Cycling Shorts

How To Choose The Best Mens Cycling Shorts

If you have a keen cyclist in the family, then a pair of cycling shorts will make a welcome gift.

And it doesn't hurt that they are easy to buy and send online either. Talk about a stress free idea!

Miss Trixie got a litte flustered when she started telling me about the different types of bike shorts on the market.

Seems all that snug Lycra is a bit distracting.

So how do you choose which ones to buy?

Miss Trixie says there are three main styles of shorts to choose from.

• Tight fitting Lycra numbers
• Tight fitting with a bib
• Loose "normal" looking shorts

The tight fitting, streamlined ones are used by road bikers and the baggy ones are used by mountain bikers.

All types have a padded seat and clever seams to make sure the rider is comfortable. That's why a serious biker will choose them over normal shorts.

Mens Cycling Shorts

Lycra bike shorts are light weight and streamlined to minimise wind resistance. They have an extra gripping strip around the legs to keep them from creeping up during riding.

They feature a varying number of seams to maximize movement and comfort. Plus they have the all important padding on the seat to help make the ride comfortable as possible. This is usually a synthetic material.

Lycra Bib shorts are similar to the standard bike shorts but extend to over the shoulder straps. There's no waistband and no sag, so cyclists who prefer this style say it's the most comfortable way to go. Not so easy to answer the call of nature though.

Baggy bike shorts look like normal shorts at first glance. The major giveaway that they aren't is the seam through the seat, or lack of. Instead, there's a nice band of padding.

5 Tips To Find The Best Gift

• 1. As with anything, the more you pay the better the quality will be. There's no point in buying cheap shorts as they will probably fall apart quickly and may not be very comfortable - the padding may be too small.
• 2. Look for Lycra shorts made with panels. Four or six panels are common, but eight panels will provide superior body hugging performance. Make sure the seams are all flat.
• 3. Ask about the padded liner. Synthetic is usually better than the real chamois ones as it will generally wear better and is acts as a wick to draw moisture away from the body. Gel padding is soft but in plastic casing so doesn't allow sweat to soak away.
• 4. Waist bands should be wide. No strings or he'll feel like he's being cut in half. Should be higher at the back to allow for the sitting and leaning forward position.
• 5. Lycra shorts need extra grip in the legs to prevent riding up.

Cycling Gifts

These are popular brands to try:

• Pearl Izumi cycling shorts
• Sugoi cycling shorts
• Canari shorts
• Castelli shorts
• Adidas shorts
• Nike shorts

Here's another easy idea for cycling gifts: Why not give him a subscription to a top cycling magazine?

So easy to organize online and perfect for inspiration and information for the serious cyclist.

PLUS don't forget to check out the best cycling shoes while you are here.