When do you slip on the bike shorts?

[e.e.cummings]

My on-and-off commute has become pretty regular now (12 km each way - takes me about 30 minutes). The weather got really hot and I could not bear to put on my black bike shorts one day. Then I got used to wearing either running shorts or cut-offs. How far do you need to be going before you find that bike shorts are a must?

[buffybike]

10 miles and the shorts are going on...I have a really firm seat though and I need a seamless chamois to be comfortable...

[kjb]

I always wear my bike shorts for commuting. It's only 7.5 miles each way, but they keep me drier and much, much more comfortable. I change in my office when I get to work. I also wear a "sport" tshirt made out of wicking material. I bought it from Target for $12. I don't feel gross or sweaty when I get in, which makes commuting possible/enjoyable.

[Grog]

I wear bike shorts on my 12 km commute (each way) but I tend to use it as a workout and from what I know of your commute (along the Canal Lachine) mine is much, much hillier. Then I have a shower at work.

If I had all the time in the world ahead of myself, I would try commuting in street clothes and not having to change.

This being said, bike shorts are never "too warm" for me. They're just a second skin. But that's just my own feeling.

[Melalvai]

For the first three years I commuted, I had never worn bike shorts. Finally one day I bought a pair to try out. Now I never ride without them! Sometimes if it's just a mile away I don't want to bother putting them on, but I feel so naked without them. My new commute is 2 miles. I wear them to work, change into work clothes, change back to ride home. I would change anyway because I don't want my work clothes to be sweaty.

[abejita]

I guess i am in the minority. Biking shorts chafe the girly bits, so I usually just wear running knickers to ride. I've gone up to 30 miles are so with them. At the beginning of the season, I bought a pair of tri knickers with a really thin pad and I wear those on my 50+ mile rides.

[blackhillsbiker]

I commute in my work clothes. I only use bike shorts when I plan longer rides after work or on the weekend. That's especially true on my mountain bike, where I don't have a Brooks saddle. The wtb saddle is much more comfortable with bike shorts.

Deb

[colby]

I only commute about 6mi (~10k) but I usually put on some kind of bike shorts or tri shorts to ride. I like to have on fresh clothes when I get to work and not feel sweaty, so I just change. It does depend on how "hard" I ride, if it's a casual ride I wouldn't mind wearing just street clothes, but if I am getting my heart rate up, I put on the wicking bottoms and tops.

[e.e.cummings]

I have had to do my commutes a little faster lately because of time constraints, so I am putting on the wicking clothes. I am finding it a little easier on the nether regions as well!

[Voodoo Sally]

I wear jeans on my daily commute, which is 8 miles each way. I'm just too lazy to change into and out of cycling shorts.

I have done the jeans riding up to about 30 miles in a day. If I were to ride more than that, I'd put on the cycling shorts.

[runningcyclist]

I wear jeans on my daily commute, which is 8 miles each way. I'm just too lazy to change into and out of cycling shorts.

I have done the jeans riding up to about 30 miles in a day. If I were to ride more than that, I'd put on the cycling shorts.

Wow Voodoo Sally, the seams don't cause any problems? I tried wearing jeans a few times, just locally and never again. I was so uncomfortable!

I tend to use cycling shorts every time I get on the bike now. However, yesterday I went out for a short ride (footie was on so streets were quieter) and I felt ok until I got home then realised a little chafing had occurred. I'll do it again but slap some Sudocreme on

[Voodoo Sally]

Wow Voodoo Sally, the seams don't cause any problems? I tried wearing jeans a few times, just locally and never again. I was so uncomfortable!

Eh, it's a little uncomfortable, but not enough to not do it.

[Fontinalis]

Anything below 30 minutes (no matter the distance), I don't need bike shorts. Longer rides, I wear Louis Garneau Sensor, as is, or with pants over them, depending on the weather and time of year. My saddle is pretty hard, so I need the padding if I am goind to commute for an 1h00 or 1h15 one way. Once I get to work, I change into something else.

[Melalvai]

Update: I made myself stop wearing bike shorts to work (2 miles). It took a few days but I don't feel naked anymore. It's so hot, I get really sweaty and then it's hard to get the shorts off.

[runningcyclist]

I wonder if it's the quality of the padding that makes the difference? Last Saturday I went on a 60 mile bike ride with my Specialized padded shorts and I was dry the whole day. Today I wore my commuting padded shorts and I was sweaty. Both days were hot and today's journey was about 4 miles round trip, if that.

I changed my stem to a shorter one so my sitting position is slightly more upright. That seems to have made a difference so I might try regular knickers tomorrow and see what happens.