I know a lot of people ride for the enjoyment of riding, but I basically don't. For me, I use it to get someplace and all the views, exercises, etc, are just real nice bonuses.

If I were to drive to my usual destination or take a bus (this is to Waikiki Beach), I would simply have my bathing suit under regular shorts, carry a little bag with a beachmat, etc, and already be wearing beach sandals.

But with my bike, I'm wearing special shoes for the clipless pedals, bike shorts, I have to lock up the bike and carry the helmet (or more) with me to minimize theft, I have to change to my bathing suit someplace and change back.

I know, it's weird, but all these things bug me.

I could go to regular pedals and wear any kind of shoe I wish, but then I lose speed (which is a key part of practical biking to me).

What I'd really like to do something about is the bike shorts and I really can't figure this out. On my first bike I got 16 months ago (a trek Navigator 100 comfort bike), I wore normal clothes and didn't have problems with irritation - I even did a century on it!

But even before getting my first road bike (Bianchi Volpe), I was told that I would really need bike shorts. I tried riding without them and it didn't work. There were two problems and I can only understand one of them:

1. A sore butt as if bruised.

Since the seat is harder with no suspension and especially since I have some less than smooth roads to ride, I can see how that would happen.

2. Irritation from rubbing, generally where the leg meets the torso.

I don't see why that should happen since it didn't seem to happen on the old bike. A softer seat and suspension would not seem to matter in this area.

I would really like to be able to wear a bathing suit with shorts on top, but I don't know of any solution.

Bob