Going Commando

[Elphaba]

For starteres,Hello! My name is Linda and I am a 44 year old relatively new cyclist. I started out about a year and a half ago to maintain a 35 pound weightloss. Started riding my daughters old box bike around the block and such. I bought my self a Giant Cypress ST and started taking "Blue" to the grocery store and such and eventually worked my way up to 25-30 mile rides! I just ordered the last small Giant Avail Inspire and I can't wait for it to come in this week.

Along with the Inspire, I figure I need some real cycling clothes but as a mother of 3 in her 40's out does one protect the chamois from, well, weak plumbing ? Or do you ? While I dont always have a problem cycling, sometimes I do.

Thanks,
L

[goldfinch]

Well, I do the exercises. And to the extent I still have a problem (I do at times) I live with it. I don't worry about protecting the chamois. If it can take all my sweat it certainly can take a little pee.

[Elphaba]

Thanks Goldfinch and Muirenn,

Kinda what I was thinking, but just wanted to make sure I was barking up the right tree

Not sure what is going to be more torture this week, waiting for my bike to come in (hopefully ready on Wednesday) or have to leave it to go on vacation Friday afternoon. Riding from north Florida to Denver would be kinda out of the question LOL.

[Pedal Wench]

Riding from north Florida to Denver would be kinda out of the question LOL.

Not really...

[Jiffer]

Well, since racers are known to pee while on the bike, a lot more pee than you might leak, I wouldn't worry too much about it! I can't believe I'm sharing this, but my husband had his first experience with this during his first Ironman recently. Apparently he had previously "tried" to pee during a long race, but had never been able to. Well, during the 112 mile bike portion of the event, he had success! He had looked around and didn't see anybody around as he shifted his weight, "adjusted" and let it rip. Shortly after, a guy came along side and said, "I am so jealous! I've been trying to do that for the last 20 miles!"

What a crack up. My husband ended up with the 6th fastest bike split of the event . . . out of about 1,000. So, yeah . . . no stopping at the port-a-potty for MY Ironman!

I have had some "period" issues in my chamois. The tampon just doesn't always hold, and it doesn't work to wear a liner . . . I've tried! So what do ya do? Luckily there's some padding to absorb it and you just clean it as soon as you are able to. And always try to get out of your shorts as soon as you are able, even if you didn't "leak". The longer you are in sweaty shorts, the more likely you can develop rashes, infections, etc.

(By the way, the chamois in the shorts triathletes wear is much thinner than regular cycling shorts, so it's not like my hubby was sitting in a bunch of squishy pee for the rest of the ride! Eew! And he also doused himself with water right after. )

[marni]

if all else fails, unless you are in a race or competition, there is always the "the green room", abush, tree, fence or perhaps a local gas station- always remember to buy a coke or a pack of gum- nothing ruder than using the facilities and not contributing. It's amazing how flexible I and my aging bladder have become.

[Eden]

O

Well, since racers are known to pee while on the bike.......

Oy - that's triathletes we road racers tend to be more civilized about it - we take mutually agreed on pee breaks at the side of the road

[Elphaba]

Not really...

In 4 days it is lol

[Amira]

This made me laugh....my sister was just relating a story of a guy ahead of her climbing Independence Pass this summer who she noticed was holding his leg at a funny angle .... until she realized what he was doing. She likened him to a race-horse. When ya gotta go, ya gotta go. I guess the lesson is that you tend to lose your shyness the longer you ride.

[thekarens]

I've always had an aversion to underwear. That's why I like bike shorts!

Thanks for the chuckle

[MollyJ]

Took me a while to get chamois biking shorts. Then it took a while before I went commando. And then I was so embarrassed about Chamois Butt'r that I bought it through the mail instead of at the LBS.

The moral of the story: Don't *suffer* from embarrassment. Just do what others before you have found that works. And each of those things have helped with the comfort.