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[Closed] Road bike shorts that aren't skin tight lycra

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What are the options? There'll be for my commute. Currently using mtb shorts but they are heavy and go almost to my knees, which makes them pretty hot in this weather. Is there anything out there that's bike specific but made with lighter material and a bit shorter? A bit less über baggy wouldn't go amiss either! 🙂


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 9:17 am
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The point of tight-fitting shorts is that they don't flap annoyingly in the wind and they hold the pad snugly in the right place.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 9:20 am
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Yeah... but he doesn't want to look lke a [url= http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/cyclists-to-stop-displaying-genitals-2015012094586 ]sex offender[/url], does he? 😛

Fox ranger shorts are a lot less baggy and a bit shorter than most, and made out of really light material. Great for summer riding, or indeed commuting


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 9:25 am
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I have a pair of Valine shorts - overpriced and stitching has come apart in the crutch area!! The Mar Endura shorts are a great slim fit - again expensive but tough wearing


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 9:32 am
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Sorry Vulpine shorts and MTR Endura


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 9:35 am
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http://www.swrve.co.uk/


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 9:35 am
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I can recommend the Swrve shorts - comfortable, well made and smart.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 9:46 am
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[img] [/img]

Top Man


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 10:07 am
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[url= http://www.giro.com/media/catalog/product/cache/7/image/479x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/1/s14_giro_apparel_j6a5663_1_2.jp g" target="_blank">http://www.giro.com/media/catalog/product/cache/7/image/479x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/1/s14_giro_apparel_j6a5663_1_2.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

Giro New Road as well.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 10:11 am
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Lots of summer weight baggies around - they just aren't marketed as road shorts.

I have some Gore ones that aren't very baggy, and also Endura.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 10:12 am
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try your local Aldi. I got a pair pf their cycling shorts for the princely sum of £12. They are stretchy and tighter than MTB baggies and come with a reasonable liner. Had for a couple of months and no complaints so far.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 10:16 am
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I use rapha touring shorts over lycra bibs for commuting, they wear very well.

I wear them for various reasons - I like to have my phone in a secure pocket and the rear pocket on these is ideal, I like to look stealth and surprise people in full team kit tutting at me 🙂


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 10:17 am
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There's some Hoy shorts for sale with Evans that might be what you're after - called urban ( or something along those lines )


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 10:21 am
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Just buy light weight walking shorts from Cotswolds etc and wear those?


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 10:30 am
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SWRVE cigarette shorts are fantastic ; but pretty heavyweight so are a bit sweaty for hard riding.

perfect for riding to the pub, the park the sea or a party though. which is what i got them for...


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 10:33 am
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I do all my commuting in these (Bought at sale price!):

[url= http://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/touring-shorts/product/TSH03 ]Touring Shorts[/url]

Good fit, no flapping and have worn well over the last couple of years. Going back to typical MTB shorts is painful in comparison!


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 10:40 am
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Just wear any pair of road bib shorts with a lightweight pair of shorts over the top if you feel shy...inadequate 😉
Even a pair of old running shorts if you're feeling cheap.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 10:52 am
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Commute in full team sky kit. its the only way.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 11:50 am
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mrchrispy - Member
Commute in full team sky kit. its the only way.

This made me laugh!

Thanks for all the suggestions, I look forward to investigating the options.....


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 12:58 pm
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Decathlon are good for this type of thing at the less spendy end of things.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 1:12 pm
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Hilarious - I was going to recommend [url= http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/clothing/shorts/baggy/product/review-surface-clothing-liquistretch-baggy-short-11-45571/ ]Surface Liquistretch shorts[/url] - they're out of production but there were still some pairs floating around ebay recently. Had a quick search on ebay - nothing listed. Instead eBay suggested the alternative search of 'Razzle Magazine' 😯

Anyway seems like Triton Cycles and Winstanleys might still have some in stock. Or someone might leave some in a hedge for you.

Useful pockets, belt loops and a zip rather than stupid velcro. Very light weight, conventional cut but a very supple fabric so they feel right on the bike without having bike specific tailoring, slim-fitting enough not to flap in the wind. Wind and shower proof without being rustily.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 1:13 pm
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This seems to work

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 1:16 pm
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Rapha Touring shorts here too - been using mine everyday for over 3 years and still going strong. No signs of wear which is really impressive.

I just stick on a set of undershorts (either regular or 3/4) for the padding.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 1:17 pm
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I used to wear lederhosen as a kid owing to my German heritage. They're great do-anything trousers, especially suited to high speed bannister sliding.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 1:19 pm
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Just as an extra question - what do you guys normally wear along with your non-lycra shorts? I'm tending to favour a Howies merino top. And then a light shell jacket when it's a bit drizzly.

On the warmer days I might put on a proper jersey - but I can never seem to find one with a decent length fit.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 1:19 pm
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growinglad

I bet.

Get back to work.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 1:21 pm
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has anyone said DHB?
dhb Navo shorts from Wiggle are £18, lightweight, slim fit, durable - mine are exactly 1 year old today, are used 5 days a week for 100 miles a week and are showing no signs of wear.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 1:26 pm
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[i]Commute in full team sky kit. its the only way. [/i]

Funnily enough I often see a guy on my ride home in ultra full sky kit including helmet and he even wears longs in hot weather so clearly pro. He's bloody slow though - on a 'recovery' ride I guess.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 1:31 pm
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Haglöfs Lizard shorts are brilliant if you can find them cheap - they're very expensive at full whack - stretchy soft shell, good length, neat cut that's not too loose or tight. Work great over liner shorts or bibs.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 1:35 pm
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Shermer75 - Both have already been mentioned but Decathlon and DHB's offerings are what I use for exactly what you've described, with liner short under.

Prezet - I favour running-type T-shirts, usually in Hi-Viz yellow flavour (I know there's another debate to get into about hi-viz, but that's my preference). Cheap, with enough of a 'fit' to not be flappng around, but at the same time not skin tight. Doubled up for those chilly spring mornings!


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 1:52 pm
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Get to TKMaxx and have a riffle through the "shorts" aisle. I've picked up a couple of pairs there that happen really good for riding in, for different reasons. £16 each.

It might be worth going back a couple of times, but if you want variety, there's more in there than anywhere else.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 2:08 pm
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these

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/gore-bike-wear-alp-x-pro-2in1-shorts/


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 4:27 pm
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These:

http://www.rohan.co.uk/mens-travel-and-outdoor-shorts-Outrider-Shorts?ocode=03579550

I've been using these for the last couple of months. I'm very impressed.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 4:31 pm
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dhb Navo shorts from Wiggle

That's what I use, had them for 2 years. They get used generally a minimum of once a week up to a max of four times, and they are still going strong. The reflective strips are good, and yet not too visible when walking off the bike.

[url= http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-navo-baggy-short/ ]DNB Navo[/url]


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 4:35 pm
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What's the sizing like on the DHB shorts? Normal / true? Or is Small for children and pixies?


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 4:42 pm
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I'll prob try decathlon first as there's one near-ish to me...


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 5:14 pm
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The Rapha touring shorts are really good. I used to use them for my commute to avoid the barrage of lycra comments at work. They're not cheap but they were a good intermediate, for me, between lycra and baggies


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 6:25 pm
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What's the sizing like on the DHB shorts?

I'm sometimes a medium, sometimes a large. I have these in a medium.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 8:16 pm
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Ta! Taken a punt on the small, as it doesn't sound Italian sizing.


 
Posted : 18/06/2015 8:40 pm
 nach
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+1 for Giro's new road shorts. They're not baggy, just not skin tight. I did a load of road riding in the alps last year in some, they were comfortable, not flappy or annoying.


 
Posted : 19/06/2015 9:58 am
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Rapha Touring shorts here too - been using mine everyday for over 3 years and still going strong. No signs of wear which is really impressive.

really? do you ride much? I've gone through 3/4 pairs in the last couple of years, I'm down to 2 pairs now, more or less 1 pair is always away at Rapha for repairs


 
Posted : 19/06/2015 10:01 am
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[i]really? do you ride much? I've gone through 3/4 pairs in the last couple of years, I'm down to 2 pairs now, more or less 1 pair is always away at Rapha for repairs [/i]

I've gone through one pair and I'm on my 2nd. 1st pair lasted around 3 years, I commute 20 miles each way 3-5 days a week and wear the rapha touring shorts at least 50% of the time. I have gore waterproof shorts for wet days.

I certainly wouldn't send them back to rapha for repair as I wouldn't expect them to last forever.


 
Posted : 19/06/2015 10:43 am
 nach
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It might be the difference between your saddles.


 
Posted : 19/06/2015 11:19 am
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I certainly wouldn't send them back to rapha for repair as I wouldn't expect them to last forever.

why not? part of the reason i justify the high cost of some Rapha items is the repair service, shorts are almost a consumable item and if they want to repair them for free great, thrown too many shorts away from other brands

Repair Service Policy
Rapha offers a free repair service where a crash or accident has damaged a garment or a failure has occurred [b]even after significant usage.[/b]

It might be the difference between your saddles.

Fizik Antares 00


 
Posted : 19/06/2015 11:28 am
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