Padded bike shorts

[blackhillsbiker]

I swore I wouldn't be caught dead in a pair. But that was before I tried some. Now I hate to ride without them! A good friend went on a ride with us and refused to wear them. She was miserable. I think she'll take me up on the offer of liner shorts the next time we go.

Deb

[indigoiis]

I hate the look of them, too - out of context, anyway. Like, on a long group ride it's one thing, but on a shorter commute I feel dopey. So I found a pair of very lightweight (like, parachute material) hiking capris one size up from my size at a consignment shop, and I will sometimes slide those over my shorts for city riding.

[divingbiker]

I usually wear padded shorts while commuting, but this summer I tried an experiment. I wore lightweight nylon capri pants (not tight) over my shorts and my chaco sandals so I didn't look like I was trying to be fast or cocky (or whatever non-cyclists think). Cars treated me much more respectfully when I was dressed more like a regular person.

Not sure how this will play out in the winter when warm tights are necessary.

[Becky]

Not sure how this will play out in the winter when warm tights are necessary.

I have some XC skiing pants by SportHill that are perfect for cold commutes. Warm, pretty windblocking, but look like ordinary black pants otherwise. The ankles are tapered enough that they don't get caught while I'm pedaling.

I rock the lycra for longer rides. On my commute through urban neighborhoods, I prefer to be a little more incognito. DH and I draw enough attention on our bikes as it is...don't need to draw any more with a shiny lycra bum!

[Tri Girl]

You did your spring tour WITHOUT bike shorts. I'm with uforgot: I was impressed with your adventure as it was- I'm doubly impressed you did that without padding. I don't even ride to work 3 miles away without my tri shorts (teeny tiny padding).

[Melalvai]

I don't know, some aspects of my trip, it's like being impressed because someone walks on purpose into a room full of people with the flu. Or into a den of tigers. That sort of thing. "Impressed" isn't quite the right word. "Appalled" might be closer!

You don't miss what you don't know. I do have a brooks saddle, and that has been a dream. I don't have sore sitbones, or tender girly bits, or anything.

Since I got that saddle broken in, the only problem I've had is chaffing. And I heard that padded bike shorts don't really help with that. The last 2 days of my trip I had pretty bad chaffing. Although I didn't ride much all summer, that never entirely cleared up. It seems to be clearing up this week.

Maybe the padding doesn't help with chaffing, but the material does. My alternative has been canvas shorts, denim jeans, or cotton slacks or shorts.

I have been wearing shorts or rain pants over the bike shorts, so I haven't noticed anyone treating me differently. I look the same, until I get off the bike and my butt sticks out!

My regular commute is only 3 miles, and once I get there I don't really want a padded butt for checking the rats, or teaching! or meetings. So it's always felt kind of silly to wear different clothes for 20 minutes, change for the meeting, then change back to go home. But I guess that's what I'll do anyway.

[Melalvai]

divingbiker: I have polartec fleece bike pants for the winter. They are really nice. I got them from either Terry or REI, I don't remember.

[OakLeaf]

the only problem I've had is chaffing. And I heard that padded bike shorts don't really help with that. ... alternative has been canvas shorts, denim jeans, or cotton slacks or shorts.

One thing that definitely helps with chafing is NOT sitting with your most sensitive parts being ground directly onto serged (sextuple-thick) seams!

"Padding," as in the diaper-thick shorts they have nowadays, can exacerbate chafing for most people, but the original point of a chamois was to provide a seamless seating area.

It's possible you need a cut-out, possible you need a tilt adjustment, extremely doubtful that a Brooks is too narrow for you. Look at the saddle and chamois lube threads for possible solutions to chafing - and choose shorts with a thin chamois.