Vrex

For riding my Rans V-rex, I'm looking for an alternative to the two types of shorts that are most readily available: (1) Standard Lycra tights, which seem hot, clingy, bulky, confining (you know what I mean!) and generally unnecessary for the purpose; or (2) ordinary street-wear shorts, which have evolved into something so huge and baggy that they billow and balloon like drag chutes with each pedal stroke. So-called "mountain bike" shorts that I've seen seem to combine the worst of both worlds. Can anyone recommend some good "bent shorts" that avoid these drawbacks?

Lee

Onus

Take an old pair of jeans and cut the legs off. Assume the jeans fit (they're just old), they should offer enough room, without being baggy.

cod.peace

You have excellent taste in bicycles. You should look into the Mt. Borah recumbent shorts, they are exactly what you describe. They include shock cord drawstrings on the legs to keep bees out.

There are a few variations, you can find them at: Hostel Shoppe and Calhoun Cycle.

I plan on getting a pair or too at some point, but I have a pair of nylon shorts that are loose, mesh-lined, and have legs that fit tight enough that they don't billow. I think I've owned 'em for 8 years or so, darned if I know where they came from...

megaman

I've been using the Mt. Borah shorts for the past 4 years. I love em.

JanMM

Mt. Borah Recumbent Shorts.
The Ex Officio Amphi Shorts are OK, too, even tho they aren't specifically biking shorts.

Jeans of any sort are OK for trips around the neighborhood.

BlazingPedals

I guess I don't know what you mean. Far from being hot, bulky, and confining, lycra shorts are the next thing to not wearing shorts. Clingy, well... yes; so ya got me on one out of four. Aside from lacking pockets, which would necessarily be where I wouldn't want a pocket anyway, I find lycra shorts to be completely comfortable and functional.

Pwstebelton

I prefer to use lycra shorts. I ride a high racer Bacchetta and need my leg grippers found in good cycling shorts. If you don't need the pad, Hostelle Shop carries shorts with very little pad or none. Also, I have heard of people using rowing specific shorts.

Onus

I guess I just don't see paying $60-$90 for a single pair of shorts.

Rollfast

Now the thread title takes it's meaning literally.

While I know there's a reason for these things, the secondhand store has a pair of pants I can alter and wear anywhere. I don't know what has to be aerodynamic about shorts.

Your keys aren't nor are you...

cranky old dude

I agree. I read some palce on these forums just recently that it is possible to remove the padding from lycra cycling shorts with a bit of care and patience. I dug out a cheaper old pair of shorts that I had and spent an evening watching TV and carefuly snipping at the stitches. It worked out great.

Now whether I'm in the mood for cargo shorts, denim cut-offs, or lycra, I've got the shorts to fit the mood (or need). For example, I took a 30 mile ride in the rain last week for which the lycra was absolutely perfect. Yesterday I rode my bike to breakfast and enjoyed having the pockets in my denim cut-offs.

Jay D

I find that bicycle specific clothing no longer apply to recumbent riding, I don't even use bicycle jerseys because of the pockets on the back of them. Essentually any active / jogging wear you can find at your local sports store should work just fine.

Jerry in So IL

Starter brand shorts from Wally World! I spend money on the bike, not the bling!

Jerry

Jeff Wills

Well, neither do I. I find that the expensive shorts have very thick padding which isn't useful on a recumbent. I prefer less expensive Lycra shorts, generally in the $25-35 range. These fit pretty well, and the padding is enough to offer some modesty while not being too bulky. The Performance brand "Century" shorts fit this mold, or I get some on sale from Nashbar.

Here's what I look like, herding the Velomobile ride through Portland last weekend:

Ken-NC

Go to Wally world and get some exercise shorts in the womans section, they work great and only cost about 5 or 6 dollars. I bought mine in El Paso about 5 years ago and there still going strong. You dont want anything open as you may swoop up a bee.
Just ride, Ken

jeffh129

https://www.aerotechdesigns.com/recumbent.htm

go here

Onus

$20 for a pair seems reasonable. The idea of scooping up bees is singularly unappealing.

Dchiefransom

I tried riding with regular shorts and underwear. Never again. It gets into your crotch and the legs grind away while you pedal.
Lycra or mtb type cycling shorts. I bought a pair of the Boulder mtb shorts from Performance. They actually have the lycra short inside the nyling outer short. No big seams in the back and velcro pockets on the side for my stuff. I might get a zipper sewn on the pocket flaps to make sure the keys, cell phone, and wallet are secure.
No matter what you wear, it seems that the important thing is no big seams between you and the seat, and not bunching up in the wrong spot while you pedal.

JanMM

So, you're advocating cross-dressing?

Nothing wrong with that, of course.

bigride

I like to use BIKE softball shorts for riding.
you can get them at wal-mart, k-mart or any other sports type supply store.
they have elastic legs, waist and fit great. plus I get them when they are cheap ($10) and get a couple of pairs.

Rollfast

Where do you find all those BEES?

Rollfast

Chipcom was on the cover of Playboy...

Make sure you remove the "Lovepats" tags or whatever first I guess (ATTENTION, KMART SHOPPERS)

bobkat

Doesn't matter to me what I wear on up to 50 milers. For klonger distances, especially day after day, I've actually gone back to thin padded upright shorts because there are never any seams that sometimes can wear a hole in the hide of my backside. Still looking for a pair of shorts with absolutely no seam anywahere that could rub.

JanMM

No seams with nekkid riding but that is likely prohibited in the Dakotas.

wink

That is what I was thinking.I guess we are just cheap.I go with the jean shorts and do wear regular bike shorts on a long ride.

BlazingPedals

Lycra running shorts, unpadded, about $20 each. Coolmax underwear, $15-20 each.