General Cycling Discussion - Cycling shorts...what's underneath?

I'm very new to cycling, and just bought my first water bottle and Jersey yesterday. Clearly the gym shorts I wore over my cycling shorts on my last ride were an impediment. But are you supposed to ride nude underneath? Just want to understand how to dress to avoid getting in my own way. Thanks

Commando

You wear a birthday suit underneath cycling shorts.

MOD EDIT: NSFW

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s480x480/574783_294367000671093_1745742970_n.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=294367000671093&set=a.184253495015778.40623.184182555022872&type=1&ref=nf)

The pad ("chamois") in bike shorts has fairly soft foam which fully compresses easily when you sit on the saddle. Because of this it provides little in the way of cushioning, but what it does do is add body and stiffness to the fabric of the shorts so that it doesn't bunch up or wad in the folds of your skin and cause chafing. Putting underwear between the pad and you butt defeats this.

The chamois should also wick moisture away from your soft sensitive bits more easily and again cotton undies defeat this. Also, the location of many types of underwear leads to chafing with just the elastic bands at the leg holes.

Yea nothing, they are your underwear. I wear basketball shorts over my cycle shorts too, how is this an impediment? Is it the seam? In do 50 mile rides regularly like this and doesnt bother me.

Your taint and genitals.

and your butt

Yea nothing, they are your underwear. I wear basketball shorts over my cycle shorts too, how is this an impediment? Is it the seam? In do 50 mile rides regularly like this and doesnt bother me.

When you start getting a little faster the flapping may irritate you. Also it makes you look silly and afraid to fully commit.

Nothing but pure crack!

...but wait...you've been a member since 2008??? Hmm?!?! :rolleyes:

Yea nothing, they are your underwear. I wear basketball shorts over my cycle shorts too, how is this an impediment? Is it the seam? In do 50 mile rides regularly like this and doesnt bother me.

For one you look like you have something to hide. :P
The wind would bug the heck out of me. Here it is windy 3/4 of the year.
For me I have worked my arse off for years and have no desire to hide in baggy clothes. Heck when I weighed over 200lbs I wore lycra. Shame is for kids.

Yea nothing, they are your underwear. I wear basketball shorts over my cycle shorts too, how is this an impediment? Is it the seam? In do 50 mile rides regularly like this and doesnt bother me.

Have you ridden like that on a very hot day?

I'll do that too if I know I'll be making several stops along the way, but otherwise the extra layer just increases the chances of sweat-related chafing issues.

one of the benefits of the pad is to soak up sweat and keep it off your body, so cotton undies will be pointless.
Wicking polyester undies perform the same sweat removal function as the pad, so if you want to wear the same bike shorts for 2-3 rides before needing to wash them then you could try using that.

Thanks for the advice, everybody . . . commando it is!!!

@1terceptor: LOL!!!! You gave me hiccups this morning, dude!

@Aeolis: for me, the inseam of the basketball shorts get caught on the front end of my seat, and I have to stand up and adjust myself all the time.

@tagaproject6: I've been THINKING about riding for a really long time. I'm finally getting off my fat @** and taking action.

@DataJunkie: True dat

Thanks all

I've been THINKING about riding for a really long time. I'm finally getting off my fat @** and taking action.





If I may be as so bold, HELL YEAH! I lost 70 lbs after i got married in 04 and it is the best thing (uh besides getting married and my wonderful kids blah blah blah) that I have ever done. Good luck.

The time for thinking is over, rivercity6. Get on your bike and ride.

MOD EDIT: NSFW image removed. Let's just say JDNM found the "full moon" image from post #4 amusing.

rofl!!

You can always wear a cycling thong or if you really want to spice things up, wear a lacy thong that has nothing to do with cycling!

wearing gym shorts over the bike shorts should be OK.

wearing gym shorts over the bike shorts should be OK.


Until you catch the back waistband of your gym shorts on the nose of your saddle and then get caught. If you're coming up at a light, it can suck because you're in traffic and the best way is to stop and put one foot back on the ground and then start over.

To paraphrase a Calvin Klein ad from before many of you were born...

Nothing comes between me and my bike shorts

Cue the old joke about Scotsmen:

Kid: "Is anything worn under the kilt?"
Scot: "Nope, it's all in perfect working order!"

;)

I tried just wearing cycling shorts without the bball shorts and it was mmuch much better. I gained around 2mph :p