Cycling shorts are mandatory for long rides. Read our blog to know the important factors to check out while buying your bicycle or cycling shorts online.
Bicycle, also called bike, two-wheeled steerable machine that is pedalled by the rider’s feet. Bicycles are widely used for transportation, recreation, and sport. Throughout the world, bicycles are essential to moving people and goods in areas where there are few automobiles. Historians disagree about the invention of the bicycle, and many dates are challenged. It is most likely that no individual qualifies as the inventor and that the bicycle evolved through the efforts of many.
We’ve all ridden bicycles all around our houses, in parks, gardens, streets and lanes. Every morning or evening children coming out of their homes with cycles of different colors and types. Each rider having that competitive glint in their eyes as if ready to win championships. Riding around, having races, I’m sure our childhood memories are filled with these two-wheeled machines at some point.
By some estimates, there are already more than two billion bikes in use around the world. By 2050, that number could be as high as five billion. Over 50 percent of the human population knows how to ride a bike. In China, 37.2 percent of the population use bicycles. In Belgium and Switzerland, 48 percent of the population rides. In Japan, it is 57 percent, and in Finland it’s 60 percent. The Netherlands holds the record as the nation with the most bicycles per capita. Cyclists also abound in Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Denmark. The Danish capital, Copenhagen, is considered the most bicycle-friendly city in the world. It’s known as the “City of Cyclists,” where 52 percent of the population uses a bike for the daily commute.
Bicycles have health as well environmental benefits. Bicycle commuters are generally healthier than those who drive motor vehicles to work. The bicycle offers an economic, comfortable, easy, and sustainable way of human mobility— for the rich, and the poor. It’s still a major mode of transport for many cities in emerging countries and could continue to be if encouraged as an alternative to the car. Bicycle riding uses minimal fossil fuels and is a pollution-free mode of transport resulting in zero carbon-footprint. Bikes reduce the need to build, service and dispose of cars.
Generally, the casual use of bicycles do not require for one to wear a specific attire except that the clothes shouldn’t be loose or baggy instead they should be tight fitting to prevent any form of accidents to happen. Whereas professionals should be aware of the appropriate cycling gear! One might require a helmet, gloves, eyewear, jersey, shoes and shorts. For anyone who cycles for a long amount of time be it for fun or for health, they all will go for the most comfortable form of apparel for cycling- Bib shorts. The main purpose of bicycling shorts is to provide comfort during long bike rides. Bike shorts are designed specifically for the needs of a cyclist. These needs include padding in the right places, strategically placed seams, tight-fitting, flexible materials like Lycra and spandex that reduce air resistance and allow a full range of motion on the bike, and the right amount of breathability and wind block.
The chamois was invented in the 1930s, when most cycling clothing was made from wool. Almost all cycling shorts had uncomfortable seams that caused friction and saddle sores, so a piece of leather from an antelope called a chamois was placed in the area of contact inside cycling shorts. Cycling shorts are usually made from quick-drying synthetic materials such as Lycra, spandex, nylon and polyester. Multiple panels provide alternate levels of stretch and compression where it's needed. More expensive cycling shorts have better flat seams to reduce chafing, a higher quality chamois and more durable materials.
Cycling shorts are a vital piece of equipment that give the wearer numerous benefits. Whether you are cycling around town, racing or participating in a long distance bike ride, a good quality bib short is a must.
The rubbing action of your inner thighs against the bicycle seat is offset by the smooth face of the cycling short. However, wearing a good pair of padded chamois will protect you from painful vibration and impact-related soreness.
One of the major advantages of wearing bicycling shorts is that it protects your family jewels. It protects the region from the pain of long contact with a bicycle seat.
A good chamois will be padded along your sit bones at the base of your hips. This helps in distributing the pressure and does not put the sensitive tissue between your legs under pressure.
Another advantage of wearing bib shorts is that, it is close fitting. As a result, it maximizes aerodynamics and offers a full range of motion to the wearer.
It is also believed that wearing a good pair of bib shorts can increase blood flow to the legs and aid in muscular function to provide a bit more sustained power. This is due to the mild compression provided by the tight fitting pair of bicycling shorts.
There are times on your long ride when your bicycle saddle must have felt like a cactus plant. Wearing a good pair of bib shorts will help minimize this spanking and help ride more miles in comfort.
Men’s cycling bib shorts usually have a shorter rise and a wider waistband. On the other hand, women’s cycling shorts typically have a longer rise and a smaller waist. However, don’t worry about wearing gender-specific shorts, simply go for the shorts that fit best. So enjoy cycling around in the best quality cycling shorts.