Touring - Forgoing Cycling Shorts in Favor of Gap Boxers and Lightweight Cargo Pants.

During the school year, I commute 25-30 miles a day. Seldom do I wear cycling shorts. I ride Brooks saddles, and have found recently that cotton knit boxers from The Gap along with lightweight shorts are the most comfortable thing to wear. My last two rides with lyrca tights were not as comfortable. Not bad, just not as nice as with regular shorts.

I'm registered for a long charity ride - 330 miles in 4 days. If I were to ride in what my butt tells me is most comfortable, would I regret it after 40 miles or so? I've ridden up to 40 miles in regular pants, by the way, and it seemed fine.

Also, can anybody recommend a cycling short with minimal padding?

http://www.bicycleclothing.com/Mens-Touring-Shorts.html

I do not really see the need for a padded cycling short at all. I know the majority of people use them, but I find that seamless underwear and some light shorts do the trick for me.

If your butt is already acclimated to 30-40 miles a day in your existing clothing, you should be ok at 60 a day, but you might consider something changing to undies and shorts made of wicking materials with flat seams and a gusseted crotch. Personally, if it were a leisurely tour, I'd wear my undies and shorts, but if it was a hammer-fest, I'd wear my bibs.

The J&G Touring shorts are nice...though perhaps a little too baggy and short in the inseam for my taste. Walmart carries some good poly-blend briefs with flat seams under their Starter brand and work pretty well for me for rides up to 60 miles or so and are MUCH cheaper than my merino wool boxers.

If you go with bibs, the Performance Ultra brand is a good choice for the money.

40 miles is the point where one might need padded shorts.

I have a few pairs of these recumbent unpadded cycling shorts to use with my brooks saddle.

http://www.aerotechdesigns.com/recumbent.htm

They work pretty well.

I do not really see the need for a padded cycling short at all. I know the majority of people use them, but I find that seamless underwear and some light shorts do the trick for me.

Can you provide some brand recommendations for seamless underwear?
So far, I've not found anything that beats traditional cycle shorts for anything over 30-40 miles. I've tried touring shorts that were so ridiculously padded, I threw them out.
Currently I just use baggy athletic shorts pulled over my cycle shorts when I stop at those seedy redneck bars in the middle of nowhere for something to eat. :-)

I don't like padded shorts, but the chamois' moisture wicking is a benefit.

Brad

I wear denim shorts and no underwear, works fine.
I used to wear lycra, thought I needed it but discovered that I don't, more hype debunked.
I actually feel more comfortable not wearing lycra.

What about mountain bike shorts?? pockets with minimal padding

Everyone has a different toughness quotient for their behind. When my butt is on my bike often, 50 miles with unpadded shorts is a breeze. When it's not, 25 is about the limit. So, lycra, padding, etc, is simply a matter of taste and how long it takes before you miss the padding.

I didn't get much riding in over the spring and went for a 70 mile ride with unpadded shorts. The next day I switched to padded for 60 miles since I could feel the tenderness and swelling. Now that 70 probably wouldn't be so bad. You won't die because your rump hurts the next day and it usually only bothers me when I first sit on the bike. After that it just disappears into the background.

keep your skin clean, and put some fresh BVD's on then.. if it works OK,
saddle sores are like diaper rash , moisture and bacteria . with a bit of abrasion thrown in.

I used shorts with just the Faux chamois sewn in, moisture absorbent ,
but not really padded..

Honestly, I can't imagine riding a bike in anything other than Lycra bib shorts and a high-tech jersey. I'm already getting goosebumps thinking about the chafing caused by cotton boxers and cargo pants! Of course, I'm used to riding in warm weather and I like to get a workout when I'm on the bike which means that I usually sweat quite a bit. Without wicking materials and evaporative cooling, I'd be well and truly miserable...

I ride long distance in boxers and work pants,but I'm in NO hurry to get anywhere.
I rode 140 miles in 1 day a couple weekends ago on my (unloaded) touring bike just for fun.Took me 19 hours,like I said,I'm not in a hurry and I'm old and worn out.


If it's a ride(you get there when you get there) wear what you like.
If it's a race(see you later sucka)you might want to think about wicking some sweat with something besides cotton.

Swimming trunks can be a good option (with the right seams and fit) and should be on sale through the end of Summer.

Also, can anybody recommend a cycling short with minimal padding?


These have minimal padding, use with your regular pants or shorts. I use these when I wear my jeans on a long ride in cool dry weather.
http://www.rei.com/product/794384/novara-padded-bike-briefs-mens

REI has several other similar products too.

Wet cotton is the #1 chaffing cause. This includes blisters on you feet if you're a hiker.
So far, I use big baggy Columbia mess lined swim trunks and am as happy as a lark.

I do just fine with surf shorts and clean underwear. The quicksilver ones seem to fit me best, and all the ones I got have two pockets and a bottle opener.

These have minimal padding, use with your regular pants or shorts. I use these when I wear my jeans on a long ride in cool dry weather.
http://www.rei.com/product/794384/novara-padded-bike-briefs-mens

REI has several other similar products too.
I have one pair of these briefs. I HATE them. I think they are cut too high in the leg. I like the boxer style. The briefs would be great if they were cut more like regular briefs instead of speedos. IMHO of course. :)

I wear sweats that are lined with fleece.

Why not just try two days in a row of 40+ mile rides in what you wear? Personally I hate riding in cotton anything, but I sweat a lot and I'd rather have something that will wick moisture and dry quickly. My last tour was 500 miles in 7 days, and I just wore nylon/poly boxer briefs (under armor and ex officio) under my Rivendell MUSA knickers, and my butt felt fine. I like the Riv knickers, they make shorts as well that probably cost a few bucks more than the J&Gs, but with no padding (works for me) and back pockets (which I think the J&G shorts don't have, and which come in handy). I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the knickers, if you don't mind looking a little silly (I clearly don't).

Brooks, boxers, knickers or cheap trousers [see: shorts] with the legs rolled up above the knee. Loath bibs and lyrca personally.

If you go with the cotton I would suggest taking a small tube of A&D ointment as a precaution if you do start to chafe after logging more miles than you are used to. It keeps the skin from getting too moist and soft. Saved my arse even with lycra on my first big tour.

I thought I, as an avid backpacker, was the only person over the age of 2 who knew about A and D.

I have a pair of Andiamo briefs. Lightly padded.
From Colorado Cyclist.

http://www.coloradocyclist.com/search/results/YW5kaWFtbw==

I have a pair of Andiamo briefs. Lightly padded.
From Colorado Cyclist.

http://www.coloradocyclist.com/search/results/YW5kaWFtbw==
I'm thinking they are more than likely made by the same outfit that makes the REI items both the boxers and briefs. I got one pair of each from REI and my others I got from either bikenashbar or perfomance I can't remember. Still like the boxer style better.

What is this A&D ointment? I haven't ever tried it but have this one problem spot in a really embarassing spot that keeps getting chafed. Ill try anything to get it to stop.

Target sells a "cycling brief" that's essentially a boxer cut brief with flat seams and no hole for the boy.

I'd stay away from cotton anything. I did a two month backpacking trip with cotton boxers and t-shirt and decided even the cheapest synthetic alternative would be better. There's just nothing cool about having clothes that get soaked in sweat and refuse to dry.

What is this A&D ointment? I haven't ever tried it but have this one problem spot in a really embarassing spot that keeps getting chafed. Ill try anything to get it to stop.

It is an ointment in a tube generally used on baby's to keep moisture from being absorbed into the skin from wet diapers. Sort of like Vaseline but it seems more waxy and less petroleum based. It is inexpensive and might be worth a try for you.

I have a pair of Andiamo briefs. Lightly padded.
From Colorado Cyclist.

http://www.coloradocyclist.com/search/results/YW5kaWFtbw==

I also have a pair of these that I use with my MUSA shorts and the combination works well. I'm a Clyde and don't feel comfortable wearing lycra out in public without something to cover it.

Ex-Officio boxer briefs and whatever comfortable shorts you like. Target even has Champion wicking boxer briefs that I like, but prefer the Ex-Oficio, though they do cost more. I don't wear padded or jerseys. I wear wicking hiking/running shirts. That way I don't have to have separate outfits for every activity that I do. Wicking is the key.