Why aren't they just called cycling shorts?

[IAmAWarrior]

I know this is a petty thing and a whole non issue but I am trying to find cycling shorts online (none in the shops above an xxs). I am putting in cycling shorts and nothing is coming up. They are now short leggings. Wtf are short leggings. I appreciate there are actual cycling shorts but on fashion websites is this really an issue. We survived calling them cycling shorts in the 90s and most likely before that too. AIBU to think we could just continue for idiots like me who can't fathom short leggings! It feels like when you have brain fog and can't remember the actual name of something so make up a new one.

What did the manufacturers say when you fed this back to them?

I find this with all sorts of things. cullottes used to be shorts that looked like a skirt but then that turned into a skort.

@SavoirFlair good idea. I'll start emailing.

I've also noticed they're now 'legging shorts' on Asos despite the fact that I know literally nobody who calls them that in real life.

The only reason I can think of is that it's possible that people buy them for cycling when they are not actually designed for that, and then ask for their money back when they don't stand up to a 30-mile ride?

Culottes and skorts are two different things. Culottes are essentially wide trousers that mimic the shape of a skirt. A skort is a skirt that has a pair of shorts attached inside it and hidden from view when you're standing up.

I actually found this frustrating recently too. I like to wear these kind of shorts under dresses, but couldn't figure out what to search when I was on a few different clothes websites and ended up just going into Primark to buy some.

As a culottes-wearer from the 70s, I concur! We also pre-empted skorts with navy blue PE knickers worn under our short sports skirts.

Because it's confusing with actual cycling shorts if you call them that?

Maybe they're to distinguish fashion cycling shorts from padded cycling shorts to be worn while cycling?

Plus half the population seems to live in leggings these days, so they might have a main catergory of leggings and then subcategories of all the different lengths?

@10HailMarys maybe so! I hadn't thought of that. I've just looked on m&s and they have sleep shorts or something similar. In any event they came up under cycle shorts and will do for wearing under a dress.

It's so people don't attach an expectation of performance I guess

@Hillarious Oh god, those bloody knickers were so vile!

I got confused the other day looking for pyjama shorts. Apparently they're now sold as sleep shorts...

@10HailMarys Did the job though!

I just typed cycling shorts into google and there are tons of results, not sure where you're looking ! Some places call them cycle or biker shorts though.

I just bought my daughter a 2 pack of "Girls Cycling Shorts" in sainsburys, admittedly I didn't look for any in adult sizes.

Cycling shorts have padding.

Exactly. They aren't he same as short leggings and aren't interchangeable.

I just bought some from pretty little thing and typed in cycle shorts...

I made a pair this morning. I used the top half of a leggings pattern. I call them cycling shorts. I sew but I don’t cycle! I’m no help at all!!