underware or no underware?

[DDH]

I don't wear underwear with my shorts either, unless it's that time of the month and then I have to.

I did wear underwear with my shorts when I first started becasue I didn't know any better. I was like many others and thought I would feel very akward without them, but once I tried it, I decided it was best for my purposes because I wear cotton underwear and did not think that wearing wet sweaty underwear under my shorts that are trying to wick away the sweat was very sanitary. You have to understand though I sweat a LOT, so for me it was best.

[cyclinnewbie]

I'm one of those people who have freakishly sensitive skin, so just about everything gives me a rash. Throw in sweaty undies, and I'm in prickly heat hell. Anyhoo, yesterday I went to the LBS and got a pair of PI shorts, super tight (ugh) second-skin-like, went home and washed them then rode for a bit, and I think they're better. No bunching, no rubbing spots, no pain on the bum. I think they're ok. Next payday I think I'm goign to get another couple of pairs.

[alpinerabbit]

I don't wear underwear with my shorts either, unless it's that time of the month and then I have to.

Erm... you don't have to... you just stuff the thread up there and any overflow goes in to the chamois.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Erm... you don't have to... you just stuff the thread up there and any overflow goes in to the chamois.

Well, to each their own. But i can't see scrubbing blood stains out of my $100 shorts if I can find some other way.

Personally, I'm not sure why everyone is so vehemently anti-underwear... as though cotton undies are some evil infection-inducing thing to have next to your skin. Modern chamois pads are made from unidentified non-natural man-made stuff chock full of nasty chemicals and/or petroleum-based ingredients, I betcha. Is that so much 'healthier' to have pressing against your delicate parts for hours on end? Speaking for myself, I don't get yeast infections or bladder infections at all from riding my bike for hours with undies under my shorts.
As to wicking- hmmm, I find that polyester/lycra/foam stuff gets just as wet as cotton and doesn't seem to 'wick' anything in any spectacular way. Then again I don't sweat a great deal. But it sure gets stinky fast, I'll say that much!
Real wool, on the other hand, wicks VERY well and does not get stinky.

[TahoeDirtGirl]

I'm in the middle of a huge chamois shift.

I don't wear underwear because it just causes more sanding o the bits. Doesn't matter what kind they are. And once someone turned me onto going 'commando' I haven't turned back. Haha...

I had to stop riding during TTOM because I get sanded from the pad. I can't wear a tampon due to all the surgeries I have had on my cervix.

I found that actually riding without a chamois and using the same saddle on all of your bikes is the best. It's kinda costly or a pain to swap it out all the time, but it seems to work.

Chamois butter anyone?

[echidna]

>>But i can't see scrubbing blood stains out of my $100 shorts if I can find some other way.<<
Did you ever notice that a lot of womens' chamois are RED? Wanna guess why?
I live in Oregon. If I took THAT week off, in addition to every weekend day it rains, I'd be in danger of never riding at all! (Yes, I do ride when raindrops fall, too.)
Bottom (hehe) line: treat your shorts as well as you can, without yielding too much to Mom Nature, and they'll treat you well too. But do, do, do get that string out of the way.

[KnottedYet]

I found that actually riding without a chamois and using the same saddle on all of your bikes is the best. It's kinda costly or a pain to swap it out all the time, but it seems to work.

Ditto. (but now I have 3 of my favorite saddle, so no more switching between bikes)

And I've got a mongo uterine prolapse, so tampons don't work for me, either. I sincerely doubt a Diva cup would, as all my innards are awry. I've found that plain ol' super-absorbent thin pads in a pair of UnderArmour compression shorts work really well.

[TahoeDirtGirl]

I will definitely try that out. I just rode today and the chamois is starting to get looseygoosey on my new shorts bc I'm dropping weight. I feel like I just have been sanded. Compression shorts are on my list.