YogaKat

This was my thought. I'm certainly not going to pay 130.00 for some knickers that don't even have padding in them.

Flog00

I don't have any cycling specific clothing either. Maybe someone could explain padded shorts? It seems to go against the idea that a padded/cushioned saddle is uncomfortable and a hard saddle is better?
My "bike clothes" consist of hiking shorts and moisture wicking golf shirts.

iab

Padding is for everything else other than your sit bones. Kind of like having a cutout in your saddle, you want to protect your taint.

crank_addict

Funny this thread just started. Yesterday a few of us met for a ride and was talking to someone about the cooler weather and pants. Though I happened to be wearing Cannondale baggy shorts.

I have a few pair of the baggy's, one in particular runs longer and has an adjustable waist. The waist adjustment is well designed. Wish I could find this type again as they've proven well on or off the bike. The short hem is attached to a liner that doesn't flop around plus has decent pockets. No loud logo's.

Part 2, er' two parts?! One of my faves are these pants from North Face. Excellent quality and have been very durable. I've snagged thorns and few branches and would've thought some tearing, but they rarely even hold a bush thicket. Best part is how breathable the light fabric is. I'd rate them better than any cycling short and are cool. No obnoxious logos, nicely designed pockets and they don't look like a cycling nor baggy cargo short. You could easily wear them as nice casual.

Problem for cycling is having to wear a short inner liner, of which takes away some of the breathability plus have to wrap a Velcro strap on the calves.

With that, I would have thought by now some 'bike minded' company offered the same but also with a detachable lower leg. The lower leg would further incorporate a hidden drawstring or external 'hook and loop' strap tensioned to keep the pant from catching the chain.
If any company is listening in, make this pant and I'll gladly pay $130.





Lastly, there's a few other things that have proven well for me in cycling. The majority of time I use a hydration / back pack, but that certainly looks out of place when around town. I've been a convert into these wide belt packs with bottle carriers. So simple and comfortable. If I leave the bike, my water bottles are safely with me. Lights, tool kit and spare store in the pack. Could also mount a blinky to it. Connect the belt latch together and throw it over the shoulder. Best one so far is this from Intek. This one was under $10.

Fahrenheit531 

Yeah, they look pretty cool while on the bike, but ridiculous when off the bike. Unless maybe it's a ride to the golf course, but I don't golf and I suspect a bag of clubs would be awkward on the rear rack anyway. I'll stick with what I've got.

Padding outside the shorts creates friction where you least want it, padding inside eliminates it. Anything over four or five miles, my stuff is padded.

Bandera

If you read the ad/blurb Jan was touring in Japan and noticed knickers being worn for cycling.
Conforming to the modesty standards of another culture while visiting is appropriate, looking like Ben Hogan golfing in 1932 on my bike rides not so much.

-Bandera

Vieux chnoque

It seems to be an exclusively american obsession about to revealing cycling wear

Chrome Molly

Go kilt or go home.

Lanovran

I have a couple pairs of Bontrager's "commuting knickers," and I love 'em for commuting on cooler fall days like today (in fact, I'm wearing a pair right now after my ride home from work). They're good for touring as well, and I've even worn them mountain biking. The only downside I've found is that the khaki-colored pair is sometimes mistaken for a pair of women's capri pants, but I can't honestly say that I care much about that. Unfortunately, they were discontinued a couple of years ago...

fender1

So, people are upset about pants? Am I missing something?

ThermionicScott 

My fiancee insists on calling underwear "knickers", too. She's watched too many costume dramas, I think.

Spoonrobot 

I'm pretty partial to the DIY style illustrated here by Jeff Frane: DIY Knickers | Bike Jerks

Although now that I'm in the southeast I find overshorts and tights are better for the warmer winters. I prefer goodwill dresspants + scissors.

tricky 

I wonder who he has making these. Greenlite Industries is up here and the could be doing some contract work.

mstateglfr 

Cyclists who race(ed) or are part of serious group rides, sure their average will be thinner than the average American. But cycling as a whole?...boy I see mostly overweight cyclists when riding the trails and roads around me. Maybe its just too much local pork and butter in their diet, but the overall group that I consider cyclists aren't model-waif thin.

MeadMan2

To use the proper British terms, you are wearing beeks. *There are plus twos & plus fours which indicated the amount of drop of the pant leg below the knee in inches. ( See baseball uniforms or golf pants of the 1930's.) *Fortunately I live in Minnesota where we have the 2 day 3 speed tour of Lake Pepin & the weekend All British Cycle Event. *Gets me out on my Armstrong & my Mercian. *

MeadMan2

Oops. *Didn't work out the way I intended. *The reference to beeks referred to nierner's post.

pastorbobnlnh 

Justin, could you elaborate more on this last statement, about "riding more..."?

Is your presumption that riding more causes a person to lose weight (and would thus be able to fit into Jan's undersized knickers)? If this is the case, you probably have never had to lose any serious amount of weight. Exercising does not really cause you to lose weight. Certainly it can improve your cardio vascular efficiency, but it will not make you drop pounds.

The only way to do so is to drastically curb caloric intake, which takes great commitment and some serious mental work. In my experience, exercising can assist in the mental game of weight loss, but I can categorically state, riding more will never cause me to be able to fit into size 34" knickers (marked as 36").

Racing cyclists are probably thinner than non racing cyclists. The same could be said about runners who race when compared to runners who simply run.

fender1

Well, if your riding your probably not eating at the same time....so that could work.

justin10054

I've lost 80+ lbs over the past year and a half. I didn't change my diet significantly, I just ride a lot. Losing weight is simply a matter of calories in/calories out. It doesn't matter if that's done through diet, exercise, or some combination of the two.

My comment was mostly tongue-in-cheek, but honestly, we could all do with a little more riding and a little less complaining on the internet.

gomango

Good job on the weight loss.

I'm going down a similar road after various health complications this last year.

Maybe I need some new pants.

justin10054

Thanks! I just bought some new pants a few weeks ago. It feels so good trying on a smaller size and it actually being a little loose. It's actually almost fun going clothes shopping now.

gomango

I bet that's fun.

I'm looking forward to it.

Maybe a nice pair of these knickers next spring.

Lascauxcaveman 

I want some knickers. In tweed, with a matching tweed vest and sportcoat. French collar shirt and straw a boater up top.

Then I'll have an excuse to finally buy a really cool 1930s vintage path racer.

Until then, it's just a rubber band on the right cuff of my khakis while I'm cruising around on my 1980s beaters.

pastorbobnlnh 

I guess I opened my mouth and inserted my foot! My apologies for speaking out of turn and jumping to an incorrect conclusion.

Great job on the weight loss! I did the same (85lbs) over the winter-spring of 2013-14 and holding steady. For me, exercise never seems to contribute to any weight loss. Just better mental health.

bikemig 

My commuter pants are a pair of north face hiking pants. They're great. They're soft and have good movement/articulation. They have a good deep pockets up front and a zippered rear pocket. They have a good hand and being made of nylon dry quickly. You do need to use a velcro band for the legs but I like using reflective velcro bands for commuting.

A lot of hiking gear can work well for cycling.