pbd

Less than 20 miles, I don't bother with cycling shorts or bibs.

Over 20 miles, bibs are a necessity for me. Shorts rolls down in front, slide down in rear. Bibs do neither. I wear bib shorts with an upper-body base layer, and then add other clothing as needed. Minimum, I wear some nice Columbia Omnitech baggy shorts for modesty's sake (I experimented though, they didn't decrease comfort for me at all, dry fast, and provide pockets when needed), and either a general activewear shirt (C9 stuff at Target is awesome, especially for the price) or a cycling jersey.

psalm

I'm with you on this, I am 6' tall with a 30" inseam. My bibs fit me fine. I have a couple of pairs from Nashbar and have no issues with them.

Rob P.

As has been said, do not skimp on shoes, shorts or saddles. If you are saddle sore believe me when I tell you EVERYONE here also felt that way in the beginning. It's normal.

What is NOT normal is numbness or a burning sensation when you pee after riding. If this is what you are experiencing, you need a different saddle. IMO (and admittedly unedumacated) opinion I believe that there are 2 body types which need different saddle designs. They can be described as either M or W types depending on whether the sit bones are more or less prominent.

M types need a grooved saddle to relieve pressure on the soft tissue.
W types do fine on standard saddles.

BOTH types need saddles of the proper width for the individual. Usually men find a 143 saddle to be the most comfortable but not always. Women usually like a wider saddle. but, again, not always. Trial and error seems to be the only way to find one that fits.

Wearing lycra/spandex the first few times is usually something that most find "socially uncomfortable." But, you get used to not caring if someone looks at you funny because you are exercising and not modeling fashion clothes (although there IS that Clyde/Athena fashion thread...).

I find it hilarious that some would not want to be "seen in public" wearing spandex or choose to wear some cover garment like cargo shorts. I ride for exercise and it's obvious that my gear is for exercise not fashion. I still (and did once again last Sunday) will go into a cafe or store wearing nothing but spandex cycling gear. I'm usually sweaty and wearing my helmet and I get weird looks sometimes, but most often I get asked how far I've ridden and the employees tend to treat me very nicely. I think it's envy that I'm out in the sun while they have to work.

To date no one has ever refused to sell me something I'm buying in their store or even to refill my water bottle (if they can - some places can't) because I'm wearing skin tight spandex. And most of these strangers don't make me feel uncomfortable. Nor have any called me "obscene" like one of my wife's former friends did once.

I ride. I wear and use equipment and clothing designed for riding. If my appearance while doing that makes someone uncomfortable the problem lies NOT with me.

Ironhand

[QUOTE=Rob P.;12237329]As has been said, do not skimp on shoes, shorts or saddles. If you are saddle sore believe me when I tell you EVERYONE here also felt that way in the beginning. It's normal.

What is NOT normal is numbness or a burning sensation when you pee after riding. If this is what you are experiencing, you need a different saddle.


The pain is not in my "gentleman's region" but rather in my pelvic bone. The 2 big bony parts that touch the saddle are not used to bearing my weight yet. There is no numbness or tingling anywhere, just a dull achy throbbing in my butt.


My problem with wearing riding shorts by themselves in purely psychological on my part. I feel VERY self-conscious about my appearance in them, even though I'll only be seen for the briefest of moments. I'll get over it, I know, but for the time being it feels very strange wearing such tight-fitting clothing.

RichardGlover

Dull, achy throbbing on your posterior should go away after you've been riding a bit and your bottom gets used to it. Many riders experience the same feeling after taking the winter off (to the great delight of saddle merchants).

If it doesn't go away after regularly riding, then I'd look at seeing if your saddle fits or not (see above for measuring sit bones and saddle widths).

Saddle sores are an entirely different problem. Basically, your skin is literally chaffed raw by repetitive motion on a pressure point. This is most common when you are sitting on a small spot where the material is substantially thicker than the material immediately next to it - caused by baggy fabric that's folded on itself, a poorly designed/placed seam, or the worst offender: two seams intersecting (e.g. most denim pants). This is the big problem that cycling-specific shorts solve. They're skin-tight, so they won't create folds of material to sit on; they typically have 'flat-lock' seams that minimize extra thickness; they typically have seams that are out of the way of any parts that are going to move; and they have padding on all the parts that are weight-bearing, both to minimize any seams that are underneath the pads, and to give you a bit of extra cushion to help alleviate the general soreness (above).

Thicker padding doesn't always mean better here. Paradoxically, larger isn't always worse. My best shorts/bibs have this huge chamois that extends down the inside of each thigh, but it's very thin there (it's thicker on weight-bearing points). The extra 'wings', for lack of a better term, help reduce chafing between the side of my saddle and my thighs. This is a Good Thing, especially for Clydes/Athenas who may have thicker thighs than other cyclists.

Neil_B

If I may jump on this point, I have a question; do you feel self-conscious about your appearance in general? It's not uncommon for recovering fat people to feel that way. I remember the first time I wore shorts in public. Not bike shorts, mind you, but casual shorts. I expected everyone to stare at me. No one paid me any mind.

I think you might have the same feeling about lycra. And it'll be just as needless a worry as mine was.

ecovelo

ecovelo

[QUOTE]Ok..... I got it....... Bike shorts with suspenders. Who's with me on this......

dwellman

Suspenders and a belt.

RichardGlover

When I was at my largest, I actually wore suspenders and a belt. Belts didn't have anything to hang on to, so suspenders were a requirement. But I also carried heavy things on my waist, so I need a sturdy belt (and by sturdy, I mean double-thick bullhide custom made to order).

Now that I have a waist that's smaller than my hips, I don't need the suspenders.

dwellman

Still. . . it's an interesting hack.

I mean we've basically established that bib shorts are regular bike shorts with integrated suspenders/braces. Old school, vintage swimsuits. . minus the horizontal stripes.

CliftonGK1

[QUOTE=ecovelo;12243905]Funny you should say this. I ride with a couple of guys who go this route, especially for cooler weather rides. You can wear long sleeves, shorts and knee warmers, and not freeze to death having to take off your jersey to drop trou if you stop at a port-o-john or one of those breezy, unheated parks & rec bathrooms.

Just make sure you get suspenders with plastic flat clips, or slip-through button clips; not metal clips, since those will rip up your shorts.

Neil_B

[QUOTE=CliftonGK1;12245823]I tried this once. Epic fail. I couldn't keep my shorts in place, and the suspenders kept losing grip on the shorts. What is the secret?

Wogster

[QUOTE=The Historian;12248478]Old style suspenders, you need to put buttons inside the waistband, and then button the end of the suspender to the shorts.

CliftonGK1

It's those industrial strength suspenders with the round flat clips that sort of have interlocking plastic toothy-like grips on them. I've got a pair that I use in the winter to hold up my hiking snowpants. That way I don't have to remove top layers if I'm out doing some winter camping and have to answer nature's call. Just unclip the suspenders and you're OK.

Daspydyr 

Don't listen to these people they are only leading you astray. You wear a pair of tighty whities OVER the top of the Pearls. Post some pictures.

DaveInLa

I believe I'll start out with a couple pairs of MTB shorts lol.

Neil_B

Man after my own heart. I bought my shorts before I bought a bike. And that was before I LEARNED to ride a bike.

DaveInLa

I'm actually surfing for a deal on some shorts right now lol.

Neil_B

Love to Pedal. Aerotech. Performance. Nashbar. And I'm sure there are others....

gitarzan

I buy mountain bike shorts that are basically padded bike shorts with an outer shell. They look like regular shorts and I can go somewhere wearing the and a t shirt and not look too geeky.


Otherwise bibs are the way to go.

DaveInLa

I like the looks of those. Can I ask what brand they are?

Neil_B

Canari.

https://www.canari.com/collection/men/shorts/

Ironhand

Now those are much more my speed! Who is a good online distributor, since my LBSs don't have their shipments in yet?

CraigB

I think REI and Sierra Trading Post sell Canari, but I don't know what they stock.