roughrider504

I just bought my first two pairs of bike shorts, and one word AWESOME! Before bike shorts, I had saddle sores 24/7, and now there slowly going away. To add to that, I had to stop, or get out the saddle because my rear hurt .

The point of this thread is, I want to hear your stories of before and after you started wearing bike shorts.

Delta

There is no comparison. Besides getting a really good saddle, bike shorts is the next best thing I ever purchased. It makes all the difference in the world. The first time I rode with just regular shorts, I felt like I had been *****. Horrible.

Olebiker

I have worn cycling shorts as long as I have been riding and wouldn't consider riding without them.

I have recently started using Performance Ultra bibs. I have been riding for over thirty years and they are the best I have ridden in.

superdex

(wait till you try bibs)

RonH

I started with padded baggy shorts many years ago. Eventually graduated to lycra.
Made the move to bibs in 2003. I now own two pairs of baggy shorts for occasions when modesty is a concern and 12 pairs of bibs.
I love 'em!!

As they say about bibs, "Once you try them you'll never go back."

DataJunkie

I have one pair of voler elite bibs. Awesome!
I second RonH's comment about bibs.
No more regular bike shorts for me.

timmhaan

bibs are that great huh? i've never tried them myself. what's the benefit over regular cycling shorts?

DataJunkie

I have to adjust regular shorts from time to time. The padding either rides up or goes in the opposite direction. Basically, Bibs fit like a glove and stay that way.
Incidentally, I do not have much of a gut. Maybe my issues with regular shorts have more to do with my body type.
Plus, the wife loves them on me.

I'm sure there are other benefits but this is the main one for me.

Bizurke

I just got my first pair about 5 days ago and I love em. I promised I would never wear lycra, especially since I'm a fat kid, but after tryin em on they don't look as bad as I thought they would and the comfort is great. Not to mention the fact that they breath. I'm so glad I decided to take the lyrcra plung pre-ragbrai instead of after. This is going to make a week of riding much better.

roughrider504

I am not a small person either, and I tried the lycra, and it didnt look too bad! I bought the lycra ones. But I am wearing underarmor shorts over them right now, not for long I hope. Just got to get used to the look.

SemperFi

Haven't tried a pair of bike shorts yet but I've only been back into cycling for about two months now. I was thinking of getting the Zoic Vigor Rip Shorts because I can't see myself in Lycra, at least not yet.
Can anyone give a critique of this type of bike short?

As an aside, I've experienced some numbness "down below" at the end of my ride each night (about 8 miles) and was wondering if bike shorts help alleviate this particular problem. I've already made some saddle adjustments (level with the ground and a bit more forward on the rails) which seemed to have helped some, but the problem persists to some degree.

DavidLee

I purchased my first 2 pairs of shorts a little over a month ago & I will never look back. Now I own 5 pairs & might try some bibs soon. The really short trips I might make to the grocery store, library etc without them are painful, literally. Stay AWAY from padded cycling briefs a.k.a padded underwear. They will destroy your "boys" and hurt something terrible. If anyone is considering those padded cycling briefs, please put your modesty aside and buy some decent shorts.

SemperFi

My LBS sells Gore bike shorts (Lycra). Can anyone critique this particular brand?

chipcom 

Oh horsepucky. I wear the Performance lightly padded boxer-briefs under cargo shorts all the time. The key is the shorts you wear over them...specifically the seams. You want to wear workout shorts, or cargo shorts that have flat seams, which can be a challenge to find in cargo shorts. If the short has the seams sewn together into a flap, right smack in the middle of the crotch, you don't want to ride in them.

For baggy shorts, the best I have found are J&G touring shorts:
https://www.bicycleclothing.com/Mens-Touring-Shorts.html
They sport a poly pad in the crotch, rather than being lycra padded shorts inside of a baggy. These are the kind of shorts I wear on longer rides like centuries, with padded shorts or undies underneath.

With my Brooks saddles, broken in and positioned properly, I really don't need padding at all for anything under 50 miles or so...as long as the seams of the shorts I am wearing are not an issue. The padding is more to protect me from them seams, not the saddle.

IMO, if a saddle gives you that much pain without padding (if seams are not an issue), I'd first look hard at my saddle position - height, fore/aft and tilt. A little change here can make a big difference. On my Bianchi, my Team Pro was killing me at first...but moving the saddle about a 1/2" forward took care of the problem. If positioning doesn't do the trick...another saddle might be in order. A decent saddle, positioned properly, should not cause pain or saddle soreness for short (under 20 mile) rides. Of course, there is some butt toughening to be done if you have not been getting regular miles on the bike.

Lycra cycling shorts are nice...but you really don't need them unless you are racing, I kinda like to have pockets for when I am off the bike and don't think it's good manners to be showing off your junk in public.

Folksnake

Chipcom--those J & G shorts you refer to look like what I've been trying to find. I'm back into riding at age 47, and I'm getting tired of the chafing that's going. I've been relying on swimming trunks or cotton drawstring shorts--not the best things, obviously. I've been wanting to get a pair of real bike shorts--the baggy kind, I'm not ready to talk Lycra tights yet--but I've hestitated, since they cost a good bit and many of them seem to be styled for skateboard kids (REALLY long). I know that styling shouldn't trump functionality, but on the other hand, I've been wondering why I can't get a shorter short that works and doesn't make me look like I'm trying to be a 20 year old. Those touring shorts look like they might do it.

So, long way to a question, but...do those Touring Shorts work all by themselves, in your experience? I mean, if I use them alone, will I be happier on the little rides I make--between 5 and 25 miles? Or do they really need separate liner/briefs?

Anyway--thanks for pointing them out. The price is good, and the look is what I'm after. Bound to be better than what I have.

Eggplant Jeff

Eh, I'm the blasphemer here... My shorts don't do anything for me. Riding in regular cotton underwear + baggy jogging shorts is equally comfortable to riding in lycra with a chamois.

OTOH, I ride a leather Brooks saddle so there isn't quite as much suffering for the shorts to take away .

One caveat, I am not riding centuries... most of my rides are under 15 miles. Maybe they'd make a bigger difference over longer distances.

DataJunkie

There's this pad that comes up in front of my junk. I have no clue how I could be showing it off. *shrugs*
I ride 45 miles a day and won't leave home without them... but I do not have a brooks.
Maybe it is time to pick up one. However, I doubt I would give up the shorts. Thus, making that a mute point.

Plus, I'm picking up a racing bike next year. So, if I apply chipcom's logic, this gives me an excuse to purchase lycra shorts

SemperFi

Just took my first ride ever with lycra bike shorts (Gore) and boy are they comfy. I didn't know what I was missing and there was absolutely no issue with "The Boys". If they're happy, I'm happy.
Also ordered a pair of Performance Ultra's but won't get those until next week.

HardyWeinberg

How long do you need to ride before you really benefit from bike shorts? I don't think I ever ride for more than, say, an hour and a quarter at a stretch, and I am happy w/ powerdry fleece undies.

SemperFi

Whatever works for you is the right solution.

DataJunkie

exactly

Wait until you start pushing the limits of what you are wearing. Then try something different.

FarHorizon

When I started biking, I started wearing bike shorts. I never appreciated them till my rear wheel detonated on me recently & I found myself sliding down the road on my butt! Because I had on padded bike shorts and cycling gloves, (AND because I was very lucky), I walked away from the accident with ALL my skin intact. I expected to have serious road rash (PARTICULARLY on my bottom), but the shorts protected me superbly! That's my story.

Siu Blue Wind

I can only ride in bike shorts without the padding. Don't like that "baby" feeling. Ewwwww. But then again, I move around so much in the saddle anyway, I don't get a chance to have problems.

georgiaboy

I use some mid-range Cannondale mountain bike shorts even though I ride a road bike. It's funny how I dress like a mountain biker but ride a road bike. I get some funny looks on the street. I would like to get some bibs to ride in. Yep, I think I'll do it.

Street Sweeper

Too expensive.. and they don't look right on meh.