It’s not all that bad. I think I made it harder than it had to be. That’s because I’m overly analytical and spending more than $50 on anything is difficult for me. I have to study, compare, analyze things to death before I can make a purchase.
For me, a newbie bicyclist, in my late 40s, and somewhat self-conscious still because of my recent weight loss, I think it was even harder. I want to be comfortable, but at the same time, I don’t want to look ridiculous. I don’t need an invisible sign that says “She’s new, look at her” or “Whatever was she thinking wearing THOSE?”. I also didn’t want to go out on my bike feeling like all I wanted to really do was go home and change clothes. Bicycling for me is fun and I don’t want anything to spoil that excitement.
So, to reduce the chances of those things happening, I studied and studied bike shorts. I’m not sure I still know all the ins and outs, but here’s what I did.
Filter out the noise. There are a million brands out there. Figure out what the top three brands are and choose from among those. Or, figure out your budget and choose what fits there. I had a starting budget of up to $100 for a pair of shorts.
The long or the short of it. Decide if you want long or short bike pants. It’s summer here so my first purchase for me was going to be short. I wanted them above the knee so I could get a tan on my legs. Vain, yes. I might regret not having moisture wicking fabric behind my knees. I’ll get a long pair toward the fall when the temperatures change.
Seams right. How many seams do you need? Some shorts have four seams, six, eight, or more. I’m not sure what the ideal choice is, but the important factor is, I’m told, that the seams are stitched flat, and not going along parts of body where they’d rub. Apparently, the more panels, the better. Although I was told at one bike shop that Specialized shorts are the exception to this rule.
Waist not. The waistband is important. You want to be comfortable. I purchased a version that has yoga-like crossover band at the front, and dips down a bit in the front for comfort. I certainly don’t want elastic digging into my waist as I ride along.
Padding the truth. The important part, so I’m told, is the padding. For comfort, for moisture control, and for longer rides. Never, ever terry cloth, I’m told. Always chamois or microfiber. And you don’t wear underwear with them.
Shape and size. Seriously. How on earth do you know what the right chamois shape is? There are so many variances in design. Some have grooves, some don’t. Some are gel-filled, some aren’t. Some are wider at the rear, some not. Some feel like you have cardboard stuck between your legs, some feel just fine. Sort of like Goldilocks testing porridge, you have to just buckle down and try them all on. I sat in them in the dressing room, stretched my legs up and down as if I would be pedaling to see if there was pull or strain on my thighs, waist, other important parts.
As I was trying on numerous pairs, this thought crossed my mind: “Claire, you’re going to end up buying another pair anyway, so just make a decision. Buy a pair if they feel reasonably comfortable and give them a try. This won’t be the ONLY pair you ever buy.”
So what did I choose? I chose the pair in the picture above: Novara (an REI Brand) Carema Bike Shorts. Novara is the REI brand and they were about $44.50. They were actually more comfortable on than the more expensive Pearl Izumi and Shebeest ones. At least in the fitting room.
I’m taking these shorts out in public today for a longer bike ride. I’ll report back on how they do, how I do, so stay tuned!
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