Everything you need to know about bike shorts - BikeShorts.com.

Home > Bike Shorts >

Bike Shorts

Ride the road from wool to spandex

Bike shorts materials have come a long way since the inception of bicycling gear in the early 1900s. At the advent of the 20th century, not many flexible materials had been found, so early versions of bike shorts were made of durable -- but scratchy -- wool fabrics. Knickers, a facet of the era's common attire, were modified to create clothes specifically for bicycling. These initial designs were prone to awkward bunching, and the crossed seams standard in knickers resulted in an uneven sitting surface, so a goat leather (or chamois, pronounced shammy) inset was added to provide an even crotch with some padding.

Modern bike shorts

Fabric technology has evolved significantly over the past 30 years to give biker shorts materials a major boost in durability and comfort. With the invention of spandex, bike shorts took on a whole new dimension. This new material was much easier to clean, offered a much closer fit, and lacked the bunching so common with wool shorts. Most spandex weighs between six and eight ounces per yard; the heavier the fabric gets, the more expensive it is. Polyester and yarn blends are also widely available. These blends increase spandex's breathability and quickly wick away sweat. The "chamois" of today is not real goat leather. Instead, "chamois" is a term used to denote any smooth, flat insert that covers uneven, crossed fabric seams at the crotch. A chamois can be thin or thickly padded, and can even be treated with anti-microbial chemicals to prevent mold growth. Most recently, gel or "memory" foam insets have been introduced to the selection of bike shorts materials for even more personalized comfort.

Bike shorts materials are an important aspect of cycling wear, and today's popular fabrics are more geared than ever to your individual comfort and style.