How Tight Should Bike Shorts Be?

Bike shorts are a very important part of cycling gear. Quality bike shorts make all the difference between an uncomfortable and an enjoyable ride. They are the only barrier between you and your skin. If you spend a lot of time or intend to spend a lot of time on a saddle, having bike shorts is a must. You should keep in mind that quality means comfort. The higher the quality of your shorts, the more comfort they will provide. Bike shorts not only provide comfort but also ensure that you perform optimally for a longer period. But bike shorts are tight by design which confuses many beginner riders about how tight should they be.

In this article, we discuss how tight should bike shorts be.

Why do riders use bike shorts?

Protection

Bike shorts are primarily for protection. You can ride in normal shorts but bike shorts are purpose-built for bike riding. Normal shorts don’t provide the necessary protection against the saddle of the bike. There is a lot of friction between the skin, the garment, and the saddle. The friction causes abrasion and chaffing on the skin and leads to saddle sores.

Normal shorts have a loose fit and they crunch up under the crotch area increasing friction. The resulting ride becomes uncomfortable quickly and you won’t be able to ride for a long time without pain. Biking shorts have been developed to solve all these problems.

The tight fitting of the shorts doesn’t allow them to crunch up under the crotch and cause more friction. High-quality shorts have silicone bands as well to prevent the shorts from creeping up the legs and causing discomfort. The seams are specially made so that they don’t rub against the skin while riding.

The chamois of the bike shorts provides adequate protection and comfort required for long rides and it is the defining part of the shorts. The chamois is a pad in the crotch area of the shorts. They can be thick or thin made of gel or foam or both. They come in different shapes to cater to the body shape of different individuals and are separate for men and women.

The chamois prevents bicycle seat neuropathy by relieving pressure on the pelvic pudendal nerve exerted by the saddle. Otherwise, you would start experiencing numbness in the legs and the lower body along with pain in the crotch area. Another source of pain in the crotch is due to pressure on the ischial bones (the seat bones) which the chamois also prevents. Ischial bones of women are wider for men and so the chamois for women is also wider at the back.

The chamois also has moisture-wicking properties that prevent sweat buildup. If the cloth of the shorts becomes damp, it stretches and crunches up under the crotch and causes the same problems discussed earlier. Along with the chamois, the fabric of the shorts is also moisture-wicking.

Aerodynamics

Normal clothing has a loose fit. When you ride fast, the loose clothes flap around acting sort of like a parachute. They catch a lot of wind and increase drag. As a result, they slow you down and you have to pedal harder to go faster. The tight fit of bike shorts, on the other hand, is more aerodynamic as it sticks to your skin and doesn’t flap around. Bike shorts make it easier for you to pass through the wind with minimal possible drag.

Safety

Your bike has a lot of moving parts. Loose and hanging clothes are almost always at a risk of getting stuck in these moving parts like the chain, pedals, and chain ring. Loose clothes have been a reason for many crashes. Bike shorts stick with the skin and significantly reduce the chances of getting stuck in any moving part. This makes the ride much safer.

Compression

Another major reason for using bike shorts is that they provide compression. Compression supports the muscles by helping them keep their tone. This prevents disruption of the blood flow during fast movement. With the blood flow optimal, you can ride for longer distances without muscle fatigue.

Flexibility

Bike shorts are made of a blend of Polyester or nylon and spandex/Lycra. Nylon and polyester have moisture-wicking properties. Spandex gives the fabric its compression and stretch. Bike shorts are made to move with your legs which provides unrestricted movement. Ideally, bike shorts have a 15-20% for the best flexibility. The construction of the shorts also makes movement easy. Shorts are made of panels. The more panels, the easier the movement. But shorts with more panels are expensive.

How tight is too tight?

Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. After putting on your shorts, you shouldn’t sound shrill with your eyeballs bulging out of the sockets. If that is the case, you should immediately take them off before something somewhere in your body explodes due to pressure build-up. You should have a hint at this point that it is probably a good idea to size up if you want to preserve your fertility. Or you can use the same shorts to audition for the next Elvin and the Chipmunks movie or funny TikToks.

Anyways, on a serious note, your bike shorts should have a snug fit. The shorts should feel like a second layer of skin or like a glove. There should be no pinching or pressure anywhere on your legs and the pelvic area. Your legs shouldn’t feel restricted during movement and there should be no pain or numbness in your lower body.

But you should keep in mind that new bike shorts are a bit tight when you wear them at first and can feel a bit uncomfortable. But only a bit. It may take you some time to ease in. But if there is too much discomfort and obstruction in blood flow, then size up. Your bike shorts shouldn’t feel like a wedgie.

Many riders are under the misconception that bike shorts tend to stretch after wearing them for some time, as mentioned above. They keep putting up with bike shorts that are too tight in the hopes that they will stretch and provide some relief. But it’s damnation without relief. Bike shorts stretch only a little bit, like breaking in. But that isn’t – and shouldn’t be – a huge difference. You just feel comfortable after a while.

Since different brands design their shorts differently, you would have to try out a few of them before you settle for one of them. Although bike shorts are worn without underwear, when you are trying them out, we advise you to wear tight underwear. The underwear provides protection against infections since multiple people try the same shorts. By wearing underwear, you not only keep yourself safe but others as well.

Final Thoughts

For a comfortable long ride, bike shorts are an important part of bike gear. The chamois of the shorts provides necessary protection on the saddle and prevent abrasion, chaffing, and saddle sores. Other than that, bike shorts also have many other performance benefits. Your shorts shouldn’t be too tight. You shouldn’t feel pinching or increased pressure on your lower body. There should also be no numbness due to disruption in the blood flow. When it comes to choosing the right pair, you would have to try out different ones to find the one that suits you best. Keep in mind that quality means comfort.