While it’s completely possible to ride a bike in any lower body coverings you like, from an old pair of jeans to a skirt, there are some items of clothing that are more suitable than others. Cycling shorts are designed for the job, but have a reputation for being tight, sweaty, and the preserve of professionals or those who take the hobby too seriously.
In reality, they’re none of these things. Apart from the bit about being tight, that is. Wearing a pair of shorts dedicated to cycling can improve your ride, they keep you cool and mean you can pack your trousers or skirt away in a pannier bag or backpack, keeping them clean and undamaged by the mud splashes or brambles you might encounter on your ride.
There's more to a pair of cycling shorts than just some elasticated material, and they’re different to gym shorts too. Turn a pair of the best cycling shorts inside out, and you’ll find a pad stitched into the bit where your legs meet that’s a familiar shape. This padding, known as a ‘chamois’ is around the same size and shape as your bike’s saddle, and is meant to cushion you against it, reducing friction and rubbing that can cause sore patches where you definitely don’t want them, as well as providing extra support.
You might not want to wear anything underneath them, as this will interfere with this process and can give you saddle sores. It can also absorb sweat that would usually be lost through the breathable material, which can leave you very uncomfortable once you’ve finished riding.
Cycling shorts come in two main types. There are the shorts which just go around your waist and bibs that reach all the way up over your shoulders, so there's no risk of them falling down or exposing your skin as you lean forward over the handlebars.
Shop the best below
Best cycling shorts for men at a glance:
- Best for maximum comfort: Assos Mille GT C2 - £125, Sigma Sports
- Best for a budget buy: Van Rysel RC100 bib shorts - £29.99 Decathlon
- Best for non-bib riders: Pearl Izumi Men's Pursuit Attack Shorts - £90, Amazon
- Best for when money is no object: Velocio Men’s Concept Bib Short - £253, Velocio
- Best for having pockets: Rapha Core Cargo bib shorts - £125, Rapha
- Best for getting the basics right: Gore Wear C3 - £47.98, Amazon
- Best for tall cyclists: Endura Pro SL Long - £140, Tredz
- Best for mountain biking: Patagonia Dirt Roamer bike shorts - £120, Sigma Sports
Assos Mille GT C2
Best for: maximum comfort
You probably need to be quite serious to consider paying over £100 for a pair of bib shorts, but if you like to ride, and want to remain as comfortable as possible but not use a broad, spongy saddle, these are what you want. They’re fairly long for cycling shorts, with grippers to prevent them from riding up your legs, and the bib-style shoulder straps mean you won’t have to worry about them flailing down either.
Buy now £125.00, Sigma Sports
Van Rysel RC100 bib shorts
Best for: a budget buy
Significantly cheaper than many others, yet giving up little in terms of quality, these are a pair of bibbed shorts with wide straps and a 13mm firmly padded chamois that can absorb jolts as well as offer support. These bibbed shorts are designed for rides of up to two hours on a hot day and are so nicely priced that owning multiple sets isn’t out of the question.
Buy now £29.98, Decathlon
Pearl Izumi Men's Pursuit Attack Shorts
Best for: non-bib riders
Bibbed shorts aren’t for everyone, and there are plenty of classic cycling shorts around that will cling to your waist rather than your shoulders. They come with a gel-grip waistband to guard against loss or exposure and are made in a way that minimises the number of seams in the fabric, which cuts down on potential chafing points. There's a comfortable medium-density chamois at work here, and while the price may be higher than some, these good-quality shorts should last for many rides.
Buy now £90.00, Amazon
Velocio Men’s Concept Bib Short
Best for: money no object
Extremely comfortable and breathable, these bib shorts are also rather expensive, but you get what you pay for. The Velocio Concept’s standout feature is the chamois, which ‘floats’ in the shorts, meaning it can shift from side to side as you pedal. This means the padding, which has different levels of thickness and density, can better support your body as you move. These are shorts you can comfortably wear for long rides, as long as you’re prepared to pay for them.
Buy now £253.00, Velocio
Rapha Core Cargo bib shorts
Best for: having pockets
Of course, cycling shorts don’t have pockets, that seems obvious. But a subset of the popular tight trousers do, and they’re called cargo shorts. Unlike the cargo shorts beloved by dads who grew up in the 90s, however, they’re still tightly fitted but contain pockets in which you can secrete an energy bar or other essential riding accessories. Riding jerseys frequently contain pockets or pouches for your phone and some arm-warmers too, so with a pair of cargo shorts you’re well equipped to carry all you need for a longer ride without having to resort to a bag.
£125.00
Gore Wear C3
Best for: getting the basics right
Gore-Tex comes with cycling shorts and brings with it thick padding that should help keep you comfortable in the saddle. There are a lot of features of Gore-Tex, which is beloved by hikers and campers, that make a lot of sense for cycling shorts, such as its waterproofing and breathable properties. Putting it in a pair of bike shorts was an obvious next step, and the fact these non-bib shorts come in at a reasonable price too just makes them more attractive.
Buy now £47.98, Amazon
Endura Pro SL Long
Best for: tall cyclists
These bib shorts, designed for road cyclists, utilise a multiple-pad system with three seat widths, so you can tailor them for your saddle and your body. They’re also slightly longer than many pairs, finishing very close to the knee, which makes them ideal for taller riders or those who don’t want to show off too much leg. The shorts have a UPF rating of 50, meaning they block 98 per cent of the sun’s rays, as well as a single pocket to keep a snack in.
Buy now £79.99, Tredz
Patagonia Dirt Roamer bike shorts
Best for: mountain biking
Tight shorts are popular among many types of riders, but mountain bikers often like to wear something a little looser. Enter the mountain biker shorts, which are lightweight and durable, made from a breathable, stretchy fabric that dries quickly, but which doesn’t fit so tightly to your skin - these particular shorts are tighter than some, though, so you’ll need to be wearing low-profile knee pads if you want to slide them over the top. There are pockets too, with zips to keep your snacks and valuables safe.
Buy now £120.00, Patagonia
Verdict
You don’t have to wear specialist clothing to go cycling, but it can certainly help. It’s much more gratifying on a warm day to be covered in smooth breathable fabric than flapping cotton or denim, and when it rains you’ll be glad of something that quick-drying too. Shorts like those by Assos Mille, Van Rysel and more on this list offer just this whether they’re the bib type that goes up over your shoulders or the kind that holds onto your waist. With proper cycling gear, you’re more likely to enjoy your ride, not be too sore afterwards, and keep your everyday clothes clean for wearing when you get to your destination.
