New here! Cycling shorts & undies question

[tulip]

According to the Urban Dictionary, "comanche" is the female version of "commando."

Yow. I'm not hip to urban hipspeak, but that just sounds so not right to me. I'll stick with commando, personally.

[KnottedYet]

"To wear, or not to wear, that is the question...."

Undies, chamois, lycra, liners, baggies, knickers, skirts, and on ad infinitum. Some people do, some people don't. All that matters is that whatever you wear works for you.

If the oog factor is ruining your ride, wear undies. If panty-lines or seams bother you but you still want something on under the bike shorts, try wearing compression shorts (no chamois, more like undies with long legs) as undies.

Grant Peterson gets pretty over the top about bike clothes, read this rant for amusement: http://www.rivbike.com/article/cloth...hes_for_riding

There are enough options in this big wide world that somewhere is the perfect one for you. Don't be afraid to try anything that sounds appealing!

[tiva]

Trista, if wearing underwear under your bike shorts feels better to you, don't worry about what other people do. We all have different anatomies.

[Zen]

According to the Urban Dictionary, "comanche" is the female version of "commando."

Urban Dictionary is wrong.

[trista]

LOL, I think the urban dictionary is wrong too.... after all, anyone can put a definition of anything in the urban dictionary. Try looking up your name and see what it says - you'll get some funny definitions.

Well anyway, I DIDN'T go commando this morning, and it was more comfortable than without, but not perfect. So I do think it's the shorts/undies. The saddle doesn't seem to be an issue.

Off to buy shorts.... I just wish bike shorts weren't so 'spensive. There's no way I can afford to buy one for each day in one shot, not that i would, since I need to find THE PERFECT PAIR. I guess I could wash them by hand?

[KnottedYet]

You can certainly wash them by hand, even without a spin cycle they'll dry pretty quickly. If you want to speed them up roll them in a towel and stomp on them to get more water out.

When they get smelly wash them by hand in dandruff shampoo. The chemicals in dandruff shampoo cut the odor in man-made fabric. Another TE'er mentioned this, I tried it, and it really works.

The UnderArmour shorts I ride in are $27 a pair (women's ultra compression shorts with 7 inch inseam) and I'm quite thrilled that as I've been gradually building my collection over the years I have enough now that there's one for every day of the week.

[PamNY]

When they get smelly wash them by hand in dandruff shampoo. The chemicals in dandruff shampoo cut the odor in man-made fabric. Another TE'er mentioned this, I tried it, and it really works.
.

Which dandruff shampoo do you use? There are several different active ingredients.

[trista]

You can certainly wash them by hand, even without a spin cycle they'll dry pretty quickly. If you want to speed them up roll them in a towel and stomp on them to get more water out.

When they get smelly wash them by hand in dandruff shampoo. The chemicals in dandruff shampoo cut the odor in man-made fabric. Another TE'er mentioned this, I tried it, and it really works.

The UnderArmour shorts I ride in are $27 a pair (women's ultra compression shorts with 7 inch inseam) and I'm quite thrilled that as I've been gradually building my collection over the years I have enough now that there's one for every day of the week.

Interesting! I have the same question as Pam - dandruff shampoos vary in ingredients i think...DH uses head & shoulders, maybe I'll try that. For years I've used Oxyclean on my running clothes, and it takes out the stink.

Thanks for the advice on UA shorts - I will check out some of our local sporting goods stores and look for them.

[zoom-zoom]

Interesting! I have the same question as Pam - dandruff shampoos vary in ingredients i think...DH uses head & shoulders, maybe I'll try that. For years I've used Oxyclean on my running clothes, and it takes out the stink.

We're big fans of Tide w/Febreeze and borax (which also helps soften our horribly hard water). I have found no combo that cuts the stink better than this.

[indysteel]

Thanks for the dandruff shampoo tip. I usually don't handwash my cycling stuff, but when I'm on a week-long tour, it's sometimes necessary. In the past, the lasting "stink," has grossed me out, but I'd be happy to try your suggestion.

[Rebecca19804]

We're big fans of Tide w/Febreeze and borax (which also helps soften our horribly hard water). I have found no combo that cuts the stink better than this.

+1 for Febreeze coupled with a good laundry detergent, whether you apply each product to your gear separately or use a detergent with Febreeze already added to it. (In the UK, you can get Ariel liquid gel w/Febreeze added.)

I'd just add, don't bother with store-own-brand odour neutralisers that claim to be equivalent to Febreeze -they just don't cut it.

[OakLeaf]

One of the things I really noticed when I started using the crystal deodorant is that my clothes don't retain odors any more.

Something to think about....

I do put some baking soda in the wash. It boosts the detergent as well as neutralizing odors.

[trista]

Vinegar in the rinse cycle can also really help.

[Crankin]

I have never had an issue with odor staying in my cycling clothes. Nor has my DH, or either of my sons. I wonder if it's the detergent I use, Arm and Hammer Free and Clear. It's interesting to read about all the different things people use to wash their clothes.
I did use Febreeze spray to get the smell out of my younger son's room when he was in HS and he would leave his dirty cycling clothes in his laundry basket too long, necessitating de-fumigation.

[KnottedYet]

Which dandruff shampoo do you use? There are several different active ingredients.

I can't find the thread. It was a TE'er whose SO worked for J+J, and had been working on a de-stinkifier for manmade fibers. The active ingredient was the same one as is used in Head And Shoulders shampoo. I bought a store brand shampoo with the same ingredient, it worked great. (I'm at work right now, so I can't look up what the ingredient was)