Sekt

Yo dudes!

I'm getting a pro-sewing friend to make me up a pair of custom riding shorts for general, every day use commuting around the city. I'm pretty keen for them to be the ultimate knickers, kinda like a cross between Rapha's Fixed shorts and UTW's Spins.

I'm keen to hear suggestions from people for handy features.

So far I'm thinking:

• Ripstop Supplex fabric. Wind and water resistant, fast drying and light as hell.
  
• Lined seat for minor comfort factor.
  
• Cut high at the back, elastic waist. Stops the ol' plummer's crack from making an appearance.
  
• Button up bottoms ala Rapha's fixed shorts. Keep that **** locked downwhile riding.
  
• U-Lock loop at the back with a velcro fastener. Easy at hand but not likely to slip out.
  
• Angled pockets. Heaps easier to get your mits into when riding. I'm thinking fairly roomy pockets too, to make it easier to get into them whilst wearing gloves.
  
• Chunky belt loops that'll fit my typical, t-shirt destroying fashion statement of a studded belt.
  
• A mobile phone pocket within one of the front pockets so you don't have to fish around deep in your pockets when it starts ringing. Cause seriously, I can never answer my phone in time.
  
• Single piece rear panel so you're not sitting on seams all day.
  
• Internal rear pockets, probably with a button closure.

I'm thinking about avoiding cargo pockets. They're useful, but I'm not really into the cargo pocket thing, and I find it annoying riding with stuff bouncing around on my legs.

Really keen to hear more suggestions. Who knows, maybe there'll be the option to place orders!

Shiznaz

I have a pair of army surplus digital camo BDU's that I got significantly adjusted by a seamstress. She cut the legs off and reinforced the cuffs, sewed on tabs and buttons to tighten the cuffs, customized a rear pocket to hold my U lock, sewed an ass reinforcement as well as reinforcements on the knee and on the inside of my thighs. I am a huge fan of cargo pockets. I used them all winter shoving different weights of balaclavas and gloves and armwarmers in them when I wore them over tights. They are nice and light, very stong, look pretty cool, are impossible to get looking dirty due to the pattern. They aren't waterproof or anything but they dry very fast and could be scotch guarded. The front pockets have a flap closure which is nice, and they have fancy zippers and buttons.

I paid 40 bucks for the pants because they were used a leg was a bit chewed up, and then 15 dollars for the adjustments. They're the best.

I'll likely do this again some time in the future.

Sekt

Sounds good! I'm getting these ones for free, plus the cost of fabric. I'm pretty stoked.

I ride with a bag everywhere so cargo pockets aren't too vital. I'll be combining these with tights int he on-coming winter for sure. Much of the reason I wanted them is that the shorts I wear in summer are pretty baggy and let way too much cold air up the legs! Haha.

For a similar reason, I'm really keen on the fast drying/water resistant features of Supplex. Nothing worse than a quick dash in the rain that leaves you in 10kg of wet cotton.

dewaday

Might want to check these out, some pretty similar ideas.
https://www.bicycleclothing.com/Patro...ts-Unisex.html

I own a pair and their great utility shorts.

Sekt

Cool, cheers for the link.

I'm thinking below-knee length for these ones, rather than shorter shorts. More of a 3/4 length (but not daggy like most 3/4 length pants, haha).

Mueslix

Everything listed sounds good. I agree with no cargo pockets, they look horrible and how often do you actually stick anything in there?

dblock

make me a pair

octopus magic

Manifests?

blickblocks

Don't get the pockets made with that lightweight cotton crap, because that stuff will get tangled when you ride. I like when pants just have a second layer of the exterior fabric sew to it on the inside, because it can't get all wrinkled up.

Mueslix

*humbled*

mattface 

Or maps, or any other paper one needs to keep handy for us non-pro riders. Also good for keeping a spare bandanna if you're so inclined. I agree that they suck for anything heavy though because it will flop around annoyingly

octopus magic

Actually those cold weather BDU's are pretty cool because they have those straps on the inside of the pockets that let you tie whatever heavy thing you have inside the pocket

Ken Cox

Some weeks back in a thread about "Fixie Girls" that got locked, the original poster included a picture of a young woman wearing knickers.

These knickers, or 3/4 pants, appeared to have a drawstring below the knee that tightened and tied on the outside of the knee, away from the chain.

Way back in the 1960's, I had a pair of field/outdoor/backpacking trousers with a similar drawstring below the knee, and this made the trousers "blouse" a little at the knee, and allowed very free and comfortable knee movement.

I like the idea of no cargo pockets and a drawstring below the knee.

mander

I agree with posters aboce, cargos are a great place to stow bits of insulation (mitts, arm warmers) on the fly but only if you don't regularly wear a jersey with back pockets. Jersey pockets are the best because unlike cargos you can also store heavier objects without having them flop around and be annoying.

Bikkhu

I am wearing those, they are Endura´s 3/4 lenght Zyme pants

OrgFarmCY

I have one pocket on my favorite biking shorts that I can't live without. Its half way in between my cargo and regular pocket and just has a vertical zipper. The vertical thing is useless when you're walking around, but great on a bike, because half the time it's perfectly horizontal.

Mine's big enough to fit a cell phone and wallet.

--Aaron

Ken Cox

These intrigue me.

I googled Endura Zyme and found a pair here:

https://thehubbikecoop.org/itemdetail...gId=39&id=1034

What can Bikkhu tell me about these pants?

A review, please.

Bikkhu

Ok

First of all, these look MUCH better than in the pic. A really subtle dark camo pattern. Material: Fine knit nylon, double seat, strectches a tiny amount. Double stitching. 2 Zippered side pockets, 2 front "cargo" pockets, one open, one zippered (which contains an integrated key loop). Velcro fasteners to fine tune leg-ends. Super comfy fast drying fabric, feels like cotton. Sizing kinda on the large side, might want to order a size smaller than you think.

Longer test to follow, but suffice to say these are the best I´v worn

Shiznaz

My customized shorts are basically the same as that. They even look like they reinforced the same areas. Stretchy nylon would be nice but somewhat unnecessary, and I find military cotton to be nice and airy anyways. The pockets look pretty cool but they seem like they would be less useful than the gigantic ones I have on the side of mine (hate the fashion of cargo pockets but love the utility). It would be nice if those enduras had belt loops

Anways those look like great shorts, not a bad price either!

Sekt

Cheers for all the replies and links dudes.

A key loop is definitely happening, cheers for mentioning that one!

blickblocks: Can you describe what you mean when you say the pockets get caught up when you ride? Do you mean twisted around?

And are you talking about a lining of the same fabric? I probably wont be able to do that, as it makes it a ****load more work and I'm getting them for free, so I don't want to push my luck!

Those Endura Zymes look really sweet. I wouldn't mind a pair of those as well!

bbattle

Why no love for the lycra?

Sekt

I just get sick of fending off the hordes of nubile women who feel the need to chase me down when they see the glowing pillars of might that are my legs.

loaf

I'd make them belt independent somehow so I'd be able to cruise through metal detectors at work without having my belt buckle set that shiz off, but I dunno if you're worried about that. I solved the problem with a quite ugly plastic belt buckle for on the job.

blickblocks

Yeah, twisted around. Sucks when you're wearing gloves and you can't get into your pockets right away. There are many methods of making pockets, you should ask your seamster what different kinds they know how to make. I like the basic cargo-pocket style method, I made my girlfriend a skirt with a pocket that way.

Sekt

Yeah I reckon a bit of stitching to secure the bottom of the pockets directly to the shorts should work. Good point though.

loaf: I'll definitely get them so that they actually fit me, haha. I tend to wear a belt regardless though.