Do padded shorts have a break in period?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 554
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 198 Post(s)
Liked 52 Times
in
41 Posts
Do padded shorts have a break in period?
well, do they?
louis garneau optimum 2 shorts are the first padded crotchal area shorts I have ever left the pad. 5'6" - 175 - purchased XL. wore them first time:
#1 . feels like a king double firm mattress jammed between my legs.
#B . moved around on the brooks b-17 less/ pedal power seemed more directed.
#3 . didn't have to stop & pee 3x in 25 miles
#4 . walking felt odd
#5 . no soreness at the end of the ride.
the sales lady on the phone indicated this was the thinnest pad shorts.
Q: does the crotch pad flatten & conform after a few rides? or is there a way to encourage it to do so?
Q: any suggestions for summer weight shorts?
thanks
louis garneau optimum 2 shorts are the first padded crotchal area shorts I have ever left the pad. 5'6" - 175 - purchased XL. wore them first time:
#1 . feels like a king double firm mattress jammed between my legs.
#B . moved around on the brooks b-17 less/ pedal power seemed more directed.
#3 . didn't have to stop & pee 3x in 25 miles
#4 . walking felt odd
#5 . no soreness at the end of the ride.
the sales lady on the phone indicated this was the thinnest pad shorts.
Q: does the crotch pad flatten & conform after a few rides? or is there a way to encourage it to do so?
Q: any suggestions for summer weight shorts?
thanks
#2
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,518
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3658 Post(s)
Liked 5,404 Times
in
2,744 Posts
well, do they?
louis garneau optimum 2 shorts are the first padded crotchal area shorts I have ever left the pad. 5'6" - 175 - purchased XL. wore them first time:
#1 . feels like a king double firm mattress jammed between my legs.
#B . moved around on the brooks b-17 less/ pedal power seemed more directed.
#3 . didn't have to stop & pee 3x in 25 miles
#4 . walking felt odd
#5 . no soreness at the end of the ride.
the sales lady on the phone indicated this was the thinnest pad shorts.
Q: does the crotch pad flatten & conform after a few rides? or is there a way to encourage it to do so?
Q: any suggestions for summer weight shorts?
thanks
louis garneau optimum 2 shorts are the first padded crotchal area shorts I have ever left the pad. 5'6" - 175 - purchased XL. wore them first time:
#1 . feels like a king double firm mattress jammed between my legs.
#B . moved around on the brooks b-17 less/ pedal power seemed more directed.
#3 . didn't have to stop & pee 3x in 25 miles
#4 . walking felt odd
#5 . no soreness at the end of the ride.
the sales lady on the phone indicated this was the thinnest pad shorts.
Q: does the crotch pad flatten & conform after a few rides? or is there a way to encourage it to do so?
Q: any suggestions for summer weight shorts?
thanks
#3
Senior Member
well, do they?
louis garneau optimum 2 shorts are the first padded crotchal area shorts I have ever left the pad. 5'6" - 175 - purchased XL. wore them first time:
#1 . feels like a king double firm mattress jammed between my legs.
#B . moved around on the brooks b-17 less/ pedal power seemed more directed.
#3 . didn't have to stop & pee 3x in 25 miles
#4 . walking felt odd
#5 . no soreness at the end of the ride.
the sales lady on the phone indicated this was the thinnest pad shorts.
Q: does the crotch pad flatten & conform after a few rides? or is there a way to encourage it to do so?
Q: any suggestions for summer weight shorts?
thanks
louis garneau optimum 2 shorts are the first padded crotchal area shorts I have ever left the pad. 5'6" - 175 - purchased XL. wore them first time:
#1 . feels like a king double firm mattress jammed between my legs.
#B . moved around on the brooks b-17 less/ pedal power seemed more directed.
#3 . didn't have to stop & pee 3x in 25 miles
#4 . walking felt odd
#5 . no soreness at the end of the ride.
the sales lady on the phone indicated this was the thinnest pad shorts.
Q: does the crotch pad flatten & conform after a few rides? or is there a way to encourage it to do so?
Q: any suggestions for summer weight shorts?
thanks
https://www.boure.com/1100.html
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Queanbeyan, Australia.
Posts: 4,135
Mentioned: 85 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3450 Post(s)
Liked 420 Times
in
289 Posts
If they are comfortable when your cycling then they did their job. You will always feel them when your off the bike though.
With use you will notice them less.
With use you will notice them less.
Likes For AnthonyG:
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 554
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 198 Post(s)
Liked 52 Times
in
41 Posts
thanx for the encouragement. while I never thought of going "full Grant" aka jeans & flip flops, I never, ever, figured i'd be leaning towards the "Fred".
I do use a black sharpie to go over logos, though. night riding won't ever be in my 68 year old deck of cards!
thanks again.
I do use a black sharpie to go over logos, though. night riding won't ever be in my 68 year old deck of cards!
thanks again.
#6
Airplanes, bikes, beer.
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Off the front
Posts: 763
Bikes: Road bikes, mountain bikes, a cx bike, a gravel bike…
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 398 Post(s)
Liked 788 Times
in
339 Posts
XL, for 5’6” and 175lb? Wrong size, probably, no matter who sewed them.
Likes For AdkMtnMonster:
#7
Pennylane Splitter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 1,878
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1789 Post(s)
Liked 1,438 Times
in
988 Posts
I'm one of those folks who can't stand the shorts with thick pads. If you want something with a thinner pad look into Aerotech Designs. Some of their models have a thin one (look at their 'Wild Print' shorts line-up as an example). Not too bad to walk around in either.
Sizing: I've found I need to go up on sizing when buying bike shorts, regardless of the brand. I regularly wear XL street clothes, needed to get XXL bike shorts so they'd fit correctly (and comfortably).
Sizing: I've found I need to go up on sizing when buying bike shorts, regardless of the brand. I regularly wear XL street clothes, needed to get XXL bike shorts so they'd fit correctly (and comfortably).
Last edited by skidder; 05-31-20 at 09:07 AM. Reason: sizing
Likes For skidder:
#8
Senior Member
It often takes different lengths of time of for the shorts to break in different people's anatomy. Just keep riding, you'll adjust
Likes For Pratt:
#9
Senior Member
This was my thought, too. I like my bike shorts to fit pretty tight in the crotch to hold everything in place. Too much room will lead to rubbing. Trust me, you don't want rubbing in that area!
Likes For tntyz:
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,902
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4802 Post(s)
Liked 3,922 Times
in
2,551 Posts
Yeah. For some, years (I like chamoises that are just that. Very little padding. There are other, more critical fit issues for me so I don't always have the choice there.
Oh, that thick padding - it's to get us elders prepared for the day when we start needing diapers again.
Ben
Oh, that thick padding - it's to get us elders prepared for the day when we start needing diapers again.
Ben
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,105
Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 822 Post(s)
Liked 1,960 Times
in
943 Posts
Chamois Pad break-in period? No
Derriere break-in period? Resounding yes!
Derriere break-in period? Resounding yes!
Likes For CAT7RDR:
#13
Banned
Another confirmation ...
I have long used lined bike shorts with a synthetic, but no padding per se & a leather Brooks saddle..
Might be the part you are sitting on that needs breaking in not the bike parts..
Might be the part you are sitting on that needs breaking in not the bike parts..
#14
Senior Member
I have a pair of louis garneau liner shorts. While they are fine as far as wearing under bike shorts for comfort, the pads are horrible. These pads get pretty soaked even in mild weather let alone hot. My way cheaper padded shorts with 3d and 4d padding are cooler and dryer but the pads are pretty thick for walking around in. I like the 4d coolmax the best. I ride on a B17 Imperial and do not wear any padded shorts unless its very hot or the ride is over 15 - 20 miles.
#17
Full Member
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,624
Bikes: iele Latina, Miele Suprema, Miele Uno LS, Miele Miele Beta, MMTB, Bianchi Model Unknown, Fiori Venezia, Fiori Napoli, VeloSport Adamas AX
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1324 Post(s)
Liked 927 Times
in
640 Posts
I've worn a number of different makes of bicycling shorts. Without any doubt, Louis Garneau shorts had the thickest amount of padding it has ever been my displeasure to try and use. I'll never buy Louis Garneau shorts again. That ultra-thick padding caused way too much squirming as I rode the bicycle. It was like sitting on, or trying to sit on a mound of jelly. I got sore from those shorts in a very brief period of time.
Cheers
Cheers
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Posts: 7,085
Bikes: Cervelo Prodigy
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 478 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 87 Times
in
67 Posts
Bike pads by Dolomiti
https://dolomiti-pads.com/?lang=en
Elastic Interface
https://www.elasticinterface.com/cycling-pad/
https://dolomiti-pads.com/?lang=en
Elastic Interface
https://www.elasticinterface.com/cycling-pad/
#21
Senior Member
I've worn a number of different makes of bicycling shorts. Without any doubt, Louis Garneau shorts had the thickest amount of padding it has ever been my displeasure to try and use. I'll never buy Louis Garneau shorts again. That ultra-thick padding caused way too much squirming as I rode the bicycle. It was like sitting on, or trying to sit on a mound of jelly. I got sore from those shorts in a very brief period of time.
Cheers
Cheers
#22
Senior Member
IMHO if chamois is loose enough to develop folds, your shorts are too big. Or at least chamois is too big. Shorts with better fit are required either way. "Feels like a king double firm mattress jammed between my legs" - same thing.
.
.
Likes For Oso Polar:
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 554
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 198 Post(s)
Liked 52 Times
in
41 Posts
update: after about 100 miles (4 or 5 rides total), and three washings/ air dry, something is making them more comfortable. the pad has bent over the saddle rather than staying flat. my scranus is getting daily applications of working hands cream in two spots where the pad tends to, yes, fold my flab & pinch it a bit. this is not in the long direction, but where the front of the pad is separate from the cheeks part, and there's almost a hinge across the pad with no padding about 4 mm wide.
and yes, I do need to wriggle a bit on the saddle to make the pad jamb into place.
I still contend my pedaling has improved. I don't whiz as often after riding and my muscle aches are from better (stronger) pedaling and go away after an hour's rest. so i'm gonna stick it out and soon invest in another pair/ brand (summer weight for now) to have some comparison. if anyone wants to make a suggestion, I will be more than glad to entertain their brand (would like to keep under 100$ if possible).
thanks for the advices & validations.
and yes, I do need to wriggle a bit on the saddle to make the pad jamb into place.
I still contend my pedaling has improved. I don't whiz as often after riding and my muscle aches are from better (stronger) pedaling and go away after an hour's rest. so i'm gonna stick it out and soon invest in another pair/ brand (summer weight for now) to have some comparison. if anyone wants to make a suggestion, I will be more than glad to entertain their brand (would like to keep under 100$ if possible).
thanks for the advices & validations.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,860
Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6950 Post(s)
Liked 10,958 Times
in
4,685 Posts
Do padded shorts have a break in period?
No, they don’t.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,902
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4802 Post(s)
Liked 3,922 Times
in
2,551 Posts
update: after about 100 miles (4 or 5 rides total), and three washings/ air dry, something is making them more comfortable. the pad has bent over the saddle rather than staying flat. my scranus is getting daily applications of working hands cream in two spots where the pad tends to, yes, fold my flab & pinch it a bit. this is not in the long direction, but where the front of the pad is separate from the cheeks part, and there's almost a hinge across the pad with no padding about 4 mm wide.
and yes, I do need to wriggle a bit on the saddle to make the pad jamb into place.
I still contend my pedaling has improved. I don't whiz as often after riding and my muscle aches are from better (stronger) pedaling and go away after an hour's rest. so i'm gonna stick it out and soon invest in another pair/ brand (summer weight for now) to have some comparison. if anyone wants to make a suggestion, I will be more than glad to entertain their brand (would like to keep under 100$ if possible).
thanks for the advices & validations.
and yes, I do need to wriggle a bit on the saddle to make the pad jamb into place.
I still contend my pedaling has improved. I don't whiz as often after riding and my muscle aches are from better (stronger) pedaling and go away after an hour's rest. so i'm gonna stick it out and soon invest in another pair/ brand (summer weight for now) to have some comparison. if anyone wants to make a suggestion, I will be more than glad to entertain their brand (would like to keep under 100$ if possible).
thanks for the advices & validations.
Edit: these are shorts,not bibs, correct? If so, the cheap way to improve fit a lot is to by $19 clip-on suspenders. Does wonders to prevent chamois folds. Also speeds up sitting back down and getting things right down there a lot. (They will outlast several pairs of shorts and make them all radically better fitting, The bib crowd will look at you funny, but its been working for me the past 45 years. Also bathroom stops and mid-ride clothing changes are far easier.
Ben
Last edited by 79pmooney; 06-07-20 at 09:10 PM.