short's ?

[Brandi]

My girlfriend and were talking about our short's. Biking short's that is. We know you are not supposed to wear underwear with them. But what if you wear coolmax underwear? My girlfriend said it seemed gross to not wear any underwear. But I understand the chamois can't do it it's job then. But we are going on this long bike trip and it seems to me our shorts would last longer if we wore underwear? Very confused on what to do here.

[Fuji Girl]

I don't wear underwear because of the bunching wedgie factor. Not so much because of sweat. After riding for awhile, my underwear shifts and bunches and not only gives me wedgies, but elastic welt lines in my groin as well. So, no underwear for me unless it's a very very short ride.

I'd give going commando a try before you rule it out entirely. You're more likely to be comfortable.

[Brandi]

Now that is funny cause my underwear doesn't bunch up on me. but maybe if i did a super long ride I would notice the bands bugging me.
Do you preferr any one kind of chamois?

[Brandi]

Is it super cold in chicago today? My family is from there. But I was born in california. All my cousins and aunts live there.

[DeniseGoldberg]

...But we are going on this long bike trip and it seems to me our shorts would last longer if we wore underwear? Very confused on what to do here.

Brandi -
Definitely no underwear! I tour on my bike, and when I'm touring I take (only) two pairs of shorts with me. I wear the shorts for one day, and I wash them out at night. While the shorts outside material easily dries overnight, the chamois doesn't always. So I have a clean dry pair of shorts to wear the next day while the initial pair continues to dry.

There is no way I would consider wearing underwear - and it doesn't solve the washing problem because of sweat!

--- Denise

[Fuji Girl]

I can't say I "prefer" any chamois. My shorts are all the Performance house brand, I have the "Century" shorts w/o gel and the "Ultra" shorts. I like the material of the Ultra shorts, so I wear them more. I want to try the Terry T-shorts, but they are $$$.

It is a little cold in Chicago today. Yesterday was beautiful but windy - 55 F. I did 12 miles with my sister (she rode the old hybrid) and it was tough coming south along the lakefront. I heard the weather report this morning and I guess we are in for a doozy! No more riding for me for a while....

[Brandi]

awwww, sorry about that. If it makes you feel any better i am dealing with a sinus thing so my head is hurting. Bending over is awful. And I just got new bike shoes I want to try. But when I bend over, ouch! So no bike ride for me either unless this goes away but it's been two day's.

[Brandi]

Denise-
I just read your crash story on your website. OUch ouch ouch! Wait. Ouch! Are you ok today? Do you have any problems from the accident?

[DeniseGoldberg]

Denise-
I just read your crash story on your website. OUch ouch ouch! Wait. Ouch! Are you ok today? Do you have any problems from the accident?

Brandi -
Thanks for asking! I'm fine today, although I still have a bruise (blue surrounding red, but it's just visual and doesn't hurt!) on my face that I suspect will be with me forever. I was back on my bike 6 weeks after the accident (much to my doctor's chagrin!) and it took me the rest of 2004 to work back into what I would call normal shape (for riding, that is). I consider myself to be really lucky - and I do not think I would have survived the crash if I hadn't been wearing my helmet. Just curious - did you see the short story of the crash on www.denisegoldberg.com or did you see my journal at http://denise2004crash.crazyguyonabike.com?

Anyway, I was back to touring last year (after missing 2004!) with a short trip in Maine in June and a week+ wandering in PEI in September. I'm still trying to figure out where I'll be wandering on my bike this year.

--- Denise

[Adventure Girl]

Brandi -- This has been discussed many, many times. The consensus is that bike shorts should be worn without underwear. But you can do whatever works for you. Try using the search on the forum. Look under "underwear" and also try "commando".

[Bike Goddess]

Brandi- Even tho the consensus is no underwear, I've used Andiamo underwear for years now with no problems. Did a 7 day tour, just took enough underwear so I could change every day. Use chamois butter with no problems at all. I also use gel shorts from Performance- the performance elite brand- and have really enjoyed them. Threw out all my other shorts!

[CorsairMac]

Vote #3 for the Performance Brand Shorts but shorts are like seats, what works for one person may not work for another - same with commando. I don't wear anything under my shorts but then - my bra and undies are the first thing to come off when I get home for the evening so I'm probably not the person to ask! You might try the same distance with undies and without and see which you feel more comfortable with.

[Grog]

I still don't see what's gross about wearing no underwear under bike shorts (do you wear underwear under a swimsuit??) but I guess that's like religion...

However, I would not consider that wearing underwear under your shorts can spare you from having to wash the shorts every time they're worn, especially not if it's "breathing" underwear.

[DebW]

Underwear, normal briefs that is, puts something tight around the groin. There is a large tendon that crosses the groin on the front inside edge of your thigh. Oh the pain and chafing in that spot if it's constricted while cycling. Oddly enough, I've occassionally heard it recommended that men who want to ride in underwear wear women's because it lacks seams in the center of the crotch, where men's underwear usually has a seam. Seams or no seams, it's the leg openings in a bad place that I could never stand. Maybe seamless boxers would be more tolerable, but commando is the best way to go for most of us.

[DirtDiva]

I don't wear anything under my shorts but then - my bra and undies are the first thing to come off when I get home for the evening so I'm probably not the person to ask!

There are so many possible smart-arsey replies to this that I just can't choose... Suffice to say, your homelife seems it must be more interesting than mine.