Riding in wet shorts???

So, I've been wondering one thing about triathlons... isn't it really hard on your skin to ride a bike in wet shorts? If you've got a chamois, is it like sitting on a wet sponge? Do you not have extreme chafing issues?

I once spilled a glass of water on myself at a post-ride brunch, and my chamois soaked it right up. Then, just sitting there for an hour while we ate, I managed to develop my first and only saddle sore. Makes me think that my skin couldn't take coming out of the water & jumping on to a bike.

Blueskies

Ahhh...the magic of "tri-shorts."

They make special shorts for triathlon that are quick drying, slightly padded and won't give you sores going from swim to bike from the moisture. There's not a whole lot of padding there (it looks like a piece of felt), but it's enough to help on the saddle. I was surprised how comfortable I was in my trishorts the first time I biked in them. There also isn't thick padding that you even notice it while running like you would in bike shorts. Tri-shorts are made of a more bathing suit type material and often have mesh sections as well to help with drying.

I have a pair from Hind that I really like.
BK

Yea, the padding in the tri shorts is practically non-existent so you don't notice the water too much.

Otherwise, they are made to dry quickly.. but I have yet to have a pair dry on me during a race.

I have raced sprints- an Olympic- an Half Ironman... at no point in any of my races did my shorts dry out. At some point it went from being wet with water to being wet with sweat.

Thanks. That makes sense.

Can I ask one more silly tri question? Do you worry about someone taking your bike when you're in the water?

Blueskies

(I'm recuperating from surgery & can't do much, so I'm daydreaming a LOT about what I might do next year...)

You know- I've never once worried about someone messing with my bike at any of the races I've done. I don't know- I guess blind trust. I've known people who've gotten things from their transition space stolen (or maybe it was accidentally shoved in their neighbors bag), but never the bike.

In terms of bikes being stolen-At all tri's here in WA, participants aren't allowed back into the bike transition at the end unless they have thier race bracelet on. The bike area is patrolled by security guard volunteers.

People think it's a pain in the behind if they can't get into the transition are when they're done but it's for everyone's security.

I guess if a TO hears about a bike being stolen, they'll let the race director know that security is an issue.

C

Naw. I never worry about my bike. I have even dropped it off the day before the race and I didn't worry about it.

Of course, the key to not worrying... is not having the nicest bike in transition. ;)

The only thing I have worried about losing out of transition is my wetsuit. People have been known to carry off the wrong one.

Generally the transition area is restricted to only people racing and if you take out a bike, they check out the number on the bike to the number on the participant.

I haven't had problems with things being missing but I did have someone knock the chain off my bike :mad: The transition area wasn't all that great and it was really cramped. I tried to not spread my stuff (or bike) into anyone else's area but I guess I got in someone's way.

Well, there, that takes care of all of my issues, except the minor ones of not being able to run or swim. ;)

I can swim, I just don't like swimming laps, and can't seem to do the side breathing without swallowing a lot of air. I've been reading on the other threads, though, about the Total Immersion swimming & that sounds like something I might enjoy.

Thanks! I love that you can ask any question here on TE. Very encouraging to just be able to ask...