Question about bike shorts and commuting...

[Cassandra_Cain]

Ditto Ditto Ditto.

My commute is about 29 miles RT. I wear the same shorts, jersey, socks, and grin

I know we all want to be clean but some level of germs, is natural and not going to harm you. Sterile is not what I'm after

[GLC1968]

So I'm guessing that you guys don't use chamois cream for the commute? Reusing those shorts would be kind of gross...wouldn't it?

I'm going to try going without tonight and see how I do. I started using in on my previous, poorly fitting bike out of necessity, and now I'm scared to go without it! This bike fits though...so it should be fine.

[Tater]

I wear the same shorts, jersey and bra (leg warmers now, as well!) for both ends of my commute (24 miles RT). I do the same as Regina and just hang things under my desk to dry out. As for the cheek lube, I typically only use it in the warmer months and even then, in the afternoons, so I didn't have to worry about sliding into pre-lubbed, already worn shorts. Sorry, not much of a help here!

[7rider]

So I'm guessing that you guys don't use chamois cream for the commute? Reusing those shorts would be kind of gross...wouldn't it?

I only use my Chamois Butt'r on longer rides on the weekend. I don't use it when commuting.

[DebW]

I often use chamois butter in the mornings but not the afternoons. The shorts don't remain slimy and the hours-old chamois butter isn't effective. Need a fresh application in the afternoon if I'm using my old worn-out shorts (if I remember to have some with me).

[Dianyla]

I tend to save the slimy ButtButter type for long weekend rides. If I feel the need for something while commuting, I use BodyGlide. It doesn't work as well as the slime, but it's got a fairly dry feel.

[GLC1968]

Thanks for all the info!

I rode home last night and back in this morning without chamois cream and it was totally fine. I guess that's just one more difference between a bike that fits and one that doesn't!

Next week, I'm going to plan on at least one 'full' commute day!

[8bit]

I assume you're going to shower anyway when you get home, so the issue isn't so much putting on dirty clothes over again but the possibility of bacterial growth. I'll second the suggestions to just let your shorts dry out over the day (or at least don't smoosh them into a bag while they're wet). If you try it and suddenly start getting saddle sores, then it wouldn't be very hard to go back to the 2-shorts a day system.

I don't know if this idea sounds horribly disgusting to you, but I've done multi-day tours where I've re-worn dirty shorts and haven't had any additional trouble from it other than getting chafed in the same spots from wearing the same shorts. *oversharing* If you're worried about cleanliness of the other bodily secretion sort, the key to the shorts re-wear up to several days is wearing a tampon */oversharing*