Cycling UK Forum

I started off using M&S Autograph under my shorts and then the padded ones that Endura provide with their shorts. Overall I prefer the comfort of the padded pants.
The padded ones need washing every couple of days or they stink, but drying the pad may not be easy when camping.
What do others do when camping?
Serious answers please, I ain't interested in who goes commando, doesn't wash, etc.
cheers

Nobby,
I use Paramo Mens Cambia Boxers which I find very comfy although they are not padded.
I find the padded sort eg Endura clickfast too bulky. This is sat on a Brooks Conquest.

I take 2 pairs, wear one and wash/dry the other.

Marks underwear, inside out so the stitching doesn't chafe, & a Brooks B17. It's worked fine for decades, no need to change now. Also I tried padded undershorts, they're ok in winter but in summer temperatures they rapidly get soaked in sweat. Not a good idea for prolonged trips away from home.

PW wrote:Marks underwear, inside out so the stitching doesn't chafe, & a Brooks B17. It's worked fine for decades, no need to change now. Also I tried padded undershorts, they're ok in winter but in summer temperatures they rapidly get soaked in sweat. Not a good idea for prolonged trips away from home.

I've used M&S underwear for the past three tours plus 3xl shorts bought from an amply proportioned gents' outfitters. That combo with a Brooks B17 has been perfect for me. I've never used padded undershorts being in posession of enough natural padding of my own

vernon wrote:

PW wrote:Marks underwear, inside out so the stitching doesn't chafe, & a Brooks B17. It's worked fine for decades, no need to change now. Also I tried padded undershorts, they're ok in winter but in summer temperatures they rapidly get soaked in sweat. Not a good idea for prolonged trips away from home.

I've used M&S underwear for the past three tours plus 3xl shorts bought from an amply proportioned gents' outfitters. That combo with a Brooks B17 has been perfect for me. I've never used padded undershorts being in posession of enough natural padding of my own

Thanks for the help.
I've bought a pair of the Paramo pcambia and will try them. if necessary I'll add a gel cover to my gel seat!
I have 6.5 stone less padding than I had 6 months ago and the bones in me bum are now very prominent :0) I'll have to condition them.

You may find that with padded shorts, gel pad and gel saddle there are too many pads moving around and you will get more chafing, not less. I'd forget about the gel pad if I were you.

when on tour I will take the under shorts off in the evenings, give them a quick wash, wring them out and the leave them in the sun/breeze until dark so they can start to dry. Then wrap them, still inside out, in a small fluffy towel over night so that it will suck the moisture out. In the morning hang them in the sun/breeze while you breakfast. Then put them on. They often have a slight dampness still but if you get out the saddle on the first fast down hill they'll soon dry out fully. Attach the towel to rack to dry out during the day.

Well you are correct they may well be damp to put on first thing; but they is probably the worst bit of it; lets gace it for many after a few minutes into the first climb with the errrrrrr glowing that goes with it then the insert may not exactly be dry anyway

Paul Smith
www.bikeplus.co.uk

nobby wrote:I started off using M&S Autograph under my shorts and then the padded ones that Endura provide with their shorts. Overall I prefer the comfort of the padded pants.
The padded ones need washing every couple of days or they stink, but drying the pad may not be easy when camping.
What do others do when camping?
Serious answers please, I ain't interested in who goes commando, doesn't wash, etc.
cheers

I wear my regular pants under my cycling shorts and take a clean pair of pants with me. If and when the oportunity arises I wash my pants out and dry them over night and put them on again in the morning, the other pair I wear at the end of the day after I have had a strip wash/bath or shower depending what is available. That way I've always got something dry and fairly clean to put on at night, especially if it's being peeing it down all day.
I suggest that you get some underwear that will dry fairly rapidly and has some antibacterial properties to it if you can!

I've never had any chafing problems doing this, a tip from a friend was to put talc down his pants each morning, although you couldn't pass the blame if you farted!

Deckie wrote:You may find that with padded shorts, gel pad and gel saddle there are too many pads moving around and you will get more chafing, not less. I'd forget about the gel pad if I were you.

The extra padding was for instead of in the pants.
I like the padded pants but they aren't practical for camping becaise of getting them dry. With ordinary (modern wicking material) pants they wash and dry well but don't have the comfort on the saddle.
With padded the bones in my buttock don't hurt; without padded they do.

Hello,
Interesting subject!
I have just returned from a Cycle Camping trip. I wear padded shorts without underwear which is how they are meant to be worn.
Took two pairs (wear one wash one overnight).
pictures here of trip http://www.pbase.com/john28july/days

To wear another pair of pants is defeating the object of padded shorts in the first place as you will now have two layers to shift about. As a matter of interest has anyone ever sewn another pad on to the original shorts pad to make a thicker seat?
John.

john28july wrote:To wear another pair of pants is defeating the object of padded shorts in the first place as you will now have two layers to shift about. As a matter of interest has anyone ever sewn another pad on to the original shorts pad to make a thicker seat?
John.

Straight away I am impressed by the Akto - mine is being delivered this week - but we are at cross purposes in the underpants department, I think.

I wear ordinary shorts by Endura and they come with a separate underpant and the underpant is padded. I find them very comfortable but sweaty. I could use two pair, washing one but I am concerned that it will be difficult to dry them.
I have worn them for three days at a time but they ain't nice on the third day! Wearing them for two days isn't too bad and if I carry two pairs that gives me 48 hours to get the washed ones dry before I need to change again. If I find a toilet with a hand dryer that would do :0)
perhaps I've just solved the problem.

I wear ordinary shorts by Endura and they come with a separate underpant and the underpant is padded. I find them very comfortable but sweaty. I could use two pair, washing one but I am concerned that it will be difficult to dry them.


Ah! I see now, I thought it was a bit strange coming from what I supposed a real cyclist.
John.

john28july wrote:I wear ordinary shorts by Endura and they come with a separate underpant and the underpant is padded. I find them very comfortable but sweaty. I could use two pair, washing one but I am concerned that it will be difficult to dry them.


Ah! I see now, I thought it was a bit strange coming from what I supposed a real cyclist.
John.

Ho, ho ... now I'm not sure whether I am a real cyclist or not!

Are you a member of the Fell Club?

A real cyclist! Well what I meant was a constant cycling person? Someone who actually knows about bikes and cycling and is of greater knowledge than lets say someone who just has a bike from Halfords bottom ladder range for getting to the shops and back. Someone who, well, rides for life....
John.