Shorts and Shoes

Greetings!

A month ago I finished getting all the parts to fix up my 1981 Schwinn Le Tour, and I've been riding it very short distances since. Since I moved, however, my commutes will be a bit longer. Typical rides will be 6 miles, but I also plan on riding 40+ miles on select days.

I have a pair of shorts that have been kind to me for a 16 mile ride, but I've heard that a good saddle and short pairing can make shamy cream useless for the 40 mile rides I want to go on. To be fair, it was a male who said that to me, so I was wondering if that level of comfort is even possible for females (I assume yes, but you never know). I have a B17S Select, so I'm not expecting to do intense riding. I've found the saddle surprisingly comfortable, other than the nose causing the usual problems for ladies. My bike shorts have worked fine for now (Canari), but I'm sure there can be a better fit that than. Any suggestions?

Also, I don't know what shoes to wear. I've been using a pair of flat shoes, but they've been falling apart for years. I would rather avoid clipless, as I use the platform to hoist myself off and on the saddle. Would a custom pair of shoes be acceptable or should I find a pair of cycling shoes?

I don't plan to be competitive, I just want to be able to commute around town comfortably. I'm trying to swear off cars for almost all of my travel. Price isn't a problem if the quality is worth it. Admittedly, I'd like to keep it under $300 if I can.

Cheers!

If you're going to be using flat pedals, you can wear any shoes you like. If you want something stiffer, you can get yourself a pair of cycling shoes (MTB shoes with the recessed cleats), and leave the rubber part of the sole that covers the dip for the cleat in place. I like the look of the Keen Commuter sandals for summer too.

Exactly what's the trouble with the nose of your saddle? That makes me think that you need a new saddle, especially if there's chafing or numbness involved. Some light (make yourself some coffee!) reading: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=39475
Shorts, like saddles, are very individual. There's a rule of thumb that you should expect to pay a dollar per mile you intend to ride. You don't want to cheap out on shorts. I like Sugoi's Evolution shorts (though mine are 3 years old and the shorts have since changed) and Primal Wear's Prima shorts. The boyfriend's mom swears by her Pearl Izumi Attack shorts. It's quite individual. Go to a bike shop and see what you can try on.

By the way, I never use chamois cream, so it's possible to be comfortable without it, but that's individual, just like shorts and saddles. And yes, you should be able to get at least a pair of shorts and a pair of mountain bike shoes for less than $300.

I would just like to add that if you seriously want to commute, you will be spending lots of time on a bike, and buying several good pairs of shorts really is worth it. I commuted short distances for years in regular clothing, and in my single pair of crappy bike shorts and wearing worn-out trainers, and sure, it worked. But once I increased the distances and times a bit I started getting chafing, got some better shorts, clipless pedals, and never went back. I now have 1 pair of jeans, but at least six pairs of shorts :rolleyes:

It's an investment in comfort and ease of washing, and no more expensive in the long run. Think of it as getting a new job, one that requires investing in swankier clothing ;)

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Originally Posted by Owlie

Exactly what's the trouble with the nose of your saddle? That makes me think that you need a new saddle, especially if there's chafing or numbness involved. Some light (make yourself some coffee!) reading: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=39475

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There's no numbness or chafing, it's only slightly uncomfortable. I know that you're only supposed to put pressure on your sit bones, so once I got the bike shorts, that problem was mainly solved. Some of the padding seems a little bulky, though (and they were the least padded).

I'll check out some shorts at a cycling store, though.

My first shorts were Canaris (they're cheaper). I bought a couple of Pearl Izumis and I love them. MUCH better quality, the chamois are better, and so is the fit.

I have Pearl Izumi shorts - the mid-grade, not the PRO, but I can't remember what they are called - and they are SO comfy! I have 4 pairs now. I also have Performance's Century shorts and they are great for the price, but not nearly as nice as the PI. I have never needed chamois butter, but my husband like to use it.
I LOVE my Sidi shoes - I found one pair, new in box, on ebay for less than half of the retail cost - these are SPD Dominator mountain bike shoes, which I use with Performance's Forte Campus pedal that is platform on one side and clip-in on the other.
My other shoes are Sidi Genius. I pair these with Shimano 105 pedals. I got the Genius shoe after my first century left me with searing pain in the balls of my feet due to the small point of contact with the SPD shoe. I found after 50 miles of riding, my feet hurt so badly I could barely ride. Once I switched to true road shoes, the pain stopped.
Highly recommend ebay for all cycling gear - I have found brand new, with tags, Sidi shoes, Pearl Izumi Am-fib tights, and Primal jerseys all for less that in stores.

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Originally Posted by oniasuka

I have a B17S Select, so I'm not expecting to do intense riding. I've found the saddle surprisingly comfortable, other than the nose causing the usual problems for ladies.

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It isn't comfortable if you are having a problem with the nose. You might need a different saddle. Maybe one with a cutout. Or, the Brooks may need to me tilted slightly. As others have said, saddle choices are very individual and what works for others may not work for you.

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Also, I don't know what shoes to wear. I've been using a pair of flat shoes, but they've been falling apart for years. I would rather avoid clipless, as I use the platform to hoist myself off and on the saddle. Would a custom pair of shoes be acceptable or should I find a pair of cycling shoes?

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I don't use clipless on my hybrid bike and I wear a wide variety of shoes. Because the pedals I am using now have a very large platform it doesn't see to matter much what kind of shoes I wear, though some are more comfortable than others. Oddly, the most comfortable are my Crocs and also my Keen Commuter sandals, made for clipless riding but also can be use with flat pedals.

For your 40+ mile rides, I highly recommend you buy the most comfortable "quality" cycling shorts you can. They will last you longer and you will be more comfortable in the long run whether or not you feel the need for chamois cream. My favorite regular shorts are Specialized. I don't remember the specific kind and whatever was written on the inside that may say has been rubbed off, but they were probably the most expensive pair they make . . . and worth it. For shorter rides, particularly 6 miles, it doesn't matter nearly as much, but the longer you ride the more you realize the importance of quality. The chamois itself is the most important part. I can't remember what the materials are for the higher quality versus the lower quality, but if you feel them in a store, you can probably tell the difference. At first touch, a lesser quality chamois may feel plenty soft and comfortable, though, but after a long time in the saddle, it won't be as comfy as the higher quality one.

As for chamois cream, everyone is different. I find that on anything longer than an hour, if I don't use cream, I notice some chafing the next day. Not necessarily while I ride, but later. Some people don't use it for any length ride, though, so you have to figure out what works for you.

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Originally Posted by oniasuka

Greetings!
I would rather avoid clipless, as I use the platform to hoist myself off and on the saddle.

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I'm guessing this isn't your only reason, but I wouldn't say this is a "good" reason to avoid clipless. With clipless, the better way to get on the bike is to straddle it first with both feet on the ground. Clip into one pedal or the other and then push off. It's just a different technique than what you described. Of course I'm completely unobjective on the subject. I would never go back to non-clipless . . . but I also don't commute to work. I ride a road bike for the purpose of exercise and going as fast as I can with optimal pedaling technique. So I won't tell you you should go clipless . . . but I would be remiss if I didn't highly recommend you consider it!

You might want a B17 instead of the B17S.

The "S" stands for "short." The nose is shorter than normal to keep your skirts from catching.

The shorter nose means you may be weightbearing on the hardware under the nose. That's metal. That hurts.

A normal nose will place the hardware farther forward and farther away from your pubic bone and associated parts.

The "short" women's saddles and normal men's saddles only make sense when comparing culturally dictated clothing mores. From an anatomical standpoint they are completely bass-ackwards.