Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - New to Bicycle Shorts..... Umm.. Yeah..

Last week while my bike was in the shop getting a tune-up I decided to stock up on riding gear. Among the items is a brand new pair of riding shorts, specifically Pearl Izumi triathlon shorts, as they were all they had in XXL. I have never owned a pair of shorts like these before and I have a few questions.



First of all; Am I supposed to wear underwear with these things??!!?? There isn't much room for anything else but me in the shorts, but the thought of "going commando" in them is more than a little nerve-wracking. :twitchy: Maybe I should wear them underneath another layer of clothing like cargo shorts?


A silly question, I'm sure.............

No underwear - go commando.

No need to wear something over them. No one will be looking at your unit.

You will get use to them.

Commando is the way to go. Underwear will just increase chaffing. If your a little uncomfortable in them, you could always get the moutain biking shorts. They have the spandex and padding on the inside, but loose cargo short type exterior. Kinda like swim trunks...

Last week while my bike was in the shop getting a tune-up I decided to stock up on riding gear. Among the items is a brand new pair of riding shorts, specifically Pearl Izumi triathlon shorts, as they were all they had in XXL. I have never owned a pair of shorts like these before and I have a few questions.



First of all; Am I supposed to wear underwear with these things??!!?? There isn't much room for anything else but me in the shorts, but the thought of "going commando" in them is more than a little nerve-wracking. :twitchy: Maybe I should wear them underneath another layer of clothing like cargo shorts?


A silly question, I'm sure.............

Not really silly.

Don't wear underclothing with bike shorts. Ever. The shorts are supposed to form a second skin, with padding where it's needed.

If you want to wear cargo or gym shorts over them, go for it. But I see no reason you'd need to. Don't be shy. I'm not.

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/167779_1658837963286_1607271639_1495263_624409_n.jpg

Just like to reinforce what everyone has already said. It was hard the first time but then you realize how comfortable they make you when you ride and then you get over it. For longer ride some usually apply some lube to the chamois part.

It took me a while to get used to it. It IS weird. As a bigger man I usually either go baggy to try to hide or dress well, to disguise it. Im still weirded out about walking around in Spandex. I USED to think spandex was a privilege not a right, but its only shorts.. and really, people only see me for 5 seconds as they whizz by me.. or I whizz by them. Go for it!!

The other Big Secret to bike shorts (for men) is to pull your, um, equipment, up out of the way and allow the relatively form-fitting fabric to hold it there, more or less, while you ride.

First off, if you're not racing triathlons then don't get tri shorts.

Tri shorts have a shorter inseam and less padding than a regular pair of bike shorts. They're designed to be worn for all 3 events. They're the hotpants of cycling shorts.

If you do decide to wear baggy shorts over them, look for shorts with a gusseted crotch that don't have a seam running right down the middle.

Wearing 'normal' pants/shorts with a midseam creates a pressure point right where you don't want one, which is one of the things cycling shorts are designed to eliminate.

They're the hotpants of cycling shorts.

Maybe we should move this discussion to the Athena/Clyde Fashion thread. ;)

Maybe we should move this discussion to the Athena/Clyde Fashion thread. ;)

Heck, once the Sayre-seal photo surfaced through the ice, anything became game.

The other Big Secret to bike shorts (for men) is to pull your, um, equipment, up out of the way and allow the relatively form-fitting fabric to hold it there, more or less, while you ride.


Gotcha'...




My 14 year old son has been riding my bike when I"m in class on Monday evenings, and I asked him how he liked it. His response was brief, but unforgettable...




" It hurts my b*lls, Pop.."


So I guess it's off to the bike shop for shorts for him, too.


ClintonGK1: I got the triathlon shorts because theu were all I could find that fit. I understand they're not the greatest but until I get around to finding some other shorts, they'll have to do. Do you recommend any particular brands and styles?

... pull your, um, equipment, up out of the way...

I believe that the proper medical term is "Pendulous Items" :D

I'm going to second the bit about the Tri-shorts...not the hotpants comment so much as they do have a short inseam (...which I guess would make them hot pant, wouldn't they? :innocent: )

Also, I think you might find bibs to be more agreeable (no waistband cutting in to you). I just bought my first pair of bibs a couple of weeks ago - $35 from love2pedal.com. So far, I think they're great! Even if you try and don't like them, you're only out $35.

Now, starting out, the fit was a bit *ahem* self conscious. After about 5 minutes, I forgot what I was wearing and was tooling down the road, happy as a clam.

I couldn't agree more with the suggestion that you try bibs. I rode for 30 years with standard lycra bike shorts, and being of a reasonably large circumference, I constantly fought waist-band rollover while riding. I didn't find them constricting or painful, just inconvenient (though I did get good at pulling them back up one-handed). With bibs, that's a thing of the past. I never should have waited so long.

Commando is the way to go. Underwear will just increase chaffing.

I've actually found the opposite to be true. But boxers or briefs don't work; I got cycling underwear at Target. They are kind of like briefs but extend down into the thigh area, kind of like bike shorts. anyway, I am more comfy wearing them with bike shorts than with the shorts alone.

I've actually found the opposite to be true. But boxers or briefs don't work; I got cycling underwear at Target. They are kind of like briefs but extend down into the thigh area, kind of like bike shorts. anyway, I am more comfy wearing them with bike shorts than with the shorts alone.


I believe they're called boxer briefs. I've been wearing them for years.


A quick sat adjustment question. Is the front of the saddle supposed to tilt upwards towards your..... region, or is it supposed t tilt forward, so most of your weight is on the rear of the saddle?

Saddle should be level to start.
Make adjustment after you ride it some, if needed.

I believe they're called boxer briefs. I've been wearing them for years.


A quick sat adjustment question. Is the front of the saddle supposed to tilt upwards towards your..... region, or is it supposed t tilt forward, so most of your weight is on the rear of the saddle?

I think it's a matter of preference. My saddle is slightly nose-up, reason being is that when it was slightly nose-down, I'd keep sliding forward when wearing bibs - I don't notice that much if I'm wearing street clothes. As an additional data point, I have a leather saddle, so that might be more slickery than non-leather.

Tri shorts have a shorter inseam and less padding than a regular pair of bike shorts. They're designed to be worn for all 3 events. They're the hotpants of cycling shorts.

+1 Get some regular bike shorts or, even better, bib shorts. I rode in regular lycra shorts for years, but now that I've discovered bibs I won't go back. I'm a big fan of the bib shorts sold by Love2Pedal.com (http://www.love2pedal.com/). They're so good, that I took the time to write a lengthy review. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/530258)

...ClintonGK1: I got the triathlon shorts because theu were all I could find that fit. I understand they're not the greatest but until I get around to finding some other shorts, they'll have to do. Do you recommend any particular brands and styles?There are three things you should not skimp on in cycling: shoes, saddles, and shorts. These are the contact points between you & the bike. If any of them are poorly fitting, you won't enjoy the sport.

I certainly understand your reasoning. But, I would just be concerned that these shorts may hinder your enjoyment of the sport and the usefulness of cycling shorts, turning you off to the sport. I've never used Tri-shorts, but I would imagine that they have more padding up front and it would be a somewhat higher water-repellent type designed for longer duration, leading it to be not the most comfortable for shorter road-rides.

Most cycling clothing manufacturers have very good shorts. As a very general rule of thumb, you get what you pay for. However, there are exceptions. I understand Performance--the bargain clothing manufacturer--has a nice pair somewhere. I ride Pactimo (because that's what my team buys), but Pearl Izumis have never let me down. Assos is the Cadillac of shorts, but probably over-priced. Louis Garneau makes some good ones, but not quite as good as the other two.


Saddle should be level to start.
Make adjustment after you ride it some, if needed.:thumb: Yeah, just to reinforce this: saddle being level is the starting point. Each person is different. After riding awhile, you adjust it to fit you. If you feel like you're sliding forward, you tilt the nose up. If you feel like you're falling off the back of the saddle, you tilt the nose down.

Many saddles have a slight curve in them, so you want to find "level". To determine if it's level, place an actual level along the length of the saddle.

ClintonGK1: I got the triathlon shorts because theu were all I could find that fit. I understand they're not the greatest but until I get around to finding some other shorts, they'll have to do. Do you recommend any particular brands and styles?

I have some PI Ultrasensor bibs in 2XL which are very comfy. I also like my 2XL Performance Elite bibs and a pair of 2XL Craft winter knicker bibs. My favourites are my Assos FI.Mille bibs in XL, but you're looking at dropping a good chunk of change for those. However, they're super comfy for all day riding and if the XL isn't enough then they make the XL-TIR which is a bit roomier cut at the waist and bumside.
Aerotech gets good reviews on here, although I don't have any of their stuff. My team's kit is from Hincapie, and the 2XL bibs fit me fine.

+1 (or is it +8 now? heck make it an even +11) on the MTB shorts. Lot less conspicuous if one decides to breeze by the library or hang out at the cafe or pop into Autozone (or whichever) for some grease.

I wear under my tights (unpadded), sometimes under my shorts, depending on the temp. I also sweat a lot so the extra layer helps, as long as it's not a "natural" fiber. I tend to eschew natural fibers (silk, wool, cotton) including blends, except for socks. Love me my Icebreaker wool socks.

And suddenly, I miss lycra...

I wore padded and unpadded shorts depending on ride length and if I was going to be off the bike for a significant time. Of course I was also living in Hawaii, and wore Nike Aquasocks everywhere, so don't ask me for fashion advice!!! I never owned but one real cycling jersey.

OK, truth be told, my training on the indoor trainer has me wondering when its time for new shorts...

Great info. I had the same questions but....ew.....

I believe that the proper medical term is "Pendulous Items" :D

Family jewels.

Bibs are the way to go IMHO. Rarely wear my regular shorts any more. As for looks, I've gotten over it but my sons haven't. Fortunately for them, older son is away at college and younger son heads to college next year so their vision won't be accosted by my cycling apparel. As for the innocents out there in the real world, I just try to keep moving to limit their exposure (and mine).

"Wedding tackle" "Gentleman bits"...



Watch a lot of UK Top Gear and you'll hear variations you never would have thought of.



Just got back from a short ride with all the gear I've purchased so far. It's only about 1.5 miles from my house to a disused mall where Sears is the only thing hanging on. I rode down to the mall and did 3 laps on the outer mall road. Remembering the advice from my first thread, I am beginning slow, mainly to reacquaint myself with being on 2 wheels again.


I really need some better shorts!! I felt the padding in the ones I had on, but the bottom of my pelvic bone felt like it was sitting right on top of the seat frame. Will I get used to this? It felt like I was straddling a split rail fence for much of the ride. I'm going to try different shorts before I spring for a better saddle, but I'm willing to bet that the entry-level saddle on my Trek is the first thing replaced.

"Junk"

Another recommendation for bibs. PI Elite bibs are doing the trick for me. If you are a little self conscious at first just imagine yourself in an 80s shampoo metal band, where lycra makes sense.

"It's the FINAL COUNTDOWN !!!"

... Or just wear cargo shorts over the bike shorts :-D

+50, or whatever we're up to on bib shorts. So much more comfy than regular shorts with a waistband.

I'm curious, but unconvinced about bibs. I mean, how does it enhance your comfort to suspend your manly bits from your shoulders? Doesn't SOUND all that great. Are bibs particularly comfy for the larger rider because they lack a waistband? I recently lost my official Clyde status, so I don't have a lot of trouble keeping regular pants in place. Am I likely to find bibs any more comfy than my mountain-bike shorts?

I'm curious, but unconvinced about bibs. I mean, how does it enhance your comfort to suspend your manly bits from your shoulders? Doesn't SOUND all that great. Are bibs particularly comfy for the larger rider because they lack a waistband? I recently lost my official Clyde status, so I don't have a lot of trouble keeping regular pants in place. Am I likely to find bibs any more comfy than my mountain-bike shorts?
The reasons have pretty much been covered so I can't really add anything other than to suggest trying a pair to see if they are for you.
http://www.love2pedal.com/ has some very reasonably priced bibs (although they are on holiday until the 20th)

I'm curious, but unconvinced about bibs. I mean, how does it enhance your comfort to suspend your manly bits from your shoulders? Doesn't SOUND all that great. Are bibs particularly comfy for the larger rider because they lack a waistband? I recently lost my official Clyde status, so I don't have a lot of trouble keeping regular pants in place. Am I likely to find bibs any more comfy than my mountain-bike shorts?

I myself don't care for bibs. 6'1 with a long torso so to me the bibs feel like a perma-wedgie.:D

I myself don't care for bibs. 6'1 with a long torso so to me the bibs feel like a perma-wedgie.:D

That's kind of why I like mine, wink wink!

I think they are just more comfortable. The lack of a rolling waistband is just one less distraction while being out on the road.

I prefer shorts to bibs, and have liked various models of Pearl Izumi shorts. I think my latest pair is basically one level down from their top of the line, and then I have an older pair that was probably one step lower-down, with somewhat less-nice padding/chamois.

But if you are feeling a lot of butt-pain, and especially if you are feeling numbness, you may want to make sure your saddle width is OK, and matched to your sit-bone width. The standard "came with the bike" saddle on many road bikes is only about 130mm wide, which is usually (or at least frequently) too narrow for us Clyde types. Go to a shop that sells Specialized gear and see if they have their "assometer" sit-bones measurement pad. That will tell you if you need a wider saddle, such as a 140+ mm width, or even 150+ mm. There is also a "home method" to do this measurement, using an aluminum foil sheet set on a carpeted stair step. (Basically just sit on it, circle the two deepest depressions, and measure between the approximate centers of the two depressions. Your saddle width should probably be a good 25-35mm larger than this "center-to-center" measurement.)

I'm curious, but unconvinced about bibs. I mean, how does it enhance your comfort to suspend your manly bits from your shoulders? Doesn't SOUND all that great. Are bibs particularly comfy for the larger rider because they lack a waistband? I recently lost my official Clyde status, so I don't have a lot of trouble keeping regular pants in place. Am I likely to find bibs any more comfy than my mountain-bike shorts?

I even preferred bib shorts many moons ago when I weighed 185 lbs. I just don't like waistbands and didn't realize how irritating they were until I tried a pair of bibs. If your bib shorts are pulling up on your junk anymore than regular shorts, you're either wearing the wrong size or brand, or have an abnormally long torso. As with anything else, YMMV.

I find the bibs nice but the one area that there is a problem is when you need to use the restroom.

...how does it enhance your comfort to suspend your manly bits from your shoulders? Doesn't SOUND all that great.

Understandable, but you need to remember that the over the shoulder part of bibs are made of lycra, that's going to stretch - so it's not like the bottoms are being wrenched upwards (mind you, this effect may vary depending on torso length - even lycra has it's stretch limits)


I find the bibs nice but the one area that there is a problem is when you need to use the restroom.

Though I haven't had to do this, I've seen cyclist just hike up one of the legs on the shorts and do their business. Mind you, they were doing a 10-100...a 10-200 would be a markedly different maneuver.

"Wedding tackle" "Gentleman bits"...



Watch a lot of UK Top Gear and you'll hear variations you never would have thought of.



Just got back from a short ride with all the gear I've purchased so far. It's only about 1.5 miles from my house to a disused mall where Sears is the only thing hanging on. I rode down to the mall and did 3 laps on the outer mall road. Remembering the advice from my first thread, I am beginning slow, mainly to reacquaint myself with being on 2 wheels again.


I really need some better shorts!! I felt the padding in the ones I had on, but the bottom of my pelvic bone felt like it was sitting right on top of the seat frame. Will I get used to this? It felt like I was straddling a split rail fence for much of the ride. I'm going to try different shorts before I spring for a better saddle, but I'm willing to bet that the entry-level saddle on my Trek is the first thing replaced.

It could be the saddle. It could be the shorts. It could be the bike fit. Or it could be the rider. The only way you'll find out is to ride and experiment.

I bought shorts. Wish I had bought bibs. The waistband is a little uncomfortable and my jersey rides up sometimes.

I'm curious, but unconvinced about bibs. I mean, how does it enhance your comfort to suspend your manly bits from your shoulders? Doesn't SOUND all that great. Are bibs particularly comfy for the larger rider because they lack a waistband? I recently lost my official Clyde status, so I don't have a lot of trouble keeping regular pants in place. Am I likely to find bibs any more comfy than my mountain-bike shorts?

I prefer bibs, especially for long rides. I find that the chamois stays in place better, especially when I do a lot of out-of-saddle climbing. Things get too much of a chance to slide in regular shorts; the waistband can shift and moving about on the saddle can get things out of place.

As for the other question someone asked about using the can...
All of my bibs have enough 'give' in the fabric that I can hike them down in front to take a slash. I just take off my jersey and leave it on my handlebars with my helmet if I've got to do the other and it's a port-o-let. Otherwise, there's usually enough room in a bathroom stall to remove and hang a jersey.

I quit using shorts like that. Years ago I switched back to leather saddles and found that I was more comfortable without a big wad of stuff in my crotch. I developed my own conspiracy theory about it:
http://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com/2011/02/great-saddle-conspiracy.html
but really, aren't you too young for diapers?

Marc

I'm curious, but unconvinced ...

The bibs aren't supposed to stretch to the point of pulling up. It should be just enough to keep the shorts up without a waistband. If the shoulder straps are digging in or the shorts are pulled and stretched up into your business to tightly, they are just too small.

The bibs aren't supposed to stretch to the point of pulling up. It should be just enough to keep the shorts up without a waistband. If the shoulder straps are digging in or the shorts are pulled and stretched up into your business to tightly, they are just too small.

I think the problem is that bibs don't come with adjustable straps, which means that unless you are proportioned the same as the manufacturers ideal, they are not going to fit properly.

I haven't tried them because I don't have any problem with the shorts rolling down. Most people who do have a problem it's because they don't have the proper size, large men tend to wear their pants below their stomach, so that they can fit the same size 34's that they wore in high school, even though that was 25 years and 50lbs ago. It works because there is a big leather belt to keep those pants from rolling down, If you buy bicycle shorts with the same idea, then they roll down because they don't have a large belt holding them up. However they then have to admit that a size 44 would be more appropriate.

I've tried bibs and the normal riding shorts, and I prefer the shorts. The waistband doesnt bother me, and I never really felt them "move" out of place during a ride.

As for the seat, even though I bought a top of the line road bike, I still didn't like the standard saddle. For my butt, even though it seems a pretty wide load, the seat that was good for me was actually quite thin, so don't think you need wide just because you are a clyde.

Here is my saddle that is super comfy, and I just hardly notice it is even there. I think the groove in the middle is the saviour!

http://www.gearandtraining.com/gearntrain/assets/product_images/SelleSMP-CarbSaddleYell.jpg

I think the problem is that bibs don't come with adjustable straps, which means that unless you are proportioned the same as the manufacturers ideal, they are not going to fit properly.

That's a good point. I have had bibs in my size that were way too short over the shoulders. Like anything else - shoes, saddles, etc - there may be some trial and error to find what works best. If that's shorts, then rock it!

I quit using shorts like that. Years ago I switched back to leather saddles and found that I was more comfortable without a big wad of stuff in my crotch. I developed my own conspiracy theory about it:
http://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com/2011/02/great-saddle-conspiracy.html
but really, aren't you too young for diapers?

Marc
I use a B-17 or Imperial on 2 of my bikes and I still wear my "diaper" shorts. For a ride of 2-3 hours, I'm fine with wearing a pair of real leather chamois shorts, but at peak form, my long days are between 11 and 18 hours on the road. Even 7 hours for a century is a long enough time that I like to have the extra cushion that a pair of modern shorts gives.

I myself don't like the bike shorts. I will admit though that they work great,and you can ride a lot farther with them than say casual shorts. I never tried a bib. If you do wear the shorts don't wear anything underneath them as stated before. I find the waist band to roll on me, which really isn't that big of a deal either since the material is so thin. I mostly just wear casual walking shorts with the boxer brief type underwear to keep the junk in place. If you feel goofy wearing just the straight bike Short's (which I do) wear a pair of regular shorts over them. I have done this a bunch of times and it works for me. I don't ride big miles so regular shorts and a good seat is how I roll. I have been eyeballing these awesome pair of mountain bike shorts that have all the padding and what not, but look like a pair of baggy cargo shorts. For me this would be the best of both worlds. Their $85.00. Thats whats holding me back. Someday I see myself in those shorts.

I think the problem is that bibs don't come with adjustable straps, which means that unless you are proportioned the same as the manufacturers ideal, they are not going to fit properly.

I have to call BS on this! The straps on most bibs stretch, so that they'll fit a wide range of (though not all) torso lengths. With the bibs I buy from Love2Pedal, I can easily grab the shoulders straps and stretch them 3-4" above my shoulders and not feel any tightness or discomfort. I probably stretch the straps 2-3" when I put them on, which means that the size I use will adapt to a wide range of body shapes.

People should also keep in mind that bibs are designed for comfort while riding! Which is to say that they're designed to fit best when you're leaning forward with your hands on the handlebars. If your only encounter with bibs is trying them on at the LBS or walking around the house, you might have found them to be a bit more snug than they would be while riding.

I like the bibs the best. I have some PI baggy shorts and have not been happy with them, especially for the price. The cheap performance bike shorts mentioned before were some of my favorites before I found the bibs. On century trips out of town or non group type of rides I usually bring some baggy shorts to put on when I go into a store or somewhere off the bike. I am usually in the back roads of Arkansas and I am not sure how most people would respond to lycre. If you think the shorts feel a little weird, try some chamois paste next. You'll learn to love it on long rides.