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Choosing the right cycling shorts or bibs can make all the difference. At Aero Tech Designs, we offer a variety of styles designed for comfort, performance, and durability—whether you're commuting, touring, or tackling long-distance rides.
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Use our Bike Short Selector Tool to find the perfect pair based on your riding style, padding preference, and fit needs. Answer a few quick questions, and we'll help match you with the best cycling shorts or bibs for your next adventure.
Cycling is a great form of exercise, transportation, and leisure activity that provides numerous benefits to the body and mind. However, like any physical activity, cycling requires proper gear to enhance performance, prevent injuries, and maximize comfort. One of the essential items for any cyclist is a pair of cycling shorts. We will explore the reasons why cyclists should wear cycling shorts and the benefits they offer.
Cycling shorts are specially designed garments that are tailored for the specific needs of cyclists. They are made of high-quality materials that are breathable, moisture-wicking, and stretchy to provide comfort, support, and protection during cycling. Unlike regular shorts, cycling shorts have a padded chamois or insert that is strategically placed on the seat area to cushion and reduce friction between the body and the saddle. This feature is crucial in preventing chafing, saddle sores, and discomfort that can occur during long rides.
There are several reasons why a cyclist should wear cycling shorts, including:
In addition to the above benefits, there are also different types of cycling shorts that cater to different cycling disciplines and preferences. The most common types of cycling shorts include:
The most critical part of a men's bike short is a chamois pad followed by fit and compression.
Fitting the chamois pad to the sit bones, also known as the Ischium bones, are the bases of a good chamois pad. The Ischium bones support your body's weight while seated on a bicycle. Chamois pads are available in different shapes, sizes, and densities, and matching the right pad to the rider will make the ride more comfortable. There is no "one size fits all" for chamois pads. That is why we offer many chamois pads to choose from, ranging from thin to thick and very dense to light and soft.
Our Aero Tech Designs bike shorts come in a wide range of chamois pads to help you ride longer and feel stronger. They all have in common the ability to cushion the saddle area. We designed our men's bike shorts and cycling bib shorts to be durable and comfortable for the long haul. We recommend looking at the Gel Touring Short, our best seller. This bike short is a solid choice for anyone, whether a beginner or a long-distance rider. Some riders prefer a chamois that is not very thick. These riders are looking more for the anti-chafe properties of the bike short. We offer our Pro Short or suggest using a triathlon short for these riders.
The Pro Chamois is ideal for their anti-chafe needs. We often suggest the Elite line for riders looking for a dense chamois that is great for long-distance rides. This line includes a short, bib short, and a liner short. The chamois is rated to be comfortable for century rides.
A stretchy spandex/polyester fabric is the main composition of road bike shorts. The materials used for our road bike shorts are usually a six-way tricot, knit nylon, or polyester. The lightweight fabrics are about 5.5 to 6 ounces per square yard. A medium-weight is about 6.5 ounces, and a heavyweight fabric would be about 8 ounces per square yard. Nylon/Lycra blends are more rugged and abrasion-resistant, which is long-lasting. Polyester/Lycra blends regulate body temperatures and wick perspiration. We use this fabric primarily because of the freedom of movement and comfort during cycling. The higher the spandex content - the more compression on the muscles. High Spandex content (over 20%) is a sign of compression support for high-end bike shorts. The higher the spandex, the more stretchy and supportive the fabric is. This compression massages the muscles to help work out lactic acid and enhances blood flow to the muscles, which helps reduce fatigue.
The leg gripper is a feature you will see in most of our bike shorts. These grippers are essential to prevent the shorts from riding up the legs. During the cycling motion, your muscles are constantly flexing and moving. There is nothing worse than tugging at your clothes to keep them in place during your ride. When a pair of bike shorts ride up on the leg, it creates an opportunity for bunching in the chamois pad. This bunching of the chamois pad can lead to chafing, rubbing, and, worst of all, saddle sores. The use of leg elastics prevents the movement of the garment, so the shorts stay stretched, and the chamois remain in place. Some of our bike shorts do not use leg grippers. Silicone is the primary material that makes up the leg gripper. Since some people are allergic to silicone, these shorts are an excellent option. In this case, we change the short design to stay in place without the gripper.
We design our bicycle shorts to include a reflective element on the moving areas of the leg. The legs make an ideal location for reflection because it is visible for a motorist in low light conditions, and the constant movement of the legs creates visibility. 3M makes most of our reflective materials.
Wearing men's road bike shorts without underwear keeps the pad held tight to the body in the saddle area. Being close to the body allows the short to perform appropriately by wicking perspiration and supporting muscles. When you try on a pair of bike shorts, it should not be too tight or binding but fits snugly, so the chamois pad stays in place.
Panels Bike shorts are often described as 6-panel or 8-panel shorts.
Inseam The length of the leg's inseam is a matter of personal preference. We think the shorts should be a few inches above the knee. Biking shorts come in Tall (about 11 inches), Short (about 5 to 7), and Regular Inseams (about 8-9 inches).
Elastics Waist elastic is essential to keep the shorts in place. Wider elastic has less tendency to roll. Some bike shorts have a drawstring, especially shorts for multiple uses like triathlon and fitness. A drawstring is not essential for road shorts but may come in handy.
Cycling shorts should fit snug with the pad close to the skin. If the shorts do not fit properly, it negates the benefits of wearing bike shorts. A correctly sized pair of road shorts is essential to ensure that you get the most out of them. We suggest the use of the manufacturer's size chart. Given that bike shorts are made from an incredibly stretchy material, it is possible to fit into the size above your below the recommended size. If you want the garment to fit you loosely, you can go up a size; however, cycling shorts should fit snug.
After each use, washing men's Padded Bike Shorts is the proper way to care for them. The best way to care for road bike shorts is to machine wash and air dry. We recommend machine washing to remove all bacteria from the chamois pad. The goal of clean shorts is to prevent bacteria buildup on the chamois pad, which can lead to saddle sores. Saddle sores are a cyclist's worst enemy. Air drying the spandex shorts helps the fibers last longer without drying out. You can also use machine dry low.
We highly recommend using the frequent application of an anti-chafe cream for long-distance rides. Put the cream on your skin, between your legs, and all over the chamois pad. Squeeze a generous portion of the cream on the chamois pad and rub it all over. The lubricant on the chamois pad and your skin will prevent hot spots from abrasion. This cream application may be essential to enhance riding comfort on long bicycle tours or long daily distances.