A little OT....but
Justin, Do really own a "Nudie" suit??? (like the one in your pic?)
How cool would that be!

Cheers,
Chris

Anything over an hour, I like Giordana. Thin, but protective in all the right places. Bibs or shorts, doesn't make much of a difference to me. I like the Laser (Tenax), Silverline and Forma in that order. Ribble usualy has them all for a good price.

Anything over an hour I wear cheap, (chamois)padded lycra. My favorites are 15 year old Performance shorts, and I have a newer pair of tri shorts. I can't imagine doing a longer ride in regular shorts, or (god fobid!) jeans. The lycra and chamois manages the sweat very nicely.

Garneau pro fit shorts, or when it's cold outside I wear these.


..My Centurion Ironman Lycras......

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/...Tronoutfit.jpg

Oh man. TRON: The Redux.

I agree. I have several pairs of unpadded synthetic and real chamois shorts that get most of my use. For longer rides I'll use a synthetic padded short.

hair..



i just wear cotton boxers and polyester basketball shorts.. i was having issues with chafing until i started riding a pedicab for 4-8 hours two times a week... now my ass has HTFU

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...K0FGu6VzG5k4fw

Shorts...how quaint!

In all seriousosity, I quit wearing padded anything years ago when I went back to leather saddles.
http://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com...onspiracy.html

Marc

It's usually just a pair of cotton cargo shorts for me; like to have the boys free, if you know what I mean. I did recently buy a pair of nylon convertable pants and plan on using those as well, zipping off the pant legs when necessary. I also have a couple pair of padded, baggy MTB shorts I wear on occassion and a pair of padded liners from Nashbar I'll wear under my cargos for long hauls.

Okay, so like I said before, I don't normally wear "cycling shorts." I have a few of the latter, but they are (at best) no better than khaki trousers over cotton briefs, and sometimes they are just uncomfortable. It feels like I'm sitting on this big chunk of foam, and I really hate that. I presume the cycling shorts I have are just cheap junk.

So I look on Nashbar and the like, to see what's available, and the wording describing the 'chamois' tells me nothing at all. For example:What's this multi-thickness foam thing? I am pretty sure I don't want that. Or:Killer comfort? Is this supposed to be informative?

So, my question for those of you who insist on real cycling shorts for all riding over ten miles or something, how do you pick what to buy? And how am I supposed to tell, from the description, how much padding there is? 'Cuz I don't want any padding.

For some things it's hard to beat an LBS. At least for the first purchase.

I always wear bibs when I ride, unless it's simply to the store/park with the kid/trail-a-bike, etc.

The Hammer Nutrition bibs are the best buy out there...unfortunately you then have to be a billboard...but...you can't beat the Bergamo bibs and their really nice E.I.T. multi-d chamois. At $90 their almost 1/2 the price of comparable bibs (ie Assos FI).

YMMV of course...

[QUOTE=buldogge;13125505]I always wear bibs when I ride, unless it's simply to the store/park with the kid/trail-a-bike, etc.

The Hammer Nutrition bibs are the best buy out there...unfortunately you then have to be a billboard...but...you can't beat the Bergamo bibs and their really nice E.I.T. multi-d chamois. At $90 their almost 1/2 the price of comparable bibs (ie Assos FI).

Thanks for these tips.

This is exactly how I find out about quality products, from folks that have been there and done that!

I have a fairly wide net of riding friends here in the Twin Cities, so I have plenty of folks to ask locally.

Otherwise, I think an lbs is very helpful in searching for the right products to ride comfortably consistently.

Mark, as for dates for the ride, we have a bit of a snafoo for our tent. October 22nd date. We'll let you know in a day or two. Promise.

Keith, if you read this while you are recovering, please pm me about setting up a midwest ride in the Twin Cities.THX.

I just got to hate the feel of a wet diaper (which is in fact a breeding ground for bacteria), plus the constriction thing...in both my Volers and my Performance bibs. My Volers seem to have gotten a bit big for me too, which is a good thing for me...bad for my wallet. :o

I'll echo that sentiment Gomango. My thanks for all the responses. I learn a lot from all yous guys.
Scott

longer rides I have a pair of Hincapie bibs I got for about 1/4 price at HHH last year. very plush, supposed to be on
a par with the Assos F1s.
My favorite bibs are Exte-Ondo with a minimally padded chamois (Golden Chamois) which feels like the real thing, although
it's not. The chamois isn't shaped, padded, sculpted or whatever, just a nice flat piece cut to fit the shorts.
I don't think Exte makes these anymore and have gone into the shaped, sculpted multilayered chamois.
Someday when I win the Lottery I'll check out the Assos f13 or whatever they're called, just to see what
$350 bibs feel like.
Haven't tried the Ibex merino wool bibs but I'd like to.
I still have a pair of Cool Gear wool shorts with real chamois liner but I don't think
they fit me anymore.

Marty

ok i have performance bibs, some bibs that say bianchi on them and are very light and synthetic, a pair of older padded shorts probably meant for mtb riding, padded underware, and of course regular clothes. I've ridden and do ride in all of the above. I also have winter thermal full pant bibs that keep me toasty at like zero degrees.

It would be very expensive. I nearly had my wife talked into making one for me a couple of years ago, but then she started grad school. It'd make for a more interesting group ride than tweed. :lol:

I also prefer the Hincapie bib shorts. I liked my Descente bibs, too but they are old and falling apart.

It has been my experience that the more expensive clothing is well worth it. I keep meaning to buy some wool bibs and jerseys but haven't yet pulled the trigger.

The chamois is designed to prevent chafing, not pad your behind. The better made shorts don't have thick chamois. And all of the shorts I've bought have had silver in the chamois and some in the lycra as an antimicrobial.

The ribs are good for you. Its the low-fat/processed/carb stuff that is bad. I dropped 30lbs in the last year just changing what I ate. I got the book and read it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098...SIN=0982207700

I sho' nuf don't want that. I find padded shorts protect my pudendal.

Wind and a prayer

I buy what Nashbar has for under $25. No gel; only chamois, or fake chamois. I really don't know if I need the padding, after reading this thread. But I DO like the spandex/lycra/whatever it is, because the wind goes right through it, keeping me dry and refreshed. Like the difference between a polyester jersey and a cotton T shirt. I bought a $20 pair here, a few years ago, with hardly any padding at all, and I like those too. The problem with some of the cheaper ones is the seam placement.

for longer rides (40+ miles), I wear assos shorts and a merino wool jersey. best of both worlds.

still havent made the leap to bibs from shorts -- just dont have a problem with shorts/waist-band to change.
I love assos shorts -- the quality and comfort are well worth the money.

for shorter rides, I wear whatever I happen to have on that day.