ABOUT MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2011 SPONSORS FAQ TRADING POST Adventures with added Cycling Shorts

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GENERAL INTEREST

Form vs Function ike Vacuum Cleaner n icycles and ife Should wear padded bicycle shorts is one uestion get asked a Classic icycle esigns lot by women, especially since photos occasionally reveal my wearing hat is a adys ike them. As with most comfort issues, there is no straight answer here. The erfect icycle n Ride uality Everybody is different, and the best can do is provide feedback about open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com n Ride uality ressguards Chaincases my own eperience.

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here to Get Cream Tires hen cycle casually or for transportation do not wear cycling ocally uilt icycles shorts. t is crucial to me that my transportation bikes be comfortable Spouse Says to Get a ike and upright enough to ride in regular clothing, and do not ride them Affording icycles strenuously. also do not find that padded shorts are a solution for Cycling and eight saddle discomfort. f a saddle causes me pain, the shorts can at best Cycling and Statistics mask it for a brief time, but the saddle itself will still need to be addressed. VINTAGE BICYCLES

Vintage vs odern began wearing bicycle shorts when got into roadcycling. n that uying a Vintage Speed contet, find them beneficial, in that they provide ust the right amount uying a Vintage ite of compression and cushioning. t is difficult to eplain why this is Approaches to Restoration necessary, until you yourself get to the point where it makes sense. earning Eperiences For a while rode wearing noncyclingspecific leggings, but ultimately Forks ent did not find them sufficient. The tight, stretchy fabric of bicycle shorts unflattering as it may be makes the muscles in my legs feel better DIY PROJECTS when pedal vigorously. The slight padding and minimalism is key here creates ust enough of a buffer one between me and the saddle ersonalise Your ike during active rides. rilled Fender ressguards Shellac artape Twine Apply Twine instripe ugwork Adust a erailleur ace a Vintage Saddle Coaster Roadster Convert to Fied Gear Convert Speed to Y Cycling nickers Y imitations To Y or Not

INSPIRATION

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Ren erse ites talian City ikes Antiue icycles The Truss Frame etallics ianchi Celeste open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com ianchi Celeste Classic Seat Clusters The andlebar ag have owned several pairs of cycling shorts so far. The first one Framebuilding bought was by Pearl Izumi. Everyone kept saying to me ut how do Sheldon rown you know that you cant wear synthetics These hightech fabrics have

come so far And so tried. You wont see a picture of the Pearl Izumi shorts here, because they made my legs look like overstuffed TRANSPORTATION CYCLING sausages and its ust too traumatic for me to share that. ut the Transport vs Sport bigger problem is that really do have a sensitivity to polyester and The ary oppins Effect wearing these things gave me a disgusting rash along the back of my ike ane Etiuette legs. Also, despite Pearl Izumis promises of being wicking and Your Comfort one Approaches to ocking Up temperature regulating, they were nothing of the sort. Sweat pooled in

Shopping by ike every skin fold, and words cant describe what an unpleasant

eavy vs ight ikes eperience it was to wear this garment. got rid of them a month later, Cycling in a eatwave struggled with my cotton leggings again for a bit, and then finally bit Cycling in the Rain the bullet and bought a pair of wool Ibex cycling knickers. inter Cycling ot oles and raking ont Take t ersonally

SPORTY CYCLING

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Cycling and Swimming

Cycling in Rural Areas Cycling ffSeason Roadcycling in inter icycle Trainers have been happily wearing the Ibex El Fito wool cycling knickers since last August, and have since also bought a pair of their Seree shorts. think the version of the knickers have is last years model or ARCHIVE older bought it from a discount retailer, because the currently produced version features a new pad design that is less noticeable August from the back. n both the new and the older design, the padding is Notes from the Trails minimalistic and feels comfortable. verall, am happy with open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com

the Ibex shorts and knickers, and alternate between them depending icycles, Time and eisure on the weather and on which pair is clean. Adventures with added Cycling Shorts

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BROWSE TOPICS Now lets be honest: no cycling shorts are flattering unless you are superslender with sinewy thigh muscles. ut all in all, these are not art nearly as horrific as other cycling shorts ve tried and the sausaging bags effect is very slight. At least am willing to post pictures. A wider and basket softer waistband would make them more comfortable around the ella Ciao middle, but that is my only real complaint. The wool does not feel bicycle events especially thin to the touch, but can wear these things in F heat bicycle industry and they feel wonderful. No skin sensitivity, no pooled sweat. bicycle reviews bike friends bike shopping blog development oston

rooks Cape Cod cargo bikes cars cats clothing open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com Coabitant coaster brake comfort Constance countryside ore recently, got a pair of Harlot Scarlet Tech knickers via a trade diamond frame with the manufacturer. These knickers are stretchy nylon and spande Y to which am not sensitive, and are meant mostly for mountain biking. thought they could work nicely for touring because of all the dress guards pockets and the relaed tailoring. drop bars

Eustacia Vye fashion industry fenders fied gear flowers frame building framebuilding

Gaelle gender ...... giveaway sponsored messages: grips New Oakley Fast Jacket from handlebars the Sunglasses Shop. holidays talian bicycles Get bike pumps and other parts at Biking.com. Jacueline ...... lights local bike shops advertise here locking up

loop frame COLLABORATIONS ucy Speed lugs arianne The elasticised waistband is soft and comfortable and the styling is ercier that of casual capri pants. They are formfitting throughout the hips and mite upper thighs and loose around the knees. otobecane yles open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com yles

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Royal

Royal . ite saddles PROJECTS safety Seven in a Refurbished Vintage The padding is not visible. There is a meshy panel that runs along the silliness Touring ike inseam, providing ventilation. ecorative white piping runs along the skirt outside seam more pictures here. The ella Ciao Superba social commentary The Royal . Randonneur somervillain hile the Harlot knickers are wellmade, flattering, and do a good ob summer cycling disguising the padding, have not been wearing them much after the sun and heat initial h, neat reaction. think the reason is that have no need for LOVELY LINKS Surly this particular style of cycling shorts. f am going to wear something daily reads padded, then am going to be roadcycling and want the shorts to be tandem ets Go Ride a ike techniue tighter, more stretchy, less constricting, and without any etras such Eco Velo as pockets. ikewise, if am commuting or ust cycling with a friend in test rides ike Snob NYC the park, then dont need cyclingspecific attire at all. ut if you can Simply ike tires use cycling shorts that are made like regular capri pants, only with idlife Cycling traffic padding, knickers such as these and the ones by Chrome wrote iking in eels trails about earlier, could work nicely. ff the eaten ath transportation options Ride log travel open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com travel vintage and restoration urban cycling Sheldon rown Urbana ld ike log Velouria heels Speeds ld Speed Gallery Vienna ld Speed Gallery vintage The ite Gallery winter cycling Vintage icycle useum edals

SUBSCRIBE forums ikeForums osts boston resources Comments assachusetts icycle aw ivable Streets Alliance ostoniker.org oston Retro heelmen oston Speed Club As see it, padded cycling shorts and knickers are one of those f you need them, youll know it things. f you are comfortable without them, OUR BICYCLES think thats ust fine and there is no need to uestion yourself ust because other cyclists are wearing them. And while cycling shorts can w w w .flickr.com look silly, they are designed that way tight, padded for a reason, and changing that design in order to make them look like regular pants can also reduce their functionality. Thats my take on it at least, for the time being.

o you wear padded cycling shorts hat kind and for what type of cycling am especially curious about any eperiences with Smartwool, Icebreaker, and other wool cycling shorts particularly for women.

topics: clothing, comfort, product review s

remarks:

Walt D said... ardware for the bike.....nice. open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com Cycling clothes for me.....not so much anymore.

Clydesdales dont look all that good in spande : August , :

WickedCold said... m with you on the wool shorts. ts ust a shame there arent more options available. ool seems to be uite rare for performance clothing, though it seems to work best in many cases. ve got an be short which is supremely comfortable. ust wish could get it with a little less padding. f were willing to go with a nonwool short there would be a million options but with wool theres so few that dont get to be picky.

ve also started using wool erseys and Tshirts and they dont get sticky like my poly ones do. onus they dont tend to get stinky in the hot weather either, at least not nearly as uickly. August , :

Anonymous said... Assos bib shorts for road cycling epensive but worth every penny if you do a lot of miles. For touring use Raphas sadly no longer made Fied shorts they are very presentable lovelybicycles looking off the bike and functional, on it. n winter Gore bib ur icycles photoset tights

These three brands have all served me etremely well over the years. ve no complains about any of them whatsoever ecept that wish they didnt cost so much : LOVELY BICYCLE!

Roff August , :

Ground Round Jim said... Also cycling shorts knee warmers knickers, but with more thermal versatility. Gets hot ff they go.

August , : for the romance of cycling open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com Dave said... ovely icycle Synthetic fabric wicking is a marketing ploy. sweat, and see here for use of images avoid Gorete and others of its ilk in shoes and garments. think it S N moisture. TWITTER FEED n the s was camp touring, and also regular mile Saturdays, and padded shorts were not available to me. ovely icycle sewed a chamois cloth into the crotch and seat of my riding shorts. hen it got wet it suirmed around like rubber, but it lovelybicycle saved my bottom. lovelybicycle Notes Good thick cotton for me now. from the Trails: August , : http:t.cogpTTF

lovelybicycle uleskills Duy said... ErikSandblom Good point. ut wait, leisure Cycling shorts arent really meant to pad...the chamois is there is sinful You must for moisture control. Gotta agree be is the best. watch hours of tv so August , : that you can say you have no free time

lovelybicycle cyclotourist said... uincyuincette Not cycling shorts per se, eep on eye on Joneswares. ooks like they dont have the no. ut like these new product up yet, but are very well respected. http:t.coCSlS August , : and am helping them with a new version.

romptonicycle n the Jules said... US Fancy working for rompton This could ave Gorete is NT designed or marketed as a be the ob for you: wicking fabric. t is a semibreathable waterproof membrane http:t.coJSvb designed for wear in wet conditions. t will not prevent sweat, and its breathability can be overwhelmed by an eercising cyclist, but it is far better than the common rain gear alternative Join the conversation of U coated nylon, which does not breath at all. f you are using Gorete in nonrainy conditions believing it will wick you will indeed be gravely disappointed, and if anyone told you that is what it is for they were at best misinformed. There are ADVERTISEMENT any number of nonwatertight synthetics that wick still Lovely Bicycle became a prefer wool in sub degree temps, and might above as if sponsored website in July could find a really lightweight construction , but Goretes is . The ads allow me to open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com . The ads allow me to not and was never intended to be one of them. keep this site going, as it has August , : now grown beyond my ability to maintain it otherwise. lease see here for policies regarding ads. CJ said... Thanks so much for posting this. m really interested to hear what other women wear. was actually about to email you, Velouria, to ask you about your be knickers.

m not allergic to synthetics, but m very picky about waistbands. ATE narrow bands. tried the El Fito knickers and liked the uality, but didnt like the waistband. also wondered how well they would work in summer. Velouria, do you still wear yours when its hot out might try them again, because do need another pair of shortsknickers.

also ATE the stuffed sausage effect get with shorts. think have perfectly nice legs until put bike shorts on. ve ended up with the Nishiki knickers. dont think the uality is good they feel cheaply made, anyway but the waistband is perfect and think they look nice enough. The padding is fairly light. owever, after about twenty miles, find that the padding starts to bunch up uncomfortably. ve noticed that gel padding seems to be stiffer and more segmented presumably to prevent that bunching effect

est padding so far... one day last spring got hot and tied my wool sweater around my waist. ended up sitting on it, more or less. So comfy August , :

Anonymous said... highly recommend bib shorts if at all possible, the straps act as suspenders so you dont have to worry about the shorts sagging or pulling down. Also, you dont have waistbands at all with bibs.

ool is great stuff, use it eclusively for erseysbaselayers be. ave not yet tried wool bottoms because dont know if they will hold up to more freuent washing the chamois needs to be cleaned after every ride, would think. open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com August , :

Bif said... A good pair of cycling shorts are key as far as m concerned, unless its a short commute, trip to the local market, or a beer run. Natural fabrics are REAY nice, but wellconstructed shorts with synthetics are fine for me and affordable. t makes such a huge difference for having some sustained level of comfort on long rides. The alternative can be rather harsh. added bib knickers are nice but like regular padded shorts, with leg or knee warmers that can be peeled off as the day warms up, etc. August , :

Emily said... was totally happy on my mile tour with regular athletic shorts. ay more breathable and comfortable, not to mention they only cost me ten bucks. No way m gonna pay an arm and a leg to wear clingy sausage casings with a builtin diaper. ut, ya know, whatever works for you and your body. Just dont think that you should get them ust because they eist. August , :

melissatheragamuffin said... wear cycling shorts without padding a lot and wear them around as regular shorts. do have a pair of padded shorts which wear on long rides. Sometimes wear them under my blue eans if m going to be a lot of transport riding. t provides a nice buffer between that center seam and my youknow what. August , :

Alice Stribling said... like Sheebeast knickers under running skirts for road cycling. m also kinda obsessed with SweetSpot skirts, but have yet to open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com purchase one. feel like knickers under skirts with wool erseys reads more like a regular outfit, and less sport, which suits my personal style. August , :

Anonymous said... SRTS. ibs are key No waistband to dig in, no unflattering sausage effect as a result of said waistband. Super comfortable, plus you dont have to worry about them sliding down.

actually have a pair of earl umi bibs womenspecific that love, but then dont have fabric sensitivities, and m not sure where youre getting sweat pooling but dont seem to eperience that either. The chamois is uite soft and keeps everything comfortable down below. nly downside is it can be hard to find bib shorts made for women no idea why this is.

echo what others have said about kneeleg warmers and arm warmers for that matter. Eliminates the need to buy multiple lengths.

ib shorts a good chamois cream bliss below the waist. August , :

Kyle said... ike uy said, it isnt a pad, it is a chamois and its purpose is to move moisture away from your skin, not provide cushioning. Velo, figured you would ump at the chance to use such an obscure, european sounding word like chamois in your blog. ad ust sounds so mundane. August , :

Velouria said... uy and yle ell, it used to be chamois. The modern ones are pads, no matter how you spin it : open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com uy nteresting. n what way do the modern synthetic pads control moisture August , :

Velouria said... Re bib shorts for women... have several anatomical uestions about this August , :

Montrealize said... they made my legs look like overstuffed sausages ilarious

seem to get by very fine with cotton. f course, do not road cycle, so not really helpful. ut tour around, up to km or more a day. Never needed any padding. hat works for me: Yoga stuff, American Apparel, ululemon etc. No bike specific clothing. August , :

Ground Round Jim said... Uh, chamois padding and wicks a bit. Chamois is the collouial term, yle. ont make it anything else.

ld deerskin shammy is thick, effective for awhile but once it gets wet look out. hen washed it takes til youre out of shape again for it to dry.

Also paired with old wool shorts and nailedin cleats its a masochists delight. August , :

Anonymous said... Chamois was European deerskin, ecept when it was cheap open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com and then it was ust sheepskin. They were difficult to maintain and every pair of shorts was a bit different, reuired slightly different handling, felt a little different.

The purpose was and is to reduce saddlesores. The current crop of pads, however unaesthetic, works so well you probably dont even know what a saddlesore is. inor irritation or discomfort is not a saddlesore. The real thing is an infected boil or cyst. eep ones that do not respond to anything topical. You need a doctor and a knife. The infection can get into the bone.

m as picky about pads as anyone. dont understand gel or intricate basrelief sculpture that feels like a diaper. And hate synthetic. Ecept when sit on the bike. Then submit to petrochemicals and marketing and havent given a thought to saddlesores in decades. August , :

Kyle said... t is named after the original material used, but has evolved. The accepted name is chamois. hy would you choose to call it something else unless to confuse the issue Calling a chamois a pad strikes me in the same way as when someone would come into my shop and ask for a rim when the meant wheel, or wanted their top bracket adusted instead of the headset makes sense to have a top bracket and a bottom bracket, right hy do we need two different names. t is what people who are ignorant of cycling vocabulary do. And there is nothing wrong with it. f you dont ride much or do not wish to learn about bikes and their functions, fully understand why you would not know these terms and it has never bothered me to either correct you politely or ust let it pass. ut Velo is not one of these people. She likes bikes and knows the proper commonly accepted names for things. Therefore, the willful misuse of a term is annoying and pointless. Unless, of course, she has some rationale for why we should all be calling it a pad and not a chamois, which would be happy to hear.

odern chamois wick uite well with respect to their predecessors. t will not keep you dry, but that isnt its purpose, open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com it is only designed to move moisture off the surface of the skin and prevent chafing. personally find a thin chamois to be more comfortable overall, but everyone is different. The key is to find one that can be stretched in all four directions. This allows it to move better with your body. A less fleible chamois is more likely to rub on the skin and cause discomfort, a common problem with inepensive shorts. August , :

Velouria said... yle mm... think your comparison to calling a headset a bracket and such is not accurate. Even manufacturers of cycling shorts often call them pads or inserts nowadays. See for instance here and here. August , :

Ground Round Jim said... yle, guess youre talking to me. ld roadies like me ust say shammy or sham or not even talk about it. Vernacular only comes up on the web. ad creeps in but is like a feminine hygiene product. Salt of the earth types, no pinkies in the air.

cant speak for Vs usage of the term but its ust words, man. August , :

Corey K said... Therefore, the willful misuse of a term is annoying and pointless. Unless, of course, she has some rationale for why we should all be calling it a pad and not a chamois, which would be happy to hear.

ith all due respect, our hosts name is Velouria. edantia is a cousin of hers.

actually had a pair of wool cycling shorts with a real chamois liner back in the early s. switched to the synthetic euivalent as soon as could scratch up the dough on a highschoolers wages. And open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com havent worn any kind of cycling shorts for probably years. Going to look up the current issue wool ones from be, though. They look pretty nice. August , : A

Karen V said... For sporty rides wear padded shorts. have ones from earl umi and Sheebeast that wear most freuently. also have a pair of be shorts that were great the first time wore them, but got misshapenstretched out after washing. purchased a pair of womens bib shorts on clearance, but havent ridden in them yet. They seem comfortable Velouria, the straps go along the outside of your breasts, but they have logos and such all over them so ve been too embarrassed to wear them because think if you wear logos youre supposed to ride fast. August , : A

Velouria said... Karen V said... "...women's bib shorts... the straps go along the outside"

ow shall put this... t doesnt work for me. think would prefer something like this system where the thing goes in the middle.

ow many times did you wash your be shorts before they stretched out ine are okay after a year, but most of the time try to wash ust the synthetic chamois pad ha area in the sink and not the rest of the fabric. August , : A

Velouria said... Emily Thats fantastic here did you go on the mile tour

CJ very much wear my wool shorts and erseys when its hot out cant wear anything else. think that all of this wicking stuff open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com might not be a black and white issue, but a matter of body chemistry. The synthetic fabrics might truly work for some people, with wool working better for others. Thats my theory at least after hearing so much conflicting feedback.

T ladies: ne brand of cycling shorts found flattering and not sausagelike but alas, synthetic is Capo. They have not only wide waistbands, but also wide bands around the thighs, eliminating those lovely bulges of fat above the knees. August , : A

XO­1.ORG said... yle: op off that pedestal. Your view from up there is very annoying, and incorrect. ve been cycling since bike shorts had chamois in them, but said natural material has long since disappeared into the dustbin of history, and so has the term. have not heard chamois uttered in at least a decade.

As for bibs, they are all have worn for years, for all the reasons mentioned above. alternate between the be wool and incapie in modern materials. know uite a few women who wear them, too, including at least one Race Across America winner.

T, wash my be wool in the washing machine, on cold, with woolspecific detergent after every ride. They get wear holes long before they stretch. August , : A

Corey K said... h, and while it is potentially misleading, our host is not actually made of, nor from Velour. August , : A

CJ said... ool really is an amaing material. ll check out the El Fito again. like the idea of a comfy yeararound option. ont think the bib short would work for me, although m intrigued by the open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com the bib short would work for me, although m intrigued by the idea. hadnt even considered them as a solution to the waistband dilemma. might try a pair on, though it would probably have to be the style Velouria linked to. Velouria, looked up the Capo shorts, and do like the look of that waistband. Thanks for the suggestions and info. August , : A

Alcyon said... f the many, many things owe to Grant etersen one of the biggest is that dont have to wear all the necessary clothing. Cycling undershorts with a pad a titch thicker than a millimeter, regular shorts over that, and a shirt to suit the weather with my Converse shoes and m good to go. Twenty five mile round trip commute, hundred and something mile day trips, overnighters, whatever.

tried everything in the uest for comfort, one of the things found is that cant tolerate very much padding at all. t seems to bunch, forming creases...lets ust say know what real saddle sores are ib shorts Never in life did imagine the day when would be placing bandages on my nipples, or writing about it Some of the various lotions to be applied to the chamois there, said it contain lanolin, which happens to be a common allergen. So said the doctor when he saw...lets ust say, lesson learned

Velouria, your mentioning the importance of the saddle is important. Two further things to add to that for me. y rooks must be laced the tensioning bolt is the road to ruin and a two bolt seat post clamp allows for subtle adustments, m talking about a uarter turn of each bolt, which is the difference between nagging discomfort and bliss.

After many years of eperimentation, and learning from others, think ve finally found my happy place when it come to cycling comfort.

h yes, one thing ve noticed about earl umi shorts: some of their models, in very bright sun become somewhat translucent. Yikes hich leads to a uandry iss anners doesnt address: does one tell the cyclist so afflicted open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com August , : A

April said... dunno about anyone else, but d rather deal with a tight waistband than bib shorts. Seriously, how the fuck do you EE in those Especially if youre wearing long sleeves f m cycling in cold weather, have a longsleeved top covered by a ipup acket. dont want to get totally undressed to pee, thank you.

ANYAY.

As a general rule ve hated padded shorts. That diapery feel is awful, plus they ust always put more pressure on my genitals, even when had a saddle with a cutout.

ve been touring with shorts given to me by a friend, who had them custommade in the s. SRTS. Theyre ust stretchy fabric m not even sure what it is with a couple of fleecy layers of polyestery fabric serged into them.

Theyve worked fine in the past, but by the end of my first centurylong day of riding, they were starting to feel like sandpaper on some really delicate places.

wish had the cash for those wool shorts. And hen was looking at knickers for my tour, looked at the arlot ones but the pictures werent promising, and now wish d got them they look supercute amn

did try on those Chrome knickers once. The rise on them is so low, have no idea how they stay on anybody. For serious. ow do they not flash asscrack August , : A

Rebecca (she with the Surly CC, Puch mixte &; Brompton, who can never log in these days...) said... on the be El Fito knickers. ve had mine about a year and theyre my hands down favourite Y ES sorry for any mied metaphors there. m not at all precious with mine or open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com any of my merino erseys either. They get worn times a week, anywhere from miles per ride, thrown in the washing machine with other cycling kit made of whatever fabric, C degree normal wash cycle, hang dry on cliptop skirt hangers. No signs at all of stretching or thinning of fabric. A little bobbling or snagging but not much. ve heard you shouldnt use fabric softener on merino, and dont, but do use Calgon water softener as limescale is unbelievably bad here in the U and often Napisan a powdered inwash sanitiser, enymebased believe as well.

As for fit my body shape is about the opposite of Velourias and the El Fito are ust about perfect. The stretchy inserts over the knees are not uite centred on me am very knockkneed and yes, when think about it, a wider waistband would be nice. ut m very picky about waistbands and have yet to find any on any garment at all, from eans to dressy trousers to skirts that do not rollfold on me. The El Fito waistband rolls a bit but dont find it uncomfortable, even after miles in an aggressive roadbike position.

h and yes, wear mine all year round. erino head to toe is my preferred fabric choice on the bike, in any weather. ve worn the El Fito knickers on a km auda in C heat which isnt all that hot, to be honest one time wore them with a normal shortsleeve cycling ersey and wished d worn merino instead, so the net time did a longsleeve ip tothechin base layer which was indeed better.

This week, temps are running about C in the heat of the day and my god its humid. ondon air is filthy, grimy and sticky. ore the El Fitos into work this morning plus my brand new be USity tshirt. erfect

So for me, yes, its merino all the way baby : August , : A

somervillain said... have two pair of padded shorts, one from earl umi and another housebrand from the U that got on steep discount. actually prefer the latter, as the fit is better. ut do enoy the moisture control of the padding. After a mile ride dont open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com feel sweaty down there at all. havent pulled the trigger on wool shorts ust yet since these have been working well for me, but do love the light weight and ecellent temperature control of the wool leggings that use in winter. August , : A

Sigrid said... wear lycra and love it. also were normal clothes on my bicycle. For both recommend anything Sugoi. love Sugoi, they cut for a woman and their clothes work. n the heat of the Summer find it great to slip on my padded bicycle shorts under a skirt before head out for two reasons my rear is more comfortable, and they absorb the sweat dont show up with the back of my clothes showing wet rings. Embrace lycra and padding for what it does for you, not what others may perceive it to be.

http:myhyggelig.blogspot.comfallback.html August , : A

Dottie said... own one pair of padded cycling shorts. They are also wool from be. ve used them only once a year, but love them, as far as padded bike shorts go. Comfortable, not too terrible looking, and breathable. August , : A

MelissatheRagamuffin said... a a m with April on the bibshorts and peeing issue Stopping to pee on a long bike ride can be complicated enough without having to basically strip.

This has nothing to do with shorts: oes having a front rack effect steering saw a picture of a Surly T with the same handle bars as mine that had a front rack on it. That got me wondering if a front rack would cure my basket problems. August , : A open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com Velouria said... elissa a basket mounted on a front rack as opposed to higher on the bike should improve handling. August , : A

Velouria said... April hat sie are you You can have my arlot shorts if they fit you.

ib shorts and peeing... think that men are supposed to pee without taking the straps off, ust by pulling down on the stretchy waist area. ut women aybe using a funnel... August , :

Anonymous said... The products discussed here aint cheap.

est wool shorts had were Vittore Gianni basically a tailors shop.

est lycra shorts were Japanese earl umi back when earl was an independent tailors shop.

Close second on lycra shorts were Carl ruitts, made on his back porch here in Chicago. think Carl could have matched earl, but he didnt have access to small lots of the special fabrics earl used.

The downfall of a lot of the older brands was that their products were used mainly by racers, who are cheapskates. The market is much wider now. Those who read and post here are willing to open their purse or wallet for something good. Assos and Castelli are definitely at price points where a tailor could play. Then you ust tell your tailor where the straps go and the type waistband you reuire. hy such services are not available beats me. f you ever encounter such a product or service please support them. And tell us. open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com ulling down on the stretchy waist area of mens bibs ust barely works on possibly one design in three. any ripped seams, popped stitches, social embarrassments have resulted. Shorts solve the problem. August , :

April said... Velouria, really That would be awesome m about a to a depending on the brandcut. m fairly thin with a butt and boobs. And think m probably shorter than you. m August , :

Alice Stribling said... Yeah, the peeing issue is what keeps me from trying bibs. Thats a lot of stuff to remove ust to pee.

So, the ibe El Fito knickers arent too hot in the summer felt them up once at a local retailer and the fabric was heavy so didnt try them on. August , :

Heather said... do not wear padded shorts, and cannot really wear anything synthetic. did have a pair of synthetic cycling shorts at one time because thought should. They were horrible, sweaty, diaperish, lumpy and uncomfortable d been biking for years without them with no conseuence and do not find need them now. f had a fast road bike and was doing specific road cycling would look into a pair of wool padded shorts. can see their value and necessity for that kind of riding. y icebreaker leggings are great for cold days. often see people cycling to the store or short errands with padded shorts on. see them look at me with wonder, and wish could ust say, no you dont need to wear them for short rides Those bib shorts are very very creepy. open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com August , :

Anonymous said... Anon : here again. Re: bibs:

These are the kind have: http:www.teamestrogen.comprod.html

earl umi droptail bib shorts. They have a clip in the middle that fastens the straps across your bust if you so choose. use this option. am, ahem, very well endowed in this region and they fit like a glove. was worried about this issue with bibs, but with the center fasten, its no problem at all. Theres a little bit of a gap below my bust where the straps dont contact my skin, but its very minor. fasten the straps over my sports bra.

The genius part of these shorts is the droptail bit. t has an opening at the back with a panel of fabric that etends below on the inside, so no gaping, so when you have to do your business, you ust pull the flap down and voila. speak from eperience, it works like a charm.

swear dont work for the company. August , :

Christopher said... gotta try this wool stuff V. is talking about.

For anything other than a very short ride, always wear padded biking shorts. wear loose fitting mountain biking shorts, even when road biking the tight lycra fit is way T with men, as for as m concerned. havent thought about it for awhile but such shorts dont show off the padding very much, if at all, so you can blend into a normal civilian look when youre walking around, which is usually my preference. August , :

open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com Velouria said... April email me at filigreevelo at yahoo August , :

Joe Tondu said... always wear padded shorts, whether its ust tooling around the neighborhood on an old Raleigh or road riding. ve got two pair of Suginos that love, but also a pair of earl umis that are regular shorts with a padded removable insert. To ride without padded shorts now feels strange to me. would though like to look into the wool options. Thanks to all for the tips. August , : A

pxl8 said... Admittedly too lay to read through all the comments, but wanted to chime in. m a woman who wears the typical padded synthetic bike shorts. wear bike shorts for almost every ride that do. will wear them under other pantsshorts if really dont want to look like a cyclist. art of this is that dont find eans what normally wear to be comfortable while biking both because they restrict my movement too much AN when the weather is warmer, eans get hot very fast.

ately ve found that earl umis uest shorts actually work really well for me. y biggest problem with shorts tends to be that often the waist is too loose vs hip sie, followed closely by the legs look like sausages problem. have large hips relative to my waist sie. This causes me problems finding bottoms that fit for any purpose athletic clothing tends to be even less likely to cater to curves.

Sausageleg is really ust a matter of finding the right shorts with the right leg opening for you. deally, the leg opening shouldnt be too much smaller than your leg sie for me at least this tends to mean longer shorts. hich of course give me rather unfortunate tan lines hen first started trying on biking shorts, had a hard time convincing myself to try on the open in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API pdfcrowd.com larger sies that really should have been wearing imagine many women have the same problem or have difficulty finding sies large enough.

Another thing ve noticed is that chamois sie really matters. ve gone down a sie in s uest shorts since purchased my first pair last year. Now, the larger sie that originally fit really well fits fine everywhere ecept the rear the chamois is starting to shift a bit while ride. The net smaller sie feels almost identical ecept for how the chamois fits against my body.

A lot of the newer bike short models have wide soft waistbands which should be helpful to some of your readers who posted in the first few comments that actually read Unfortunately for me, the wide waistbands usually preclude having a drawstring, which means most of those shorts outright wont fit. August , : A

Velouria said... "When I first started trying on biking shorts, I had a hard time convincing myself to try on the larger sizes that I really should have been wearing I imagine many women have the same problem or have difficulty finding sizes large enough."

ont get me started on sies. t is insane. am an S depending on the make and model. ith cycling shorts, ve found that its best to swallow my pride and go tighter and surrender to the sausaging, or else then can snag on the nose of the saddle if too loose. August , : A

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