing in the earlier 90's cos they beleived it was more aerodynamic....

As far as which kind of baggies to buy. That's easy, NEMA! These are the MOST comfortable pair of shorts I own. The Stone and Crown Jewels are awesome! I think Pricepoint has some Stones. Yep, here's a link: http://www.pricepoint.com/detail.htm?stylepkey=12235&detailName=Nema%20Stone%20Technical%20Short&style_id=545%20NEMST2&dept_id=&deptName=&sub_id=&subName=&lprice=59.98&hprice=59.98

L8R