Saving your Ass: finding the right cycling shorts

So you are beginning to bike on a regular basis and are finding the more you bike, the more you second-guess sitting down the rest of the day. You need to invest in a pair of bike shorts!

There are a few steps I feel most people miss when looking for a great bike short. So hopefully, this will help you make the right purchase first, instead of the lengthy and expensive trial and error many customers go through.

Tip 1: Try everything on. 

Unlike civilian clothes that can be adjusted, buttoned or belted, bike shorts are a stand alone item and they need to fit great, or you are wasting your money.
To further drive the point home, quality bike shorts are made from companies in the US, Canada, Italy and many more. All of them have a different idea of what a "small, medium and large" means. I'm a great example of this. While in Louis Garneau or Sugoi I fit a medium or large, in Castelli I fit an XL or XXL. All fantastic brands, just different size ranges.
In case you weren't already confused, most brands design two fits, a relaxed or "club" fit and a skinnier or "race" fit. Please talk to the knowledgeable staff at the shop to find out what you are trying on. A helpful tip I go on is, if the jersey looks different (color, cut, fabric, etc) than it is different. Try it on.

Tip 2: You get what you pay for.

You may have noticed I said "You need to INVEST in a pair of bike shorts!" It makes fiscal sense to spend a little bit more on one pair to last you a long time, then buy three cheaper pairs because you don't want to buy something with lasting quality.
I've worked in several retail markets, from computers to fine art and I've never seen a more honest upgrade scale than in the bicycling world. There is a price point for everyone and if you want more features, you've got to pay for them.
Remember to, this is a large part in the quality of your ride. Imagine going to see a movie, walking into the theater and finding uncomfortable folding chairs instead of the standard plush recliners?
The best plan of action is to pick a few different shorts, a couple in the price range you are comfortable with, paired with one below and one above. That way you can see the value in the ones you are thinking of buying, as well as trying out one step up to see if it is worth the financial upgrade.

Tip 3: Put on some bibs.

I know, those weird dangly things that look more like an 1800's strong-man outfit rather than the cutting edge in athletic comfort aren't screaming your name. But don't knock them until you've tried them. By holding on to your entire torso you eliminate many problems and are able to add a large amount of comfort. Besides, once the jersey is on, nobody can tell you're wearing bib shorts.

                          _______________________________________________________

If you have tried on multiple brands, different styles and different fits but are still not finding anything comfortable, it may be because you're not on a bike. Shorts and bibs are designed to have the body in the leaned-forward position of bike riding. While some people do not feel much of a difference standing up, others are very uncomfortable until they get on the bike. Giordana has explained this in great (and colorful) detail. We thought it was so helpful, we put it in each fitting room in our store!

I plan on adding a follow up post with actual short suggestions. Regardless of what you spend, if you wear baggy or tight or you prefer flashy team kits over standard black, just wear what's comfortable. Do your butt a favor and get some bike shorts for your next ride.