wheelerer

why to guys wear those really tight shorts? they all look queer!

EJ123

Haha, I'd never wear it.

mlh122

I wear the tight queer shorts that have baggy cargo shorts sewn on the outside so as to not look queer, most people can't tell they are cycling shorts

Rev.Chuck

People wear them because they work. People don't wear them because they are concerned their deficiency will be exposed.

MediaCreations 

Unfortunately we can't answer your question here. I suggest that you go to your local cycle club where you'll find dozens of guys in those 'queer' shorts and let them know you think they all look queer. I'm sure you'll get the answer you're looking for.

wethepeople

They dont get in the way, and they're more streamlined. There are many more reasons but I cant think of many more at the moment.

BTW, I dont wear them, because they are not very comforatble for me and dont offer the protection I want.

blue_neon

They serve a purpose and they work. People will have differnet opinions whether to wear them or something similar or something completely different! Me I dont wear them, but I do need to get better shorts for cycling, the ones I wear now are too baggy.

(if you really wanted to 'hide' something, just wear 2 pairs of shorts. Tight inside, baggy out side )

madbiker555

Shorts? Pfffft. Jeans all the way

blue_neon

You...have got to...be kidding me.

xenochimera

i wear fox 360, which is pretty baggy, i also like the cannodale shorts a lot, looks comfy and its padded

Karldar

I wear 'em because they do work. I get hung up on enough crap as it is. If you've ever gotten your shorts/pants hung on your seat, there's a good reason to wear cycling shorts. Plus, I'm old-school, and that's just what I'm used to, I guess.

EJ123

Jeans are prrtty cool when riding

PCS2

cycling short are good. nothing to get caught on and...and.....damn....karldar, your avatar always freaks me out, I always imagine some crazy military guy running through the woods when I see it...lol....

what is the story, do tell?

2manybikes

Or because they think they look queer.

madbiker555

Haha, I was wondering that too.

Karldar

That pic was taken just after a XC race in Garmisch, Germany, circa 1996 or 1997. It was wet, cold and I don't think I'd had any beer yet. That's probably why I look like a maniac. Oh, I'm ex-military(U.S. Army, thankyouverymuch) and I only run through the woods when there's something I can't ride over or my frame gets clogged with ****ing clay mud! So there ya go....

xenochimera

i dont like jeans, i had one that got caught in my crank, RRRRIIIIPPP 8 inches on my jeans....i paid 20 for those too....

PCS2

I see, sounds reasonable......however the pic stil freaks me out, lol.

yongcancook

When I first started Mtn. biking I thought they were an essential. I kinda felt strange not ever buying me some, I see a lot of people on the trails wear them. I just don't think I could ever wear anything that tight. I mean my boyz gotta breathe...it can't be comfortable.

PAbeerman

lol! Not the most comfortable, but keeps everything from moving around too much, which IMO is alot more uncomfortable than those "queer" shorts.

After wearing them awhile, you really don't care what others think......at some point in your life you may decide to make decisions based on what works, not what "everyone" thinks. Just part of growing up, no disrespect intended.

LowCel 

If that doesn't work I suggest going to a local or national cross country race and ask. I'm sure there will be hundreds of people willing to explain it to you. While you are there you probably won't see anyone above the beginner class wearing anything but spandex.

By the way, I don't get on a bike without them. I even wear them when I am on my rollers or the trainer.

mtnbiker66

In regards to Karldar, he is much more spooky in real life than in that avatar!

dirtbikedude

LowCell, I do believe you need to get rid of the pink and fuschia shorts with the smiley face on the a$$ though.

There are only two reasons the riders I know do not wear them, 1) because they have no need to, 2) they have not been edjumacated about the usefulness of the tight cycling shorts.

DBD

GreyGoat

lot of people are just plain spandephobic...

TandemGeek

Because a lot of us started out riding road bikes years before mountain biking came along and, at least for road riding the shorts are an essential piece of apparel: they prevent chaffing, rashes, saddle sores, don't bind, bunch, or balloon up in the airstream. So, given that most folks who don't ride road bikes think people who do look queer in their little cycling short -- never mind that leg shaving thing -- we were hardly self-conscious about wearing them when they hopped on off-road bikes where, son-of-a-gun, those elastic little pants do the same things well that they did on road bikes.

Since so many of the early mountain bike riders and racers crossed over from road and cyclocross racers and showed up for rides and races in their cycling shorts, people who were just getting into the sport saw what they were wearing, assumed there was a reason for it or asked why they wore them, and then decided to give them a try.

Of course, a lot of the MTB culture came from the Marin County folks, BMXers, and even motocross riders who never road road bikes and, instead, were more accustomed to wearing jeans, baggy shorts, or other durable clothing and had no interest in slipping into skin tight apparel.

Therefore, even in the early days of mountain biking you had at least two major different cultures participating involved in off-road cycling that influenced what they wore just as you will find sub-cultures tied to the equipment that people use, e.g., full suspension, hardtail, rigid, multispeed, single-speed, XC, FreeRide, Downhill, and so on. Of course, what's so baffling about cyclists is that they spend so much time focusing on and deriding each others differences that they forget the vast majority of American adults don't ride bikes and think any adult who does looks queer regardless of what they are wearing or riding: deal with it.