Touring - Shorts solution

I hate standard lycra bike shorts. Too darn tight, bulky, and expensive. I found a cheap solution.

I got a pair of Danskin bike shorts for about $10 at WalMart. Then I bought two nice chamois from AeroTech. Those folks are very nice and accommodating and agreed to sell me just the chamois.

I discovered that you can ride comfortably with the chamois without even sewing it into your shorts. No, it doesn't really move around, honest. Most importantly, it's very easy to wash! This is what I'll do if I go on tour. Just keep washing the chamois, not the shorts.

I know this sounds really bizarre, but I tested it on an all-day ride and it worked just fine.

Sounds like a plan!

I'm not sure if my experience is appropriate for a unisex audience but -
I just cycle in plain old shorts with cotton boxer briefs underneath.

The nice thing about boxer briefs is that they fit much like cycling shorts -
And they don't have a seam in the wrong place.

Do people wear boxer shorts under their cycling shorts, or just go commando ??

Curious ...

Performance has Forte-branded insert bike shorts that are meant to be worn under cargo shorts or anything else you'd prefer ride in, for touring and commuting. I bought a pair and it's a pretty good solution for me. I've become accumstomed to the tight fit of cycling shorts, but I also want to be done wandering around in public in lycra :-)

I also purchased a closeout pair of J&G touring shorts from ACA that are very lightweight, almost like a bathing suit. I haven't used those for a long ride yet, but I'm looking forward to trying them.

More than saddle fit, I find that getting shorts/chamois to fit properly is a bigger comfort issue on long rides. And that was true for me even before getting my first <insert happy sigh here> Brooks saddle.

Ken

I hate standard lycra bike shorts. Too darn tight, bulky, and expensive. I found a cheap solution.

I got a pair of Danskin bike shorts for about $10 at WalMart. Then I bought two nice chamois from AeroTech. Those folks are very nice and accommodating and agreed to sell me just the chamois.
I am not sure that I understand what problem you are trying to solve. I always thought bike shorts were the ideal garment for the purpose as is. How are the danskin shorts different? What are they made of?

...I always thought bike shorts were the ideal garment for the purpose as is. ...

Ahah! That is what the bike short corporations want you to believe! I think the best solution is a nice pair of Nylon board shorts with some unpadded Lycra/synthetic boxer/briefs underneath.

When I go backpacking I live in spandex boxer briefs and a long pair of boardshorts. I wear them in the shower, I wear them out of the shower, I wear them on the beach and I wear them on the street. Sweet!

Do people wear boxer shorts under their cycling shorts, or just go commando ??

Curious ...

there should be nothing but skin under the shorts. boxers would give some weird man-panty lines and entirely defeat the purpose of wearing cycle shorts with chamois.

I hate standard lycra bike shorts. Too darn tight, bulky, and expensive....


You are using that word, I do not think you know what it means.

bulk·y [buhl-kee] –adjective, bulk·i·er, bulk·i·est.
1. of relatively large and cumbersome bulk or size.
2. (of a fabric or yarn) thick; lofty.
3. (of a garment) made of thick, resilient fabric or yarn: a bulky sweater.

I'm confused...what is the problem with bike shorts you're trying to solve?

I'm confused...what is the problem with bike shorts you're trying to solve?

1. High cost of bike shorts. 10 bucks for the danskins.

2. Difficulty of correct fit for a larger person---they are too tight. Danskin lycra shorts have a generous cut.

3. Washability: If you ride several times a week or are touring, it's hard to have clean shorts at hand. With my solution, you only have to wash the chamois, which dries really quickly. Some people don't realize that you can buy chamois fromthe manufacturer and build your own shorts.

I once made my own shorts with a removable chamois that attached with velcro. But my experiment shows that the velcro isn't really necessary.

OK, I know this is weird, but it works.

Do people wear boxer shorts under their cycling shorts, or just go commando ??

Curious ...
Commando, the boxers interfere with wicking.

1. High cost of bike shorts. 10 bucks for the danskins.

2. Difficulty of correct fit for a larger person---they are too tight. Danskin lycra shorts have a generous cut.

3. Washability: If you ride several times a week or are touring, it's hard to have clean shorts at hand. With my solution, you only have to wash the chamois, which dries really quickly. Some people don't realize that you can buy chamois fromthe manufacturer and build your own shorts.

I once made my own shorts with a removable chamois that attached with velcro. But my experiment shows that the velcro isn't really necessary.

OK, I know this is weird, but it works.


You have created a problem which doesn't exist.

Higher cost: Not necessarily so. Cheaper racing shorts do exist.

Correct fit..being too tight: The whole point of racing shorts is that they are by design, tight. This is to stop movement between the skin and the short and so minimise friction, in that friction causes heat and ultimately saddle sores.

Washability: If you have but one pair of shorts which I would see is ill-advised, then it is quite possible to wash the liner without having to wash the entire short.

I'm going to go with SaddleUp on this...shorts with removable padding are a great idea on tour. You can wear the shorts with the padding into a diner....and nobody will stare at you like your smuggling a turnip in your shorts.

Also it's easy to wash the padding and shorts out and have them dry twice as fast as conventional cycling shorts. Getting stuff washed and dry is important with any kind of travel.