For them to work effectively, they are going to need to sit rather high up on your waist. Most come up a little past your belly button to ensure that it feels comfortable when you are cocked over your handlebars. There are some companies that offer designs that sit lower on one’s hips than most, but many users complain that the lower the waistline sits, the more uncomfortable the shorts become, especially if you are riding with a little bit of extra baggage in your midriff section.