Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Padless Shorts

Hello,

I'm having a heck of a time finding some padless cycling shorts. I have some padless tights, but would also like a pair of shorts. Can anyone help please? Thank you very much.

Adam

The only shorts I know of that are padless are the Speedo Fastskin Tri-shorts. I have some from ~2006. I do not know if the Fastskin II are still padless.

Could you just get removable chamois shorts that you can run without the diaper? Also, if you don't need super tight pants (i.e. spandex or lycra), perhaps something like Rivendell's MUSA shorts?

Thank you both. The new Speedo's no not have the pad, so that's good. I don't have a problem with a removable pad, but I've never seen that. I do like the tight shorts.

Take a look at http://www.kucharik.com/ They have all sorts of options, pads and not. I have not tried them yet, but they get pretty good reviews other places I have looked, their wool in particular.

Rob

In addition to Kucharik, there are several companies that make unpadded cycling shorts, primarily for recumbents. Try googling "recumbent cycling shorts" and you should come up with a few. Also, some recumbentistas use rowing shorts, but those look a bit short in the leg for my liking.

SP
Bend, OR
:recum:

Why would plain old compression shorts not work?

Why would plain old compression shorts not work?

They will, as long as the seams aren't badly placed for cycling. I've also found that the soccer style compression shorts like goalies wear under their baggy shorts work well too... especially if you wear regular type baggy shorts over them.

Also look at running gear. They make some short tights that look like swimmers jammers for running purposes and they might be less expensive that tri-shorts

Kucharik wool shorts suck out loud, FWIW. Every pair I have had over the last 25 years has fallen apart at the seams. They go six months at best and one wearing at worst. FWIW.

In addition to Kucharik, there are several companies that make unpadded cycling shorts, primarily for recumbents.....

Heres the link to a site I bookmarked a while ago because they offered padless shorts. I haven't tried them yet, but they look like what you're after.

http://aerotechdesigns.com/recumbent.htm

CMC

Agree on the athletics section of any sports goods clothing store. The flat seams that are being used on these kinds of shorts make them comfortable. I bought five pairs at Decathlon in France two years ago. They've been excellent.

Padless shorts for cycling. Why. ? Might as well ride in one's cut offs.

Padless shorts for cycling. Why. ? Might as well ride in one's cut offs.

Cut offs are quite a bit different from other types of shorts ... cut offs generally have thick seams. The shorts I've used, without padding, tend to be either the short version of convertible pants or basketball shorts. Quite comfy ... if you've got a custom Brooks saddle.

Yes. Machka seamless is important. But, I prefer shorts with pads.. Warts on one' rear will quickly end a tour.

Padless shorts for cycling. Why. ? Might as well ride in one's cut offs.

There is another thread here on how to reduce the discomfort of riding with a damp/wet chamois.

I got to a point up to last February of riding a lot with the unpadded shorts I mentioned, up to centuries.

The reasons were several:

-- The bike I was riding for most of those rides has a Brooks B17.

-- My butt was hardened and pretty well matched to the Brooks, so pain was not an issue.

-- I could wear overshorts for things like shopping, and for winter riding, long lightweight travel pants that helped keep my legs warm (the reasons are for another thread), without things getting bulky like they would with a pair of padded shorts.

-- The evaporation of moisture from the nether regions was more efficient instead of having to work through another barrier in the form of a chamois.

-- The last point in turn led to fewer rash and follicle/gland blockage issues.

I do point out, however, that I did resort to padded shorts when riding my go-fast bike simply because the Selle San Marco SKN saddle and my butt hadn't broken each other in prior to me taking some time off cycling. The things we do for light weight...

I have 3 pair of unpadded shorts I wear for my recumbent riding. Wait for a good sale from Performance or Nashbar and buy the regular cycling chamois padded ones.

With a good seam ripper or even a cheese knife the threads for the sewn in padding can be removed. Very comfortable and economical for me. Once you get started not all that difficult but you do have to be careful not to cut the fabric.