Papa Tom

For the past several years, I have been saving torn and thread-bare underwear (that would normally be tossed in the trash or used as rags) to use for overnight rides. When I get to my location (usually a hotel), I take them off, throw them away, and I'm done with 'em. Don't need to wash them or pack them, and my panniers are that much lighter the next day.

spinnaker

So you mama's advice of not wearing torn underwear is paying off dividends bigger than being caught in them during an accident? That is unless you get into an accident on tour and they find a whole pannier full of worn and soiled underwear!

tclune

Know what I call my torn and threadbare underwear? My underwear.

BigAura

BohicaX

What a waste why throw them away they would be good for at least another 4 days. Only then remove but don't waste just yet use them as a cup holder when your brew mug is too hot followed by a chain wiper make maximum use out of something.

shelbyfv

Underwear are just wrong on the bike and commando/ airflow is good after a day on the saddle. Leave the old undies in the rag bin at home.

Machka 

I don't wear underwear under my cycling shorts ... so I don't cycle in underwear. And when I arrive at my destination, I want something comfy to change into.

shipwreck

I only take one pair of wool underwear for off bike use. When on the bike I am using my cycling shorts alone.

However, When I travel to do one of my art show trips, I do as the OP suggests. Usually I am out for 5 days. So, I take old underwear and sometimes even socks. It makes packing easier, less dirty clothes to deal with, and keeps my underwear rotated better. It does take some of the joy out of watching the TSA dig through dirty clothes(my art display and lights gets checked all the time).

DropBarFan

Heh, makes sense, give the worn-out undies a good final ride & send-off instead of lingering pointlessly at bottom of drawer. I save worn-out cotton towels & clothes folks throw out for car/bike cleaning & have a good surplus. Worn undies not that convenient for cleaning purposes.

B. Carfree

My wife and I did something similar when we picked up our last tandem in Seattle three years ago. On Thursday, we took the train up and picked up the bike. The staff at the shop did notice that we were dressed a bit rough, so we explained that the clothes would be left in our hotel trash can in the morning when we headed off for home (a 400 mile journey).

indyfabz

Beam me up, Scotty.

10 Wheels

Stopped using underwear when I started bike riding.

Papa Tom

Glad you're all having so much fun with this!

jefnvk

Worn out and tattered underwear? I'll wear that while sitting at a desk, no way I'm wearing that while doing any sort of physical activity.

Papa Tom

Well, it certainly didn't get worn out and tattered sitting at my desk! These are the undergarments I have worn while riding over the years. They probably wouldn't survive another wash, but they are intact enough to make it through one more day of cycling.

indyfabz

When the two pair I brought on my x-country plus tour bit the dust I simply went commando off the bike.

rekmeyata

What will the paramedics say when they see your tattered underwear? Oh, the shame of it all.

I never use underwear so long that their tattered, but ok I get your point howbeit weird. What happens if you're on a tour for 6 months, a little difficult to collect and carry 180 days worth of underwear to use and throw away...

Machka 

I've heard of people doing something this with things like sweat shirts, but never underwear.

With sweatshirts, people buy a used sweatshirt when they cycle into a cooler area and feel they need an extra layer of clothing, then when they cycle into a warmer area, they ditch the sweatshirt.

Papa Tom

I should have mentioned that I only go away for one or two nights at a time. (C'mon, people...you're over analyzing this!)

staehpj1

If it works for you that is great, but... I don't wear underwear when riding. I typically take running shorts with a built in mesh brief to sleep in and wear off bike. My zip off leg pants also have a built in brief, but if I wear anything that needs underwear when on tour, I use the running shorts.

The idea of using items that are ready to throw out does have some merit. Duffle bags or suitcases that can be discarded make sense to me. Sometimes that means thrift store items. A $6 thriftstore suitcase is a good way to get gear to a tour.

robow

But can one ever have too many cotton rags, that is the question

thumpism 

Commando off the bike, cycling shorts on the bike.

Happy Feet

I've read about a sailor who traveled in a very small boat and threw away his shirts as he wore them. In humid salt water conditions saturated cloth won't dry. What the underwear may be saturated with I'll leave to the imagination

deerOnWheels

I represent that remark.

Leebo

I only carry one pair of poly pro underwear. Bike shorts on the bike. Just shorts off the bike.