underwear
#27
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Champion, Under Armor or any good brand of poly wicking fabric underwear are good. That's what I wear for casual rides and errands on my hybrids. I use softer saddles -- Lycra fabric over progressive density foam -- so I don't need padded shorts on the hybrids. I save the padded shorts for my road bikes.
Newer poly fabrics don't retain body funk odors. The only poly fabric item I've tried in years that retained odor was a cheap hi-viz t-shirt from a hardware store. It was as bad as the poly sports fabrics of the 1970s -- basically disposable because there was no way to deodorize the junk.
But poly wicking fabrics made during the past decade or so are much better, about as good as merino wool. I have a Pearl Izumi baselayer that's better than any merino wool stuff I've worn. It's from around 2012, their Transfer fabric impregnated with charcoal. I can wear that thing for a week without washing and it still has no odor. Much easier maintenance than merino wool Unfortunately it was very expensive and PI discontinued it. You can still buy similar fabric base layers from hiking and mountaineering shops, but it's pricey stuff.
The only problem I've had with Champion wicking fabric compression boxer/briefs are the waistband elastic gives up after 2-3 years. Not bad for underwear, tho'. I bought half a dozen 2-3 years ago and they've held up well other than the waistband elastic, although part of the problem may be my weight loss. I've dropped about 10-15 lbs since I bought 'em.
I also have some RBX brand poly/cotton blend compression boxer/briefs that are better than I'd expected. I didn't realize when I bought them they used cotton, but they've turned out to be fine on casual bike rides and errands. No swamp butt. RBX makes knockoffs of popular name brand sports wear, including shoes, and they're good and cheap. Check Ross or Marshal's stores for bargains on non-specific sportswear. No bike apparel, but plenty of general purpose athletic clothes, with deep discounts.
Newer poly fabrics don't retain body funk odors. The only poly fabric item I've tried in years that retained odor was a cheap hi-viz t-shirt from a hardware store. It was as bad as the poly sports fabrics of the 1970s -- basically disposable because there was no way to deodorize the junk.
But poly wicking fabrics made during the past decade or so are much better, about as good as merino wool. I have a Pearl Izumi baselayer that's better than any merino wool stuff I've worn. It's from around 2012, their Transfer fabric impregnated with charcoal. I can wear that thing for a week without washing and it still has no odor. Much easier maintenance than merino wool Unfortunately it was very expensive and PI discontinued it. You can still buy similar fabric base layers from hiking and mountaineering shops, but it's pricey stuff.
The only problem I've had with Champion wicking fabric compression boxer/briefs are the waistband elastic gives up after 2-3 years. Not bad for underwear, tho'. I bought half a dozen 2-3 years ago and they've held up well other than the waistband elastic, although part of the problem may be my weight loss. I've dropped about 10-15 lbs since I bought 'em.
I also have some RBX brand poly/cotton blend compression boxer/briefs that are better than I'd expected. I didn't realize when I bought them they used cotton, but they've turned out to be fine on casual bike rides and errands. No swamp butt. RBX makes knockoffs of popular name brand sports wear, including shoes, and they're good and cheap. Check Ross or Marshal's stores for bargains on non-specific sportswear. No bike apparel, but plenty of general purpose athletic clothes, with deep discounts.
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Was curious and looked these up at your link. They aren’t available in Men’s sizes
#32
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How to Wear Cycling Shorts Properly
...
Just ask coach and mountain bike icon Alison Dunlap. The 2001 XC World Champion made one of the most common slip-ups during her first major collegiate race: wearing underwear.
“This was the biggest event I’d done in my life, and I was scared out of my brain. Literally 10 minutes before the start, this guy I had the biggest crush on comes up to me and says, ‘I don’t know how to tell you this, but you’re not supposed to wear underwear under your bike shorts.’ Our shorts had white panels down the sides, so I’m sure he could see the color of the flowers on my panties. I was horrified,” Dunlap told Bicycling in a 2010 interview.
Whoops!
Dunlap actually ducked into a porta-potty and stashed her undies in her jersey pocket before dashing back to the start line. The moral of the story is: Confusion happens to the best of us. But we’ll spare you those uncomfortable newbie moments with this easy guide to wearing those padded bike shorts properly.
Just ask coach and mountain bike icon Alison Dunlap. The 2001 XC World Champion made one of the most common slip-ups during her first major collegiate race: wearing underwear.
“This was the biggest event I’d done in my life, and I was scared out of my brain. Literally 10 minutes before the start, this guy I had the biggest crush on comes up to me and says, ‘I don’t know how to tell you this, but you’re not supposed to wear underwear under your bike shorts.’ Our shorts had white panels down the sides, so I’m sure he could see the color of the flowers on my panties. I was horrified,” Dunlap told Bicycling in a 2010 interview.
Whoops!
Dunlap actually ducked into a porta-potty and stashed her undies in her jersey pocket before dashing back to the start line. The moral of the story is: Confusion happens to the best of us. But we’ll spare you those uncomfortable newbie moments with this easy guide to wearing those padded bike shorts properly.
Last edited by capt_velo; 09-03-20 at 12:31 PM. Reason: formatting
#34
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Where does it say that every cyclists has to wear cycling shorts ??….What you wear on your butt depends on how comfortable your saddle is and the length/duration of your ride...OPs question is legit for those who choose not wear cycling specific shorts.
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we talk jackets, shorts, water proof trousers, boots etc, but i rarely see underwear mentioned.
I mostly have cotton trunks(too much information!?) but im wondering if there is a better alternative?
Merino definitely fits the bill, but its also very expensive, 1 pair of trunks is the cost of 4 or more regular trunks.
Synthetics are fine, but the smell factor is a real issue
Does anyone have any suggestions that are genuinely better than the regular cotton underwear?
I mostly have cotton trunks(too much information!?) but im wondering if there is a better alternative?
Merino definitely fits the bill, but its also very expensive, 1 pair of trunks is the cost of 4 or more regular trunks.
Synthetics are fine, but the smell factor is a real issue
Does anyone have any suggestions that are genuinely better than the regular cotton underwear?
#36
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How does this relate to an upright position vs. an aero position? I've also heard good things about tri shorts, with chamois but no padding.
I have to say, I envy you guys for having boxers. We women don't have that option; women's "boxers" have a 2" long leg, which is just stupid.
I have to say, I envy you guys for having boxers. We women don't have that option; women's "boxers" have a 2" long leg, which is just stupid.
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OP, merino might be up there but follow Amazon for sales. I've bought my icebreaker for 20-22 a pair rather then the 40-50 that lots of places seem to sell it for. Does work well for all day comfort.
#39
Me duelen las nalgas
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I have a couple of tri-saddles, one a Cobb borrowed from a friend, the other a Selle Italia saddle very similar to the Cobb that I bought on a lark. They're odd. They're comfortable only in the more aggressive, aero position. To make one of them comfortable for routine use on one road bike I had to adjust my fit by using a longer stem to get a bit more stretched out, and carefully setting the handlebar height.
But I still prefer padded shorts. I've tried those saddles a couple of times wearing minimally padded shorts (Aerotech Pro) and wouldn't want to ride more than 20 miles with tri-shorts.
#40
Me duelen las nalgas
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I used merino wool for years and it's relatively high maintenance stuff compared with contemporary poly wicking fabrics. I had to carefully arrange my jersey on a drying rack to retain its shape. The socks and shorts wore out quicker. And the real chamois leather pads of the early wool shorts were more demanding to clean and preserve the pad so it didn't dry and crack.
And with the handwashing and air drying, even with a fan, my cycling clothes were still damp the next morning. I remember riding to work wearing damp cycling shorts and jerseys many mornings in Southern California when I worked there. Fortunately the weather was rarely cold. Nowadays my poly wicking fabric cycling shorts and jerseys are dry overnight hanging over the tub with a fan blowing.
And if someone tries to "help" with laundry and washes and dries merino wool in machines on high or even warm heat, good luck getting it back to shape. Sometimes it can be done with some careful stretching and shaping. But I've had to give away wool sweaters and shirts that someone else dumped into the machines with cotton clothing. The waist length could never be recovered.
For me the last straw was living in a rural area where it was very difficult to keep out fabric-eating critters -- larvae of moths and carpet beetles. We had a traditional cedar chest and added mothballs, etc., but eventually nothing kept the critters out and they nibbled holes in every bit of natural fabric other than cotton -- wool, linen, silk, etc. We kept a few items in Tupperware and even had one particular type of weevil eat through the plastic to get to the stuff stored inside!
Before 2015 the last time I tried poly fabrics was during the 1980s and it was pretty bad. But the newer poly wicking fabrics are much better.
I think the only wool clothing I've kept is my Navy pea coat from 1976. Occasionally I get an itch to buy a long sleeve wool jersey just for nostalgia's sake.
And with the handwashing and air drying, even with a fan, my cycling clothes were still damp the next morning. I remember riding to work wearing damp cycling shorts and jerseys many mornings in Southern California when I worked there. Fortunately the weather was rarely cold. Nowadays my poly wicking fabric cycling shorts and jerseys are dry overnight hanging over the tub with a fan blowing.
And if someone tries to "help" with laundry and washes and dries merino wool in machines on high or even warm heat, good luck getting it back to shape. Sometimes it can be done with some careful stretching and shaping. But I've had to give away wool sweaters and shirts that someone else dumped into the machines with cotton clothing. The waist length could never be recovered.
For me the last straw was living in a rural area where it was very difficult to keep out fabric-eating critters -- larvae of moths and carpet beetles. We had a traditional cedar chest and added mothballs, etc., but eventually nothing kept the critters out and they nibbled holes in every bit of natural fabric other than cotton -- wool, linen, silk, etc. We kept a few items in Tupperware and even had one particular type of weevil eat through the plastic to get to the stuff stored inside!
Before 2015 the last time I tried poly fabrics was during the 1980s and it was pretty bad. But the newer poly wicking fabrics are much better.
I think the only wool clothing I've kept is my Navy pea coat from 1976. Occasionally I get an itch to buy a long sleeve wool jersey just for nostalgia's sake.
#41
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How about octogenarians that rides a------------pedal driven single track vehicle having two wheels attached to a frame one behind the other, as in a recumbent bicycle. Is it a "real" bicycle????
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How does this relate to an upright position vs. an aero position? I've also heard good things about tri shorts, with chamois but no padding.
I have to say, I envy you guys for having boxers. We women don't have that option; women's "boxers" have a 2" long leg, which is just stupid.
I have to say, I envy you guys for having boxers. We women don't have that option; women's "boxers" have a 2" long leg, which is just stupid.
#43
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I used merino wool for years and it's relatively high maintenance stuff compared with contemporary poly wicking fabrics. I had to carefully arrange my jersey on a drying rack to retain its shape. The socks and shorts wore out quicker. And the real chamois leather pads of the early wool shorts were more demanding to clean and preserve the pad so it didn't dry and crack.
And with the handwashing and air drying, even with a fan, my cycling clothes were still damp the next morning. I remember riding to work wearing damp cycling shorts and jerseys many mornings in Southern California when I worked there. Fortunately the weather was rarely cold. Nowadays my poly wicking fabric cycling shorts and jerseys are dry overnight hanging over the tub with a fan blowing.
And if someone tries to "help" with laundry and washes and dries merino wool in machines on high or even warm heat, good luck getting it back to shape. Sometimes it can be done with some careful stretching and shaping. But I've had to give away wool sweaters and shirts that someone else dumped into the machines with cotton clothing. The waist length could never be recovered.
For me the last straw was living in a rural area where it was very difficult to keep out fabric-eating critters -- larvae of moths and carpet beetles. We had a traditional cedar chest and added mothballs, etc., but eventually nothing kept the critters out and they nibbled holes in every bit of natural fabric other than cotton -- wool, linen, silk, etc. We kept a few items in Tupperware and even had one particular type of weevil eat through the plastic to get to the stuff stored inside!
Before 2015 the last time I tried poly fabrics was during the 1980s and it was pretty bad. But the newer poly wicking fabrics are much better.
I think the only wool clothing I've kept is my Navy pea coat from 1976. Occasionally I get an itch to buy a long sleeve wool jersey just for nostalgia's sake.
And with the handwashing and air drying, even with a fan, my cycling clothes were still damp the next morning. I remember riding to work wearing damp cycling shorts and jerseys many mornings in Southern California when I worked there. Fortunately the weather was rarely cold. Nowadays my poly wicking fabric cycling shorts and jerseys are dry overnight hanging over the tub with a fan blowing.
And if someone tries to "help" with laundry and washes and dries merino wool in machines on high or even warm heat, good luck getting it back to shape. Sometimes it can be done with some careful stretching and shaping. But I've had to give away wool sweaters and shirts that someone else dumped into the machines with cotton clothing. The waist length could never be recovered.
For me the last straw was living in a rural area where it was very difficult to keep out fabric-eating critters -- larvae of moths and carpet beetles. We had a traditional cedar chest and added mothballs, etc., but eventually nothing kept the critters out and they nibbled holes in every bit of natural fabric other than cotton -- wool, linen, silk, etc. We kept a few items in Tupperware and even had one particular type of weevil eat through the plastic to get to the stuff stored inside!
Before 2015 the last time I tried poly fabrics was during the 1980s and it was pretty bad. But the newer poly wicking fabrics are much better.
I think the only wool clothing I've kept is my Navy pea coat from 1976. Occasionally I get an itch to buy a long sleeve wool jersey just for nostalgia's sake.
Can't speak for others but my icebreakers and the two trek/Nike jerseys I have simply don't care. I've had the jerseys for 12 years and the underwear for 18 months.
I know old fashioned wool has some problems, one of my kilts would never survive the dryer though I still use med heat water in the washer on hand wash setting with all free and clear to wash it. Had 2 for 10 years which I wear regularly and other than fraying at the edges they don't mind the wash.
#44
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No, because women are supposed to always want to look cute and sexy. I can't say for certain that's why women's thermal shirts have an open neckline that exposes most of the chest, but I suspect it is.
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#45
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#46
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Some tri-folks I know prefer shorts with little or no padding to reduce clothing changes between events. They use saddles with more padding to compensate, often with split noses or perineum relief cutouts to air dry their bottoms quicker. I haven't seen anyone wearing unpadded or minimally padded tri-shorts and a standard firm roadie saddle with little or no padding for the 50-100 mile bicycle segment.
I have a couple of tri-saddles, one a Cobb borrowed from a friend, the other a Selle Italia saddle very similar to the Cobb that I bought on a lark. They're odd. They're comfortable only in the more aggressive, aero position. To make one of them comfortable for routine use on one road bike I had to adjust my fit by using a longer stem to get a bit more stretched out, and carefully setting the handlebar height.
But I still prefer padded shorts. I've tried those saddles a couple of times wearing minimally padded shorts (Aerotech Pro) and wouldn't want to ride more than 20 miles with tri-shorts.
I have a couple of tri-saddles, one a Cobb borrowed from a friend, the other a Selle Italia saddle very similar to the Cobb that I bought on a lark. They're odd. They're comfortable only in the more aggressive, aero position. To make one of them comfortable for routine use on one road bike I had to adjust my fit by using a longer stem to get a bit more stretched out, and carefully setting the handlebar height.
But I still prefer padded shorts. I've tried those saddles a couple of times wearing minimally padded shorts (Aerotech Pro) and wouldn't want to ride more than 20 miles with tri-shorts.
#47
Senior Member
I'm going to assume this is a serious question and take it as a given that I am not up to the "granny panties" level of repartee.
I wear long thin sweats (I mean, pyjama-thin); under it I have bike shorts; under that I have a briefs-type athletic supporter. I find that when I only wear bike shorts things get kind of scrambled. I also (under the thin sweats) wear gaiters to protect my lower legs from mishaps.
And I always, always, wear a mask. Around my neck, most of the time. When I'm coming up on people or I see people coming towards me, I pull it up over nose and mouth. About 10 or so yards later, if it's clear, I pull it down.
I wear long thin sweats (I mean, pyjama-thin); under it I have bike shorts; under that I have a briefs-type athletic supporter. I find that when I only wear bike shorts things get kind of scrambled. I also (under the thin sweats) wear gaiters to protect my lower legs from mishaps.
And I always, always, wear a mask. Around my neck, most of the time. When I'm coming up on people or I see people coming towards me, I pull it up over nose and mouth. About 10 or so yards later, if it's clear, I pull it down.
#48
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