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again, this might belong in the 'new to cycling' part, but, just wondering, am i supposed to wear underware with these cycling shorts? my fiance doesn't, but he's a boy, and i didnt know if that meant i wasn't supposed to or not. just wondering! thanks!
No underwear.
Nope, don't wear underwear! :D
It may seem odd at first, but it will keep you more comfortable and prevent chafing.
Emily
Ick...I've treid riding with out and it give me the heebee jeebies, but then again, I'm a cotton underwear kind o gal. Seems to me a perfect enviornment for a vaginal infection. Any doctors out there have an opinion?
Do you wear undies under your bathing suit, too? It's the same thing. Take shorts off right away, and wash before the next ride, and infections won't be an issue.Quote:
Originally Posted by min
I wear underwear under my biking shorts. Never had a problem and I don't have to wash the shorts constantly. Everyone is different.
I never wear underwear when I ride. I do bring a skirt along with me so that I can take the shorts off the instant I'm done with the trail. And despite the care instructions on the label, I wash the shorts in warm water -- cold water doesn't seem to get them clean enough (frankly very noticable using unscented detergent).
Yes, sweaty damp cotton underwear on the bike is a perfect environment for a vaginal (or urinary tract) infection. Be careful out there, kids.Quote:
Originally Posted by min
What is underwear?
No underwear.
Take shorts off as soon as possible.
Wash before wearing again.
When I wear cycling shorts with a chamois, I don't wear underwear. One benefit of the chamois is no seams, which underwear would negate.
When I wear regular shorts, pedal pushers or jeans I wear underwear, but try to wear microfiber undies (depending on length of ride) or cotton underwear. These rides are usually under 15 miles and are running errands, not continuously in the saddle.
Commando! Being in Texas, I sweat entirely to much not to wash my shorts after every ride.
I never wear the stuff.
A lot of chamois are marketed as being antibacterial as well. I'm not sure what they do to it to make it so, but I thinking underwear would negate it.
So quick answer. NO underwear - i've been riding 20 plus years and I've never had a vaginal or bladder infection from riding in shorts with no underwear.
spoke
Riding with underwear works just fine for some people (like me). :cool:
Try both ways and then decide for yourself.
One big reason to not wear underwear with your padded cycling shorts is to avoid chafing and pressure from the seams and elastic around the legs, not to mention if the underwear ends up folded or wrinkled between the chamois (bike shorts padding) and your tender bottom. Chamois cream or chamois butter is a product used to put directly on your bottom or your chamois (or both) depending on your preference. It is nice. This type of product reduces friction between your bottom and the chamois, reducing irritation.I think using chamois cream with underwear would be yuckky. Get those soggy bike shorts off as soon as you can after a ride to avoid developing "saddle sores" or other discomforts which thrive in a warm moist environment. Tokie
None for me and can I add something new I learned yesterday. NEVER ride with your swim suit under your bike shorts! Owie! :eek::eek: (Next time I'll just carry it to the pool. :rolleyes:)
Thanks for the tip kelownagirl. I have been thinking about riding to the local pool for a swim sometime soon and Im sure I would have done the same thing as you.:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by kelownagirl
Oh nearly forgot the original post - no undies when riding for me either.
+1 commando!!!:DQuote:
Originally Posted by zencentury
Commando, and the same rule applies for wetsuits! It used to drive me nuts seeing people trying to put on a wetsuit with board shorts underneath. Tourists. Chamois cream is also great.
Brenda
I don't like oil-based stuff. I just use a little non-scented hypoallergenic hand cream. Cheap, washes out easily, and works great. Nothing yucky about it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tokie
Interestingly, chamois were originally just a patch of soft leather in the biking pants to help prevent chafing. No foam, no padding at all. After much wear and washing, the leather patch would become stiff and thus 'chamois butter' or 'chamois cream' was invented as a leather softening product intended to keep the real leather chamois soft and pliable.
Now, we buy gel filled saddles, and big foam chamois made of space age anti-microbial materials and we still get raw and chafed and then buy expensive lube products to ease our raw bits! :o
Neat idea.Quote:
Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl
I'm starting to develop the notion that I do better with a thin chamois than the big thick type. Maybe it bunches up. My issue is definitely chafing. But then, not surprising, even wearing a skirt I can sometimes end up chafing ... or pants that are too loose ...
But I'm assuming, not if you're doing a tri??Quote:
Originally Posted by motochick
well you do not go top to bottom commando :eek: under a wetsuit in a tri - LOL !
but a tri suit or shorts&top will suffice.
What about 'that time of the month'?
anyone have any hints/suggestions for someone who doesn't use tampons?
or is that just the way to go?
(tad bit off the underware topic...but I didnt' want to open up an entire thread for this question) :o
I rode my bike to the pool last summer, with just my suit on, and my suit has a little skirt. It was okay on the way down, but when my suit was still wet on the way back....Let's just say that saddle was a little too close to the parts.
Karen
Imdeanna - there is a whole thread somewhere here about these cup things which you wear internally to catch menstrual flow. TE'ers like them is what I recall. Tokie
Search for diva cup. But be prepared - could be TMI for some:)
Noooooooooo underwear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have never worn undi's under the cycling shorts, why do they have a chamois...
Also about the chamois buttr...full of chemicals...woudn't use it. If I had to use something like this, then only organic unrefined coconut butter -> no chemicals. Well lucky me, I never had to us this staff, not even on over the 100 miles rides...
But everybody is different, experiment and pick what your are comfortable with...good luck
Resi
+1 ... But to each her own... I won't check yours if you don't check mine, though sometimes the lycra gets so worn *everybody* knows too much...
I must be overly modest!!!
Never in my mind about going commando. I always had my undie's on. Can't imagine going without. I don't think I could do it??
Then again proper ladies in ages gone by, they would never step outside without a pair of gloves and a proper hat as part of proper attaire. :D
Can't do this commando thing. Accidental, rare bladder and other discharges..sorry can't do.
And I rarely ride with padded bike chamois tights/shorts. yea...90 kms. in 1 day, no chamois. Possible.
No, my saddle is not an overstuffed freddie thing.
Why not? Clock in 5,000 kms. annually for some years...no chamois.
I'll get around to..some day. :D Just like getting around to cycling socks.
By now, I feel very freda. :D I might as well admit all this..after all these years of regular cycling. My "cool" factor now has dropped ..probably quite alot. Oh well, might as well to continue cycling on the edges of the inner circle.
None for me, but I agree some people just can't do it. Persoanlly, being in Texas I like as little on as possible. If I was small chested, I would only wear those shelf bra tops.
I take off my shorts immediately (sometimes in the car after a ride :eek:) and wash every time. Only one bladder infection in 4 years riding and I have had one every few years for the last 13 years. I think it was just time for one, not anything to do with my bike shorts.
If you are going to wear undies I would recommend finding some for working out. They generally do not have noticeable seems and are moisture wicking. My friend swears by them for running. She won't just wear running shorts with the little built in liners.
Don't you know that being uncool actually makes you the coolest of all? This is a well proven phenomenon. :cool: :DQuote:
Originally Posted by shootingstar
I've ridden Europe and the California coast. So I've got a few miles on the road. I didin't wear anything under this cycling tights, however I carried three pair to do those several thousand miles and always washed them like crazy. Sanitization is critrical for any gal when riding. When riding with diferent groups, I was amazed how alot of women & men didn't really wash there cycling clothes on those 6+ day rides and thats crazy> I guess I'm a sanitization nut, but I recommend that is the way to go. Cycling tops and sports bras also need to be cleaned alot. My boy friend, now husband is pretty good about washing and we stay pretty healthy with regards to sanitization.
Tiffany on riding.
How do you wash them on multi-day trips? Always stay at a hotel so you can use the bathroom facilities?
I know everyone is different, but I could never wear underwear under cycling shorts... I don't wear it under any workout wear--running shorts, unpadded lycra, yoga pants. One, because of the chafing and potential for infection, and two because it shows through most of these clothes. I tried the wicking thong from EMS and it's really high waisted, like mom jeans and very tight on the sides. The next size is too big. I wanted to wear them under my hiking pants or shorts, but I'll keep going commando, unless it's LONG underwear, which doesn't bother me at all.
I knew nothing about cycling shorts when I started cycling, but I never even considered wearing underwear..
is it worth the extra $60+ dollars to get a wicking chamois? i've been looking at the pearl izuma micro something pro - they're like $125 but the lady at my LBS said they would be so worth it because i would have a much lower chance of getting a yeast or UT infection. what are your thoughts?
Just me, but I wouldn't buy a pair of shorts on the basis of any supposed health properties of the chamois. I see where they're impregnating them with silver threads and triclosan and all sorts of things I wouldn't necessarily want near my lady parts, all in the name of killing (omg) germs. Having a healthy immune system, a good diet and keeping yourself "reasonably" clean are more important IMO. Any chamois is going to be absorbent - the amount of fluid it can absorb depends more on the thickness than the material; but thick chamois can be uncomfortable as well as obviously being less well ventilated.
Ok since we're on the topic of chamois, I'm going to risk hijacking this thread.....I just bought bike shorts because I just learned you're not supposed to wear undies. Here's my issue...the chamois looks like a diaper, and gets all folded in the middle. Folds almost in half:eek:. Really not attractive. I know I know....spandex shorts are NOT attractive anyway, but they're truly not cute (or comfortable) with a huge hunk of stuff folded in half between my legs. So here's the thing...are the chamois supposed to be huge, or do they come in different sizes? What's the deal?:confused: