Commuting - Commuter Specific Bike Shorts Question

I have read through many threads about bike shorts, but none of them answered my specific questions. so please bare with me!!!! I ride my mountain bike to work 5 days a week, every week. it is a 26 mile round trip. on the weekends i ride my road bike and usually ride one 40 mile ride on sat, then a shorter 15 mile ride with lots of hills on sunday. (Yes I am an addicted) anyways, is there a specific brand of bike shorts that you would recomend that can actually last a decent amount of time with riding like this day in and day out? i have no problem spending some money ($80.00 or so) on a good pair of shorts as long as they will last for a long time!!!! When answering this post keep these things in mind:

1.) I am bigger than the average biker 6"2"" 265 pounds 40-42" waist
2.) I usually wash my shorts every other day
3.) As mentioned above, i usually ride every single day of the week.
4.) I live in florida... i think the newer baggy shorts may get too hot, and be less comfortable
5.) After reading many threads on this web site, i now ride commando and love it.
6.) For the most part, my LBS only carries trek and castiello brand shorts, ranging from 30 bucks to 140 bucks

I thank you very much for any assistance you can help... my boys also thank you!

mike

Since you are willing to spend some cash, buy several pairs of shorts that feel good on the bike.
I have 8 pairs of bibs (3 Etxe Ondo (http://www.bicyclinghub.com/bicyclinghub/etonmabi.html) and 5 Voler (http://www.velowear.com/store/products.asp?dept=1020)) and two pairs of shorts (rarely wear because bibs are so comfortable).

Rotate your clothing, (shorts, jerseys, socks) so they won't wear out too soon.
Any type of clothing (jeans, slacks, shirts, etc.) would wear out quickly it was worn and washed every other day.

I found one unique problem in regards to which bike shorts to connute in...I have some great shorts that are supposed to have great durability..They do..Jackson and Gibbs, I think is their brand name..From Oregon and sold by Adventure Cycling..Feel great..
One problem...I wash them at work for the commute home. The pad is so comfortable..But, whatever the material is..It will not dry out in 10 hours...A wet pad on the way home is no way to go.

Louis Garneau makes great bike shorts, particularly the Alveo. Sugoi also makes good shorts. Both Sugoi and Louis Garneau have shorts at all price points from about $40 - $130.

Think my favorite ,having just discovered them..The Descente Pro Stiped shorts...Rode 78 miles yesterday...They were great..Better than Peal Izumi's...Recently bought them at Supergo for $25 off.

The key to making any clothing last longer is in how you wash and dry them.
1. Hand wash with Woolite, hair shampoo, or liquid laundry detergent.
2. Ring them out by squeezing and NOT by twisting them into a rope.
3. Hang them up to dry. I use a wire hanger from the drycleaners to hold the top of the shorts open a little so air can circulate through them. They almost always dry overnight.

As a 2nd best strategy you can run them through the washing machine then hang them up to dry.

The clothes dryer is the toughest stage of the entire process. If you can avoid using a dryer then the shorts, shirts, jerseys, socks, and sweatbands will all last longer.

The manufacturer of bike shorts is not all that important. If more panels makes them fit you better then look for that. If you wear the seat out quickly then buy shorts made from heavier weight material.

I have a pair of shorts that I used for 2 years as a Spinning instructor and for 2 seasons on the road. They are finally getting too thin around the edges of the seat pad and are being tossed out soon before they split on me.

Tom O.

Former appliance saleman currently a lawyer in Chicago. There is nobody that knows how to handle the dirty laudry like a lawyer.