Ric11

Anybody ever ridden these type of mountain bike shorts? Seems like they might get caught on all kinds of tree limbs and such copared to regular lycra shorts...anyone have experience with them?
https://slickbikes.com/product/royal-...ike-short-2799

victim

I've had shorts from Royal but not that particular model. They make top notch stuff but price it pretty high. If they had my size I would have bought a pair. They do snag more than lycra but offer more crash protection and have pockets. I prefer baggy over lycra in all but the hottest conditions.

pablosnazzy

i never ride in lycra, always in shorts, baggie cut off shorts. i have yet to be caught on anything (although my chain wallet has caught on a random branch or two, so maybe don't wear a chain wallet while you ride). those shorts are made to ride your bike in.

shorts are better because they have pockets, so you carry stuff on you.

Rafy

Oh yeah shorts rule!!, pockets everywere...

corvuscorvax

I have owned a few pairs of baggy shorts, and they're ok, but I have ended up going back to lycra. It's just more functional, and more comfortable for me. If I'm going to the store or something and want to look less dorky, I just put on a pair of shorts over the lycra. I really fail to see the purpose of baggy shorts specifically made for biking. As far as I can tell, it's more about fashion than functionality.

pablosnazzy

as far as i see, lycra is more fashion than function. i am not arguing with you, i would like an actual friendly discussion. neither of us is right or wrong, it's opinion. if one of us has to be right, you can be right, i am wrong, i don't care.

for me...as stated, shorts have pockets, so i can carry phone and keys and food and such and don't have to dig around a pack or take a pack off to get to stuff. shorts are way more comfortable (for me) and way more airy. the shorts i wear at work and walking around all day i ride in (i also ride in my jeans in cooler weather) so i don't have to change or carry around an extra pair of shorts.
lycra has chamois. ok. i don't wear chamois on rides less than 40 miles (road or mtn. yes i ride road in shorts). if i need chamois, most baggy shorts come with chamois insert. i'm not racing so i don't need to be "aero." and that is why i like shorts.



your turn. how is lycra more functional?

Daspydyr 

I vote for the baggy MTB shorts. Function as far as pockets for money, cell phone, garage remote a couple of snack bars. I have never snagged anything, except when bouncing off rocks. Even in trees, it has never been an issue.

I tried riding in Lycra but Cougars kept chasing me home. Its very inconvenient indeed. It still happens in baggies, just not as often.

Ali_Pine

Lycra can snag and unravel. Just picture that on your local trail.


Only try in privacy of your home.

kenhill3

No cougars chasing me.

Never tried baggies. Like some other old guys I really like my lycra bibs. Done deal for me.

LesterOfPuppets

I'll usually put on lycra for any ride that's gonna go beyond a couple of hours.

If it is too hot out I go full fred and put on a jersey so I have some pockets.

If it ain't too hot out I'll typically put some board shorts or even cargo shorts on over the lycra however. I only have one pair of Billabong cargo shorts that don't work on bike. They suffer from low crotch syndrome and snag the saddle nose all the time.

Never had the lycra snag and unravel like a Weezer song. Of course the long trails I ride aren't blackberry ridden like the short trails here in the city. For those teaser city trails I usually have cargo shorts on.

I wouldn't worry much about those Royal Racing shorts snagging a bunch either, though. The fronts look pretty clean and snag-free. Of course with that belt a couple of buddies could hoist you up and hang yer ass from a chain-link fence so beware.

JonathanGennick 

Baggies are fine. I rode some this evening. No problems whatsoever.

ShimmerFade

I have yet to try loose fitting shorts on my mtb because I have been spending money on more important upgrades, and I already had a few pairs of lycra pants. In the future I want to try out lycra bike shorts under loose fitting shorts/pants (or loose fitting shorts/pants with a chamois insert). I see the main benefit being extra protection/warmth in winter. I personally find lycra really comfortable..almost like I'm not wearing any shorts! I always have my generic camelbak with me, so pockets are pretty much a non-factor.

corvuscorvax

* Much more efficient moisture wicking and evaporation. I find I ride much cooler if I am in lycra than with the extra layers of a baggy short.

* I can't stand the constant swish-swish of fabric on my thigh as I ride.

* Lycra doesn't catch on the nose of my saddle. Baggies, in my experience, do.

* I almost always have a Camelbak on anyway, so carrying keys/phone is not an issue. Likewise, I find it very irritating to have anything even as heavy as a keyring in my pocket when I am moving. Interferes with a smooth spin.

* If I have a choice, I would rather ride with chamois, even for a short ride.

For commuting/errands, I usually do just toss a pair of cargo shorts on over my lycra, which is basically no different than a pair of MTB-specific baggies, except for maybe the seam locations, which I don't find to be a big issue.

My basic uniform for a long ride is a Duofold t-shirt and lycra shorts, with a Camelbak for water and gear. Simple, functional, never lets me down.

[Edit: Still trying to figure out why anybody would expect anybody to get angry over somebody else's preference in or opinion about shorts...]

Zephyr11

I don't ride fast enough to wear lycra. Plus I sometimes wear knee/shin guards, and that would just look silly with lycra. Gotta be stylin', ya know?

Actually though, lycra seems to tear more easily, baggies have pockets, and with baggies I can choose whether or not I want the liner. I've never caught baggies on my saddle since they're pretty long. I've found that's only a problem with running shorts (yet every so often, all my bike shorts are in the wash and I forget and wear them again...duh).

LesterOfPuppets

Some noob roadie started the roadie alternate universe version of this thread...

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ad-racing-kits

corvuscorvax

Too funny. Anybody wearing span on an MTB is so a poseur.

YamiRider1316

love my baggies. Just cant picture myself bombing trails in full lycra. Funny mental image given im super tall and skinny. Never have had issues with baggies getting caught or snagged either.

Daspydyr 

Anger is a reserved right in this forum. It usually happens when the someone's bowl has gone completely cold. Its not the baggies, its the bowl.

FOR ME, Mountain biking is a non judgmental form. Ride what you got, wear what you want. The best part is not the image, its the ride. I have a couple of good pairs of Fox and Sugoi shorts that are padded. It fits my taste, but I still play my Woodstock Album.

electrik

rip-stop doesn't come in a lycra form.

Yotsko

Road bike = lycra
MTB = baggies.

Why would I want to tear up my lycra shorts?

estabro

The faster guys are usually in lycra.

electrik

So you can be the faster guy! Shorts make you fast - duh.

ed 

If you're wearing lycra to gain that last little bit of advantage to be the "faster guy", yet you aren't a professional getting paid to ride...you need to lighten up.

When did our sport turn in to road biking on dirt anyhoo? I'm starting t to see through the curtain that marketing once pulled over my eyes. I mean really...who the crap cares if you finish your loop 5 min faster?

JonathanGennick 

For a lot of people, that's exactly what it is.

NYCJohn170

To MTB in the Islamic World, like say Morocco, you'll need the knee length loose shorts. I wouldn't want to go surfboard loose but not form fitting. Most of those areas are high desert anyway so you won't have to worry much about catching them on branches.