How to Get the Perfect Fit for Cycling Shorts

Cycling shorts are made to be suitable for high-exertion, long-distance events like marathon cycling.

For regular bicycle riders, it is important to wear support garments that allow them to move freely without becoming uncomfortable. Cycling shorts are usually made from blends of synthetic materials, such as neoprene or spandex. Cycling shorts are skin-tight and usually padded or paneled. Originally they were one-piece garments -- which somewhat defeated the purpose of the comfort of cycling shorts, as there is a comparatively narrow range of people that one-piece shorts fit well on. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Determine which kind of seam is most comfortable for you in cycling shorts. Original one-piece shorts were ill fitting in the thigh and crotch area, despite being skin tight, but the trade-off for newer designs is having seams to deal with. If the store allows you to try on shorts, make sure you are comfortable with the way the different patches are fit together, so that the seam doesn't chafe as you ride.

2. Invert the shorts to check out the padding in the lining. Different styles of riding shorts have different styles of padding, with different textures. The lining of bike shorts is usually made with antibacterial fabrics, like chamois, which helps absorb sweat. Too much padding can detract from the look and feel of the shorts, so find the padding that looks and feels right to you.

3. Compare different types of materials to determine the most comfortable feel. Some thicker, more padded materials feel bulky and uncomfortable to some riders, whereas some lighter, thinner materials can be comparably absorbent and acceptable substitutes. Ultimately, ideal bike shorts should feel like a second skin.

References

• REI.com: How to Choose Bike Clothing
• How to Choose Cycling Shorts: Fred Matheny, Ed Pavelka; May 2011