Need sources for Athena riding shorts
 

My wife is now riding with me enough that we need to get her some women's specific cycling shorts. She rode 10 miles with me today and I had to go get the car with a couple of miles remaining due to chafing problems (She had taken a pair of my own shorts, which were probably too small, on top of being cut for a man). I need some sources for plus size ladies riding shorts that don't cost a fortune. She's found some cycling skorts that she likes the look of but they are over $100. Ouch. I don't buy $100 shorts for myself. If I could find something she doesn't object to for about $50 a pair, I'd be happy. She probably needs to use some chamois cream as well.

I'm already familiar with Areotech designs. Can anyone offer some other potential sources? Thanks.

Might as well add a pic from last weeks outing.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=320795

Perhaps http://www.love2pedal.com/ while I haven't used them myself yet, they seem to get good reviews in this forum.

Check out www.teamestrogen.com -- I'm not sure how high up in size each particular short goes, but you can search by plus-size. If she wants the skort look, add a cheap cover-up skirt designed to go over a swimsuit -- cycling skorts are enough of a niche market to be stupid expensive.

But women's gear is a smaller market than men's, and plus size smaller again, so prices are higher. Unfortunately. $50 might be tough to find.

Note: I find sizing by hip size to be the critical size -- go by that over waist size if unsure/between sizes.

There is a store in SoCal called Unlikely Cyclist. It is owned by a member here, Vntgdrms. It is well worth a call to talk to her. She'll hook you up. I was in the neighborhood after a sales call one night and stopped into her shop. I bought PhotoJoanne a pair of shorts. I described Mrs. PJ's "shape" and Lisa NAILED IT with the selection. Mrs. PJ LOVES the shorts. They are by far her favorites.

http://theunlikelycyclist.com/

PhotoJoe -- beat me to it

That PJ guy moves pretty fast. BG, thanks for the KUDOS. :) PJ, how are you holding up with the fires in your area?

It's smokey, but we're not in danger. I'm staying off the bike until it's out, though, or at least until the wind blows North. I just finished two rounds of antibiotics for a pesky sinus infection (the same one I had on the Tour de Cure!) and I DO NOT want it back. Riding in the smoke guarantees I'd be back to the doc.

I think you are better off stretching the budget and spending more than fifty. My expensive shorts certainly are better than the cheaper ones. My favorite shorts and chamois are Shebeest and Terry. They make plus sizes in some of their shorts: http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSB_3002P.html http://www.terrybicycles.com/Plus/Pl...T-Short-Plus_3

Skorts are kind of pricey. I do have a couple of Terry Skorts, they are nice but I don't know if they really are worth the bucks. Sometimes I ride in skirts with regular cycling shorts underneath.

Thanks for the suggestions. We'll check those all out.

If you got hold of Lisa (Vntgdrms) who knows she might be able to Skype with you and better ...your wife. She is fantastic with figuring out what works for each person. She carries several awesome brands for Athena women that are flattering as well as comfy.

Best plus size cycling shorts out there are SheBeest and Terry. Terry has its own website (terrybicycles.com) and Team Estrogen sells both brands online (teamestrogen.com).

I don't suggest either buying mountain bike shorts (Team Borah (mtborah.com) has a plus size line for women if she insists) or a Skort if your wife doesn't want to rock Lycra. Both just aren't that comfortable and I have yet to find either with a good chamois. What I do is buy good lycra shorts and then find a "shell" or runner's short to go over the cycling short. Sometimes I have to cut out the liner or "man pantie". I make sure the short as at least 15% spandex for wicking and comfort. As you know, trying to ding woth regular cotton shorts is asking for trouble. Also no underwear under Lycra... the underwear maybe the source of her chafing.

Lisa's shop carries both Terry and SheBeest in plus sizes. I'm sure she would not mind ordering them for you and shipping.

Note I believe the Terry and SheBeest shorts start around $85. I know that seems expensive but well worth it. You can get cheaper shorts (and I have) but they don't hold up.

Also if you check out the Terry website - check out the Terry Liberty Short. It is Lycra but cut fuller like regular shorts. Chamois is not as nice as the regular shorts but adequate for shorter rides (up to 20 miles). It comes in sizes up to 3X. And do her a favor - invest in some Assos Creme (to prevent chafing). Your wife will love you for it!

Edited to add: I just checked out the Terry website - the cycling shorts I mentioned (T-Short) is now $100. Yikes they went up. Oh well, worth the money. The Liberty short is only $84 but only goes up to size XXL. The reviews on this short are very good. I like them as well but not as much as the T-Short or She-Beest:

http://www.terrybicycles.com/Apparel...iberty-Short_2

Thanks, I'll take a look at those as well. I'll get the expensive ones if I have to but I'm not convinced I have to. I ride with $25 shorts from Nashbar and they are the most comfortable shorts I have. I'm hopeful that I can find something comfortable for her that I can afford a few pairs of. I ordered a $35 pair or road shorts from Aerotech last night. One pair, to see if they fit right and how she likes them before spending a lot. She still wants the cute skorts but understands how pricey they are. We did also find some cover ups that do essentially the same thing and she could have one of those to wear with multiple shorts. She's having some vanity issues with being a larger lady on a bike. Myself, I don't care how they look on me.

Are you saying you completely remove the pad in men's shorts?

She did figure out that the source of her chafing was the Bellwether shorts she took off my shelf. Usually she takes my Nashbar or Pearl Izumi liner shorts and those haven't caused a problem. These Bellwethers had a sewn seam in the pad right where her sitbones are.

1) women v men's cycling shorts... we are built differently (you may have noticed). Men don't have to protect the same sensitive parts as women... trying to say this delicately; but it's tough for women to ride in cheap bike shorts... we NEED a better chamois. Period. Plus women's short are built differently than mens (diffinately chamois are shaped differently... I used to wear mens short but realize now that I wear womens, they were uncomfortable.

2) Man Pantie: What I was referring to was a "shell" I wear over my cycling shorts. I do this for mountain biking. I don't like made for mountain biking shorts with a chamois liner... I don't find the liner comfortable and the material usually is not as forgiving and comfortable as a good pair of Lycra shorts..

I have no problem just riding in just my Lycra cycling shorts (I think I look skinnier) but sometimes I need protection from stickers/thorns so use a "shell". I've found that stores like REI sells men's running shorts that have a longer leg and are made of a comfortable wicking stretchy fabric, generally spanex and polyester, but they come with this "man parts" liner, like what you would find in a man's swim trucks. I don't need to hold my parts together, so I cut out the lining. These shorts do not come with a chamois. They are running vs cycling shorts. I'll go find you an example...

Also - have her check JCP for a active wear top. In Plus sizes they come longer so will cover up her butt and hips, all those areas we are ashamed and embarrassed about. She will actually look smaller in lycra shorts then she will in a skort or other shorts....trust me.

Ok these are kindof expensive - the ones I bought in the past were $38 but same idea... fabric is spandex and polyester... so its stretchy, comfortable and wicks...

It comes with a "built-in liner"... that's what I cut out. I am sure you can find cheaper models:

http://www.rei.com/product/843929/pa...ng-shorts-mens

NOW I understand what you were talking about. Thanks.

I knew what Pamestique meant. :) I like using boys swimtrunks for shorts. I cut out the man panty and I am good to go. Thanks for the new term, Pam.

Let us know how the budget shorts work. They never worked for me.. Pamestique and I are on the same page on some good quality shorts. The chamois is especially important and both Terry and Shebeest make some great chamois.

I also agree with Pam on the skorts. They tend to make you round looking.

Some great advice above. I got a skort from Terry but don't wear it much. The legs ride up, are too short and lack compression on my thighs, the liner fabric is scratchy, and the extra layer holds in heat. On a hot day you do NOT want anything that will hamper cooling. I limit my skort wearing to short easy rides during cool weather.

Ellen can carry a simple coverup/skirt or shorts into her trunk bag just to wear when making off-bike stops. I hope she'll overcome her worries about how she looks on the bike. Comfortable, functional gear helps keep riding enjoyable.

I have some Shebeest bike shorts from several years ago that I really like. There were some quality issues with some more recent purchases (stitching fell apart) and I haven't bought since the company returned from its 1-year hiatus simply because I don't need to buy more shorts at this time. The other shorts I like are the Pearl Izumi ones with the longer legs (not the sugar shorts). I don't know about the availability of plus sizes in the PI shorts.

Check Academy or Target for inexpensive (Champion etc) wicking T-shirts. My shoulders are broad so the men's shirts fit me fine. They have longer sleeve & torso length and a loose fit. I wear them in spin class instead of a cycling jersey.

I say getting your wife to ride is worth every penny you "must" spend on good shorts!

Vntgdreams sells Terry and the shorts are about $80-$100. It was well worth it last time Gina walked out of her shop with 4 pair. If she is comfortable, she rides further and maybe even faster.

FTR, we don't spend $100 on my shorts but we do on Gina's. I have no problem with her shorts being more expensive than mine because it's been well worth it over the years! ;)

Gina has been riding since 98 and consistently 3000-3500 miles every year since 2006. The guys that skimped on wife shorts back when we started riding together with them as couples, well their wives don't ride anymore even though they still do. Gina is the only wife still riding out of the bunch. Maybe uncomfy cheapo shorts had something to do with it.

Spend the money! :innocent:

If the $35 Aerotech shorts don't work for her, then I'll try some of the more expensive ones. It seems the chafing problem this last outing had been the mens shorts she had taken from my closet, which had a seam in just the wrong place.

Exactly where we've been getting them and she is also wearing a handful of my old jerseys and wicking shirts that I've already undergrown. She'd like the cute girly colors and designs, but she's not quite there yet. There are some really cute ladies jerseys out there, but the problem is that they don't go to her size right now. One of the women I ride with in the Mid-cities group has some really cute riding gear she has offered to us once she's lost enough that she can't wear them.

Might I also recommend to avoid saddle sores and chafing for her to use a chamois cream. I use both Chamois Butt'r (directly on chamois) and DZ Nutz Bliss on my skin.

As to my shorts...I like LG (Lisa gave me great deal on some she got from LG) and the Hincapie Velocity shorts from our team kits.

I am also an Athena and was skeptical about bike shorts. However, once I tried them there was no going back. I started by search for the perfect shorts on ebay. I bought both new and used in any brands that I thought might fit until I found the ones I liked. Like a couple of the other ladies, the Terry shorts are the best for me. I have yet to pay full price. I continue my ebay search and still come up with some new ones (the Bellas) in the $30 to $40 range. Gently used ones are a bit cheaper. I also watch for sales, especially at the end of the season. If your wife is interested, I have a pair of 2XL Cannondale shorts that are way bigger than the marked size. I wore them once so they are in excellent condition. I would be happy to give them to her for the price of postage. PM me if interested. Good luck.

Terry carries bike jerseys to 4X... unfortunately its getting late in the season (I know summer has just started but for fashion this is late) so not much selection but they still have some. Check terrybicycles.com. Also Mt Borah carries women's plus size jerseys. As much as I like Shebeest, their sizes run small (actually truer to size so are small).

This is how I found my own favorite shorts.

Thanks! Sent you a PM.