What are your favorite bike shorts?

3chilipeppers · May 21, 2008

O.K. This question is mainly for the ladies, but I'll take any answers. I like my bike shorts o.k. for about 20 miles, but they don't do well on longer rides. They put too much pressure on the soft tissue. I haven't tried wearing my tri shorts on longer rides yet, but I'm thinking they will actually be better. What are your favorite bike shorts for rides over 30 miles? Desoto has some 400 mile shorts, and they are expensive, but I get a 40% discount. I just don't know if they will be the best, though. I need one pair of REALLY good bike shorts! 
One more question -- do you wear tri shorts or good bike shorts for a HIM?

RunningForT3 · May 21, 2008

I'll try answering: favorite shorts are the ones that are back from the washer&dryer! 
I always wore tri shorts in triathlons, and plan to do the same in the HIM... couldn't run an HM with a diaper! 
I recently found that the Assos chamois creme helps a lot with comfort on long rides.

hobey · May 21, 2008

Terry Bella & Canari Veloce. 
My tri shorts are super comfy too. I have a couple of Performance shorts that I'm starting to really hate. I get pinched in very uncomfortable places. 
I also use chamois butt'r for any ride longer than 30 miles. Makes a world of difference.

4boysmom · May 21, 2008

I love my Zoot tri shorts! I actually wore them for the second day of my back-to-back centuries. I knew it was going to rain, and I knew that the Zoot shorts would not turn into a soggly diaper. 
More padding is NOT better! I HATE my Performance shorts. There is way too much padding and it just wads up. 
I have started having to butter my butt. I've been riding since '83 and never had a problem. Now, anything over 30m and I chafe. A&D has become my friend.

jroden · May 21, 2008

I have a couple different Garneau that I like, also the Pearl Izumi are good. If your hips are narrow, the Castelli are good, but the sizing is strange.

slow_n_steady · May 21, 2008

I have to say that I really find my tri shorts more comfortable than my cycling shorts, even on longer rides. Actually, especially on longer rides. For me, the smaller pad of the tri shorts just works better. My favorite ones are DeSoto Carerra.

pcsronbo · May 21, 2008

you gotta lube up, especially the girl parts. If that doesn't help, you need to reconsider your saddle. 
the shorts themselves don't have a ton to do with it, it's more the fit of your bits on the bike bits and how they interact (translation shorts + seat + lube = happy bits) 
I use body glide, but being a guy application is easy and would probably not work so well for the ladies. But there are many types of lubes that will work.

maggie d · May 21, 2008

I only ride in tri shorts, I'm a triathlete <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/cool.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Cool"> 
I like the pearl izumi tri shorts. the desoto are 2nd fav. 
lubing girly parts is important, and how pcsronbo knows this, is beyond me.

MBannon · May 21, 2008

The more I ride, the more I prefer my tri shorts with the thin fleece pad, as opposed to regular bike shorts with the chamois diaper.

Tithers · May 21, 2008

I really like my sugoi tri shors I got from Team Javelin...the 2 piece. I still have open wounds near my crotch from the 1 piece. 
I also like my new zoots. They are hawt. I don't remember which model...but I spent an arm and a leg on them! 
My skirt sports shorts are also HAWT! Buy them and get 15% off w/ this code: SherryC 
I've worn them a bunch of times and have no open wounds to speak of!

Stu373 · May 21, 2008

I wouldn't do a HIM in anything but tri-suit. For me it's a lot like wearing bib shorts in that they seem to keep pulled up tight and in place better than regular tri or bike shorts. Switching to them eliminated my chaffing issues. The two brands I like best are Sugoi and DeSoto.

neil donnelly · May 21, 2008

Bike shorts = Assos (with Assos Chamois Creme) 
Tri Shorts = 2XU Endurance

ksurp · May 21, 2008

I like my Sheebest cycling shorts for long rides. I also have a pair of TYR tri shorts which I wear in all tris - much less padding. 
I am interested in the comfort level of the DeSoto 400 mile shorts - are they really that comfortable??

ericd256 · May 21, 2008

i out shrunk mine they were XL now there is just bunched up frabic and i think that is causing some of my riding problems.

astrogirl · May 21, 2008

So my longest ride to date is only 20 miles, but I also find my tri shorts to be far more comfortable than my bike shorts. I use a women's specific saddle, which has a fair amount of padding.

SpartyGirl · May 21, 2008

I prefer my tri-shorts, I have DeSoto's. My bike shorts are too bulky.

mommelisa · May 21, 2008

i wore zoot tri shorts for a few years, but i hate the leg gripper and always rolled them up. 
just recently i started wearing the 2008 model of the desoto tri short. i tried the 2007 model, but it was too low waisted. the carrera is nice, and for longer rides, the forza is really, really great. 
i cannot ride with the bigger pad stuff either, so for me, regardless of distance, i wear tri shorts.

kcwoodhead · May 21, 2008

I have worn nothing but desoto tri shorts for the last 2 years. That includes training and racing for 2 ironmans and doing a MS150. I'm not sure if they are more comfortable or not, but I told myself I was going to race the IMs in them, so I better get used to them. 
I do like the minimal feel to them and they don't seem near as cumbersome as bike shorts.

3chilipeppers · May 21, 2008

I've had the same problem with the Performance shorts. Too much pinching -- not good! I haven't tried any butter yet. 
I wouldn't wear regular bike short for the run, I guess I'd change. I'll try the creme too. 
I have the same issue. Too much padding is BAD!! 
I have the Desoto Carrera and some 06 Desoto tri shorts. I like both of them, but the Carrera are now my favorite! 
How do you know these things? It isn't my saddle. My saddle is great -- it is the Terry Butterfly saddle. It is the wadding up of the shorts and pinching that is the problem. I think less padding is my answer! 
I am currently wearing my skirtsports BikeGirl skirt, and I really like it. It has slightly more padding than my tri shorts, but not much more. It is also cut out in the middle (like my saddle). Thanks for the code -- I might have to use it!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink"> 
I definitely cannot do a one piece. I really like Desoto, and I get a 40% discount, so that really helps! 
Yeah, I'm wondering the same thing. I don't want to spend the money on them if tri shorts will do the job. I'm not planning on riding 400 miles. I'm thinking I might do the MS 150 next year, but that will be the longest. 
I don't like the leg grippers either. I have some Zoot, and I really like them besides that. My skirtsports one has grippers too. I like the Desoto Carrera, but I haven't tried the Forza. The Carrera does come up higher on the waist than the previous ones. I like that better too! 
O.K. Thanks everyone for the input. I think I'll just stick with tri shorts for my next couple long rides and see how I feel. If that doesn't work, I'll see what happens. I think I'll order DH some tri shorts from Desoto as well. He is going to to an IM!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/wink.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">

juliemboyle · May 21, 2008

I love my desoto tri shorts BY FAR the best...........did get a skirt sports bike short that haven't worn yet since I don't have a matching top........gotta get the top

What are your favorite bike shorts?

3chilipeppers

RunningForT3

hobey

4boysmom

jroden

slow_n_steady

pcsronbo

maggie d

MBannon

Tithers

Stu373

neil donnelly

ksurp

ericd256

astrogirl

SpartyGirl

mommelisa

kcwoodhead

3chilipeppers

juliemboyle

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