How to Buy Cycling Shorts

Cycling shorts are necessary to have for long cycling rides. They prevent chaffing and wind resistance. Cycling shorts also provide padding and a tight fit around the legs to avoid any distracting excess material. When choosing cycling shorts, you should enlist the help of a bicycle expert.

• Set a budget. Cheap bicycle shorts start at $20. High-quality cycling shorts can cost up to $100 or more. The $20 shorts can rip or tear if used too often. Search discount racks at local bike shops to find a good deal on high-quality shorts.


• Choose the weight. Bicycle shorts come in two weights: 6 ounces and 8 ounces. Heavier shorts indicate more material around the legs and buttocks. This means the heavier shorts will fit tighter in those areas.


• Know what type of shorts you need. Cycling shorts come in two styles: touring and racing. Touring shorts are for leisure cyclers and tend to fit like a regular pair of shorts with support in the waist, legs and buttocks. Racing shorts sit lower on the hips and mimic the cyclists' foreward posture when racing.


• Inspect the padding. The padding in the back of the shorts is called chamois. This material used to be made of leather but is now made of lightweight synthetic material. The chamois should mold to your body and not feel weighty or unbalanced.


• Try mountain biking shorts. If tight cycling shorts are not your style, then you may want a pair of mountain bike shorts. Mountain bike shorts are baggy and have a discrete chamois insert.