View Poll Results: How often do you use padded cycling pants?
I never use padded cycling pants
14
18.18%
I only use padded cycling pants on longer rides
7
9.09%
I use padded cycling pants about half of the time
1
1.30%
I use padded cycling pants most of the time, but not always
17
22.08%
I always use padded cycling pants
38
49.35%
Voters: 77. You may not vote on this poll
Padded cycling pants
#1
Have bike, will travel
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Padded cycling pants
Do you wear padded cycling shorts or pants? Are they worn some of the time, or all of the time?
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When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
Last edited by Barrettscv; 10-30-08 at 12:23 PM.
#2
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Yes I do, just about every time I ride (the exceptions are the quick trips to the grocery store & such). Other than those quick trips, my rides are all at least 45 minutes of hard, sweaty, cranking (16 - 20 MPH average).
The reason I wear them is not about the padding, its about the chafing. Ideally, the Chamois (the "padding" part) absorbs sweat so that you don't end up with itrritated, chafing skin in places where it would make you walk funny.
If you aren't riding hard enough or long enough yet for it to be an issue, don't worry about it. When you do, and I bet you will sooner or later, cycling shorts are very nice to have.
The reason I wear them is not about the padding, its about the chafing. Ideally, the Chamois (the "padding" part) absorbs sweat so that you don't end up with itrritated, chafing skin in places where it would make you walk funny.
If you aren't riding hard enough or long enough yet for it to be an issue, don't worry about it. When you do, and I bet you will sooner or later, cycling shorts are very nice to have.
#3
Uber Goober
Nothing against them, just haven't seen the need for them personally.
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#5
Senior Member
Most rides under 15 miles no, most rides over 15 miles yes.
#6
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Actually, I wear padded shorts, not pants. In winter, I just put a pair of tights on over my shorts, or I use leg warmers.
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#7
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#8
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I can't imagine not wearing a padded short. It would be all "hurty" otherwise!
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#9
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I was someone who wouldn't be caught dead in lycra, then I tried the shorts once and I'm hooked. I even caught myself wearing padded tights a couple weeks ago! What happened to me!?!?!?
#11
Senior Member
+100! My wife gave me a pair of padded tights and a long sleeve jersey for my b-day. Hasn't gotten cold enough around here to warrant wearing them yet. A year ago, shortly after I returned to cycling, I was having a converation with another parent of a kid on my kids' soccer team. She had also just started riding and we were discussing how neither of us would ever be caught dead in lycra. Ended up trying it a few months later and was hooked. (Much to the dismay of my 2 teenaged sons.)
#12
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#13
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My wife got me my first pair of padded tights as well. That was over 15 years ago, and I always wear padded shorts for any ride over an hour. I...could see not wearing padded shorts, though. I just can't see wearing cotton underwear underneath any outer garment that you would ride in for over an hour. Cotton stays wet and scrubs too much for me.
#14
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On anything over 50 miles I wear spandex.
On anything in warm weather where I don't have to look nice, I wear rapha fixed knickers (rapha quality control is so bad I would never recommend these, but I bought them a while ago). I hear the swobo knickers are similar but better made.
On cold weather rides I tend to wear jeans. Commuting I wear whatever I'm wearing at work unless it is hot enough I will sweat a lot.
On anything in warm weather where I don't have to look nice, I wear rapha fixed knickers (rapha quality control is so bad I would never recommend these, but I bought them a while ago). I hear the swobo knickers are similar but better made.
On cold weather rides I tend to wear jeans. Commuting I wear whatever I'm wearing at work unless it is hot enough I will sweat a lot.
#15
Not safe for work
I always wear padded shorts, knickers, skorts or pants. Way more comfortable, and that means a better and longer ride.
#16
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#17
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Never. Did not justify the expense yet, things are bit tough lately,
#19
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I never used to bother years ago, but when my rides regularly became longer than 5 miles or so, I bit the bullet. I have a lighter weight undergarment that I wear on short rides with my comfort bike, and recently purchased <gasp> Pearl Izumi Spandex shorts when I bought my road bike. After a couple uncomfortable post-ride episodes without them, I'm a believer.
As an Athena who has lost almost 30 lb. since July, I am still not ready to give the public a view of this derriere in Spandex. I have a favorite pair of twills that I wear over the shorts. Works for me.
As an Athena who has lost almost 30 lb. since July, I am still not ready to give the public a view of this derriere in Spandex. I have a favorite pair of twills that I wear over the shorts. Works for me.
#20
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Other than a few short rides - once meeting Neil F. on the last part of his commute home, test rides in a bike shop parking lot, etc - I've always used bike shorts. Even on my first ride two years ago I wore shorts under my jeans.
#21
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I'm betting that you either ride gently, or don't sweat a lot. (In Dallas, no less!)
Me, I sweat a LOT! I ride 3 times around the block with my 9 year old and I look like I got caught in the rain.
BTW: I'm completely sold on the shorts from https://www.aevero.com. Good fit, Chamois not too bulky, and the price is right (Curently 2 for $26 plus shipping!). Jerseys are good, too.
(Gloves, not so much, but heck, they were free. I use them for commuting, where they get pretty beat-up, saving my favorite gloves for my long rides.)
Me, I sweat a LOT! I ride 3 times around the block with my 9 year old and I look like I got caught in the rain.
BTW: I'm completely sold on the shorts from https://www.aevero.com. Good fit, Chamois not too bulky, and the price is right (Curently 2 for $26 plus shipping!). Jerseys are good, too.
(Gloves, not so much, but heck, they were free. I use them for commuting, where they get pretty beat-up, saving my favorite gloves for my long rides.)
#22
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On my 10 mile round trip commute, bike pants are complete over-kill if I ride my hybrid. I just wear normal underwear and put on a pair of swimming tunks over them. Now that the weather is hovering between a high of 50 F and low of around 32 F I also wear a pair of tights (not the super light lycra kind, but not baggy like sweat pants either).
If I I am going on longer rides (more than about 5 miles at a time), or I am riding my road bike then I wear padded bike shorts just about 100% of the time.
Happy riding,
André
If I I am going on longer rides (more than about 5 miles at a time), or I am riding my road bike then I wear padded bike shorts just about 100% of the time.
Happy riding,
André
#23
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#24
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fixed that for ya.
Brooks on all my bikes. No padded shorts needed. I have some from my pre-Brooks days, but they don't see the light of day much.
Brooks on all my bikes. No padded shorts needed. I have some from my pre-Brooks days, but they don't see the light of day much.
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