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You don't wear a liner with the shorts? Pads useful to stop ahem wear.... I'd need the liner.
All I'd suggest is wear what you want. It's the same argument on cleats. Recessed or external? Oh you mean MTB and road. I'm SPDs for road
Oh - one thing though, pockets in baggies are extremely useful.
Forgot about pockets in shorts, very useful.
This thread would be better with pics
Crashing in baggies is a load better than lycra, the arse hanging out grit rash shredded lycra look is never any fun. On top of that my good baggies are comfortable throw in pockets and you have a winner. The baggies also protect my nice bib shorts from the abrasion, thorns, gorse, grit etc. That I find on a mtb ride. I find baggy tops more comfortable than the lycra xc/Road kit. As for longevity I've been getting a good 5-10 years from baggies and that's with a lot of use. My current crop of shorts get worn 1-2 times a week nearly every week for over a year now and they are doing fine.
Mrsfry, I'm not sure you would say that once you had seen what could never be un seen,
Scarred for life,
I'm in agreement with Mike, this whole notion that LYCRA is the be all and end all in cycling attire scares me, having recently cycled in piss wet through baggy shorts I don't ever remember thinking "ooooh I wish I was in figure hugging shorts right now" just so I could feel every drop of rain right next to my skin.
It must be comfortouble to wear LYCRA, there's plenty of folk that wear it, I'm obviously in the minority but until I get to the point where Singletrack shorts feel terrible wet but Singletrack trousers are fine wet then I'll continue to look for excuses to not wear it as opposed to looking for an excuse to wear it.
I find Lycra more comfortable when wet. It doesn't move or flap about, and it keeps at your skin temp instead of getting cold then clammy.
Ive done both, don't have to imagine.
I've just accepted that when i ride my bike and it rains I get wet, most of the time I quite like it because it actually cools me down and I'm quite happy that my shorts flap about, I must be because I can honestly say I've never even thought about it. I just thought that being outside in clothing in the wind resulted in flappy clothing, and as for being comfortouble, that's what I am when I go to bed, warm and comfy, I don't find being perched on a bike all that comfortouble, and this is where I'll have to imagine again, it must be a whole lot more comfy in LYCRA.
I'll take your word for it.
Baggies are silly. The whole concept of something flapping around a joint doesn't make sense with regard to the peddling motion.
I've tried the odd one in years of riding and they never feel comfortable for actual 'riding'. Ever.
A good pair of bib shorts and tights covers most bases. That said I've never liked the Howie's ones which are just too stretchy and revealing.
I think it pays to find the Lycra brand that works for you.
I'll take your word for it.
Relax. Wear what you like. Seems strange that clothing is such a divisive issue! Are some folk that uncomfortable with the idea of people wearing lycra?
On the other hand i could be red hot but comfy in LYCRA, Balls squashed against my legs, sat on a synthetic comfort pad steeped in bacteria, Chamois cream blathered along the undercarriage adding to the sweat soaked chamois, a skin tight top stuck to my back like a limpet.
Balls don't go against your legs, they get held in the right place like wearing briefs (or they should if they fit properly)
The pad's not steeped in bacteria, cos you're meant to wash them.
Chamois cream is a) not needed any more, it was for leather chammies, b) the modern equivalent is like moisturiser to prevent sores on ultra log rides so it doesn't get slimy and c) optional, I never use it.
The skin tight nature of the top actually stops it being clammy because it wicks the sweat away from your skin where it evaporates on the outside of the fabric keeping you much cooler than if you just let it dribble down your back and into your arse crack. Base layers in the wider outdoor world are tight for a reason.
Transition Scout. Can't help thinking that it won't look 'right' riding that in XC gear?....
That will look a little odd.......but probably no worse than some of the clowns dressed like liquorice allsorts that we see these days. That said it's baggies over the top for mtb for me, lycra for road. The new morvelo mtb stuff looks decent.
[b]Gotama[/b]Those Acre Supply Shorts look good if rather expensive! Where are the available in the UK?
So....back in the day pretty much ALL MTBERS WORE LYCRA. I remember my first Baggies (Fox I think) they felt weird at first and looked odd IIRC! So then Baggies became more popular and fitted better - they either had integrated or removable padded liners. Then I started riding on the Road and discovered Bib Shorts OMG what a revelation...far more comfortable than the crappy liners supplied with Baggies!
So for me its Baggies over Bibs - baggies will help in a crash as they can slide over the lycra.
Crikey some people really are very anti-lycra. It's only sporting/active clothing, would you run a marathon in jeans and a duffle coat?...
like I said, late 80s/early 90s I seem to remember lycra, adopted from Roadies, being the predominant uniform amongst MTBers, it was only as DH grew more popular, and we all aspired to get more gnarr that motocross kit got adopted and adapted and basically became the norm as "Baggies"...
There's plusses and minuses to both sorts of attire, and most of us have baggies or lycra to wear as circumstances dictate...
I'll continue to look for excuses to not wear it as opposed to looking for an excuse to wear it.
Fair enough, if you have a bit of a closed mind and an entrenched opinion to defend, you stick to what you know, so long as you are comfortable wear what you like fella...
Thanks, I will,
I cycled to watch my son play Rugby on Sunday, and did it in jeans, is that permitted? I,m not sure.its not LYCRA or Baggies? I stood there for nearly 2 hours. it was cold, half way back home it starred snowing. I was even colder.
So on that basis of i can ride a bike in jeans and jacket why can't I run a Marathon in a duffle coat? Or is that for a different thread? I dunno?
You clearly have your opinions on what works whilst riding a bike and I clearly have mine, as for entrenched opinions, I think it's common sense. Standing for hours to watch rugby in a leotard or thermals, jeans and a Jacket hmmmm let me think. Just because it works for you doesn't mean we all have to adopt it does it.
Oh and just for the record, I am not anti LYCRA, I think it's fantastic. It looks great. On some people.
It's only sporting/active clothing, would you run a marathon in jeans and a duffle coat?...
Some people try to run long distances wearing rugby jerseys and shorts. When they are putting plasters over the bleeding wounds where nipples used to be they realise why sports have specific clothing. 🙂
Crikey some people really are .....just being a dick about it
Anyway.....
These guys can get acre supply. It's the same business as mission workshop. It's a bit of a pretentious website but they're nice guys that run the shop.
http://www.girocycles.com/collections/missionworkshop?page=1
Pretty sure Stif can get hold of the gear as well.
My word, you lot are an advertisers dream, "Wear me" or your nipples will fall off, "ride in these" and be comfy.
I've just recently retired from a full service in the Army, I've completed several London Marathons, 2 of these were done in full kit, weapon, webbing, Bergen, boots. And NO Lycra.
I've been hot and sweaty in some pretty shitty places AND my nipples are still attached, I've been shot twice though and I wasn't even wearing LYCRA, Where is the justice in that
My word, you lot are an advertisers dream, "Wear me" or your nipples will fall off, "ride in these" and be comfy.
No we're just experienced cyclists, without self confidence issues 🙂
Point is, baggies have advantages, but lycra is generally more comfortable. I know, cos I've worn it, apparently you haven't.
I did a 15 hour bike ride in baggies last summer. My god did I regret it, from around hour 10 onwards...
xyeti - Member
My word, you lot are an advertisers dream
Eh?
For refusing to spend £70.00 on a pair of pointless, flappy plastic shorts?
I've been shot twice though and I wasn't even wearing LYCRA
There's your problem - they probably spotted the Enduro-flouro and heard the plastic rustling from miles away.
🙂
When I see a MTBer in lycra I tend to assume they're experienced riders, probably pretty fit and know what suits them. I hope they're not sneering at me for wearing baggies.
I save it for races myself these days, but I'd probably still wear it now and then if I were doing old-school XC riding for fun.
I got bib shorts last year and have been astounded by how comfortable they are, I still wear my MTB baggies over the top though.... or rather I'm informed I _have_ to wear my baggies over the top as I would be hunted down by irate villagers with pitchforks and torches if I stepped out of the door in the bib shorts.
Nice to have a supportive t'other half - she may have a point having seen the sight in the mirror one day. Put me off my food for the rest of the week 🙁
Having tried the two styles, being a lycra wearing mtb rider in the 90s. Baggy shorts and a loose fitting DH top is just so much better on the hot summers day we're lucky to get occasionally.
[quote=allan23 ]Having tried the two styles, being a lycra wearing mtb rider in the 90s. Baggy shorts and a loose fitting DH top is just so much better on the hot summers day we're lucky to get occasionally.Which is ironic as most continental riders wear lycra and they have it a lot hotter than we do.
Only time i've ever worn baggies (with pockets) i got pissed off with things in the pockets as the whole pedaling action (remember pedaling, it's what we did before uplifts :wink:) smashed everything in my pockets against my thighs, any sort of moving around had it bouncing as well. God knows what would have happened if i'd fallen off. I'd have probably looked like i'd gone through a blender. And that was only a wallet and two keys.
Then it rained. So i had a heavy pair of soaking wet shorts flapping round my legs.
So i went home and retired them. To the bin.
There's pockets and there's pockets. It's most useful when faffing getting bikes out of garages, locking up the house etc. I don't like to ride with stuff in the main pockets. HOWEVER Endura Humvee 3/4s have a superb map pocket on the rear thigh, which is hugely useful as there's nowhere else to keep a map so easily accessible. Unless you use a map board which is so uncool it makes lycra look like Armani.
On the MTB i like baggies but I never have anything my pockets.
On the road bike I wear lycra and the best bit is decent jersey pockets.
go figure.
Well, My HOWIES 3/4 Bibs havent turned up yet. And i,m gonna nip my 100K Grand Fondo thingy off STRAVA tmrw, I was hoping to put these things to the test,
I dont put things in my Baggy pockets either as its Just annoying, Only empty choccy wrappers, Same as Molgrips with garage keys and faffing, Car keys, Phone go in the Camelbak, I've got an Endure top "Singletrack" i think? with 3 pockets in the back at the bottom roadie stylie, Thats one of the best things i've bought, I'm planning on doubling this up with my soon to be delivered Bibs for Maximum sleekness,
Durano's going on tonight,
Your right, zip car keys phone etc away in camlbak to avoid loosing them. Also if you have an off it wouldn't help landing on whatever's in your pockets.
Erm No not at all, I'm paranoid about losing car keys whilst out riding, even more paranoid about dropping them down a grate,
I've just grabbed an old kit bag out of the garage, I,ve got an Old LYCRA Panasonic ISOSTAR riding top from the late 80's, White & Blue with yellow & red stripes and an old GT Team Scream LYCRA Top,
😳
So i have worn it at some point, I was heavily into Road Riding as a lad, Then in the early 90's i must have joined GT Team thingy, I can actually remember riding round the training area in Aldershot in it.
I dont remember it being comfy though,.............. 😆
Bibs are great.
Just warm and comfy, perfect for the purpose.
Practice emergency weeing technique though, especially with longs.
🙂
I think there was a thread recently?
Tbh, I don't put anything in pockets I wouldn't want to land on.
Pointy/sharp stuff in a seatpack.
either type of shorts are great. I go through phases of baggies and just Lycra.
Re knee pads, depends where you ride, however I've a pair of these..
[img] http://goo.gl/yNQHE1 [/img]
which have a softer pad (but still very protective), and feel like knee warmers.
Well, My 3/4 Bibs turned up this Morning, 😯 I dont think i will be wearing these Solo, They appear to be pretty comfortouble but they are a tad restrictive on the old thighs, more like a compresion layer, theres's a pretty adequate looking nappy within that mentions something about greater sweat absorption, But i'm happy with them. Looks like it'll make sitting on that C15 saddle a bit more pleasurable. i havent made the leap to shorts just yet as i reckon these will suffice from here up until the the summer week,
that cushioning feels a bit awkward but i think once stretched out on the bike it'll contour a bit. it's pishing doon so i'll just sit on the sofa this afternoon eating battenberg and drinking tea.
An assortment of baggies landed on my doorstep this morning.
In my wife's words - 'mid life crisis dear?!'
I will definitely be sticking with Lycra. I just cannot see how baggies are better in any way. More restrictive, flappy and not flattering at all.
I don't care what 'they' think, I will be riding my new Transition Scout dressed like an extra from a Rapha shoot (the slightly older, wider, untrendy one just off camera that they never show on their website!).
Did you try the ENDURA Singletracks?
I rode in them yesterday, it was pretty windy, There was no flapping in the wind, I paid particular attention to the flappyness but i cant actually say that i noticed it at all, If your not competing at the highest levell then i cant see why this would be a problem.
Don't get me wrong, the flappyness is not about performance, aerodynamics or racing at a high level.
It's all about how unnatural it feels after years of wearing Lycra to ride in something that feels like a pair of long 1950's football shorts (but in nylon!). Nope, not for me I am afraid.
Endura Singletracks over Howies bib shorts or 3/4's for me, spring, summer, autumn. Currently Endura MT500 Spray baggy 3/4's over DHB Vaeon Roubaix Bib longs...
The problem with baggies is that for me they are a misnomer 😳
Kitsbow baggies are pretty awesome, and quite a tight fit. I have had quite a few pairs of baggies, and these stand out a mile.