Triathlon - Oh No! No Shorts!

I am participating in my first sprint tri this weekend. It's actually a super sprint, so it's pretty short (250 yd swim, 9 mile bike, 5 k run). The problem I have is that my tri shorts didn't arrive so I'm stuck with some less than optimal shorts choices. With a race this short it's probably not a huge deal, but I'd like to know what everyone else thinks anyway.

1. Bike shorts with a real leather chamois.
2. Bike shorts with a synthetic chamois.
3. Running shorts with a mesh liner.

So, I know that thirteen people are going to say, "Whatever you feel most comfortable in," or "You should try them all out." I don't have time to try them all out and I'm looking for answers with real experience behind them. Thanks

Do you have a speedo brief. I'd wear that. Otherwise, I'd go with with the bike shorts with the non-leather chamois, as long as it is not too bulky.

Clearly I have no experience with this since I'm a woman, but my vote is for the running shorts with the liner. They'll be most comfortable on the swim and the run, and 9 miles on the bike is so short that you won't even have time to get chafed! (Okay, that's an exaggeration, but I honestly doubt you'd have any problems - just use a towel in T1 to wick some of the water off the shorts.)

ugh, that sucks about not having the shorts delivered yet. Mail usually comes on Saturdays here, maybe you'll get them still. ;)

Here's what you can try! Put on each pair, jump in the shower quick and get all wet. Jump out, run to your bike, ride a couple miles, then run around the block. See which works best!

Biking in the running shorts depends on what the mesh liner is like. If it's a big mesh, and rough, then having that between you and the seat might hurt after a few miles. If it's a thin mesh, like light cloth, then you'll be fine. Biggest issue would be the shorts will blow all the way up and look like you are biking in speedos. ;)

I am participating in my first sprint tri this weekend. It's actually a super sprint, so it's pretty short (250 yd swim, 9 mile bike, 5 k run). The problem I have is that my tri shorts didn't arrive so I'm stuck with some less than optimal shorts choices. With a race this short it's probably not a huge deal, but I'd like to know what everyone else thinks anyway.

1. Bike shorts with a real leather chamois.
2. Bike shorts with a synthetic chamois.
3. Running shorts with a mesh liner.

So, I know that thirteen people are going to say, "Whatever you feel most comfortable in," or "You should try them all out." I don't have time to try them all out and I'm looking for answers with real experience behind them. Thanks

Use the bike shorts with the synthetic liner. They are not nearly as uncomfortable after the swim as you may think.

bike shorts...synthetic. no discussion, no doubt the correct choice in your situation.

i have worn non syn. bike shorts for the whole race and they worked ok, they did dry ok in the ride

Sounds like a bad dream...The race is about to start everbody is ready to rush in and there is bandregg standing there in his underware...
Really the race is short enough to go no pad or thin pad

Go to walmart and buy a pair of "compression" shorts that are starter brand for about $10. You don't need the padding in the bike sorts for such a short bike. The compression shorts will work great for swimming and will dry out really fast.

for that short of a ride I would go with just the running shorts

Such a short race I would say speedo briefs and if you are too shy bike pants syn. even 9 miles can be long in running shorts!please let us know what worked best!and how you did.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I wore a pair of Pearl Izumi Ultrasensor shorts that have a synthetic liner. I didn't notice them during the swim at all other than I actually felt more buoyant in the pool than I have during training, but maybe that was the chop from everyone else being in the pool.
Whatever water they were retaining wasn't noticable on the bike, although my saddle was still wet a few hours later.
And on the run, heck I was too busy trying to set a good pace and figure out where the turn around was to think about what my shorts looked like.

So, bike shorts with a synthetic liner worked all the way.

For what it's worth, I beat my goal time by two minutes and had a really good time.

Fantastic!!! Happy it went as planned and 2 minutes faster than planned. Congratulations for your first race of many!!!!!!!!!!!