cplager

Recumbents are a lot of fun. Cruzbike conversions are both a very cheap way to get a recumbent bike and a way to build a really nice recumbent bike.

Wooden Tiger

Yes, gotta love the expected d-bag behavior of some "cyclists." The most amusing aspect of the whole thing is that the same toolbags wave or nod to me when I'm actually wearing "proper attire" but don't wave when I"m not. Pathetic...

bassjones

you're getting chaffing with padded bicycling shorts with no underwear? That's very odd. Try some chamois butter. As your rides get longer, the underwear will cause problems due to the seams. Cycling shorts are designed for commando style. That's how they work... They deal with the sweat, plus pad the sit bones. With underwear between the shorts and your skin, they can't wick the sweat.

Wooden Tiger

Why is it odd that I find discomfort in wearing cycling shorts commando-style? Without giving too much detail, I find severe irritation the last place I want it, which normally results in no sexual endeavors for the better part of a week. That's my personal experience with "how they work." I'm not worried about wicking sweat, I'm worried about them wicking skin.

As for chamois butter, no thanks on the gushy sensation of cycling vaseline in my rear, I'll pass.

bassjones

It's just odd. That's the exact opposite of how they should behave. Wonder if you have an allergy to the chamois? Might want to try a different brand.

vesteroid

Wear them however you want, just realize the overwhelming majority of riders who wear cycling shorts NEVER wear anything underneath, and dont get chafing.

I do remember getting it a few times when I started, and I did have to use CB I simply used it directly on the pad and the only sensation I had was a light lotion feel when I took the shorts off. But I take a shower after I ride, so that lasted all of 10 seconds.

After about a month, i dont really use it anymore unless I am doing centuries. They also make a much thicker paste type that applies directly to the skin and thats what I use now (I use hammer brand, but there are many brands)

Wooden Tiger

I've used the Performance Bicycle brand as well as some other brand but I can't recall the name right now. It's the friction against important parts that irritates, it's not a matter of an allergic reaction.

Wooden Tiger

The pad isn't the problem.

Beachgrad05

several articles/blog posts related to issue:

1.
"Cycling shorts are designed to be worn next to the skin with no underwear in between. Use of a chamois cream will help cut down friction and avoid saddle sores....."
https://www.kirklandcycle.com/blog/pr...ndo-and-.shtml

2.
"While the idea of cycling without underwear may seem strange and foreign at first, most serious cyclists "go commando" while in the saddle. This is to help avoid the rubbing and irritation that can come from unfortunately placed underwear seams....."
https://www.livestrong.com/article/41...ycling-shorts/


3.
"(Note: this blog post talks about some pretty intimate stuff. Maybe it’s TMI, but I’m guessing a lot of cyclists have had to deal with cycling shorts and how to wear them. -DAVE)

I’ve been able to ride a bike most of my life, but it wasn’t until 2000 that I became a “cyclist.”........
https://veloduo.wordpress.com/2009/06...f-bike-shorts/

It's your body...ride how works for you clothing wise just know that most find riding with something between cycling short chamois and skin is NOT beneficial or comfortable

Erwin8r

BeachGrad, that was like the longest post, ever... Lol! Great info!

And yeah, go commando. If you're having problems, try different brands. It has been my experience that proper cycling shorts make cycling a heck of a lot more comfy. The couple times I went out without (once mountain biking and once on a "short ride" that turned into 10 miles), I paid dearly in the form of some chafing and general rear-end soreness. YMMV.

Wooden Tiger

I've actually never experienced chaffing from wearing underwear under my cycling shorts, only a sore rear from the saddle, but I think that could be attributed to the type of ride, which was a bit bumpy. I guess maybe in the future I may try it again but for now I'm not feeling that adventurous.

marmot

Since we're casting our inhibitions aside, I'll discuss my cycling lingerie.
I have one pair of liner shorts with a synthetic "chamois" that's just a thin layer of fiberfill covered with smooth fabric. Very comfortable and cool, perfectly suitable for going commando.
I have another pair of liners with thick, diaper-like foam padding. They are much less successful, and feature a very poorly located seam that causes chafing in the worst possible place. They are only usable with underwear: ultrathin wicking workout briefs, never regular cotton briefs.
I just bought a pair of Fox Ranger MTB shorts. They're great, with a liner that splits the difference between the other two: not thick, not thin, with no awkwardly placed seams.
I also have regular road-bike shorts, but seldom wear them. I hate the look, and they kind of crush things up in an uncomfortable way.

Wooden Tiger

Yes, the ultra-thin wicking "workout briefs" do fine for me, NOT the cotton variety. They don't seem to get in the way and they keep things where they need to be. I'm much more a fan of liners than the actual cycling shorts, as actual cycling shorts seem to uh...push things in...

DaveSC

I'm an MTBer so take this for what it's worth:

When I started I had sit issues. My first 16mile ride ended in severe pain and I started to wonder if I want to continue doing this activity that is obviously causing me so much "bad" pain (muscle pain good). After I snapped out of it I hit amazon and got myself the following:

Pearl Izumi Men's Liner Short (I wear loose wicking shorts over)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Anatomic Relief Saddle with Gel
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

About a month later and I don't feel any discomfort at all unless I do something stupid (happens).

The liner shorts really keep things where you initially put them, When I get on the bike I adjust then forget about it. The anatomic seat really helps put the weight on my sit bones.

Neil_B

I don't understand why some folks are giving Wooden Tiger a hard time for what he chooses to wear or not wear. Everyone has to find what works for them. I can't ride more than a couple of miles in street clothes without feeling torn up. In 2008 I shared a hostel room with a rider who wore street clothes on his ride.... from Pittsburgh to Meyersdale, 100 miles. I think both of us were doing it right.

That said, when I wore underwear under my bike shorts back in 2007, I went numb, didn't realize the episodes of numbness weren't a 'rite of passage', and suffered six weeks from a lack of feeling in my, err, "organ of increase." Feeling returned after some time off the bike and going commando on future rides.

MattFoley

Bike shorts are not pants and are designed to be worn against the skin, just like a bathing suit. So you're not "going commando" by not wearing underwear with them. Just sayin'...

Neil_B

I think that's pubic hair-splitting.

Wooden Tiger

My bathing suit has a liner. I know this because I just wore it three days ago.

MRT2

And your bike shorts have a chamois, which is functionally the same thing.

Wooden Tiger

Hardly. The chamois pads my ass more than other areas where the rough material tends to rub.

donalson

yup for "support" to keep the dangly bits from moving around to much... riding shorts are skin tight for the same reason... to prevent things from moving around to much and putting things (like the chamois) where they belong

Wooden Tiger

The problem is the chamoise doesn't protect where it needs to. The last time I went commando in cycling shorts, I wound up with an irritated purple helmet and couldn't walk for a week and a half!

MRT2

Hmm. Never heard of that before. I find cycling shorts help keep everything pulled up and out of the way.

Wooden Tiger

Well, they do keep everything from moving around, but that's about where it ends. I have shorts by a few different manufacturers and still wind up with the same issues. The only difference I've found is the way they fit my body and the thickness/thinness of the chamois. Aside from that, things just don't come up high enough in the front to protect anything.

Beachgrad05

sorry...the cutting and pasting of the three informative sites made it so. no way bashing Wooden Tiger either...just thought I'd pass along info for all that I found. As a woman I cannot know the experience of a man in that area. I do know the issues we women face. I personally use Chamois Butt'r on my chamois and DZ Nutz Bliss on my body to prevent issues with great success. For irritation after really long rides I use A & D ointment after showering. Been blessed with no saddle sore issues. (Knock on wood)