Cycling UK Forum

Hi,

foxyrider wrote:

NATURAL ANKLING wrote:Hi,
Some of us have never worn cycling shorts so there is definitely more to it than clothing.

'bout time you tried then!

Ha Ha.................started late at about 23, I mean some posters swear not to need shorts, a bit like gloves, then there's sandals

I don't wear lycra, padded or otherwise, just a pair of 'technical' boxer shorts under Ron Hill tracksters or Buffalo teclite trousers. Same kit for commute and audax

When I came back to cycling after a break (family & work meant I didn't have much time for it), I had been running (conned into it by a friend but ended up training up to run a full marathon). I found when running in shorts that I got chaffing where my thighs tended to rub together. That was cured by buying some lycra undershorts, that have become common these days.

When I had been cycling before I was in the no underwear, keep the chamois (& it probably was real chamois) soft camp and apply cream one's nether regions as appropriate. In those days any underwear would have been cotton, or maybe nylon, and not good for wearing in strenuous activity.

When I came back to cycling around 2007 I started to question this. Modern padded shorts are usually Coolmax (or similar) and often have an antibacterial treatment. I figured that wearing something under them would extend the wear time (useful on tour) and so started wearing an underlayer - initially the running undershorts & then expanded as I purchased other cycling specific stuff, usually Adli specials. I've found the thing to watch for is no seams or flat seams, so there aren't any lumps to rub, & a shorts style rather than briefs so there aren't any edges where there is saddle contact. It also means if you are going somewhere and changing, you already have your underwear on. In the time I've been doing this I've never used any creams & never had any sores.

An added bonus is that 5 or 6 undershorts pack into a similar space as a pair of padded shorts, if that is your preference on tour. For 2 weeks away I would take 2 pairs of shorts and 6 pairs of undershorts and can have a clean layer next to my skin for several days without resorting to washing. The padded shorts can then be worn several days in a row before washing, depending on temperature, etc. When you wash the shorts you have several days to get them dry if needed.

That's my take. (Heretic that I now am! )

Rick.

I have found these to be good with no seams in the important area.
Very useful when on holiday when daily washing shorts is not always practical.

http://www.marksandspencer.com/2-pack-m ... /p22360710

Would it not be best simply to wear lycra cycling shorts and wear your y-fronts on the outside of them. These will be, I expect, the ones all male CTC members are advised to wear with the CTC winged logo on front and rear, obtainable from CTC shop with member discount. Wearing them like this also stops the itching due to the tweed they're made of.

These are also the reccomended pants for second dates when you're "going places" , one sight of them and any lady cyclist knows you're dedicated to the cause .

What happened to all those people in the olden days who used to cycle everywhere in their sensible clothes? Or indeed people in poor countries who rely on bikes to get around, often over long distances. I'm sure my dad and grandad who both knocked about on bikes didn't where specialised clothes.
I think some poor devils are more prone to saddle soreness and others just get a tougher hide down there maybe.
Personally I find that cycle specific trousers help a bit - Swrve have a sort of gusset. But I still get chafing from the pants if I go over 15 miles on a warm day, if that's not too much information...

Simples....... go commando

old_windbag wrote:Would it not be best simply to wear lycra cycling shorts and wear your y-fronts on the outside of them .

What, you mean Superman-style?

FWIW I have at least 6 pairs of Lycra shorts, two pairs of padded longs and a pair of 3/4 longs.

I wash my shorts every time I wear them, even on holiday. Wash them in the sink or take them into the shower with you, wring them out and they will usually be dry by the next morning.

I know we're all different but if I couldn't ride 10 miles in any clothing I'd be looking to change my saddle rather than my underwear.

TrevA wrote:What, you mean Superman-style?

My comments were in jest I hope you realise .

On a serious note I'm sure there's a few similar to myself who sweat buckets easily on a bike unless crawling along at say 8mph. This to me would be too slow for a moderate commute and at the speed I prefer to be at, not feeling huge effort, I'd arrive at work soaking wet. Thats in cycling clothing so not sure how people manage in everyday clothes. It was because of this I kept cycling for fitness/pleasure rather than a mode of transport, that and being 35mls from work with poor/expensive public transport options when carrying a bike. For journeys of 3-5mls it may be practical but I'd still opt for cycle shorts/undershorts as a base garment. Did anyone sweat in the 50's heyday of cycling wearing suits on 3spd heavyweights?

jqdsffjdsoge wrote: but I wear underpants. The seam of these has created a small 'slit' in the skin on my perineum

If this is your preferred attire, surely the simplest solution is buy underwear without a crotch seam; many on the market like this including the Marks & Sparks pair I'm wearing now.

This underwear debate seems to arise rather frequently on this forum. Tried lycra shorts with padding a many years ago, hated the things as they were uncomfortable and cause a lot of soreness (yes I did use some cream). Also was persuaded to buy some similar underpants and got the same results, so I gave them away. Following that a friend got me to buy some fleecy lined underpants, these were even worse. In fact I left a pair in the waste bin of the Torpoint ferry on one of my LEJOGs.

All my cycling is done wearing boxer underpants and other than the very cheap ones which have very pronounced seams, I find them good. I have tried the previously recommended M&S and Planet X ones and find them okay but no better than others I have. Best of all are some Thai Silk boxer underpants I purchased in Thailand, these are great in hot weather.

PH wrote:I know we're all different but if I couldn't ride 10 miles in any clothing I'd be looking to change my saddle rather than my underwear.

I would endorse that.
It seems that there are many weird and wonderful ways of dealing with this problem - but finding a suitable saddle is IMO the first step.
In the old days of real chamois I didn't use underwear but I only used (what were then wool shorts) for anything but racing.
Now I wear what are essentially lycra racing shorts for all cycling (under Ronhill Tracksters for cold weather). I prefer to have underwear for support - long if it's really cold.
I can ride all day without getting saddle sore but it took me a long time to come up with theright saddle for me.

PH wrote:I know we're all different but if I couldn't ride 10 miles in any clothing I'd be looking to change my saddle rather than my underwear.

If I wear normal underpants on my road bike, no matter what I wear over them, it begins chafing within a mile or two. I can manage up to about 3 or 4 miles, if I have to. My slightly more upright bikes are a little better, but I don't have any bike and briefs combinations that I would deliberately wear for 10 miles unless it was an emergency

I can wear merino undershorts just fine, or cycling shorts, or almost anything without seams or elastic in the crotch.

There's nothing wrong with my saddle.

I find Sudocrem is for repair rather than prevention. I often wear briefs under padded cycling shorts but they are very brief, cotton and no seams. easy to wash and dry. I don't get any particular chaffing over about 15 miles. Above that I do but I find it is due to the saddle not the briefs. I.e. It does not happen with a Brooks. I always use a cream, Udderly Smooth or something. I find is very good on long rides and touring, Brooks or not and is reasonably priced. Never any chaffing using the cream.