Commuting - The case for shorts

OK, I know we have been through the old cycling apparel discussion ad nauseum, but I just wanted to state my experience, not start another long thread. Regular cycling shorts wearers will know what I mean, non-believers take note.

After the recent discussions, I decided to try the relatively inexpensive (Nashbar) shorts I bought a couple of months ago but have not worn. So this morning, I pulled them on. Now, I have to admit I hedged and wore a pair of loose shorts over them; the world is not ready for the image of this body in skin tight lycra. Let me tell you, there is a world of difference. I felt quite comfortable on the saddle without padded shorts. But there is comfortable and there is COMFORTABLE. Picture sitting on a well-designed solid wood chair. It is quite comfortable. You could sit there for quite a while. Now picture sinking down into your favorite recliner or spot on the sofa. Aaaaah! Of course, that assumes you regularly pedal your recliner down the road at about 90 rpm. Just kidding. You get the idea. And these are about the least expensive ones you can buy. I probably won't wear them every day yet, but I will definitely pull them out when I will be doing a few extra miles. I will also be buying another couple of pair. Maybe even a pair of good ones for special rides.
FWIW,
Raymond

Total agreement! :)

I don't usually even cover up my Lycra shorts. I wouldn't have the cash to eat in a restaurant whose dress code didn't allow them, and as for the world being ready--ever since my doctor, a fairly conservative woman who, though not a cyclist, is a skilled tennis player, said, "Look at those thighs!" when I cycled in for a checkup once, I've figured the world was ready. ;)

Go, Jon, go! I will wait until Rainbabe passes judgment. She is my fashion guru (Translation: She wouldn't knowingly let me out of the house in some of the stuff I wear.) I just bought an expensive Panama hat (well, I thought it was) because she didn't like the $5 Kmart special I have been wearing for sunny day outings for the last year. I figured, hey
1) it stays on my head
AND
2) it keeps the sun of my ever-increasing bald spot
AND
3) for 5 bucks, I don't worry about it getting stepped on, sat on, wet, lost, etc.
What more is a hat supposed to do? She mumbled something about Old McDonald and Farmer Brown and not going out in public with me until I got a new hat. So now I have to be all worried about it every time I wear it. And you can't even GET a cheap hat anymore. There were plenty at Kmart, Walmart, etc., but nowadays all the hats are one size fits all. The hat itself is large with an elastic sweatband to take up the slack for smaller heads. They may fit if you have a small head, but they felt like they were pinching the top off my big melon.
Anyway, when Rainbabe says its OK to wear the shorts in public, I will begin doing so. Maybe another 20-25 pounds. The thighs are looking pretty good; it's the other parts that need work. :)

To put it bluntly. I like the lycra because everything stays in place. My reacquaintance ride on a bike was with jeans and running shoes. There is a world of difference even if you wear the spandex under a modest outer layer( I no longer do). Posers Unite!!

Originally posted by RainmanP
She mumbled something about Old McDonald and Farmer Brown and not going out in public with me until I got a new hat.
I have it on good authority that Old McDonald and Farmer Brown spend all their time either tending to their crops and animals, or sitting on the front porch swing. Their 3-speeds are rusting in the cowshed! So they wouldn't be going out with you anyhow.
:)

RainmanP, Jon, et al,

You talked me in to it! I am a lycra weenie! :D

I was by the LBS Friday, to pickup a new bar end mirror, (I ended up selecting Rhode Gear oval type). Awesome improvement...

...back on topic...

Holy Mackerel!!! What a difference cycling shorts make!
Whodathunkit??? I must admit I felt a bit "poured-in" to the ole lycra...but when AlphaBabe didn't complain (at all) after seeing me model them. ;) :blush: I went for it!

The ride in to work this morning was incredible. I was truly surprised at the improvement, and I shave another 5 minutes off my time too! (I must have spent alot of time readjusting.)

I got a little ego boost from the gals at the office too. :blush: :blush:

As I mentioned earlier, without the encouragement of Colleen, bless her heart, at my office, I might not have poured myself into Lycra for a long time. That's one reason I'd like to see a woman President during my lifetime: women are simply more practical.

Oh, oh. I guess that's sexist. Well, it's true anyway.

;)

Well, JonR and AlphaGeek, I just returned from a 32+ mile ride, my longest to date, and I KNOW I would have been really uncomfortable by the end of it without the shorts. JonR, I was going to go for it, au naturel (well, nothing over the shorts), but the more I looked in the mirror, the more my determination ebbed. One of these days.

FWIW, Nashbar.com had their basic 6-panel shorts on sale for $14.95 last Thursday or Friday. I ordered a couple of more pair. I will probably go ahead and get a pretty good pair for my longer rides when I work up to the 40-50 mile range. I am working toward doing a century this fall. There are a couple of supported ones nearby in October.
Regards,
Raymond

I wore some gym shorts over the cycling shorts the other day because it did look a little more "civilized" for going to the coffee-shop and elsewhere. But the gym shorts caught on the saddle three different times when I was mounting or dismounting, and I almost fell over once--started feeling really foolish....

So I think I'll just skip the outerwear from now on. I don't care that much about what people think, anyway. The longer I live, the more I learn that most people's opinions are of VERY little worth. (Bike Forums members excluded, of course.)

Well, I always wear my Nashbar "thrifty" shorts! (My late mother-in-law was Scottish, and she once informed me that she was not cheap, just thrifty!) Without them, I was having trouble with the dreaded male numbness, but with them, no more problems! I just got back from my longest ride to date (48 miles) and my bottom did get a little sore after that long in the saddle, but no numbness, just a matter of getting used to it. I still had a little trouble with the hands falling asleep, but after I stopped for the last break before the final leg, I made a real effort to keep my hands moving to different positions, and I'll be darned, they didn't fall asleep! Always learning something new! (Thanks to all the advice I got on this forum!) I will have to check Nashbar and see if those shorts are still on sale, I could use a couple more pairs! I can't imagine riding without the shorts. When I got my new bike last week, I missed them just taking a test ride around the dealers parking lot!
By the way, today was a great day for a ride! Temp in the upper 70's, and a light wind. Traffic was a little heavier than normal (5 cars to a mile instead of the usual 3 or 4!) but no problems. On the way home, there is a killer hill that I have really struggled with in the past, but today, even after 45 miles, I charged right up it at 11.5 MPH! Man, this bike riding is GREAT!!

Originally posted by nebill
...5 cars to a mile instead of the usual 3 or 4...

I can't even imagine! If I only met 5 cars per mile, I'd start to think there'd been a nuclear catastrophe and I hadn't noticed.

Or that that last barrel of oil had finally been used up...;)

When I got back into riding several years ago my old high school buddy insisted that lycra was the way to go. I was reluctant because the combination of lycra and this body is not pretty. Well when I finally did get with it, the difference was extreme. But I still wore gym shorts over the lycra. It didn't take me long to figure out that after a ride of one hour or longer, any extra seams on clothing are very unpleasant. Of course the natural evolution folowed. I now only ride with lycra and my shape has changed enough that I don't care what anyone else thinks.

In spite of my previous prejudiced comments about "lycra weenies," I must yield to conventional wisdom concerning lycra shorts. If you can't afford them, shop around until you find them in your price range.

"No chafing, here," says Joe Commuter!

When I first started wearing lycra shorts I felt a little "odd" but got over it pretty quickly after the great comments I got. Then when I started shving my legs whoa nellie the looks I got then! I just laughed and went on. It seems pretty normal to me now and I feel a little more like a cyclist. Just my .02 worth and humble opionion.

Even though I live in the desert and sweat every cycling day (which is every day) I always thought that shorts were a kid's garnment not suited for an adult to wear without ridicule. I guess it is just cultural difference. Last time I wore shorts I must have been 7 or 9 and I only remember falling and having bleeding knees with them. Since I can't suffer the idea of myself in a regular shorts, there is little chance of seeing me in one of these tight nylon things. Besides my body hair are anything short of furr so I guess to be a complete cyclist I should shave my legs. Forget that! To be honnest cycling gear is one of the main things that put me off from serious cycling for a long time.

Fortunately for me, the local REI store sells some padded underwear for cyclists that can be worn under the camouflage of regular civilian full legged trousers. Anybody has some experience with these? I am thinking of getting a couple (so I have enough for the week ;) ).

I have three pairs of "padded undies"... i love them! There great when riding with pants or other non-cycling cothing. One of my better cycling purchases in the last few years :)

I've got a pair that I wear if I have to commute and there's no place to change after. They work pretty well, although not as good as regular lycra cycling shorts. Just make sure you get the correct size!

I guess I'll buy some of the padded undies one of these days, if I find them on sale....

Thought about it many times in the past. Actually I've worn regular padded Lycra shorts under loose-fitting slacks or jeans before, and that works well in cooler weather. But for summer I think the undies would be the way to go, when I want to look somewhat "street normal" at my destination.

Trouble with wearing slacks or jeans on a bike is that they invariably get caught on the nose of the saddle, and I'm crash-prone enough without that inducement to topple! :p

I first bought some of those padded undershorts about 10-11 years ago. They are a definite improvement over regular street clothes and shorts.

Jonathan

OK guys, you convinced me. I ordered a pair of shorts tonight. Joe will be happy to know I remembered to get to Performance thru the Forum. I also got a bunch of Brake tools because I'm just to klutzy to get my toe-in right.

Originally posted by Jean Beetham Smith
I also got a bunch of Brake tools because I'm just to klutzy to get my toe-in right.
Ooh, let us know if some of the brake tools are miracle workers. It takes me (seems like) hours to get the toe-in halfway right; I've tried various tricks and it's still very difficult for me.

What am I missing here? I always thought people who rode on a regular basis (REAL cyclists) wore cycling shorts.
I bought my first pair when I bought my first bike a few years ago. I now have 4 pair, including a pair of "high priced" Pearl Izumi Ultrasensor short for "dress up" occasions.
I have 2 pair of Nashbar shorts. One I bought for about $20 last year. They are very comfortable. The other pair I've had for a month and have worn twice. They cost more (I think they are the Saturday shorts) and aren't as comfortable. Also the Nashbar logo peeled off the first time I washed them. Yes I washed them in cold water.

On the subject of padded underwear, I have one pair I wear in the colder months with my unpadded tights. They are comfortable then but too hot in the summer.

Just my opinion.

Ron

In the previous messages on this thread, someone mentioned shaving their legs. I have wondered why 'real cyclists' (like I'm not....puhleeze!) do shave their legs? That split second of extra speed? Or just so that their calf muscles are well defined when peddling (which I don't mind, mind you)?

:confused:

Originally posted by neguypdx
I have wondered why 'real cyclists' (like I'm not....puhleeze!) do shave their legs?

:confused:
It would make it quite a bit easier to apply sunscreen. :)

One person said it helps in case of crashing because there's no hair to contaminate the wound, which makes sense.

As for me, I have enough trouble getting myself to shave my head; forget about the legs....

Hey, I bought a pair of cycling shorts, but they have the regular board-type shorts and the lycra shorts with the padded thing in there--ya know, some sort of "private's cushion". ;)

It's not exactly the full on lycra shorts--(I'm kinda self conscious), but I'll wear the lycra running pants when I ride sometimes, too. Those work really well in the early mornings, (okay, days when I need to shave the legs), but not during the summer! I want another pair, though...been riding more lately. :D

Originally posted by neguypdx
In the previous messages on this thread, someone mentioned shaving their legs. I have wondered why 'real cyclists' (like I'm not....puhleeze!) do shave their legs? That split second of extra speed? Or just so that their calf muscles are well defined when peddling (which I don't mind, mind you)?

:confused:


I shave them because of a crash a few years ago. Got really bad road rash and the hair did not help much. So now I shave, plus my wife says that they look better shaved now anyway. So what the wife says goes.

I am not saying that if you don't shave your legs you are not a cyclist. That is just how I feel now. People tend to take me a little more seriously now thats all.

Yeah, I believe there was a thread going around about "shaving legs" a while back ago...everyone had their opinions on it--for me it just served a basic need...non-hairy legs! :D

Originally posted by technogirl
for me it just served a basic need...non-hairy legs! :D

It's different, you're a girl. :D

Originally posted by Steele-Bike


It's different, you're a girl. :D

Yeah, I know, but man, there are some women that have out hairy legs (on purpose) out there-- just cultural differences and all...Hmm, it's sure not nice to look at from my perspective, but to each his/her own! ;)

Sorry, digressing again... hehe :D

Technogirl, it is SO good to have you back!

As I have said in the previous thread, I will not wear a bermuda short if I am riding my bike, but I'll wear it (bermuda Short) if I am going to the beach or just out strolling in the park or shopping mall in this kind of weather....

Servus!

Had to step in on this one...

I shave during the season because of the wound factor. I once went down and ended up sliding through an oily patch of road (probably from an irresponsible cager) that caused a large war wound. I cleaned it the best I could and bandaged it. Three days later, I'm sitting in the St. Joseph's ER waiting to have my wound debraded and get my antibiotic shot because, despite my best efforts, the wound went septic from the oil that the hair had picked up. Best part is that the ER doctor (a touring cyclist)nagged me for not shaving! Said "that's why we shave, so we don't have to go through this". He proceeded to show me that he was cleanly shaven and then removed the scab from my thigh....

Second part is, I live in the land of the unshaven female body. These days though, mostly older women are the ones who go without. All of the younger generation shave both pits and legs but only during the summertime (tank top and shorts weather). RangerGirl is one of the latter group. I still have very American tastes when it comes to this topic and nothing is more jarring than seeing a woman lift her arm to wave goodbye and she's hairer than I! :thumbdn: :D