Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Invest in cycling shorts?

I'm wondering if I should invest in cycling shorts? I normally ride at least 20 mi a day, and am really feeling it on my ass to be honest. I usually wear denim, or denim shorts, riding on a fizik arione saddle. I was thinking of possibly buying cycling shorts, or spandex to wear under my shorts to see if that'd help. Honestly, its the taint area that burns and is pretty sore. Idea/Opinions? Giving my self a two day break to let my knees heal up and my arse ha.

I've got some Pearl Izumi liners that I wear under my Dickies & Red Kap shorts that work wonders on long rides.

Stay away from cheapo liners like Nashbar and Mt. Borah and maybe use some Chamois Butt'r or Bag Balm.

I've got some Pearl Izumi liners that I wear under my Dickies & Red Kap shorts that work wonders on long rides.

Stay away from cheapo liners like Nashbar and Mt. Borah and maybe use some Chamois Butt'r or Bag Balm.

This would do the job? http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___52545#

Can you normally wear them all day? I'd prefer to wear them while I ride to work, then work, and ride after. Unless they're uncomfy to walk/move in.

The pad is thin so it won't feel like you're wearing a full diaper but I wouldn't want to wear them all day. Walking around in them chafes me more than riding in them.

The pad is thin so it won't feel like you're wearing a full diaper but I wouldn't want to wear them all day. Walking around in them chafes me more than riding in them.

I'll give them a shot. I'll just put them on when I'm off work and do some serious riding.

Might want to look into bike fit as well. Especially I'd your knees as well as taint aren't feeling good. Done plenty of long distance 100k+ rides in jeans/undies without issue. Also had bad setups that killed after 5k.

Might want to look into bike fit as well. Especially I'd your knees as well as taint aren't feeling good. Done plenty of long distance 100k+ rides in jeans/undies without issue. Also had bad setups that killed after 5k.

Well I've been messing with my bike fit a lot lately to suit me better. I keep messing with the saddle height, I need to find a way to measure the angle of the bend to my knee. Also saddle movement front/back and tilt. I might try tilting my saddle every so slightly forward to see if that helps. I asked the guys at my lbs about knee pain and the answer was saddle is probably too high or too low. Can't figure out which it'd be, since I don't know how much bend i have to my knee. Plus professional bike fit is about $220 here. Can't shell that out.

Jeans have a thick seam that goes right under our bodies. This seam puts extra pressure on the perineum, especially if you use a race saddle like the Arione.

I would imagine that your first ride in some decent cycling shorts will be like this:

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/002/252/me-gusta.jpg

my Dickies & Red Kap shorts

Slight derail, but have you had any experience with Dickies pants and how they hold up being in and out of the saddle? Thinking about a pair for work, because I'm about to to through my second pair in a month because of my commute.

Dickies wear out much faster than Red Kaps.

The thought of riding an Arione with no cycling shorts makes me shiver! I think you will notice a big difference in comfort with a high quality liner or actual cycling short. This is something you do want to get the best so plan to spend some coin here. You will thank yourself that you did :)

I got some liners from REI that I have been very happy with for riding....a little bulky for walking around.

If I decide to go without the liners, any suggestions over the Fizik Arione then?

To update, I've been wearing the liners for a little less than a week now. And while they do help a lot with 'immediate' discomfort. From riding a bad saddle and without liners, I have some serious spots that burn and hurt a lot. Right in the taint area, with a couple acne spot I believe. Not to get gross. But I went to CVS today and looked for Chamois cream and couldn't find anything. Found tons of "dry skin lotion/cream". I took a chance on their Itch Relief which is used for "cures most jock itch, for effective relief of itching, scaling, cracking, burning, redness, soreness, irritation and discomfort".

I made sure to clean the spot real well and apply relief I got. But any suggestions? Or where to find actual Chamois cream.

Jeans have a thick seam that goes right under our bodies. This seam puts extra pressure on the perineum, especially if you use a race saddle like the Arione.

I would imagine that your first ride in some decent cycling shorts will be like this:

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/002/252/me-gusta.jpg

This was my face when I went from boxers to riding shorts.


Also it was my face again when I went from riding shorts to full bibs.

To update, I've been wearing the liners for a little less than a week now. And while they do help a lot with 'immediate' discomfort. From riding a bad saddle and without liners, I have some serious spots that burn and hurt a lot. Right in the taint area, with a couple acne spot I believe. Not to get gross. But I went to CVS today and looked for Chamois cream and couldn't find anything. Found tons of "dry skin lotion/cream". I took a chance on their Itch Relief which is used for "cures most jock itch, for effective relief of itching, scaling, cracking, burning, redness, soreness, irritation and discomfort".

I made sure to clean the spot real well and apply relief I got. But any suggestions? Or where to find actual Chamois cream.
Your LBS should carry chamois cream.

To update, I've been wearing the liners for a little less than a week now. And while they do help a lot with 'immediate' discomfort. From riding a bad saddle and without liners, I have some serious spots that burn and hurt a lot. Right in the taint area, with a couple acne spot I believe. Not to get gross. But I went to CVS today and looked for Chamois cream and couldn't find anything. Found tons of "dry skin lotion/cream". I took a chance on their Itch Relief which is used for "cures most jock itch, for effective relief of itching, scaling, cracking, burning, redness, soreness, irritation and discomfort".

I made sure to clean the spot real well and apply relief I got. But any suggestions? Or where to find actual Chamois cream.

There are a bunch of pretty good, cheap, alternatives to chamois cream if you dont want to drop 20 bucks on the stuff.

There are a bunch of pretty good, cheap, alternatives to chamois cream if you dont want to drop 20 bucks on the stuff.

I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for, since I can't find Chamois cream itself. Also LBS doesn't have it.

I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for, since I can't find Chamois cream itself. Also LBS doesn't have it.
Whoah, that is REALLY weird.

I have no cheap alternatives other than my own taint sweat, which does the trick for me.

I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for, since I can't find Chamois cream itself. Also LBS doesn't have it.

Noxzema, Bag Balm, Boudreaux's Butt Paste. There's a couple off the top of my head that I remember from a google search a while ago.

You should google it too.

Bag Balm can be bought at CVS, Walgreen's, etc and is much better than Chamois Butt'r IMO.

Bag Balm can be bought at CVS, Walgreen's, etc and is much better than Chamois Butt'r IMO.

I'll give it a shot tonight. See if a different CVS has it. Scrod, I have narrowed down my saddle search to the Selle Italia Turbo reissue, or the Brooks Swift. Your opinion? I'd like to keep my bike non-classic style without the brooks. But if the Turbo blows, then I'll get the brooks.

I think I dropped 10 bucksish on some clearance compression workout shorts.. does the same thing and works fine.

The Brooks Swift and Turbo are really close to each other in overall shape. I can't really confirm that a saddle I like will make your butt happy but I do love the Turbo 1980 Reissue.

The Brooks Swift and Turbo are really close to each other in overall shape. I can't really confirm that a saddle I like will make your butt happy but I do love the Turbo 1980 Reissue.

A lbs sells them for $60 so I'll give the turbo a chance. I think my butt will like it over the Fizik Arione and my All City saddle lol.

I ended up buying pair of $30 padded shorts on eBay & they work great, though I don't own any high end name brand so I cannot compare. Check them out -Spakct http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=spakct+shorts&_sacat=0

It is worth it to really find a saddle that fits your ass. This makes a bigger difference than cycling shorts or no cycling shorts, IMO. However, bibs/shorts are great for keeping your bits out of the way.

OP: Yeah, investing in a good pair of shorts is the first step. Look for one that has dual density foam, where one layer is closed-cell. it will say on the label. They always cost more, but always work the best becuase that closed cell layer never "bottoms out."

also, some others have been throwing out chamois cream ideas. There are lots of brands out there, some better than others, and some that last longer. Check my sig, I review lots of different brands.