Purpose of shorts chamois
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Purpose of shorts chamois
Is the chamois for padding or sweat absorption?
#2
Senior Member
it keeps your "arss" from being abraded. It also provides some padding. I suppose it absorbs all kinds of things. Thats why you need to wash your shorts before they become a science project.
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#4
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,625
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3868 Post(s)
Liked 2,560 Times
in
1,574 Posts
Sweat absorption was the original purpose.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Missouri
Posts: 2,689
Bikes: Giant Propel, Cannondale SuperX, Univega Alpina Ultima
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 672 Post(s)
Liked 413 Times
in
246 Posts
Both, but mainly to keep your butt dry. FWIW, modern "chamois" is greatly superior to the actual chamois we used to use when I first started riding back in the 70s. I recently found an old pair of bike shorts from the early 80s and wore them on the trainer for an hour. While they were still more comfortable than wearing normal street shorts with underwear, the differences between them and my modern bibs were VERY noticeable.
__________________
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
#7
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,691
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 510 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7287 Post(s)
Liked 2,362 Times
in
1,381 Posts
Yes! It's a good thing you asked. Nowadays, people want padding. Seems to me that it makes more sense to put padding in the seat if you need it. It also seems to me that the market demands padded shorts because so many misconstrued what the chamois was there for in the first place.
If the padding adds comfort for you, that's fine, but if you need it, then you'll need padded shorts every time you ride, no? Remember that you can condition your butt, with practice, to require little or no padding in your shorts OR on your saddle.
If the padding adds comfort for you, that's fine, but if you need it, then you'll need padded shorts every time you ride, no? Remember that you can condition your butt, with practice, to require little or no padding in your shorts OR on your saddle.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Yes! It's a good thing you asked. Nowadays, people want padding. Seems to me that it makes more sense to put padding in the seat if you need it. It also seems to me that the market demands padded shorts because so many misconstrued what the chamois was there for in the first place.
If the padding adds comfort for you, that's fine, but if you need it, then you'll need padded shorts every time you ride, no? Remember that you can condition your butt, with practice, to require little or no padding in your shorts OR on your saddle.
If the padding adds comfort for you, that's fine, but if you need it, then you'll need padded shorts every time you ride, no? Remember that you can condition your butt, with practice, to require little or no padding in your shorts OR on your saddle.
Given that the sweat produced in the region is primarily central, I wonder why manufacturers haven't produced any that are similar in shape to some women's menstrual pads. Without "padding" for seasoned butts, chamois "with wings" may be sufficient for people who only need sweat absorption.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Atlanta, GA. USA
Posts: 3,804
Bikes: Surly Long Haul Disc Trucker
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1015 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Not good for that purpose. The pad absorbs your sweat and then sits there wet with sweat right against your skin. Not very dry. Thin quick drying fabric would keep your butt dryer than a pad will.
I wear the padding for comfort on long rides. For less than about 10 miles I often just wear some thin shorts.
I wear the padding for comfort on long rides. For less than about 10 miles I often just wear some thin shorts.
#12
Senior Member
Contrary to popular belief, it's there primarily to keep bulging to a minimum. Sort of smooths out the package, if you know what I mean.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Gaseous Cloud around Uranus
Posts: 3,741
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 38 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
7 Posts
Wipe down your bike after a sweaty ride for a streak free shine?....
Remember,original cycling shorts were wool.....
Remember,original cycling shorts were wool.....
Last edited by Booger1; 10-02-14 at 10:20 AM.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Missouri
Posts: 2,689
Bikes: Giant Propel, Cannondale SuperX, Univega Alpina Ultima
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 672 Post(s)
Liked 413 Times
in
246 Posts
Not good for that purpose. The pad absorbs your sweat and then sits there wet with sweat right against your skin. Not very dry. Thin quick drying fabric would keep your butt dryer than a pad will.
I wear the padding for comfort on long rides. For less than about 10 miles I often just wear some thin shorts.
I wear the padding for comfort on long rides. For less than about 10 miles I often just wear some thin shorts.
__________________
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Missouri
Posts: 2,689
Bikes: Giant Propel, Cannondale SuperX, Univega Alpina Ultima
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 672 Post(s)
Liked 413 Times
in
246 Posts
You think people have a problem with butt bulge (where most of the padding is)?
__________________
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
Last edited by bbbean; 10-02-14 at 12:34 PM.
#16
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,691
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 510 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7287 Post(s)
Liked 2,362 Times
in
1,381 Posts
No, I'm sure that's not what he is saying.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#17
Plays in traffic
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 6,971
Bikes: 1996 Litespeed Classic, 2006 Trek Portland, 2013 Ribble Winter/Audax, 2016 Giant Talon 4
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 76 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times
in
9 Posts
#18
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times
in
225 Posts
Both, but mainly to keep your butt dry. FWIW, modern "chamois" is greatly superior to the actual chamois we used to use when I first started riding back in the 70s. I recently found an old pair of bike shorts from the early 80s and wore them on the trainer for an hour. While they were still more comfortable than wearing normal street shorts with underwear, the differences between them and my modern bibs were VERY noticeable.
Chamois leather - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Don't need no padded shorts to ride recumbent bikes.)
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cape Vincent, NY
Posts: 1,386
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac Expert, 2002 TREK 520, Schwinn Mesa WINTER BIKE, Huffy Rock Creek 29er, 1970s-era Ross ten speed. All my bikes are highly modified(except the Tarmac) yet functional, and generally look beat to ****. .
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 65 Post(s)
Liked 84 Times
in
49 Posts
#22
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,852
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times
in
339 Posts
I agree with Alan that it's there to smooth out the area, but we're not talking about hiding your genitals. The point is that there are no bulky seams between your body and the saddle.
More important, I think, the chamois provides a non-slip layer between the outer clothing and the body, so there is no chafing on the skin. If there's any rubbing, it's between the outer clothing and the saddle. You should be able to wear a hole through your shorts without getting saddle sores.
I can't believe this thread is in the commuting forum. Does anyone really commute on a chamois?
__________________
www.rhmsaddles.com.
www.rhmsaddles.com.
#23
Senior Member
My tights and winter garb has none.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: midwest
Posts: 2,528
Bikes: 2018 Roubaix Expert Di2, 2016 Diverge Expert X1
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 482 Post(s)
Liked 151 Times
in
105 Posts
Yes, I commute in chamois. It is usually a 30+ mi RT, asymmetric.
Last edited by GeneO; 10-03-14 at 06:42 AM.
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter