ions

I have one pair of biking shorts. Pearl Izumis. They're ok I guess. I usually slip some regular shorts on over them though. I'm a little bashful. Anyway after poking around on the forums I'm seeing a lot of people bashing the spandex. Granted it ain't pretty but w/o that chamois things would be much uglier. Nudge nudge. So what to wear? I went to a LBS and looked at some baggy short made out of tent material that were nearly $100 and see absolutely no reason to look at them again. Is there somewhere I can look to get updated on cycling wear? I have no real interest in fashion, just function.

Maelstrom 

I wear normal clothes. Short and a shirt. I do have mtb specific stuff but they closely resemble normal clothes the only difference is the material is supposedly rip proof.

I refuse to look like a 'biker'...not my thing at all.

Hopper

I just wear normal shorts. I wear baggies because in my opinion, spandex just looks bad. I do DH and FR so I don't really worry about wind resistance and that c*ap.

Just wear what you want, as long as it gives you good movement.

Also I always wear shorts, no matter what time of year because my leg armour keeps me warm nd pedaling keeps you warm. But also the coldest it gets here in winter is about 13°C.

Maelstrom 

OOOO...better put on a jacket haha...sorry I know lots of aussies and thats a common thing..just playing.

I wear shorts until about -5c ... Sometimes less if I am armoured up. Currently our mountain sits around 2. 13c is a luke warm summer day.

To reverse it I wouldn't be able to take your heat. Most I can handle now is 35..past that and i drink beer and turn into a vegetable.

forum*rider

I wear the biking shorts on rides over 25miles. Anything under taht and I'll just wear a regular pair of shorts.

Wear what makes you comfortable. Not comfortable wearing the tight shorts? Don't wear them. Or if you just don't want to bee seen wearing the lycra then slip on a pair of baggies over them, like you've been doing.

PeterG1185

I do the same thing, wear mesh shorts over spandex. As far as im concerned spandex is better for XC riding than baggies, and i have a pair of Oakley baggies so i know what i'm talkin about. Dont worry about what other people say, if you want to wait shorts over the lycra go for it, no shorts over the lycra great, but really who cares?

jbdmd

I usually wear a polyester pants suit....sorry

I have been wearing lycra shorts for 13 years. It makes me "feel" fast
If I am just out cruising with newbies I will pop a pair of shorts on over the lycra b/c I "look" less intimidating.

On the other hand one of my ridding partners is an absolute hammer! Has finished top 5 in multiple 24 hours Solo events, currently rides a 35lb turner and I have never seen him ride in anything other than a pair of cut off dickies! (bastard!)

dirtbikedude

If you are riding xc then who cares if you want to wear spandex. If you are riding dh or freeride you will take some shyte because it is not the right "Image". I know a lot of dh'ers that only wear spandex that shread. Just have fun and wear what ever you feel comfortable in because if you are not comfortable you will not enjoy the ride.

If you realy want baggies with a liner check the online shops. They usually have some on sale.

Maelstrom 

What the heck are dickies? (and on a side why would you want to wear anything named dickie...)

cyclezealot

I agree..Wear whatever makes you happy...As a roadie I find traditional bike shorts keep you the most comfortable over 100 mile/ 6 hour rides. Regular shorts, the arse would be bleeding.
Question..To MTBers....The factor of spinning is less so open ended cuffs do not get in the way right?
I find baggies getting caught up on the saddles' horn and I do not like that...
You spin less fast, so you do not notice that?Big enough cuffs' I have thought they might get caught up so thorugly that the pant legs might take you down. By,that I mean long legged shorts.Really thought them to get in the way..

Maelstrom 

Hmm I don't find that happens. I also don't find I can do much spinning. I spend a lot more time ratcheting through things than spinning. (and yeah I don't ride 6 hours and I spend very little time in the saddle anyways, sounds painful...)

I have found 'normal' baggies can get caught up however in the crotch when I shift my weight back and forth on the bike. I do have new shorts with less rise and no baggie near the crotch. This stops all of that.

I probably don't notice because I can't maintain a proper spin due to terrain or the stunts I ride. On really easy courses I suppose I would though.

jbdmd

standard polyester blend work pants. now popular among the "mod" set worn low low on the waist

https://www.dickies.com/web/default.asp

DieselDan

Nothing wrong with wearing shorts over shorts, just no underware under the bike shorts.

iamthetas

if what you wear takes your mind off what you are doing or distracts your concentration try wearing something different.I wear spandex to keep my "jewels"from bouncing around and the padding helps keep my butt from being so sore after a long or medium ride but there is no rule that says what you should wear it is a personal choice that you make.if you wear spandex under regular(i do that at times too) no one will know you are wearing spandex unless you wear the regular shorts as low riders so go with what works best for you.just ride and enjoy.
let us remember all the men and women who are and have died defending our freedom to ride as we come to this memorial day

Xtreme Biker

2 pair DH racing pants (Answer & Fox), 4 pair DH racing shorts (Azonic & Fox), 6 pair spandex cycling shorts w/ chamois pads, 3 pair cycling tights (cold weather). I wear any of them when & where I please.... Oh, and I rarely wear any of my 7 jerseys when it's above 70 degrees. Any more questions?

cyclezealot

Regular baggies...I find when I stand on the peddles...The cuffs get caught up. Don't like them feeling snagged . The tug can be so strong, wonder they do not rip apart...
If you like the feel of baggies and they do not hamper your peddle action...Think they make baggies with cinch staps to close off the pant opening..I would have to have that..
But loose pants...They seem to squirm about under the arse. makes me feel like i might fall off of the saddle.

ions

The majority of riding I do is XC and when I'm not riding XC I'm road riding to the trail so the chamois does help out my butt. I am surprised at the amount of riders that ride without it! Maybe I just have a pansy a$$ that needs protecting? I found the difference the chamois made to be pretty good. I always choose function over fashion. You never lose that way. So there are baggy shorts that are lined with cycling shorts eh? Probably very expensive/overpriced. I shall explore that.

cyclezealot

Just a thought..You see pictures of mountain bike races..Most of the pro MTB racers wear traditional bike shorts..So why among MTN bikes is bike shorts frowned upon.
My guess...Pro mountain bikers need the advertising space on their kit, just as rodies do..

Maelstrom 

I think for regular mtbers the look is to racey (pardon the pun) Mountain bikes tend to be a really casual group. Spandex means trying really hard. Also, I know me and my friends, just plain hate the look. However amongst the xc crowd (or 2 dh pros) spandex is very popular.

khuon

When I first started mountain biking, no one really frowned upon the lycra clad crowd. I think the split was nearly 50/50 between those who wore baggies and those who wore lycra. I didn't start encountering any "attitude" from either side until the mid-90s when mountain biking not only really took off but started diversifying. Also it suddenly got the label of "extreme sport" and that brought on some sense of "image". I guess people figured they couldn't look badass and extreme when wearing lycra and tight clothing. Of course, in the beginning, MTBers wore jeans.

khuon

The really good ones are as expensive or slightly more than regular high-quality riding shorts. They usually run in the $50-$80 USD range. I also have some fairly cheap Bellweather ones that I got on closeout for $10 USD each. They normally run around $35-$45 USD I think. They're obviously not as comfortable as my $65 Sugois.

Most of the time I wear regular riding shorts as the baggies do snag on stuff and they just feel weird with the extra layer of clothing squirming around down there. This is why I also don't like riding in the rain with rainpants and curse it everytime I put on rainpants and it doesn't rain.

trbogti

Pearl Izumi has a pair for about $80. That's what I wear, and I swear by 'em. The moisture wicking and padding of spandex, combined with the looks of regular black shorts.

sm266

I wear lycra shorts on trails because it's cooler, comfortable, and I have a nice a$$. I ride xc, and everyone around here pretty much sports either lycra or baggies anyway. Not too much is said about either. Although, it stays fairly warm here, so the less layers, the better. If I'm just out riding stairs and stuff, I'll roll up the cuff of my pants or whatever and go.

Today, it's a tank top and lycra though.

Underwear Nazi

Good soldier!

Good soldiers!

Underwear Nazi
Remembering the sacrifices of those who gave their lives in service to the nation

MadMan2k

I just wear a regular T-shirt usually, and either some denim camo-painted shorts or these really light, tent-material-like ones that make my legs sweat way too much.
Preferably the former for mid-day rides.