j3ffr3y

I've been looking into getting some cycling specific shorts, but don't really want to go all lycra, want to get something that I can walk around with after locking my bike up.
The Rapha Touring Shorts and Chrome Union Short caught my eyes, but are both quite expensive.
MTB baggies were suggested, but I don't really know where to start looking for those?

Any recommendations?

shortshorts

Performance Bike has some cheaper options available.

Lots of people here will probably say to just get some dickies or jeans and cut the legs off.
Thats what I do, man.
Feels great, + its cheap.

If you're after some kind of cycling feel/padding inside, you could just get some liner shorts and wear them beneath your regular clothes, that way you don't look all lycra'd out.

Ken Cox

Why "cycling specific?"

On those occasions when I need a bicycle short, like when breaking myself in to a new saddle or when I need something to keep leg warmers from slipping down, I wear a "bicycle specific" liner under whatever shorts I want to wear.

https://www.amazon.com/Pearl-iZUMi-El...ref=pd_sbs_a_1

Otherwise, I ride with normal underwear and whichever outer shorts or trousers I want to wear.

LoRoK

IMO you don't get the full benefit of cycling specific shorts unless you're wearing, well, cycling shorts. You can find other shorts that have crappy chamois or whatever, but it isn't the same. Either wear cycling shorts under whatever you're wearing or don't worry about it. But the idea is that the cycling short is more comfortable than regular clothing while on a bike, so covering it up with precisely what you're trying to remedy is silly.

JJPistols

bouldering shorts work well in the summer - quick drying, lightweight, designed for movement


REI or Sierra Trading Post are good stores/sites to try first

bleedingapple

I take dickies one size too small (since they make them so baggy now) and let out the waist to my size. this makes for a nice fit with the legs and not saddle catching on the drooping crotch. I would love some of those fancier shorts but I can make them for myself for at least a little cheaper. Under the weather used to make some ****ing sick shorts, I wish they still did. there is also a company out there (the name i forget) that makes cycling shorts that look like 3/4 cut dress pants and are all cool tech like water and wind proof. Not cheep though...

seventythree

My two favorites are the

Cutter Tech Knickerbocker
I have two pair - one brown and one grey.
Got both thru bonktown.com

plenty of pockets
u-lock loop above left rear pocket
somewhat waterproof
gusseted crotch

and
my HELL YES knickers
made by Hell Yes clothing-dennis-the guy that runs the
fixed gear gallery.
awesome knicks
mine are black pinstriped
cell phone pocket
hell yes stitched in
two buttons on the bottom hem with strap
they are how good knicks should look IMO- not some baggy azz MTB BS.

I also have two pair of Prana knicks
but have never worn them out cycling yet.
I suppose they'd be just fine as Prana makes them for climbers
and yoga folk like myself.

80085

sweatpants *****

LosAngelesRidin

small basketball shorts.

comfy ass hell

fixiekid505

cut-off jean shorts ftw

pandabear

If you got Rapha, you wouldn't regret it.

LoRoK

I would regret paying Rapha prices for Rapha gear.

seventythree

Just picked up some Dickies shorts.
They come in two lengths
13 and 15 inch.
Kahki, work blue, black,jean style, and what I got - grey.

3/4 pants

I picked the 15 inch as i'm 6'2".


18$

Nice storage pocket halfway down on the right side.

Cons-
none of the pockets button nor snap close.
little bit baggy at the bottom, but for 18$ I'm happy with them.

Get 'em at your local wal-mart
or
directly from Dickie's at their site.

erichsia

I've got a couple pairs of Swrve knickers, and they work great for me. The thing I like about them more than anything else is the fact that they're snug around the leg. If you carry stuff around in your pockets (which I do all the time), then you know what it feels like when that stuff goes swinging around on a pair of shorts when you're pedaling. If you're really mashing, stuff can fly right out of your pockets. The Swrve knicks (and many other brands, I'm sure) resolve this by making everything a bit more snug. If you're on the slimmer side, they look really good. Add in the reinforced areas and articulated knees, and you've got something that pretty damn good on the bike, and looks really good off of it too. I walk around work all day in my knicks, when it's chillier and I've got knee high black socks on I look like baseball player. They're technical enough to be utilitarian, but not so technical that they look ridiculous at the coffee shop/bar/record store/bar-mitzvah/cock fighting match/etc.

Dr. Banzai

$75 descente lycra shorts under $10 ripstop khaki shorts. No one ever knows I'm wearing my power ranger suit and I can do a day's riding in them without batting an eye.

LoRoK

I'd like to give a counter-point to erichsia's SWRVE knicker review. First off, let me say the customer service they gave me was top notch. That said, it was the worst pair of "cycling" specific clothing I've ever owned. I'm not a huge guy, but the sprinter's cut was too tight on me. Also, the legs were much too short, and the articulated knee ended up being an articulated mid-thigh. But the worst, worst, worst thing about these was the huge knot of fabric where the inseams met, right at the taint, right, perfectly, specifically where it couldn't possibly be any more uncomfortable on a bike saddle. I couldn't wear these if I was going to be riding more than 3-4 miles, which is like never.

On the other hand, the Oregon Cycle Wear Messenger knicks are cheap, last forever, and super comfy. I have an older pair (2, maybe 3 years old) where they had crappy zippers on the side pockets. Those broke off pretty quickly. However, beyond that, they're perfect. I would like to wear them every day, but my friends notice.

erichsia

I can't speak to your fit issues, but yes, these things are definitely not made for people with power thighs. But I get the feeling you've probably got bigger quads than most of the guys on here LaRok, which would've created the articulated thigh problem you ran into. I figured OP was asking for a more casual, commuting type of deal rather than a really technical, performance driven, sort of knicker. If I were going on a ride longer than 10 miles, these wouldn't be the shorts I pull on. But for commuting, which is about 8 miles a day, and walking around at work, I think they're a great deal. Especially if you get them from their sale section.

bleedingapple

huh, from my hood and not $150! I am actually really stoked on these... Funny thing is, I just got some patagonia pants made of this same material for $15 While my girlfriend wasnt super happy about it (they are really nice pants) I cut them into knickers and put a cargo pocket on the side. They came out great and look kinda classy actually...

LoRoK

I didn't really expect them to be technical or performance driven. I just can't get over the taint-destroyer that is somehow included in their design. I mean, it makes about as much sense as a helmet that covers your eyes. They may be great for walking around in all day at work, but on a bike they are the worst things ever. At least for me, I'm glad they work for you.

Are you talking about the Oregon guys? If so, I would recommend cutting out the crappy little chamois pad they put in. It's pretty much worthless.

johnnytheboy

i've always worn serfas gel shorts, but recently picked up some specialized sport shorts when the serfas finally wore out.
since they're new, i really can't speak on the durability, but they seem quality and the comfort is superb.
pearl izumi has consistently let me down in terms of quality.

Dr. Banzai

Odd that the Swerv shorts fit that way. Their jeans fit me well and I have large quads. I've never really found a short that didn't fit other than print board shorts.

Comfort and fashion are hard to come by with a good price. Like that old hot rod saying, "Fast, cheap or reliable. Pick two."

zonatandem

Therei s/was cycling specific underwear with shammy . . . wear 'em under what ever suits you.

bleedingapple

yea, and I would totally cut out that thing, I still dont understand why companies put those in there... seeing as I am seldom off my bike all i wear is spandex under my various knickers... thus an extra pad would be a bad thing...

rumrunn6

non cycling specific shorts will rub the top of your thigh. good bike shorts won't do that. check out rei but don't buy anything online - fit should be judged in person.

Totaled108

I agree with the Pranas.

These are the only good shorts I ride with.
https://www.prana.com/002919-Stretch-...?colorid=48940

Mine have 'crotch cooling holes'. They have more then 2000 miles in the saddle, and only a little sign of wear. I boulder, do yoga and climb both inside and out side with them, so they see a harness at least once a week. Very durable and comfortable.