women's shorts

[tigerrose21]

i am doing my first century ride. it is actually my first ride, ever.  it is with team in training, america's most beautiful ride in tahoe on june 3rd.

i am still looking for a good short for this distance.  any ideas?  there are a lot of brands out there pearl izume, shebeest, etc.  help!!!!

[DaveB]

i am doing my first century ride. it is actually my first ride, ever...

Do I read this correctly that the century will really be your FIRST bike ride?  If so, you need a lot more advice than just what shorts to wear.

[gnarlydog]

Although I'm a guy and have never worn womens shorts (honest). I love Pearl Izumi Ultrasensor shorts. Expensive but worth every penny. Don't buy cheap shorts, good shorts make a huge difference in comfort on long rides.

[centrider]

If tiger is riding w/Team in Training, she's training up to it.  My first
century was with TIT.  Good fund raising program for leukemia.

I'd go with PI shorts.  I like the Attack.  But the advice to buy the best you
can afford is good advice.  Also get good gloves and socks.  You'll be
wearing the TIT jersey so that's taken care of.

I'd also suggest a base layer.  Tahoe is not be the warmest place on the
continent.

And don't forget the sun block.  You'll be getting a large slug of UV.  

[driftlessregion]

Any of the major brands are good: Canari, Pearl Izumi, Cannondale, Sugoi, Hind, Giordana to name a few of the most common. Boure' has a great reputation but I haven't tried them (and can be made in custom sizes for folks with really big thighs but regular hips for instance). I have 5 PI, one Hind, one Cannondale. and one Sugoi and like them all. I buy what's on sale at local bike shop and REI-Outlet (always a short on sale at a great price). I tend not to buy the thickest pad which can move around more and cause more problems than it cures. There are choices in thickness of fabric: if you're in really hot weather, maybe a thinner lycra, but it won't last as long. Just remember, no underwear (seams can chafe) and use a lube like Chamois Buttr. Have a great century!

[centrider]

I think like brand, the pad thickness is a matter of preference.  I use PI
Attack which has a thick pad.  What I did figure out is that the shorts
should fit well.  

That is, for a couple of years I wore a large, when in fact I needed to wear
a medium.  The large moved around too much.  The medium, thick
doesn't.

I also like to line dry my riding clothes.  The UV rays pretty much kill
bacteria.

[bigringer]

I can only speak about mens shorts, but the pearl izumi do seem to be the best bang for the buck.  If money is no  object and you simply want the best shorts you can buy I would probably try assos. of course shorts are just like shoes or any other piece of clothing, everyones body is different, so you might have to try a few brands and find what you like best.

good luck on that century, just look at it as four twenty five mile rides, and be ready to hit the wall after the third one.  

[driftlessregion]

Check out http://www.sheilamoon.com/, a maker of cycling clothes for women.