Fifty Plus (50+) - bike shorts??

As a newcomer, when do you need to buy bike shorts for a longer ride?
I have worn regular shorts for as long as an hour --I was wondering if I need to buy
bike shorts for longer rides this spring or summer. I weigh 155 lbs. and have a
fairly comfortable male-specific saddle..

For longer rides you'll appreciate either padded shorts or a padded liner to wear under unpadded (or regular) shorts. Hubby switched from denim shorts to bike shorts after only a few months of riding because he disliked the feel of the looser denim shorts rubbing the top of each leg with each pedal stroke. I wear padded liners under unpadded bike pants, or under jeans if I'm out for a short ride around the neighborhood. I tried a short ride once without the padded liner and it was very uncomfortable.

Edit: That said.... you'll know when it's time. If you're not uncomfortable yet, you can wait until you ride a little longer and you start to feel discomfort. I make most of my bike-related purchases in that manner.... when the need arises, I get it. My next purchase will be shoes because I don't like the grease stains on my everyday running shoes. :cry:

Although I'll admit to having owned a pair of padded spandex shorts once, almost all the riding I've ever done was while wearing cotton shorts. This includes several extended tours. These days, I do wear cotton briefs under the shorts because they improve comfort. My current favorite riding shorts are "Land's End" brand that I got for almost nothing at Sears. A nice soft khaki without a lot of extra pockets. I also weigh 150-5 and ride a Brook's saddle. I also wear loose shirts. A silk/linen blend bought on sale is my favorite. I think Spandex is partly explained by the need many people have to feel enclosed, packaged. Just my humble opinion, of course.:)

There are many right ways to go.
When I ride more than 30 miles, I would not think of riding without padded lycra shorts or bibs, especially in warm or hot weather. The longer the ride and the hotter the weather, the better the pad needs to be. The padding is not so much for cushioning as for controlling moisture and abrasion. I would also stay away from gel.

Shorts are not that expensive that I would ever ride without them. Just buy a pair and try them. You won't go back.

As a newcomer, when do you need to buy bike shorts for a longer ride?
..

I should say about 2 years beforehand- Just so you can run them in.

Someday they won't even look dorky to you.
Really, I can't imagine riding in regular shorts. Even on my 8+ mile commute I suit up.
I've done it in tennis shorts, but it sure feels better in bike clothes.

One thing: Skip shorts. Just man up right now, admit you cycle and spring for bibs. Really.. Seems weird, but if you're out over an hour you'll be happy you did.

Someday they won't even look dorky to you.
Really, I can't imagine riding in regular shorts. Even on my 8+ mile commute I suit up.
I've done it in tennis shorts, but it sure feels better in bike clothes.

One thing: Skip shorts. Just man up right now, admit you cycle and spring for bibs. Really.. Seems weird, but if you're out over an hour you'll be happy you did.

I can't +1 this enough. I shied away from bibs for two years, and finally, when I found a pair that fit and was on sale, took the plunge. I almost NEVER ride without them now, even for really quick trips (except fo the grocery store run). Bibs are the best thing since sliced bread. :D

I think Spandex (Lycra, actually) is largely explained by the fact it's highly functional. A good pair of bike shorts (or better yet, bibs) is very comfortable, wicks moisture well, and prevents chafing, especially on longer rides.

I can't +1 this enough. I shied away from bibs for two years, and finally, when I found a pair that fit and was on sale, took the plunge. I almost NEVER ride without them now, even for really quick trips (except fo the grocery store run). Bibs are the best thing since sliced bread. :D

Bibs are great...I'm not sure about sliced bread though...

I don't do bibs. Yes - they are comfortable, but all that undressing behind a bush when nature calls is just too much hassle.

why are bike shorts better than my running shorts? is it the padding and/or spandex?
And why are bibs better than bike shorts?

+1 to cccorlew and DigitalGee. I'm not sure I can explain it either.

I rode with bike shorts years ago, but when I returned as a 50+ I was perfectly comfortable up to a couple of hours with normal shorts. HOWEVER, when I did switch back I got both bibs and bike shorts. Now, I'll ride the trainer with the bike shorts but if I'm going outside I wear the bibs.

You probably won't miss them if you never get them, but trust us, the bibs are more comfortable.

And why are bibs better than bike shorts?

They don't roll down over your spare tire, if you have one. :D

They don't roll down over your spare tire, if you have one. :D

At 155lbs thats probably not one of the OPs bigger concerns, but thats true too. :)

At 155lbs thats probably not one of the OPs bigger concerns, but thats true too. :)

At 150 lbs and that midriff is thickening. One of the advantages of Bibbs is no tight elasic holding the Bulge in. Might be a blessing to some but a tight waist does get uncomfortable after a while.

Bibs! Don't leave home without them!

Ride On!
-Spoke

why are bike shorts better than my running shorts? is it the padding and/or spandex?
And why are bibs better than bike shorts?

Here we go.

Bike shorts (or bibs) are tight to you don't get any friction where you don't want it, if you know what I mean and i think you do. They fit like a second skin, as opposed to having something just lightly tear at some tender spot for hours and hours until you think waterboarding sounds like relief.
The padding isn't padding so much as moisture control. If you've done Levi jeans on a really hot day you know how friction and moisture can add up to no fun.

Bib's just stay in place better. There's that "man bra" thing that can be a plus, but mostly it' stht they don't slide at all. I never am aware of the straps. They also can come up your back better when you're all bent over.

BIBS. Get 'em.

is it the padding and/or spandex?

Both.


And why are bibs better than bike shorts?

No elastic waistband.

+1 for bibs, once I tried them I cannot go back to shorts

Like most of the others I agree that bibs are much more comfortable but they have one draw brack in my opinion. Since they cover more of your body they are hotter than shorts. Where the OP lives that should not be a problem most of the year.

Like most of the others I agree that bibs are much more comfortable but they have one draw brack in my opinion. Since they cover more of your body they are hotter than shorts. Where the OP lives that should not be a problem most of the year.


Oddly, I don't find bibs warmer. Just more comfortable. But that's just me.

+1 on bike shorts, bibs in particular. The pros don't wear them because of how they look in them, it's because of how they FUNCTION. More comfort and more aero. Don't worry about how you look, just do it. You'll be glad you did.

Just buy some padded underwear from REI or Rivendell and some good shorts with pockets. I have ridden all my life without going with spandex including touring and centuries. I never feel comfortable around adults wearing skin tight spandex with cartoon characters on their shirts. I found some nice quick drying shorts at Travelsmith

I've pretty much worn cycling shorts (the tight fit kind)for 4 decades (first ones were merino wool)
I tried the baggy shorts with the chamois but found the compresson on the thigh muscles from the nylon.spandex seemed to afford less fatigue.
That said: Aero Tech designs offers some fantastic cycling shorts (U.S. made at their Pa.Plant)at reasonable prices.
If you go with road shorts go with the 8 panel. They cost a bit more but imho are well worth the cost.

Shorts are not that expensive that I would ever ride without them. Just buy a pair and try them. You won't go back.

+100 to the above. That said what kind of riding are you going to do? The issue will come to the fore when you experience chafing from your underclothes while riding. Padded shorts are da bomb for this problem. Not overly expensive and the suggestion of a padded short liner($20) is a good place to start.

So, there I was, on the Celebrity Millenium.
I knew I was going to hit the LifeCycle in the on-board gym so I packed a pair of PIs for the trip.The best part was after I was done and I did a cool-down walk around the top deck. Still in my shorts
Oh, I got the looks :lol:

I like the shorts. At 5'7" and 126 pounds now I don't have any gut to worry about (thank you. low carb diet!). I buy shorts that fit me well and don't sag . BTW I have a long torso and short arms and legs. I'm also very thin, so I'm worried that bib shorts that fit me in the shorts part would get pulled up by the straps, giving me the dreaded "wedgie" effect. :eek:

-soma5

Let me start by saying I don't care too much what I look like. If total strangers see me in bike shorts and think I look dorky, what do I care? I'm a little more concerned about what my students and co-workers think of me so I wouldn't wear Spandex to school, but if they see me out in public, well, I'm a bike rider!

I used to be among those who thought they looked dorky and never wore them. Then I got some and tried them. Now I wear bike shorts on any ride over a mile or two.

I like the padding. It helps. I like the fact that they stay put and don't rub. That's not a concern on a short ride, but when you're riding 40 or 50 miles a day (or more), day after day, like I do on tour, chafing can be a serious problem. Even on a once-a-week 25 mile ride, chafing can happen. I just feel more comfortable without seams I can feel, and without my shorts sliding on my skin with every pedal stroke.

My wife thinks she looks horrible in Spandex bike shorts and refuses to wear them. She bought some padded, baggy, mountain bike shorts. She loves them. I bought a pair to try them out. The padding is still good, they don't look dorky, and they have pockets (which is a plus off the bike I guess - I wouldn't use them while riding.) But they rub on my thighs. I think I'll wear them on my class bike ride, but other than that, I'm not sure.

I've probably got 15 pairs of Spandex bike shorts, and have thrown away close to that many in the past. I tried various brands and models until I found ones that felt the best for a good price - in my case, Performance Centuries. That's important to me, because many of my shorts just don't feel right. YMMV.

One thing to realise is that there are different Qualities on Shorts or Bibs. The basic cheap ones are a manufactured from just 4 panels of material. The comfortable ones are 8 panel.

Saying that- After ordinary shorts- a basic 4 panel pair of Cycling shorts are very comfortable. Just don't buy the cheap ones in a size that are even a fraction small. But even they have an advantage as you don't get many wheel sucking when you wear thin Lycra- stretched just a bit too much

The shorts you wear really depend on the riding you do. As you ride more miles, and if you ride faster, you will want to wear lycra shorts. I have been wearing lycra shorts since the mid-1980's, and would not wear anything else for a club or training ride. If I were riding to the grocery store or something short like that, I would wear either mountain shorts, or other shorts.

I vote for Bibs! I have a bunch of mountain bike shorts that I wear for the right occasion. I was embarrassed about tight shorts and would wear them on the road. They all seem to be cut a bit smaller and they certainly are not any cheaper than bibs. They are not comfortable for a long ride over an hour. Seems I spend most of my time out of the saddle when mountain biking, so they aren't built for riding and sitting for long periods.

Take a look at these Performance Ultra Bibs (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=22361&item=10-6363&slitrk=search&slisearch=true) They are on sale for 59.99 and are ten panel and really well made and comfortable. They fit like they should in the size they are marked. I haven't tried other brands that cost well over a $ 100.00 like Pear Ozume or others. They may be like riding naked with support, but the Performance Ultra Bibs do just fine for me.

There is always BPD's - Bicycle Padded Depends
They let you ride without worrying about that "I gotta go feeling."

I am already chafed ..I didn't realize that bike shorts would help in that area, My original thoughts were
that racers used them for speed and I didn't need that as I am not racing. Or guys wore them to show off.
I didn't know they were practical. My wife and teenage daughter will tease me to no end-My daughter thinks my long lycra pants are embarrassing. As far as sizing-I see some on e-bay for around $25-30.
I am 5.6 feet-155 lbs. my waist is 31 at my navel 32 not sucked in-one size says it fits 32-34 the other size says 30-32..Should I buy the 32-34? As long as I can justify to myself they are practical-I can wear them and live with the teasing..Do all lycra shorts come with padding? The lycra long pants I have were running tights and had no padding..

Let me start by saying I don't care too much what I look like.

LOVE your avitar by the way.

One thing to realise is that there are different Qualities on Shorts or Bibs. The basic cheap ones are a manufactured from just 4 panels of material. The comfortable ones are 8 panel.

Quality matters. My wife and I stumbled onto Craft brand shorts. The first time that I pulled them on I mentioned to her that I needed to check visually to be sure that I wasn't naked from the waist down before going outside. Now none of my other shorts feel right anymore so I'm going to have to buy more Craft.

Quality matters. My wife and I stumbled onto Craft brand shorts. The first time that I pulled them on I mentioned to her that I needed to check visually to be sure that I wasn't naked from the waist down before going outside. Now none of my other shorts feel right anymore so I'm going to have to buy more Craft.

That's how I feel about my Giordana's. When I first put them on, they felt like the company had used ME for a model, they fit so perfectly. Let me assure you, NOBODY would use ME to model ANYTHING. Great fit and comfort, and not wildly expensive.

I am already chafed ..I didn't realize that bike shorts would help in that area, My original thoughts were
that racers used them for speed and I didn't need that as I am not racing. Or guys wore them to show off.
I didn't know they were practical. My wife and teenage daughter will tease me to no end-My daughter thinks my long lycra pants are embarrassing. As far as sizing-I see some on e-bay for around $25-30.
I am 5.6 feet-155 lbs. my waist is 31 at my navel 32 not sucked in-one size says it fits 32-34 the other size says 30-32..Should I buy the 32-34? As long as I can justify to myself they are practical-I can wear them and live with the teasing..Do all lycra shorts come with padding? The lycra long pants I have were running tights and had no padding..

alentric, I would lean toward the 32-34 size. Cycling shorts, as in cycling clothes in general, tend to run small. The padding's there for long ride comfort, after an hour or so you'll be glad it's there.

This newbie is glad to see the positive feedback on bibs, as I ordered a pair last night.... I currently am wearing lycra padded cycling shorts. Myself, I desired bibs as they don't slip down. Its kind of like wearing suspenders. If I lost another 25 pounds, it might not be so important.

Well, I like the bibs so much I just ordered a second pair. I bought Diamondback Racing bibs, for $32 from Longs Cycle. I also bought some of their socks for less than $2.

LOVE your avitar by the way.

Thanks. That's my tribute to Sheldon Brown, may he rest in peace, as well as my twisted sense of what's amusing.

I'm a 6th grade teacher. My trademark is Goofy. My classroom is covered with Goofy memorabilia, I have Goofy ties, Goofy phones, etc. It's something that gives me personality to the kids. When I saw Sheldon's picture with the eagle from the flagpole on his helmet I got inspired. Then I found a Specialized helmet on sale at Nashbar for like $9.00. It was too good to pass up. I bought it, then found a good Goofy figurine. I think it's a Viking Goofy - he's wearing a fur garment and a helmet with horns - and I think it came from a Happy Meal at McDonalds or someplace like that - who knows. I got some epoxy and glued him on.

I take my class on a bike ride each year, and always wear that helmet (it's the only time all year it gets worn.) The kids think I'm a total kook, but they love it. It amuses me.

Although I'll admit to having owned a pair of padded spandex shorts once, almost all the riding I've ever done was while wearing cotton shorts. This includes several extended tours. These days, I do wear cotton briefs under the shorts because they improve comfort. My current favorite riding shorts are "Land's End" brand that I got for almost nothing at Sears. A nice soft khaki without a lot of extra pockets. I also weigh 150-5 and ride a Brook's saddle. I also wear loose shirts. A silk/linen blend bought on sale is my favorite. I think Spandex is partly explained by the need many people have to feel enclosed, packaged. Just my humble opinion, of course.

The compression is actually healthy. It helps to reduce fatigue and speed up recovery.

I'm a 6th grade teacher. My trademark is Goofy. My classroom is covered with Goofy memorabilia

I could tell that was a Goofy helmet even when the picture was too small to recognize the figurine.

As a newcomer, when do you need to buy bike shorts for a longer ride?
I have worn regular shorts for as long as an hour --I was wondering if I need to buy
bike shorts for longer rides this spring or summer. I weigh 155 lbs. and have a
fairly comfortable male-specific saddle..

I have one pair of bike shorts, but will be purchasing more, they really are more comfortable and on a long ride i am always glad i have them.

I am already chafed ..I didn't realize that bike shorts would help in that area, My original thoughts were
that racers used them for speed and I didn't need that as I am not racing. Or guys wore them to show off.
I didn't know they were practical. My wife and teenage daughter will tease me to no end-My daughter thinks my long lycra pants are embarrassing. As far as sizing-I see some on e-bay for around $25-30.
I am 5.6 feet-155 lbs. my waist is 31 at my navel 32 not sucked in-one size says it fits 32-34 the other size says 30-32..Should I buy the 32-34? As long as I can justify to myself they are practical-I can wear them and live with the teasing..Do all lycra shorts come with padding? The lycra long pants I have were running tights and had no padding..

5'6"- 150 lbs and 32/4 waist here. Sounds to me as though you want the 32/4 in bibs. They are really that much more comfortable. If you are getting tights- they are normally worn over shorts- or bibs- and need no padding. And bib tights again for an extra reason. Lycra against lycra and a lot of slippage goes on. Tights that slip down to give loose material around the saddle can cause problems.


And watch out for Lycra- Several makes and types of Lycra. Do not go for any of the materials that say they are made of Coolstop. Even in 90 degreesF- they are more like Freezestop. That material is cold.

well--I have purchased my first pair on ebay..
I will let you know how they work out
I bought Falconi black lycra padded shorts
If I get teased-I am a big boy and I can take it

well--I have purchased my first pair on ebay..
I will let you know how they work out
I bought Falconi black lycra padded shorts
If I get teased-I am a big boy and I can take it

Auggie, the comfort is worth any teasing, and you won't be teased in my opinion, so many people use them these days. Good luck, and enjoy the rides.

I went to true riding shorts in 1979 (wool no less:rolleyes:) and have not ridden without padded riding gear since. Much less chaffing and general irritation. Bibs are next for me. I just ignore the teasing, at 51 YO I figure I can handle any name but late for dinner:D

Bill

well my bike shorts are here ..I tried them on and they feel good..
I just need some good weather in NY to give them a test ride..
I have been working out in a gym all winter and I need to get outside
I am sure you guys know what I mean