Great Lakes - Shorts?

What cycling shorts / bibs do you prefer?

I've been serious about my riding for almost a year,
I'd like to start getting serious about my equipment now.

I generally ride 20 miles a day outside, or an hour indoors on the trainer, 5 days a week.
Usually manage a 40 mile ride on the weekend.

My current ride is a late 90's Gary Fisher Aquila MTB with roadish tires.
I'll be upgrading to a CX bike in the next couple of months.:thumb:

So what's a good investment in shorts? Am I gonna be comfy in a $30 pair?
I'd rather not kill my new bike fund, but I don't want cheap out on junk either.

I'm assuming you're wearing baggy style shorts and not lycra shorts?
If not then my recommendation was going to be bibs over shorts all the time.

Good shorts are worth investing a bit more for, you can get very good bibs in the $50ish range.
I think Performance Elite/Ultra stuff is solid. I like Hammer Nutrition clothing for the price who at least used to be made by Voler (used their top of the line chamois for a long time).

Check PBK (probikekit) also as some of their closeouts and team clothing deals can be exceptional.

I think that you can ride comfortably for an hour in $30 shorts. Two hours? up that to $50. Three hours and up? Start thinking $75 as a minimum.

Cheap shorts and expensive saddle.

Kenal0

+1 cheap ones.

$60 or $100 for some lycra and padding is a scam.

I buy em cheap and for longer rides, I wear 2 pair.

I'm assuming you're wearing baggy style shorts and not lycra shorts?
If not then my recommendation was going to be bibs over shorts all the time.

Good shorts are worth investing a bit more for, you can get very good bibs in the $50ish range.
I think Performance Elite/Ultra stuff is solid. I like Hammer Nutrition clothing for the price who at least used to be made by Voler (used their top of the line chamois for a long time).

Check PBK (probikekit) also as some of their closeouts and team clothing deals can be exceptional.

Yeah, currently just wearing gym shorts or sweats.
Thanks for the recommendations, Hammer looks pretty nice for under $50


I think that you can ride comfortably for an hour in $30 shorts. Two hours? up that to $50. Three hours and up? Start thinking $75 as a minimum.

Why? Does the higher end have a much better chamois?
I obviously still have some investigating to do.


Cheap shorts and expensive saddle.
Kenal0

Planning on a B17 when I make my new CX bike purchase.


+1 cheap ones.
$60 or $100 for some lycra and padding is a scam.
I buy em cheap and for longer rides, I wear 2 pair.

Seems that way to me, but I have no point of reference. $50ish doesn't seem too terrible, I guess.


Thanks all for your thoughts.:thumb:

I wore MTB shorts for years. Once I began wearing regular cycling shorts I purchased the cheap ones. Now days I only wear better quality ones. I like Performance Ultras, they warranty the Performance brand forever and I have taken a pair back and it was replaced with no hassle.

Just a thought, two pair of $35 shorts = $70, Performance Ultra's cost $64 and are on sale frequently.

For affordable bibs, I like Voler (www.velowear.com). I also have some prorace bibs from PBK (www.probikekit.com) that seem to be ok, considering they were <$30. They seem thinner than the Voler bibs, but after 1 outdoor ride and 2 trainer rides, they are doing the job.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

After much browsing (Voler and many others) I finally decided on these:
https://www.velowear.com/products/1110160PRTSML.aspx

Being my 1st pair I'm not completely sure on sizing.
Their free shipping, returns, and exchanges obviated all of my concerns.

Your butt is gonna love ya. 9 panel shorts, that's like 11 speeds!

Your butt is gonna love ya. 9 panel shorts, that's like 11 speeds!

Hehe.

But more importantly, the chicks are gonna dig my stylish new look. ;)

Your butt is gonna love ya. 9 panel shorts, that's like 11 speeds!

What's more, it's like an amp that goes all the way up to 11.

$5 more gets you the bib version of that. I'm new to cycling, but picked up performance elite and ultra bibs. I've gotten some discomfort from the elites once or twice, not sure if it was just a "positioning" issue. The ultras have always been comfy, although my longest ride was 2 hrs/32 miles.

Giordana Silverline from Ribble. Normally $80 for the shorts in the US, $45 from Ribble.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/

Velowear sent me this coupon code, they say I can share it.

Special Offer
Use the source code 9SCE10 during checkout for 10% off your next order.
Feel free to share this offer with a friend.
Offer good until 4/31/2009.
May not be combined with other offers, not valid for semi-custom products, other restrictions may apply.

http://www.velowear.com/default.aspx