Ok I'm thinking about buying my first road bike,but are the spandex shorts really necessary I just can't see myself in a pair of those.

hide them under other clothing .. the seamless and sweat absorbant crotch is what helps reduce chafing as you pedal for an hour +..

The spandex is to keep it close to your skin so the abrasion would be between the saddle and the shorts , not your skin.

or the inside of your cargo shorts and the snug fitting liner shorts. ..

When I see a group of bikers walking about, with spandex shorts and cleated shoes, I think of penguins in girdles containing adult diapers.

But, seriously, I wear bike shorts (usually Pearl Izumi) because of the comfort and sweat-wicking properties.

Hey ride in whatever short or pants you want. But when you "My butt hurts" or "Chafing problems", think about the cycling shorts. The first time I tried on spandex cycling shorts, my friends at the bike shop had a real laugh and called me a Wimmer Sausage. I still ride with them to this day. And I wear cleated shoes (but SPDs) so I can walk not waddle.

Just embrace it. It is functional and comfortable on long rides.

Try it and you won't go back.

Necessary? No. But consider this- if there was no benefit in wearing them- beyond various levels of ridicule- one would think that the 'fad' would've quickly died out.

If you have modesty issues, then go with a mtb short- they are a bit baggier.

Or start shopping for a Brooks saddle

Ride a bent or a trike. That way you can buy the cheapest shorts available since you dont have to by spandex to protect you from your bike.

If you're the only one wearing bike shorts, you'll feel out of place. If you show up at a bike rally with 2,000 people wearing bike shorts, and you're not, you'll feel out of place.
Anyway, it's not too critical, but there's not a lot of reason to avoid them, either. Nobody really much cares what you're wearing.

Have ridden lots of places and organized rides with basketball shorts or baseball pants and a t-shirt, don't much if I look out of place among cyclists or non cyclists. Been on a couple of rides that "required" cycling apparel. Cycle gear or not, when it is hot, humid or engine get heated up, cycle gear helps keep hardware cooler and reduces risk of chaffing. But you don't need a plastic bag, a good choice is the J&G touring short- look a lot like running shorts, have a thin pad for moisture control and aren't hugely expensive.

Welcome aboard Bike Forums Jcomer. Hope you enjoy your stay.

As for your question, no, spandex short aren't a necessity. But, as others have said, they will greatly improve your level of comfort over the long haul.

I'm a somewhat large rider, and the regular shorts that most of the roadies wear make me look fatter than I already am. Being somewhat self-conscious, I went with a baggy, mountain bike short to wear, first on my comfort hybrid and now on my flat bar road bike. A spandex lining to keep everything in place, cool and comfortable but with a baggy outer shell so I don't look like something that escaped from the aquarium and beached itself of the shore of Lake Michigan. LOL!!

Hope you find just the right short for you.

I wear cycling bibs with a pair of thin gym shorts and a dry fit t-shirt over the top.. Been doing this for years!

I do about 40 miles a day and once a week I do a 60-70 miles ride.. Went 63 today and have never had an issue...

Some cyclists (I refer to them a cycling snobs) will shun you however if you are not dressed like you are trying for a spot in the Tour de France..

Who cares what you're wearing! Wear what makes you comfortable. Don't fret about what other people think, life's too short.

I definitely do not see any reason to "hide" what you're wearing but that's just my opinion. If you feel better doing it, do it.

I bought some bike shorts and all I can say is they made a huge difference than just some running shorts.

Wear the shorts. Without them after twenty or thirty miles you won't care what they look like you'll just wish you had them.

New rider here doing 10-15 mile rides in basketball shorts or jeans a couple weeks ago when it was cooler. I do just fine. For now. Give it a try. If I have to do anything different than that in future its going to be covered by something else.

A good 20% of my miles have been riding with my oldest daughter after work close to home I'm wearing jeans golf shirt and full height wellington boots. Her sometimes in high heeled boots.

Check these out: Amazon.com : Sugoi Men's Remote Short (Black, Medium) : Athletic Shorts : Clothing

They have padding (which isn't so great) plus they're baggy enough to look cool but not so baggy that they interfere with your riding. I actually cut out the padding part that comes with them and use a better cycling short (I like the Bontrager Solstice, it has great padding and is cheap at about $50) underneath them.

I have a pair of these too, you can get them at Dick's. They're a little more stylish than the Sugoi: https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/pr...25420.13061620

I've gone to always wearing the spandex/diaper getup because it's way more comfortable than underwear and gym shorts, not even close. But depending on where I'm riding and what I plan on doing during or after the ride (stopping for lunch, etc.) I might wear the baggy shorts over top of the cycling shorts.

One of the few makers using other than spandex, eg Helenca a rubberless stretchy knit fabric, quit making them, over 10 years ago.
and is also sewing just using spandex/lycra now too.

resistance is futile ..

I used to ride black spandex when I was a young very fit rider.

Now that I am older, and more self conscious, I'm using a liner from MEC. Its like a very thin short that you wear as underwear, it has all the padding of a short, but fits nicely under shorts or pants.

When I start doing longer distances, I might go for the full short.

It's part of the dress code. We do have rules... you know. [snicker]

Bibs.

It seems funny but, if you bike for long enough you change your thinking on kit.

I have several pairs of MTB shorts from Aerotech Design. These are well-made, with a nice pad to keep things dry, yet look a tad more modest. ATD Outlaw Bullet Mountain Bike Short with padded liner

ATD is also a sponsor here on Bike Forum.

mrt2

I have been biking for 66 years, and in all that time I have never given a damn what other people think about what I wear while I ride. Now that I have been fully bent for 9 years I care even less. Now especially I do not have to wear clothes that protect me from my bike. My whole "kit" consists of $15 rugby shorts, free T-shirts from the club, cycling shoes, and a helmet. The cleated shoes that are a must on my trike I got on sale for $23 and the helmet was $29.

For my shorter weekend or training rides, I'll wear regular shorts. For anything longer than about 30 miles, out come the bibs.

I value my coffee table.

Agreed!