Loose Shorts

Basketball type of shorts are nice and light, they'd probably work.

FastFly said:

What types of shorts (loose) are good to wear on top of spandex? I personally am not a fan of lycra shorts.

Why not?. I think it's not a matter if you are a fan or not, it's our "uniform".

When I first started biking, my opinion was just like yours, but when you get use to them you will never try another thing else. Specialy if you like to spend hours on the bike (I do a lot of XC).

FastFly said:

What types of shorts (loose) are good to wear on top of spandex? I personally am not a fan of lycra shorts.

As a rule, you wouldn't wear anything on top of cycling shorts, or underneath them for that matter. If you don't like the skin tight look, then there are baggy shorts with liners intended for MTBers. You can also buy separate liners that go under whatever else you want to wear, running shorts for example.
As the owner of a road bike, you will look the part more if you wear lycra whilest riding, what don't you like about them?

FastFly said:

What types of shorts (loose) are good to wear on top of spandex? I personally am not a fan of lycra shorts.

My two big reasons I don't like loose or baggie shorts while I do MTB.

1. Once I was down hill, I move my body to the back of the bike to balance the weight, once the down the hill, at high speed, I tried to seat back on the seat but the stupid baggie short got stucked in the seat, I felt of the bike, no big injuries.

2. Once I trapped a big bee inside the short. Don't ask for details.

Some times people have issues with lycra because they feel "naked" and think people stare at their parts (well, maybe this is true).

For people who feel this way: GET OVER IT....!!!, if you like the sport, you should like the uniform, right?.

GERARDO said:

For people who feel this way: GET OVER IT....!!!, if you like the sport, you should like the uniform, right?.

Well, isn't it clear that he doesn't like the shorts and is looking for an alternative?

Anyway, what i was wondering, is if you could use "Skins" tight pants, or are they just for running?

[quote="Twig"]Well, isn't it clear that he doesn't like the shorts and is looking for an alternative?

Maybe what I'm about to say will cause a little controversy but here I go:

Give me the real reasons (I MEAN THE REAL) he don't like to wear them and then you will see what I'm talking about. Usualy the true reasons has nothing to do with biking or the sport, while they have a lot to do with psychological reasons, that's why I said "get over it"....

There's used to be a guy in the Sunday group of MTB riders, who always liked to make fun of us the guys who use lycra insted of the loose shorts. He was a pain in the ass always saying to us that "real MTB riders use baggie shorts, not lycra, lycra is for [censored]".....he used to call us "the ballet dancers".

Well, one day I got fed up of him, and I answered him that his jokes only reflects his internal anguish of using lycra but that he doesn't dare to use it in public and that he was throwing his frustation on us and that maybe he had a lycra short hidden in his drawer, which he used in his room in private, like a fetish....

Of course he never showed up again in the group and I received a big applause from the rest. He wasn't a good rider any way.

Don Shipp said:

As a rule, you wouldn't wear anything on top of cycling shorts, or underneath them for that matter....

GERARDO said:

...Some times people have issues with lycra because they feel "naked" and think people stare at their parts (well, maybe this is true).
For people who feel this way: GET OVER IT....!!!, if you like the sport, you should like the uniform, right?.

As boudreaux might say, "Nonsense". There's nothing wrong with wearing loose shorts over lycra. Some days (...recovery days), I don't feel like putting on the "uniform" to go out on my road bike. Or maybe I plan on stopping off somewhere after the ride and don't particularly feel like showing off my anatomy to my non-cyclist peers. But I'm not going to give up the comfort of a good chamois, so I throw some cut-off Bens or Dickies over my bibshorts.

On the MTB, I always wear loose shorts over my lycra. Again, I need the comfort. But, I'd rather tear up a $10 pair of shorts than my $175 Castelli bibshorts in a crash.

...oh, and I get a kick out of not looking the part and passing fully-kitted roadies... on my mountain bike. 😄

friedmikey said:

As boudreaux might say, "Nonsense". There's nothing wrong with wearing loose shorts over lycra. Some days (...recovery days), I don't feel like putting on the "uniform" to go out on my road bike. Or maybe I plan on stopping off somewhere after the ride and don't particularly feel like showing off my anatomy to my non-cyclist peers. But I'm not going to give up the comfort of a good chamois, so I throw some cut-off Bens or Dickies over my bibshorts.

On the MTB, I always wear loose shorts over my lycra. Again, I need the comfort. But, I'd rather tear up a $10 pair of shorts than my $175 Castelli bibshorts in a crash.

...oh, and I get a kick out of not looking the part and passing fully-kitted roadies... on my mountain bike. 😄

"Nonsense": well, I guess we are talking about two different things.

Of course I use a soccer short over my lycra if after the ride we go to have lunch in a public place full of non-riders like you said. That's a common thing.

I'm talking about people who refuses to use the lycra shorts and give a lot of false excuses why they don't like them....

One day we all the guys from the group forgot to put a pair of shorts in our bags (It was a huge conicidence), but we decided to go any way to have lunch. Since we all have a good formed body we were a hit that day at the restaurant....so enter in a public place with the "uniform" on can be a nice thing.

Gotcha... I see where you're coming from now. You're right, we've just got to be honest with ourselves about the motives. Me? I'm skinny as a rail... the cafe patrons might not even see me unless they stare really hard. So I wear baggies to give myself some extra breadth 😉

Anyway, to those that are affraid, learn to love the lycra. It's a fabulous thing. You'll never see me on a serious ride wearing anything but the slimmest fitting kit I can find.

I used to wear baggy shorts over my lycra just for modesty reasons, but it got to be where it really wans't worth the hassle; and plus, the outer shorts would tend to make my butt slide around my saddle more. Now that I've lost the outer shorts I don't think I'd ever go back to wearing shorts on top. I tend to think that when people "stare" or have problems with me wearning lycra, it's really not my problem.

g-brown said:

I used to wear baggy shorts over my lycra just for modesty reasons, but it got to be where it really wans't worth the hassle; and plus, the outer shorts would tend to make my butt slide around my saddle more. Now that I've lost the outer shorts I don't think I'd ever go back to wearing shorts on top. I tend to think that when people "stare" or have problems with me wearning lycra, it's really not my problem.

I totally agree, it's THEIR problem...

Just ride the bike and screw all this regalia [censored]. You came to the wrong place for advice on apparel. Experiment and find what feels and looks right for you.

There you are, then; just wear exactly what you want and don't mind what you look like.

Just don't forget to shave your legs.

It appears there's a few up-their-own-[censored] elitists here. I used to wear the 'uniform' and got tired of every muppet in the room staring at me when entering a cafe or something. Lets face it, when wearing the 'uniform' you do look like a muppet regardless of who you are. Yes, I still wear the 'uniform' but I also wear a T-shirt and baggies over it when using the hybrid. I'll leave the uniform on if I'm on the road bike, I can do without normal clothes flapping about in the wind at high speed. As for shaving legs, I leave that [censored] to the women.

Bill.

I have the padded mtb'er double liner shorts and the cotton snug fit runner shorts.

I find them more comfortable than lycra's and less prone to rash in my particular case.

If I am going to a cafe' or something I do have a pair of cargo shorts to throw on top of them and a very light short sleeve shirt ... if I am riding to Philly and I plan to eat - shop - walk around, etc.

Most of the time I dont give a rat's hymen about what people think of me ... plus my area is full of cyclists anyhow ...

huhenio said:

I have the padded mtb'er double liner shorts and the cotton snug fit runner shorts.

I find them more comfortable than lycra's and less prone to rash in my particular case.

If I am going to a cafe' or something I do have a pair of cargo shorts to throw on top of them and a very light short sleeve shirt ... if I am riding to Philly and I plan to eat - shop - walk around, etc.

Most of the time I dont give a rat's hymen about what people think of me ... plus my area is full of cyclists anyhow ...

RAT'S HYMEN!!??!!

I thought the expression was rat's [censored].

The "uniform" is definitely more comfortable road or mountain. If there's a planned stop, cafe or pub, I like to wear the baggies.

Prolly normal to be a little self conscious about the lycra in public, like everything else in our world, if your somehow different from everone else people will have a tendency to balk or poke fun at you............such is life

if it feels good.......do it baby

Don Shipp said:

RAT'S HYMEN!!??!!

I thought the expression was rat's [censored].

An expression that I picked up along this crazy life.

[quote="GERARDO"]"Nonsense": well, I guess we are talking about two different things.

Of course I use a soccer short over my lycra if after the ride we go to have lunch in a public place full of non-riders like you said. That's a common thing.

I'm talking about people who refuses to use the lycra shorts and give a lot of false excuses why they don't like them....

One day we all the guys from the group forgot to put a pair of shorts in our bags (It was a huge conicidence), but we decided to go any way to have lunch. Since we all have a good formed body we were a hit that day at the restaurant....so enter in a public place with the "uniform" on can be a nice thing.[/QUOTE

If you ever saw me in Lycra you wouldn't have to ask why I wear shorts over them! My God man! Show some sympathy for your fellow human beings! IMHO about 1/2 of one percent of individuals actually look good in Lycra Spandex, If you are one of them, I salute you. I thought cycling was all about freedom, remember that kid you used to be, big Schwinn, balloon tires, t-shirt, jeans, and a pair of Keds? Were you ever more free and unselfconcious? 😄