Bike shorts question

[greengirl]

My husband, who is a seasoned biker, insists that I should not wear any underwear under my shorts. Is that something only men do, or do women do that too? I have never biked before, so I have NO clue. Thanks for any input.

[carback]

You'll find lots of discussion on these forums about this topic.

Your husband is correct.
Absolutely, no underwear. Go commando!

The issue with underwear is the chafing from the seams, the wicking and absorption qualities of underwear and worse, the unsightly visible panty lines.

Your tush will thank you!

[Yasmin]

My husband, who is a seasoned biker, insists that I should not wear any underwear under my shorts. Is that something only men do, or do women do that too? I have never biked before, so I have NO clue. Thanks for any input.
Your husband is right, you know (ditto carback). Due to my bashfulness, it took me 2 yrs before I left the undies behind. Then lo & behold, the sweating, rubbing & associated pinching all disappeared. The chamois & seams in the shorts are designed to be next to skin. Also on long rides (100km/62.5miles) it's blissful not having the perspiration build up. Go fot it. Cheers, Yasmin.

[greengirl]

Thanks for the reply...What about chamois cream??? Is that necessary to prevent saddle sores? I feel so...vulnerable :rolleyes: putting menthol cream in my shorts.

[Irulan]

menthol? whoo-eeee! I know some people use noxzema, but menthol...? I personally never use chamois cream but ymmv...

[DeniseGoldberg]

No underwear under my bike shorts, and no chamois cream either. The clean chamois in my bike shorts is quite enough without adding cream of any sort - no matter how far I ride. Just the shorts!

--- Denise

[shewhobikes]

just the shorts. It's OK, trust us on this one. :)

[bluerider]

When I started I didn't really listen to anyone and wore underwear anyway thiking that was for "real' cyclists. Lesson learned pretty quickly. You can try it and you'll know why after 10 minutes!!!

[HipGnosis6]

I wear underwear under my bike shorts for my commute, but it's quite short - and I want to expidite changing. The ride only takes 15 minutes, and once I get there, I want to get into my "street clothes" ASAP. The funny thing is, I work for a kilt manufacturer, and you're not supposed to wear underwear under them, either!

On longer rides, I skip the panties.

[crazycanuck]

Way cool..i went commando tonight and think it's great. No undie problems..

Thanks for the advice ladies...now i need a few more pairs of bike shorts...At least they'll dry quickly with the temps heating up here...

c

[helga]

I wear underwear under my bike shorts for my commute, but it's quite short - and I want to expidite changing. The ride only takes 15 minutes, and once I get there, I want to get into my "street clothes" ASAP. The funny thing is, I work for a kilt manufacturer, and you're not supposed to wear underwear under them, either!

On longer rides, I skip the panties.

Before taking up biking, I was a piper in a band that was originally called, "The Flashers". Definitely a "going commando" reference and something some of the pipers (myself not included) took as being a dress code. However, with regard to wearing anything under biking shorts, just say, "NO"!

[greengirl]

Thank you for all the advice...now I know what to do :-)

[Pedal Wench]

Card carrying member of The Anti-Panty Party!

[bikerchick68]

greenrider... you have the input on the commando... yup, the only way to go... also as mentioned, after a ride get outta those damp shorts asap... same as a swimsuit... you just don't sit around in a wet one!

the chamois cream is NOT needed for every ride, but is useful for long rides... I don't use it for any ride under 50 miles... but anything over that and I am on the saddle long enough that I want it to help reduce friction... I always use Chamois Cream for century rides... there are different brands (Chamois But'r, Aessos etc) and some with the menthol and some without... I have never used or needed the menthol or numbing stuff... I think that would be helpful if you are prone to saddle sores... I have a friend who used it for riding when he had a saddle sore and was already registered for a ride... numbing the area allowed him to complete the ride in comfort... :)

anyway, use the chamois cream as needed... as you ride more and more you'll figure out at what point YOU need it... it's different for every rider!

[Grog]

Commando of course.

And some chamois cream only if multi-day ride in hot weather, like 3 days X 100 km.

Clean, clean, clean shorts, always.

[Eaglewalker]

Card carrying member of The Anti-Panty Party!

Now all we need is the Anti-Bra Party. I realize it's not for all women, but I hate the things, myself, and only wear them when I have to be respectable. These times do not include biking, on account of -- well, those shorts... Absolutely the thing to wear for pedal time, but hardly anyone's idea of a modest garment.

[crazycanuck]

I'm curious about this chamois cream...I have some ointment called NEat 3b..(no not the neat shaving stuff dears..) and am wondering if it;s the same kind of stuff....

Should we start & print the anti panty brigade... :D Our shirts could say "proud member of the anti panti brigade...beware of our snot rockets...."

c

[RoadRaven]

As all the girls have said, no knickers...


I use chamois cream... (although its a sports anti-chaffing cream here) when I am going to be on the bike for over 1 and a 1/4 hours... otherwise, no barrier cream

Do ensure you whip those shorts of asap after your ride and shower though

If you can't, then take a skirt or sarong and go commando under that, and if you can't have a catwash then carry some low irritant aftershave and splash a little of that on. Well, the aftershave works for me anyways... but def get rid of the shorts asap... the warmer the weather or the more sweating you have done, the more important this is

[Grog]

Should we start & print the anti panty brigade... :D Our shirts could say "proud member of the anti panti brigade...beware of our snot rockets...."


That would be a good way to educate other cyclists without having to plainly tell them : you know you shouldn't be wearing panties under your bike shorts, right? One girl in my club (which is kind of a serious riders' club) has visible panty lines and that makes me very uncomfortable. Like I feel I should tell her something but... you know.

[anne_77]

In defense of pantylines:

I agree with going commando in good biking shorts. However, I have a couple pair of Trek biking shorts with which I wear undies because the stitching in the Trek chamois irritates me. Even Butt'r doesn't eliminate the irritation from the stitching.

[Yasmin]

I am not sure of the purpose of chamois cream. The thought of something slimy down there all day does not appeal. Yasmin.

[Grog]

I am not sure of the purpose of chamois cream. The thought of something slimy down there all day does not appeal. Yasmin.

Actually the cream I have used was zinc oxide. Same as what is used to prevent/cure diaper rash for babies. On long rides, especially multi-day ones, and on hot days, I find that my chamois can only manage so much of the humidity and after a while irritation occurs, which can make my life miserable.

Chamois butt'r probably has the same preventive effect.

On shorter rides (less than 3 hours in my case) it's useless.

I would totally avoid buying shorts with seams on the chamois...

Good luck :)

[Bike Goddess]

I wear undies under ALL of my shorts ALL the time. No probs. Use Cbutter in the warmer weather. I have found that gel chamois shorts are the most comfortable for long rides.

[Lise]

This discussion of the various creams is very interesting. I quickly learned not to wear panties, and I invested in some decent, then good quality bike shorts. I got one pair of really good ones this summer, and wore them on my 1st 100km ride. OMG. My "forward parts" as I called them were SO SORE. I could not believe it. I actually called my 70 year old mom, who's been long-distance biking for 10 years. She told me people in her club use Eucerin or diaper rash cream. I didn't do any more long rides, because I started training in earnest for the Chicago Marathon. I found that on long runs it helped a lot to put zinc oxide or Body Glide on the crotch of my compression shorts.

My mom explained that it's not the padding, or lack thereof, but the friction, over time, that makes for such soreness. I finished the marathon, and am getting back on my bike. I just bought a new tube of Desitin. I'm intrigued and a bit nervous about the menthol idea--the purpose is to numb the area? hmmm. I'll try it, if the Desitin isn't doing the trick.

On the bra issue--I'm a 36D, and the more restrictive, the better, when I'm riding or running. I just got my new "Enell" bra--thought it was crushing my ribcage at first, but I adapted!

Thanks for all the info--I wish I'd tuned in before I did those 100k!

Take care, Lise

[SadieKate]

Anne_77 AU CONTRAIRE to what everyone else is saying here on this thread, I am going to tell you that I in fact DO wear LINERS in my shorts. These can be found at REI- and probably other bike shops. The ones I have are made by Andiamo and I have been using them for as long as I've been riding (2+ years) with NO AFTEREFFECTS!!!!!!

I wear undies under ALL of my shorts ALL the time. No probs. Use Cbutter in the warmer weather.
Nancy, do you wear underwear or Andiamo padded short liners? Critical difference between the two.

[Nanci]

I wear Patagonia capilene wicking seamless panties under _most_ of my shorts. I just like it better that way. I _tried_ to change, but, since I wasn't having any problems with seams, and since commando grosses me out, no matter _what_ the application, male or female, I quit worrying about it.

Now, I _do_ have those Trashy Cat Sunflower shorts, which are so sheer I'm not comfortable wearing panties with them, and they, fortunately, fit just right so I don't feel uncomfortable without them.

My Trashy Cat Black Satin Shorts, OTOH, (which have my all-time favorite chamois!!!! I wish I could afford many pairs, in all the colors!!!) are slightly more comfortable, _to me_, with panties. And the Primals and horrible Sugoi tri shorts are just out of the question for commando. I think, the slinkier the fit, the better with no undies.

One thing no one ever mentions, so maybe it's just me, but I can _feel_ my thigh touch (and stick to) my ever-shrinking-but-still-fattish belly or whatever you call it, right in the crease of the front of the leg, on every upstroke, when commando. Yikes!! Doesn't happen when I have panties on, because that bare skin is tightly covered. It's really distracting.

I find Udder Balm is great for long runs/rides to protect the skin from being irritated by salt (from sweat)/urine. Geez, those who have to pee while on the bike, say in a race, I just can't imagine how you ever get comfortable again...

Nanci

[biker chick]

That would be a good way to educate other cyclists without having to plainly tell them : you know you shouldn't be wearing panties under your bike shorts, right? One girl in my club (which is kind of a serious riders' club) has visible panty lines and that makes me very uncomfortable. Like I feel I should tell her something but... you know.

I have a very good freind who was extremely embarrased by an outspoken male in our road bike group. He described in detail the panties she was wearing in front of the group. He thought he was funny. She was mortified. Go commando. Just don't let them get too threadbare. I have to tell my spouse his shorts are to thin sometimes and get him new ones.

[Grog]

I have a very good freind who was extremely embarrased by an outspoken male in our road bike group. He described in detail the panties she was wearing in front of the group. He thought he was funny. She was mortified.

Woah that must be awful... Poor girl!!

Funny, really funny. (NOT)