Cycling shorts - any recommendations?

For discussions about bikes and equipment.
LittleGreyCat
Posts: 1177
Joined: 7 Aug 2013, 8:31pm

Cycling shorts - any recommendations?

Post by LittleGreyCat »

Recently (last few years) I have been buying cycling shorts/longs from Aldi and Lidl.

The latest pair from Lidl with fleece round the edge of the padding are chafing a little bit.

Are there any well known brands with a sumptuous chammy?
User avatar
mjr
Posts: 20308
Joined: 20 Jun 2011, 7:06pm
Location: Norfolk or Somerset, mostly
Contact:

Re: Cycling shorts - any recommendations?

Post by mjr »

Sorry but partly due to seam chafing, my recommendation remains: pad the saddle once, not every pair of pants. YMMV.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
landsurfer
Posts: 5327
Joined: 27 Oct 2012, 9:13pm

Re: Cycling shorts - any recommendations?

Post by landsurfer »

Planet X Clubman bib shorts ...... super comfort, super quality .... not a lot of money ....
“Quiet, calm deliberation disentangles every knot.”
Be more Mike.
The road goes on forever.
User avatar
cyclemad
Posts: 186
Joined: 23 Jan 2018, 9:16pm

Re: Cycling shorts - any recommendations?

Post by cyclemad »

Hi

when I first started cycling - with a vengeance - I started with cheap kit as I couldn't see any reasons for expensive pieces of lycra --- after all they were all made the same?????......I was wrong.....I had numerous pairs of shorts that either caused chaffing or would make my backside sore after only as short ride.... I finally succumbed and purchased an '' expensive'' pair of bib shorts ( prefer these over normal /waist shorts ) The difference was amazing ( at least it was for me ) I wouldn't go back now and I am a firm believer in '' you get what you pay for''.....Ask around...see what others are wearing ....go with recommendations and not necessarily what looks good....

I wear ASSOS / CASTELLI / SANTINI - Bib shorts ---- use Chamois cream - on long rides and most importantly --- NO UNDERWEAR.....

I have, however, just gone against the grain and purchased a pair of DHB BLOK bib shorts ( Wiggles own brand ) - on a recommendation and re very impressed after two rides.

So shop around ...There is nothing wrong with Aldi / lidl gear ....But I think the shorts don't always live up to the quality of their other kit on sale.
User avatar
Paulatic
Posts: 7804
Joined: 2 Feb 2014, 1:03pm
Location: 24 Hours from Lands End

Re: Cycling shorts - any recommendations?

Post by Paulatic »

I bought a pair from ALDI years ago a waste of money threw them out. Any other shorts I had were bought in the nineties and so I bought two new pairs for last years LEJOG. They were Funkier so not overly expensive but did the job fine.
Noting your training plan is only around 30 mls at the moment I only start wearing padded for rides above that distance.
Whatever I am, wherever I am, this is me. This is my life

https://stcleve.wordpress.com/category/lejog/
E2E info
alexnharvey
Posts: 1923
Joined: 10 Jan 2014, 8:39am

Re: Cycling shorts - any recommendations?

Post by alexnharvey »

I recently had the same question. Decided to replace my old endura bib shorts with the latest model given that they lasted many years, although arguably only seen heavy use over the last year.

Can you feel the quality of Lycra? I thought the 'hand' of the best decathlon shorts was noticeably less good than the old endura shorts and much worse than the FS260s I just started using.
jimlews
Posts: 1476
Joined: 11 Jun 2015, 8:36pm
Location: Not the end of the world.

Re: Cycling shorts - any recommendations?

Post by jimlews »

£ 2.99 from the charity shop.
The only place I can find shorts in my size (28"w) with pockets.
No 'high tech' fabric, no padding, but easily comfortable over 70 to 80 mile ride.

Aldi seems to cater only for cyclists of a 'fuller figure'. Smallest size is 32". Could get two of me in there!
mnichols
Posts: 1465
Joined: 22 Apr 2013, 4:29pm

Re: Cycling shorts - any recommendations?

Post by mnichols »

+1 for PlanetX, but I also use DHB Aeron Rain Defence when it's raining - they do an excellent job of keeping you dry
User avatar
NUKe
Posts: 4161
Joined: 23 Apr 2007, 11:07pm
Location: Suffolk

Re: Cycling shorts - any recommendations?

Post by NUKe »

If you don’t want to go down the sports person look try Corrine Dennis.
https://www.corinnedennis.co.uk/
NUKe
_____________________________________
igauk
Posts: 88
Joined: 8 Nov 2016, 2:12am
Location: Glasgow

Re: Cycling shorts - any recommendations?

Post by igauk »

Current favourites are Lusso Carbon bibshorts, made in Manchester too! Comfortable for over 300k. Endura FS260 Pro a close second.
Moulton TSR 30
User avatar
freiston
Posts: 1504
Joined: 6 Oct 2013, 10:20am
Location: Coventry

Re: Cycling shorts - any recommendations?

Post by freiston »

I wear unpadded trousers/tights. If I want padding, I wear Decathlon's Rockrider ST900 Gel Padded Mountain Bike Under-shorts. I sometimes suffer from chafing right at the top of each leg in the crotch and I find that a lot of padded shorts exacerbate this when the padding gets damp with sweat; a comfortable arrangement for me is a pair of York tights with no underpants or under-shorts. I tend to wear the padded under-shorts with Endura Hummvee style trousers (I'm personally happier with that style of trouser especially when my cycling also involves off-bike activity and/or socialising). I never wear shorts.
Disclaimer: Treat what I say with caution and if possible, wait for someone with more knowledge and experience to contribute. ;)
LittleGreyCat
Posts: 1177
Joined: 7 Aug 2013, 8:31pm

Re: Cycling shorts - any recommendations?

Post by LittleGreyCat »

landsurfer wrote:Planet X Clubman bib shorts ...... super comfort, super quality .... not a lot of money ....


Thanks - have ordered some to see how I go before heading up the price chain.

Thank you to everyone else, as well.
Some shorts look expensive, but then comfort is worth money.
LittleGreyCat
Posts: 1177
Joined: 7 Aug 2013, 8:31pm

Re: Cycling shorts - any recommendations?

Post by LittleGreyCat »

NUKe wrote:If you don’t want to go down the sports person look try Corrine Dennis.
https://www.corinnedennis.co.uk/


Thanks.
Anyone have experience of wearing these?
They talk a good fight, but the proof of the pudding etc. :D
I'm not bothered about wearing cycling shorts that look like cycling shorts, though.
I know some have an aversion to being associated with MAMILs but to me not wearing (obvious) Lycra is also a fashion statement, and I generally don't do fashion statements (I think).
LittleGreyCat
Posts: 1177
Joined: 7 Aug 2013, 8:31pm

Re: Cycling shorts - any recommendations?

Post by LittleGreyCat »

Oh, on the subject of chamois cream.
I've always (after advice when I bought my first pair of cycle shorts) used baby lotion.
I was told it was just as good as chamois cream and a lot cheaper.
Seems to have worked for me so far.
Vorpal
Moderator
Posts: 20700
Joined: 19 Jan 2009, 3:34pm
Location: Not there ;)

Re: Cycling shorts - any recommendations?

Post by Vorpal »

LittleGreyCat wrote:
NUKe wrote:If you don’t want to go down the sports person look try Corrine Dennis.
https://www.corinnedennis.co.uk/


Thanks.
Anyone have experience of wearing these?
They talk a good fight, but the proof of the pudding etc. :D
I'm not bothered about wearing cycling shorts that look like cycling shorts, though.
I know some have an aversion to being associated with MAMILs but to me not wearing (obvious) Lycra is also a fashion statement, and I generally don't do fashion statements (I think).

I think if you search the forum on corinne Dennis, you will find they are frequently recommended on here. Practically every time the topic of shorts comes up.
“In some ways, it is easier to be a dissident, for then one is without responsibility.”
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
Post Reply