Baggy Shorts, Not For Me!

[BigFatGuy]

Does anyone in Dirt Rag land wear baggy shorts?

I have a pair which I bought a couple years ago and tried to wear on a short ride today. I gotta tell ya, they bunch-up in all the wrong places and chafe in an even worse place.

I gonna stick with my black Lycra shorts from now on.

[Teamfubar]

Just like the difference between a cheap (quality, not necessarily price) pair of lycra shorts and a high end pair, there are differences in baggies. I ride with both lycra and baggies (though not at the same time:D) and if you spend the right amount on a pair of baggies, you won't have the bunching and chafing issues. Swobo, Endura and Nema all make great baggies that don't bunch up in all the wrong places. On hot days and on really long rides I'd still run lycra.

[LeeMcGough]

I like the baggy shorts. I haven't noticed any increased wind resistance ;), and I feel like less of an idiot at the pub afterward in semi-normal shorts:cool:

[FixedandProud]

Baggy vs Lycra vs tights vs wind pants vs Gore Tex; totally depends on the ride. Usually not all at once though. :p

[rockyrider]

Oh yeah, just wait till you're bombing somewhere in your baggies and scoop a wasp out of the air and trap them inside a spot where you really don't want an angry wasp. Then nice smooth lycra shorts will seem very very appealing.

[jh4rt]

Oh yeah, just wait till you're bombing somewhere in your baggies and scoop a wasp out of the air and trap them inside a spot where you really don't want an angry wasp. Then nice smooth lycra shorts will seem very very appealing.

..but I'm having second thoughts. I agree with LeeMcGaugh (strangely enough) that I look cooler in my baggies, but last week I picked up a tick that actually bit me, and I think I might not have had I been wearing some smoothies.

[plume_mtb]

lycra only

[LeeMcGough]

I have yet to find a pair of lycra shorts tight enough at the bottom for my pencil legs.:o Maybe a kid's pair, but they might be cramped elsewhere:eek:

[bdee]

After I moved from NC back to New England I learned the benefits of baggy shorts. They're a little warmer and it's cooler around here most of the year. Also, they don't rip apart if you fall on rocks.

I now live by the simple guidelines below:

Road rides = weasel squeezers

Woods = baggies

Errands = regular pants (sometimes over the weasel squeezers if I'll be out for a while).

[north20]

..but I'm having second thoughts. I agree with LeeMcGaugh (strangely enough) that I look cooler in my baggies, but last week I picked up a tick that actually bit me, and I think I might not have had I been wearing some smoothies.


Not to be an alarmist, but after having had Lyme disease for the past 15 years -- and having its affects keep me off the bike for 5+ of those years -- watch for a few signs:

Target shaped rash in the bite area.

Flu like symptoms; especially the typical "aches & pains" associated with the flu.

Recurrent headaches; migraines or just plain bad.

Sleeplessness in combination with any of the above.


Again, not to be an alarmist, but living with Lyme disease flat out sucks -- for you and your family -- and if being a little alarmist means someone avoids it, then I'll call myself content. Early recognition and treatment is key :)

[north20]

Oh, and to the topic at hand ...

Lycra.

Tried a few baggies here and there, but never found a pair that had the long term comfort of high quality lycra shorts for the long rides I prefer.

[rockyrider]

tis the season......

[irh]

I wear 3/4 bib tights with baggy shorts over the top. looks better when you have skinny legs.

[mimbresman]

Lycra all the time.

I did buy a pair of baggies the other day that I'll try out.

I tried early Zoics in the 90's to evaluate the design and didn't like them.

I might be wasting my money on these baggies, but they seem more evolved in design than those Zoics.

[cMc]

I am a part time roadie but for the last many years I only wore baggies on the MTBs. However, I lost a lot of weight and needed to buy all new shorts, and since I had developed a taste for expensive bib shorts I decided to go back to lycra on the MTBs, because they pull double duty on the road bike as well.


Plus, now I'm skinny and don't look like a fatass in lycra. :cool:

[MMB]

ive found for my self ego cause im rather large that baggies are the way to go but some times for longer rides i will put tighties on under the baggies and have not had any problems i geuss its all about what makes you feel good on the ride and yourself... RIDE ON

[FishMan]

Wow, I'm used to the baggies vs lycra debate being all yelling past each other and flame wars and such. Usually these sorts of threads just degenerate and no one side wins. It seems like overall MTBers are pretty split, but here I'm surprised to see folks are mostly in favor of lycra.

Myself, I spend more time on the road bike. I have only one pair of crappy old baggie shorts. The spandex shorts work for both road and off-road where as baggies are best for casual rides or shorter MTB rides. The thing is, if I want to wear baggies I just put a pair of shorts on over my spandex! No big deal. A bit warmer then pure baggie shorts I'm sure but just fine for me. Bases covered.

[brown group]

i've gone back and forth between lycra and baggies and at the end of the day, i find i mostly ride with lycra. the times when you need to get off the saddle (like behind it on steeeeep descents) and back on are much easier with lycra shorts.

if after ride activities require a certain fashion decorum not met by lycra, then a pair of baggies in the car makes you ready for any occasion.

[jersey]

I like the baggy shorts. I haven't noticed any increased wind resistance ;), and I feel like less of an idiot at the pub afterward in semi-normal shorts:cool:


Listen Lee, and listen close.... the only idiocy you need to be worried about is the bread you are baking in your chamois, pal! Lycra shorts are definitely not bar attire, but neither are any other pair of shorts you rode in! For the sake of your sack, your taint, and all other Holy areas, change your pants before hittin' the pub my man!

Thank me later.

[dirtworshipper]

The spandex shorts work for both road and off-road where as baggies are best for casual rides or shorter MTB rides.

Call me crazy, but sometimes I prefer baggies on the road and lycra on the trail.

1) Style: a lot more people see me when I'm on the road than when I'm on the trail

2) Temperature: I get a lot hotter slogging around the woods at 7 mph than doing 15 on the road (or in the winter, less cold)

3) Movement: Getting baggies snagged on the bike seat isn't a problem on the road, but can be an issue on the trail.

[Hand/of/Midas]

im wearing spechialized enduro baggy & pace lycra.
ill wear whatevers clean.
but a few general rules.
1.On the full squish ill wear baggy.
2. at the races ill wear lycra.

[mutantvan]

I gave up chamois a long time ago. So lycra is only on the road and in the winter.
On the trail I don't carry a bag, a backpack or a trailer anymore, just a multitool in my baggy shorts. and a water bottle on the frame like it should be. Free yourself from the beast of burden role. Walk home if you have to.
Do you see any snowboarders wearing high speed lycra body suits. How much speed are you gonna pick up back in the woods. Having said that, wear what you want. Who really cares!

[plume_mtb]

Lycra with lots and lots of chamois butter, shaved legs, and tanned men.

You know from the outside looking in...

[RepublicanSS]

I wear baggy shorts sometimes, sometimes I wear the plain lycra.

[rfritz]

Baggies, because you never know when you are going to wipe out at speed and have to ride home with your ass cheek exposed or even worse.....:eek:

I am kind of confused though, all of my baggy shorts have a lycra chamois short inside of it, so I guess I ride with both.

[longhaultruker2]

lycra.i never got around to buyin biking specific baggies.
i jus wear the lycra outta habit of always havin em,unless it's cold,in which case i wear non-cyclin warmer clothes in layers.