Dress (Not Just) to Impress: Shorts

Ever wonder why cyclists wear those tight shorts? Why can't they just wear regular sports shorts?

Two reasons (mainly): Chafing and padding.

If you only ride your bike for short distances and/or time, like 5 minutes everyday, you wouldn't feel any need of those shorts. But riding long distances, especially with uphill climbs, will affect your groin. Prolonged friction with the fabric of your pants will chafe your skin, while the saddle of your bike will leave you in pain, especially in the groin.

So cycling shorts to the rescue! They usually designed with soft padding in the groin area so you can sit comfortably even after miles of riding. In addition, they usually made of special fabric designed to avoid chafing and pull moisture from your skin to keep you dry.

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Take for example the cycling shorts from Pearl iZUMi. On top of the aforementioned padding and non-chafing fabric, it has UPF 50+ sun protection and leg grippers to keep the shorts in place. And also, it has reflective elements to increase your visibility in low-light situations.

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But in case you are too self-conscious to wear those tight, curve-revealing shorts, there are other alternatives. For example the cycling underwear from Baleaf. It has all the important features to make your ride comfortable, plus it is designed to be worn as an underwear. But make sure you have a proper loose shorts/pants to wear on top of it.

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However, if you don't want to wear too many layers, Aero Tech Designs have the cycling cargo shorts. It is basically tight and padded shorts inside combined with rugged cargo shorts outside. Plus, you have two velcro-sealed pockets to put anything you need quick access to while on the road.

So there you have it! Long rides won't be a nightmare on your groin anymore with those sweet shorts. Have fun riding and see you on the next one!