I HATE wearing bike shorts-help!

[Lokicat35]

I've gotten pretty serious about cycling this past year, participating in 40+ mile events. I've been using a gel seat to save my a__ and a very thin lycra (with underwear-I know) short. It actually feels and works fine, but I feel like i'm getting looks from everyone and i'm trying to look like less of an outsider.

The problem is I just CAN'T seem to get used to a regular bike short and not wearing underwear. I feel like i'm 13 again and wearing HUGE maxi pads and just generally feel "exposed."

What can I do? Is there a less bulky but effective short? How do you get used to going commando?

Help!

[Nanci]

I hate going commando, too. So I don't. Whatever. Except- I have a pair of Trashy Cat Sunflower shorts (which have a chamois you might like- very nice and technical- anatomical, but not bulky or stiff or paddish- and nice and small!!!) that are a bit too sheer to wear panties with, so I don't. Maybe you should try those.

I wear seamless Patagonia capilene panties, and have not died yet. Or just shop around for a pair of shorts with a minimalist chamois. They aren't all overly padded. Maybe you'd like the Canari Gel chamois! It's very thin, in a nice cuddly Polarfleece covering.

Nanci

[Grog]

I suggest you do a search in this forum with the keyword "commando", you'll find LOTS of discussion on this hot topic.

I can't imagine wearing panties under my bike shorts, but as Nanci's experience shows, you don't die from it (although you can get looks from other cyclists). I do suggest that you try to find a pair that suits your preferences and try it a couple times, without panties. If you can't do it, just keep the panties, but make sure you find a type that doesn't chafe (like Nanci did).

I also prefer thicker lycra, but I'm not sure if this has anything to do with your question...

Besides, I understand how you can be self-conscious, but that's mostly what it is: self-consciousness. Most of the people that look at you will not "see" your bike shorts, your panty-lines or absence thereof, etc. They just see a cyclist. So don't sweat it too much.

Keep riding!

[Nanci]

You, know the Primal Wear basic shorts used to be my favorites. They had a nice chamois- not too thick, not too thin, just nice hourglass- (but not extreme) shaped padding. I don't know what they've done to it in the years since I bought any, but they have _very_ tough, supportive, flab-hiding, not see-through lycra, nice 8-panel construction, high-ish rise, no diaper-butt.

Nanci

[Surlygirl]

Maybe try a skort, wrapper or a tennis skirt over your bike shorts. That's what I like to wear over my bike shorts.

[Polly]

Hi there,

why not practice wearing your lycra commando around the house so you get used to the feel?

Or, buy some biking uderwear, and baggie shorts with no chamois to go over the top - this is what I do.

Don't try wearing a g-string under your lycra though, a friend of mine new to biking did this (she thought i was joking about the commando thing!) -the places she got blisters make me wince thinking about it.... Ouch!

[Nanci]

To me, it feels weird until I get on the bike, then it quits bothering me, in the rare instances I have to go commando. (TC Sunflower Shorts)

Nanci

[moo bean]

Don't try wearing a g-string under your lycra though, a friend of mine new to biking did this (she thought i was joking about the commando thing!) -the places she got blisters make me wince thinking about it.... Ouch!

Owww. That makes my eyes water just thinking about it.

[Cari]

The problem is I just CAN'T seem to get used to a regular bike short and not wearing underwear. I feel like i'm 13 again and wearing HUGE maxi pads and just generally feel "exposed."!

I used to feel the same way. Now I sort of think of the chamois as my underwear. It took my getting chafed really badly two days before a time trial before I lost the undies and got with the chamois creme.

What can I do? Is there a less bulky but effective short? How do you get used to going commando?

Help!

If you're perfectly happy with your setup, then by all means, stick with it. But if you want to try bike shorts, maybe you could transition into it by wearing a very thin chamois with undies, and later on, switching over to the shorts sans the underwear. Shebeest sells several different shorts and knickers that come with relatively thin chamois. And according to the Shebeest website, they're all proportional to the size of the short. You can see them at: http://www.shebeest.com/she_tech.asp

One of the really cool features of the TE store is that in every description of the shorts they sell, you can follow a link to see a pic and get info on the chamois that comes with the short. You can check out those Shebests, and also look at triathlon shorts, which all have thinner chamois.

Anyway... what's most important is how you feel. You're the only one who has to feel your tush while you're riding, and you're the only one who knows what's really comfortable.

Good luck with the riding!

~ Cari

[Lokicat35]

So i bought a pair of tri shorts from Pearl Izumi with *very* little padding and rode with it, "the correct way." It wasn't bad at all!!! I also picked up my new bike, (a trek 7.6 FX WSD) and rode about 50+ miles this weekend. My a** didn't really hurt at all, even with the minimal padding. Mabye i have to work my way up to that. Anyway, my new bike is great, and i'm finally feeling like less of a fashion victim. See you on the road.

Oh, and i'm really sorry about not really introducing myself. I'm Tonya, 35, from marina del rey, california. I rode 40 miles in the Ride for the Roses this past Oct (Here is a ten minute doc I produced about the ride-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2p70yKM7-s). Anyway, I'm riding in the Livestrong Ride challenge in June with ten of my co-workers. We are also riding in this weekend's Volvo tour of LA ride, which should be a lot of fun.

Take care!

[Dinahmo]

I'm dinah (raises hand) I'm a cyclist, mtber mostly, and I'm a member of cycling shorts anynomous...

I tried the Sugoi skirt/short combo, the colour was garish but I was dying for something not straight lycra but not mtnbikeing shorts either. They were okay, but I learned that once you've found the chamois you like its often a letdown to try another and I'm hooked on loius garneau shorts. sigh kinda an expensive experiment

I did buy a very sweet alternative that's worked very well, a cycling skirt made for wear over your own lycra rather than integrated with shorts the way they all seem to be. Under the Weather (toronto) makes a breakaway thats perfect for wear over my louis garneau's, they dont bind or catch on undergrowth off-road and slide smoothly against lycra being nylon too.

Once you've found shorts you like they can really increase your cycling pleasures, decrease the pains! I actually had more trouble with leers and long looks... I wear cycling shorts because they work not to show off my rear end. I thought a skirt would help, but while its modest it also gets a lot of looks on its own, and as many leers. thats the trouble, you know, if its exposed it gets looked at because its exposed, if its covered it gets looked at becuase its covered!