what do you wear under your bike shorts?
#26
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When I returned to riding, I was wearing regular docker's type shorts with boxers underneath. Worked fine, but I was mostly riding with my wife for 15 miles or so around the neighborhood. When I started riding more by myself, a little faster and a further, I tried bike shorts and hated them. Then I realized I shouldn't wear them with anything underneath and they were much more comfortable.
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Commuting, I generally wear the UnderAmour “Boxer Briefs” on the way in and wear a fresh pair at work then home under the shorts or nothing under for the ride home. Means that with very little fuss, I get to be next to fresh clean layer both ways. For rides under 25 miles the UnderArmours work well (and help older shorts kepp vitals where they belong). Up to 50 miles, usually just shorts. Over 50, often with Bag Balm. (Bag Balm – cheap, a can lasts forever and it works really well.)
Oh, second plus of the UnderArmours, saves washings of shorts. At $19/pair for the UnderArmours and virtually impervious to many washings, that adds up to real $$s saved vs $80-110 shorts.
Ben
Oh, second plus of the UnderArmours, saves washings of shorts. At $19/pair for the UnderArmours and virtually impervious to many washings, that adds up to real $$s saved vs $80-110 shorts.
Ben
#28
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Bent riders tend to wear padless shorts. For padded shorts, the pad is the underwear. For padless, I wear coolmax briefs.
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Nothing.
I wear the baggy athletic outer with compression/lycra inner.
I wear the baggy athletic outer with compression/lycra inner.
#30
Walmart bike rider
When I wear standard bicycling shorts... Nothing
When I am wearing just sweats or shorts, simple underwear, 2 layers sometimes.
When I am wearing just sweats or shorts, simple underwear, 2 layers sometimes.
#31
With padded bicycle shorts you should not be wearing anything underneath. You can can however wear something over them. Generally I just wear UnderAmour compression underwear with my street shorts on top. For serious all-day type riding I'll go with the padded bicycle shorts.
#32
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Remember that Calvin Klein jeans commercial from back in the 70s with Brooke Shields? "Nothing comes between me and my Calvins."
Same with bike shorts.
Same with bike shorts.
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If you feel you must wear something underneath, cotton is evil. Go with synthetic athletic trunks with a leg length just short of where the leg band is on your cycling shorts. They are smooth with flat seams, snug fitting, and wick moisture well so won't chaffe any more than the cycling shorts will. The only visible tell tale sign is an extra line around your thigh at the leg band.
This isn't really necessary but if it makes you more comfortable (psychologically) this is the way to go. I found that good quality cycling shorts, which are a heavier weight material, feel less like underwear and more like something made to be worn solo. Some cycling shorts are very thin, lightweight fabric and can leave you feeling kinda nekked. I've got a couple pair of these but use them as liners under regular cargo/trekking shorts when going casual.
This isn't really necessary but if it makes you more comfortable (psychologically) this is the way to go. I found that good quality cycling shorts, which are a heavier weight material, feel less like underwear and more like something made to be worn solo. Some cycling shorts are very thin, lightweight fabric and can leave you feeling kinda nekked. I've got a couple pair of these but use them as liners under regular cargo/trekking shorts when going casual.
#35
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Don't need no stinkin' chamois but I do wear wicking poly underpants.
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I don't understand creams/butters with modern synthetic shorts/chamois. Back in the day, when chamois were chamois leather, cream/butter was required. One of the best effects of poly chamois is I don't need any slimely stuff on my butt to prevent chaffing (we use A&D Ointment before all this fancy stuff came out). I do use bath powder (Gold Bond) to help with sweat odor but nothing else. Much better, much cleaner, much simpler.
Is the chafing from poorly fitting shorts, poor fitting saddle, or are are you cream/butter guys Clyde sized?
Is the chafing from poorly fitting shorts, poor fitting saddle, or are are you cream/butter guys Clyde sized?
#38
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Soon after I started road cycling, four years ago, my daughter got me an inexpensive pair of riding shorts for my birthday (after I swore I wouldn't be caught dead in spandex). My wife convinced me to wear them on rides around the neighborhood and I finally gave in and started wearing them and even bought a second identical pair. Problem was that after several washings, the material on the synthetic chamois became very harsh and abrasive and felt as if I was riding on sandpaper. Since the shorts were not very expensive and I didn't want to spend more than what I had already put out on new shorts, I started asking around and found several people that wore compression shorts under their riding shorts and bibs. I bought a pair of UnderArmour compression shorts and it immediately solved my problem. I now have several pair of much more expensive shorts but continue to wear the compression shorts underneath, even though my current shorts feel nothing like the original shorts that gave me problems. When I bought my PI shorts, I tried going commando for a while and ended up going back to the compression shorts underneath.
One would think that riding in a climate such as Florida, that I would end up raw underneath from all the chaffing that would normally occur. Not so. I put in an average of 200-250 miles a week and have never had a chaffing problem from the compression shorts. I've done centuries while wearing them and in October of last year, I did a ride across the state while wearing them and never had the first problem. I've never used any butt creams on a ride but during the summer, I sometimes use skin lotion before a ride, when the humidity is higher than normal.
One would think that riding in a climate such as Florida, that I would end up raw underneath from all the chaffing that would normally occur. Not so. I put in an average of 200-250 miles a week and have never had a chaffing problem from the compression shorts. I've done centuries while wearing them and in October of last year, I did a ride across the state while wearing them and never had the first problem. I've never used any butt creams on a ride but during the summer, I sometimes use skin lotion before a ride, when the humidity is higher than normal.
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#42
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if you do break all the rules and wear something under the bike shorts, make sure the shorts don't fail the seethrough test -- I remember a woman where the outline of the little red hearts on the briefs was several notches too visible.
Having said that, if the shorts do fail the seethrough test, you shouldn't be wearing them anyway.
Having said that, if the shorts do fail the seethrough test, you shouldn't be wearing them anyway.
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lined bike shorts are designed for moisture management. wearing something between you and that negates the design
#45
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Not entirely so! Compression shorts are moisture wicking and do an excellent job of transferring moisture from your body to the riding shorts. The UnderArmour Mesh shorts do an even better job than their standard compression shorts. Plus you get the extra benefit of more compression around the hips and thighs than you normally would with riding shorts or bibs. As I mentioned above, I've been wearing them for four years and not once have I had a problem with chaffing or moisture management, and I live in Central Florida.
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Commando!
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OTOH if you ride a recumbent such mundane arguments are moot. Under my $15 rugby shorts which are basically sweat shorts I can wear my regular under lovlies. I dont have to wear something to protect me from my bike, and absolutely dont have to grease up the boyz, which I find totally disgusting.
#48
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Many of us who ride 'bents do wear bike shorts, but not necessarily the traditional style. Bike shorts used to be black wool with chamois leather - I had a pair or two of those. Then came MTB baggies and now there are lotsa styles of shorts that can rightfully be called 'bike shorts'. Plus other styles, like rugby shorts (?), that are used as bike shorts by some, I understand.........
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I only have lycra shorts and bib shorts. For those it is best to go commando. for rides over 25 miles I use varying amounts of Chamois Buttr as well, less for 30 miles and more as the mileage increases to 100 and more.
I hope to put on my Selle Anatomica tonight and ride on it this weekend. That may change how much cream I use.
I hope to put on my Selle Anatomica tonight and ride on it this weekend. That may change how much cream I use.