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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    8

    Umm...sweaty bum...HELP!

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    Okay, I searched all over this forum to see if I could find a previous thread about this (to save me the embarrassment of posting it myself), but it looks like I'm out of luck. So here it goes...

    I just moved to Chicago to live car-free. (Anyone want to buy a Mazda3)? That means I ride pretty much everywhere--the library, the grocery store, etc. But I'm prone to be sweaty. Even a ride that I feel like I'm taking it easy, my hair still gets sweaty underneath. But I'm dealing with that.

    The *real* problem is my bum. When I get off the saddle, I'll have a wet spot on my bum. I'm riding in everyday clothes (cotton panties, cotton capris or shorts). I don't have anything against technical clothing, but sometimes you don't want to show up to a discussion group at a coffeehouse in bike shorts and a jersey.

    Can anyone help...please?!?!
    The more we are free from nonnecessities, the more we are free to do the more meaningful actions of our lives. - Stephen R. Covey

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Dallas
    Posts
    1,532
    Have you considered getting the padded undies to go under your everyday clothes? Or a wraparound skirt to go over bike shorts?

    “Hey, clearly failure doesn’t deter me!”

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    8
    Hi, Pooks! That's a thought. This might be a dumb question about the padded undies--can you tell they're padded when you where them under your clothes? Thanks for your suggestions!
    The more we are free from nonnecessities, the more we are free to do the more meaningful actions of our lives. - Stephen R. Covey

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    VA / DC Metro Area
    Posts
    624
    It's funny you mention this because yesterday a friend and I were riding on my usual bike trail and this kid came up from behind and he had very noticeable butt-sweat going on which is something I've never encountered. I tend to ride with Lycra at the very least. If I don't ride with the padded biking shorts (sans underwear, of course) I just wear some spandex that I found at my local Target underneath some shorts. You might want to consider bringing a skirt or something to wear once you've reached your destination over your bike shorts and no, the padding doesn't show.
    "She who succeeds in gaining the master of the bicycle will gain the mastery of life." -Frances E. Willard
    My Cycling Blog | Requisite Bike Pics | Join the Team Estrogen group at Velog.com

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    3,151
    I'm selling my Mazda 5 with 49,000 miles to my brother TODAY. He's on his way here now from MD to turn it into a taxicab. I'm not committing to "being car-free" - but I'm not running out to get anything this week, and in mid-june I'll be gone for a week on a bike tour (GITAP)... and I wasn't driving anyway...

    Cotton is not your friend (in this case)...

    There are skorts and other nifty options (look at some ofthe Zoic stuff) right here on this site. With the money saved gonig car-free, you can invest in accessories for your new vehicle - YOU

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    PVD
    Posts
    52
    I've not worn the padded undies with dress trousers that I can recall...but I wear them with skirts, and more recently, bike shorts with skirts to counteract the Marilyn Monroe effect.

    Under skirts that you can ride a bike in, you can't tell. Under jeans and chinos, you can't tell. I've just never tried with office-type clothing. One tricky area is the waist, as in matching the height, or rise, of the shorts to the clothing.

    Both methods have been really effective and helpful.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    8
    Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts on this...uh, situation of mine. I appreciate the input. It looks like the padded undies might be the way to go until I sell the car, then one of those cute bike skorts will be mine!!!!
    The more we are free from nonnecessities, the more we are free to do the more meaningful actions of our lives. - Stephen R. Covey

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Traveling Nomad
    Posts
    6,763
    Hi Pooks,

    In addition to skorts (which have built in bike shorts underneath), you can also purchase wrap skirts (Terry makes cute ones, or at least used to) that you can put on over your bike shorts after a ride. I have one I take in my rack pack for running errands on the bike.

    Good luck, and a hearty congratulations on going car-free .... my dream too someday!

    Emily
    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Dallas
    Posts
    1,532
    Emily! Hi!

    It was bikewriter who asked the original question. I agree with you -- I offer her my congrats on a bike-free lifestyle, too.

    “Hey, clearly failure doesn’t deter me!”

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    898
    I very much endorse the wrap skirts or the skorts! They are the perfect commuting outfit for summer days and nights. I often do a "ride" before I ride to work (I have a late start.) So I want the comfort of padded bike shorts. When I get to work, I have to do the bank deposit and then ride to the bank and back. Darn bank doesn't let me do the drive-thru on the bike. So in I go with my wrap skirt over my lycra shorts and I feel right at home. I've also been using the bike for other errands and I feel less conspicuous in a skirt than in bike shorts when I am shopping. I make my own, but there are some really nice ones available to purchase if you don't sew.

    Annie

    Forgot to mention - if you are worried about sweating, don't put the skirt on until you have arrived at where you are going. It will cover your sweaty shorts.
    Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived." Captain Jean Luc Picard

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    I'm the only one allowed to whine
    Posts
    10,557
    I am a prolific sweat-er. Even bike shorts under cotton (capris or cargo shorts) don't cut it for me. I still end up looking like I peed my pants. Even my nylon Rivendell pants look "wet" with bike shorts underneath for longer rides.

    Terry Commuter Skorts keep me looking decent.
    http://www.teamestrogen.com/categories.asp?catID=54

    Otherwise I'm stuck with wearing bike clothes on the bike, and just adding the street clothes when I'm off the bike. Or wearing black running pants over my bike shorts on colder days for longer rides. (they don't show the wet like the Rivendell pants.)

    It's frustrating.

    Wool is a wonderful thing as far as managing my sweaty self is concerned. I haven't tried buying the wool "street" pants offered by Ibex (cuz they're too expensive), but my wool shirts and cycling capris have handled my heavy sweating gracefully. www.ibexwear.com
    Last edited by KnottedYet; 05-30-2007 at 08:07 PM.
    "If Americans want to live the American Dream, they should go to Denmark." - Richard Wilkinson

  12. #12
    Jolt is offline Dodging the potholes...
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Southern Maine
    Posts
    1,668
    Quote Originally Posted by annie View Post
    Darn bank doesn't let me do the drive-thru on the bike.
    Really? I did this the other day at my bank and nobody had a problem with it (part of the reason I did it was because it's a pain to lock the bike to what's available there, and part of it was just to see what the reaction would be!). I felt slightly goofy, but nobody gave me a hard time about riding a bike in the drive-thru.
    2011 Surly LHT
    1995 Trek 830

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    I'm the only one allowed to whine
    Posts
    10,557
    Starbucks wouldn't serve me in the drive-thru.

    The barista said it was a liability to have bikes in the line with the cars, that I would have to leave the order lane (where I had been waiting in line WITH CARS ) and come inside.

    I went across the street to an independent espresso stand, where they were happy to serve me and I could keep my bike with me.

    (Seattleites - this was the Starbucks in LFP, right across from the Burke! I can't remember the name of the independent but it's in the gas station parking lot and next to the Perkins Creek park.)
    "If Americans want to live the American Dream, they should go to Denmark." - Richard Wilkinson

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    3,151
    I'd be inquiring about where that policy is, in writing, and asking the question slowly so they'd figure out that indeed, it will be less hassle to serve you! No such silliness at our banks here.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Dallas
    Posts
    1,532
    I ride my bike through the drive-through at my bank frequently with no prob. They've never even done a double-take, which made me wonder if I'm not the only one. (But I don't live in an area that is heavily populated by utility cyclist so that would surprise me a lot.)

    “Hey, clearly failure doesn’t deter me!”

 

 

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