iDevourPie

Hi everybody. I'm a new cyclist having trouble with the padding on my bike shorts. Basically, the padding on the thing is giving me a lot of pain in the crotch, right between my legs. I didn't have any problems when I used regular gym shorts except for some sit-bone pain from being unused to cycling, even though I sat in that saddle (which I think fits me very well) for about three hours on my very first ride (I didn't ride very hard though).

Looking around this forum, I have found that a few other people have had trouble with the padding, but I'm a newbie though, so I don't want to make any decisions without some experienced people's insight. So here is my question: do I just need to get used to the padding or should I look into alternatives like triathlon shorts, swim shorts, or whatever you guys can think of?

Thanks

Edit: I don't wear underwear with my cycling shorts.

Flatbroke

are you wearing underwear while wearing the shorts? If so you are not supposed to.

ridethecliche

Are you rocking on the saddle?

iDevourPie

No, I do not wear underwear with the cycling shorts. I don't rock on the saddle either.

Bike enthusiast

Make sure that your saddle is completely level...

BTW: what kind of shorts are you wearing? saddle type? Amount of riding?

iDevourPie

Ok, I'll check to see how level my saddle is tomorrow. Thanks

Shorts: Bellwether O2 short 8911
Saddle: Giant Performance Road, Men's
Amount of Riding: Casual (10-15 mph avg. by my guess), 40 minutes to an hour.

If you want to look at the shorts, then you'll need to go to bellwetherclothing.com, click on MEN, SHORTS/TIGHTS, O2 8911

z415

Nicer shorts might feel better. They get kind of expensive though.

And I cannot imagine how cycling shorts would give you pain in the perineum area when without them you don't have that pain. From your description of how your sit bones hurts vs. you perineum hurts, it sounds like you are sitting differently depending on what you are wearing.

Make sure your cycling shorts are on tight. Some people complain that the chamois pad bunches up and feels like a diaper, but that isn't pain, just really weird feeling.

Bibs also help because they will hold you shorts tight so they don't have the ability to bunch up.

botto 

there you have it.

iDevourPie

Mmm, ok. I guess I might have cheaped out too much on my shorts.

z415

Yea, I have some cheap Canaris and then the rest are Pearl Izumi which is a mid-high end brand and I prefer riding with boxer briefs plus basketball shorts than the Canaris.

botto 

fixed.

iDevourPie

Yes! This is exactly how I'm feeling about my shorts right now. What type of Pearl Izumi do you wear? I just took a quick look at the brand on performancebike.com and saw a bunch of different shorts.

Guess I should go learn more about cycling apparel. *sigh*

z415

I haven't gotten around buying $300 Giordana or Assos. Speaking of which, OP, get some "Assos chamois cream". See if you can find the older ones with the red logo. That'll feel wonderful if you are a new rider.

cyclezealot

Shorts with insufficient padding are little better than gym shorts.. I suspect it's the saddle position.. I ride in regular shorts, thats when I have the problem..

z415

Any Pearl Izumi will be better than what you have. I wear around the Slice level bibs usually, which isn't their highest model. I have ridden someone else's Assos (yea, disgusting, I know..) and it is wayyy better. I just know that I have a weird pedal stroke and a wider saddle and I will wear right through the shorts so I don't want to spend $500 for bibs every year.

And don't forget the coupon codes in these forums to get a slight discount.

Take the plunge and go bibs, you'll never want to go back....

z415

Cycling apparel is you get what you pay for. Common beginner advice is to spend as much as you can on shorts/bib and buy cheap jerseys from defunct teams or something. I have spent more on a pair of shorts than my 4 or 5 jerseys put together.

Basil Moss

Go with the costly shorts, they are entirely worth it. Cheaper ones have bad stitching, nasty chamois, etc etc. You get what you pay for. When you get good ones it will be a revelation.

adamt

I bought the same pair a while back. I threw them out. That padding ad the stitching was terrible!

Bell makes a short named the criterium - and while not as nice as my pearl gear - is a step up from the other pair without braking the bank. (you can get them from universal for maybe $33)

BikeIndustryGuy

While this is generally true, you also have to try on the bib to make sure the chamois sits in the right position for you.

Lucky for me, Assos chamois position doesn't work for me.

roadiejorge 

You don't want to be cheap when buying gear that interfaces with your bike, especially with the saddle and shorts. You don't have to break the bank and get the top of the line shorts and saddle but in my experience the cheaper gear wasn't comfortable or that durable.

chipcom 

in addition to getting 'good' shorts, make sure the darn things are not too big for you. Cycling shorts should be tight...otherwise they're gonna bunch and move and you're gonna have a bad day.

dmac

Could be bunching chamois, seat level issue, crotch to BB change because of extra padding.
Lower seat a few mm to see if it helps.

MONGO!

F Pearl Izumi, over priced and not very good.

These are a great deal for $25


https://www.hammernutrition.com/za/HN...YCLING,Cycling

crydee

Just because the padding is thick doesn't mean it's good.. I like my Castelli's thinner padding over my Canari's (team kit) thicker padding..

Brian Ratliff

If you've got a saddle sore, that might be the issue as well. A saddle sore is a little pimple right down in your crotch area. If you wear your cycling shorts for too long after you ride is finished, you might get these and they'll cause you some pain.

Look up "saddle sore" to find out how to treat them if you have one of these.