short's ?

[Brandi]

My girlfriend and were talking about our short's. Biking short's that is. We know you are not supposed to wear underwear with them. But what if you wear coolmax underwear? My girlfriend said it seemed gross to not wear any underwear. But I understand the chamois can't do it it's job then. But we are going on this long bike trip and it seems to me our shorts would last longer if we wore underwear? Very confused on what to do here.

[Fuji Girl]

I don't wear underwear because of the bunching wedgie factor. Not so much because of sweat. After riding for awhile, my underwear shifts and bunches and not only gives me wedgies, but elastic welt lines in my groin as well. So, no underwear for me unless it's a very very short ride.

I'd give going commando a try before you rule it out entirely. You're more likely to be comfortable.

[Brandi]

Now that is funny cause my underwear doesn't bunch up on me. but maybe if i did a super long ride I would notice the bands bugging me.
Do you preferr any one kind of chamois?

[Brandi]

Is it super cold in chicago today? My family is from there. But I was born in california. All my cousins and aunts live there.

[Fuji Girl]

I can't say I "prefer" any chamois. My shorts are all the Performance house brand, I have the "Century" shorts w/o gel and the "Ultra" shorts. I like the material of the Ultra shorts, so I wear them more. I want to try the Terry T-shorts, but they are $$$.

It is a little cold in Chicago today. Yesterday was beautiful but windy - 55 F. I did 12 miles with my sister (she rode the old hybrid) and it was tough coming south along the lakefront. I heard the weather report this morning and I guess we are in for a doozy! No more riding for me for a while....

[Brandi]

awwww, sorry about that. If it makes you feel any better i am dealing with a sinus thing so my head is hurting. Bending over is awful. And I just got new bike shoes I want to try. But when I bend over, ouch! So no bike ride for me either unless this goes away but it's been two day's.

[DeniseGoldberg]

...But we are going on this long bike trip and it seems to me our shorts would last longer if we wore underwear? Very confused on what to do here.

Brandi -
Definitely no underwear! I tour on my bike, and when I'm touring I take (only) two pairs of shorts with me. I wear the shorts for one day, and I wash them out at night. While the shorts outside material easily dries overnight, the chamois doesn't always. So I have a clean dry pair of shorts to wear the next day while the initial pair continues to dry.

There is no way I would consider wearing underwear - and it doesn't solve the washing problem because of sweat!

--- Denise

[CorsairMac]

Vote #3 for the Performance Brand Shorts but shorts are like seats, what works for one person may not work for another - same with commando. I don't wear anything under my shorts but then - my bra and undies are the first thing to come off when I get home for the evening so I'm probably not the person to ask! You might try the same distance with undies and without and see which you feel more comfortable with.

[DirtDiva]

I don't wear anything under my shorts but then - my bra and undies are the first thing to come off when I get home for the evening so I'm probably not the person to ask!

There are so many possible smart-arsey replies to this that I just can't choose... Suffice to say, your homelife seems it must be more interesting than mine.

[MomOnBike]

Once (and I emphasize ONCE) I took a longish (54 mi?) ride in my normal undies. The style I buy has a big lump of a seam right in the leg elastic which is, incidently, right where my butt meets the side of the saddle. DH had to put moleskin on my behind the next day before I could ride again. I don't think I had any skin left. As it was a tour, I had to keep going. He will probably never let me forget.

So, yeah, leave the undies at home.

And now I ride a recumbent, with a whole new host of issues, but no more moleskin on sensitive areas for me.