Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Pants vs Saddle - would cycling pants help?

The weather's been pretty nice in the last few days and I took a few long rides (well, 26 miles... that's long enough for me). I don't wear cycling kits because I was't quite ready to show the world my Clyde ass in spandex yet, so I switch between a pair of khaki and A pair of board shorts. In the past two days I've managed to rub crotch holes in both pants after my "long" rides. On my fixed gear bike I have a Brooks B17 Narrow imperial (http://www.brooksengland.com/catalogue-and-shop/saddles/road+&+mtb/B17+Narrow+Imperial/), and both of my pants were ruined while I was on this bike. After a very thorough simulation (cue CSI theme song) I realize the holes were the result of constant rubbing between my enormous thigh and the leather string on the saddle. I've never heard or read about this problem before, so this as a bit unexpected.

I guess my question is how to avoid ruining more pants, short of getting a new saddle. The B17N is broken in quite nicely. I think getting rid of the string would effectively solve the problem, since my B17 (on a different bike) treats my pants fine, but I'd be risking ruining the saddle. Would cycling pants/bibs help in this situation, or would I just ruin them as well? I imagine a crotch hole on a cycling pants would keep expanding while I pedal and that's not a pretty sight....

I wear Padded Cycling shorts, and then regular exercise shorts over top. I do not have a (Spandex) ready body for sure. I wear the extra shorts for the comfort of those who can see :rolleyes:

Mountain bike shorts are a good compromise. The problem with cotton is that it pulls on both your skin and the saddle. Synthetics in proper cycling shorts (baggy or tight) will slide. Also, stuff built for cycling will be built to handle the stress and depending on where you get it, may be warranteed for the type of wear you're talking about. For "real" rides, I think you'll find that padded tight shorts are hard to beat comfort-wise, but again, MTB shorts are a good compromise if you just can't do tight shorts.

I wear Padded Cycling shorts, and then regular exercise shorts over top. I do not have a (Spandex) ready body for sure. I wear the extra shorts for the comfort of those who can see :rolleyes:

Same here.

Cycling pants make a massive difference in comfort, the longer the ride the bigger the benefit. Instead of mountain bike shorts I would go with a pair of cycling shorts/bibs and wear a regular pair of shorts over them. Your butt will thank you for it. Mountain bike shorts are nice, but still pretty loose and the padding is nowhere near as nice as cycling shorts.

You could look into the no-nose saddles, too. I never used any, but seem to fit your needs well.

I use the ISM Typhoon split nose saddle(s) I have three of them on all my bikes, including my Spin bike. That alone took care of the sore scrotum.

I wear Padded Cycling shorts, and then regular exercise shorts over top. I do not have a (Spandex) ready body for sure. I wear the extra shorts for the comfort of those who can see :rolleyes:

I insist on wearing nothing but spandex, because i want that fruit eating hippie to know a fat man just crushed his face going up that hill on the big ring.

Bibs and cycling pants sounds good, and wearing another sports shorts outside is a great idea. I know sooner or later I'll get a pair. I am just not sure if the leather string on my Brooks saddle (B17N) would tear through my bibs as well. I guess I am really looking for a way to avoid ruining new pants in two days (without replacing the saddle). Maybe it's my riding posture?

Try the Zoic Mountain Biking shorts, they have a separate inner padded short, and a shell mountain biking short with a bunch of pockets. I like them very much and have 3 or 4 pairs.

Hi guys. Today I went and carefully checked my bike again, and realized my saddle string didn't cause the tears in my pants. I have a tiny back light installed on my seat post (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/gear/product/numen.touch.1.led.front.safety.light/549/38389/) and upon close inspection I found its Velcro strap to be the actual culprit. I moved the light below seat stays and hopefully that'll end my problem.

That being said, after reading this thread I think I am ready to make the switch to spandex :)

It's been said already, but I just wanted to reiterate that cycling shorts under other shorts is a good compromise. There are quick-dry shorts meant for active sports that are ultra-light, baggy, fit well over cycling shorts and don't have aggressive stitching that will cause problems - and look enough like outerwear so that I'm not uncomfortable wearing them to walk around. I've lost enough weight so that I'm not spandex-averse anymore, but if I'm planning to shop or hang out somewhere in the middle of a ride, I do feel kind of dorky walking around in skin-tight padded shorts, so I cover up.

For the upper body, those Performance quick-dry t-shirts are great, with a quick-dry fleece over them when the weather warrants it. I don't wear any cotton anything while cycling. It gets soaked and stays soaked, which means that you carry that weight around, PLUS, in the cooler weather, you freeze on the downhills or whenever you stop.

Got out my Boxer -briefs after experiencing thigh chafing walking around on a hot
day working in the LBS..

should have taken the tire talc into the loo to keep the sweaty areas drier...

I wear Padded Cycling shorts, and then regular exercise shorts over top. I do not have a (Spandex) ready body for sure. I wear the extra shorts for the comfort of those who can see :rolleyes:

x2

go to walmart and get a gel saddle cover. end of problem.

I haven't been cycling long, only about a week but, after just a few days I broke down and got the padded tights. After my first few rides the chaffing was horrible. Now with the padded tights I don't feel any chaffing. I just put some gym shorts on over the tights.

go to walmart and get a gel saddle cover. end of problem.

Actually, while gel saddle covers may or may NOT solve the chafing problem, they can and often DO create far worse problems such as Pressure Points in places where you absolutely do NOT want Pressure Points. Any overly "cushioned" saddle can cause these problems. If they work for you, keep on truckin. But be warned that you may be setting yourself up for a miserable experience on the bike. Counter-intuitive as it may sound, -usually-, the more firm a saddle, the better.

For all you newer riders out there: These issues are so common as to be the norm. Wide spongy saddles are Ok for short rides before your butt gets in shape. Later on with longer rides your taste wll evolve. The best products I've found for these issues are Bibshorts, Brooks B17s, and BodyGlide http://www.ebikestop.com/skin_care_anti_chafe))997.php?filtManufact=66.