Jeans vs Chamois, why are jeans winning?

[CommuterChick]

Again, it's whatever works for you. I too just hop on my bike to get to the library, grocery, doctor's, stop by a friend's, and will often just ride in the jeans or cargo shorts I have on, no problem on the short rides. But you mentioned your bike shorts are maybe a little too small. That could be part of your problem. I found my difficulties in your area of concern eased up when I went to a much thinner pad in my bike shorts. I've experimented with several pairs, and found a favorite, Pearl Izumi. I wear the others, but when I have a long ride I read for the PI's. And because I do ride around town I often slip a skort over the shorts, found I get more use that way than out of padded skorts (got one of those too, it does to me what your shorts do to you). Plus the skort has pockets!

good luck figuring out the problem, if anything's personal and individual, this is.

[bcipam]

When I say I rode 20 miles in jeans, that was without stopping, I had met a friend and he wanted to do a ride.

And the shorts aren't too big, if anything too small. I'm a plus size girl and my bike shorts are XXL, so they are tight. But I don't find them uncomfortable when walking in them.

I'm going to try some compression shorts and see if that works. Or maybe some tri shorts. My only reason, really, for not wearing jeans is because it would be hot, way too hot.

I am a plus size girl as well .... Have you ever checked out terrybicycle.com? They sell plus size clothing (as does Team Estrogen) and maybe the fact your shorts are 1) too small and 2) maybe not a high quality material is your problem. A 1X versus an XXL is possibly what you need.

I love Terry's t-short. The padding is not too much but is enough for comfort. Terry also sells several styles of chamois especially if you like a minimal chamois.

Personally can't imagine riding in jeans; even really stretchy ones. Too hot and way too constricting. If you need coverage, then consider a mountain style double short.

[tbl35]

If I may throw in my $.02 here, I'm a larger woman who finds stretch denim shorts more comfortable than regular stretch cotton shorts (don't have bike shorts yet). Definitely spreads out the pressure points more if that makes sense! Maybe compression shorts would do the same thing.