Women's Biking Shorts

Biking Shorts

While wearing women’s biking shorts while biking may seem obvious, there are other exercises women do where they can wear their favorite bike shorts including:

• Running or jogging
• Aerobics
• Spinning
• Rowing
• Walking

Biking shorts are ideal for biking because their close fit reduces drag. While the casual biker may not be concerned with this, the professional cyclists and those who compete are very concerned with reducing wind resistance when riding. Also, the length of the short is important depending on whether you ride as an amateur or a pro. For racers, longer shorts prevent chafing, a crucial concern when you’re on a bike for miles and miles.

What to Look for in Bike Shorts

To find the most comfortable pair of bike shorts, you’ll need to consider some factors when buying.

• Panels: Panels on biking shorts relate to how the shorts will move with you. In general, the more panels on shorts, the better because more panels allow the shorts to curve with your body. While this issue isn’t as important now as it was when biking shorts weren’t made in modern, technologically advanced fabrics as they are today, serious cyclists still prefer an eight-panel short over a four- or six-panel short, when given the choice.
• Material: Nylon spandex is a standard material in bike shorts, but isn’t considered the ideal component because it doesn’t wick moisture or breathe as well as when it’s combined with other fabrics. A large part of bike short pricing is due to the materials in them, so if you wonder why shorts are available at such different prices, this is usually the reason.
• Padding: If you think padded shorts are meant to make you more comfortable on long rides, the purpose of pads is actually to wick away moisture and prevent chafing more efficiently. Most bike enthusiasts will advise you to add padding to a seat versus the shorts, if comfort is a main concern.

Finding Women’s Biking Shorts

Finding these fitness garments is relatively easy. They’re not only available at sports shops, they can be found at women’s sports clothing retailers like Lady Foot Locker and in department stores’ exercise apparel sections. Online, you can shop at these Web sites for the perfect pair of bike shorts for the plus size woman:

• Aero Tech Designs
• Junonia
• Team Estrogen
• Always for Me
• A Big Attitude
• Ladies Only Sports

If possible, try on biking shorts before buying and position yourself as you would for biking or working out so that you can experience the full range of movement in the shorts. This will let you know if you’re comfortable in them or not. Shorts can’t be “broken in” like shoes, so if a seam is cutting into you or if the shorts ride up in an unflattering way, try another pair.

Caring for Your Bike Shorts

With a little proper care, your shorts will last you for a long time. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s care instructions. Because of the material that most biking shorts are made of, they can be machine washed and dried, but line-drying is always gentler on clothing. They should be cleaned after any vigorous workouts because sweat and body oils need to be promptly washed away to prolong the life of your exercise outfits.

Healthy and Fit

Whether you wear your biking shorts for cycling or for other fitness activities, don’t be afraid to wear your shorts and exercise outside. For plus size women, they can sometimes feel self-conscious in fitness gear, but if you’re truly committed to being healthy and fit, don’t let embarrassment prevent you from living your best life.