no1mad 

Probably should post this in the General forum, but I tend to hang out here more.

What features should I look for or avoid?
How exactly does that chamois thing work? And how does it feel when walking around?
Totally noob question here, but if one wears thermals, do they go on above or below the tights/shorts?

I've been using non-padded, performance orientated boxer briefs, then a thin and lightweight tight (also unpadded), with either nylon track pants (usual) or jeans. The track pants, while snug, have very little stretch to them, and the cut allows for the thigh/crotch to snag on the saddle when throwing my leg up and over the saddle. My jeans are all relaxed cut, and so have the same "snagging" issue, but multiplied ten-fold. And the jeans have the problem of the legs flapping in the wind.

CbadRider

If sounds like don't ride with much padding now, so look for shorts with a thin chamois, maybe something like a tri short. A thick chamois will feel like you're wearing a diaper and will be uncomfortable on the bike if you're not used to it.

IMO, thinner thermal underwear would go under the bike shorts or tights. I wear my thicker unpadded tights over my lycra padded shorts, but that might just be a personal preference.

If you really don't want the spandex roadie look, check out some mountain bike shorts. You could still wear your thermals or tights under those.

zoltani

1. Leg grippers - I consider this necessary so they don't ride up, some are better than others.
2. I prefer an unpadded short with my brooks saddle, I use some shorts they sell as recumbent shorts https://www.aerotechdesigns.com/recumbent.htm
3. If i wear thermals i don't wear bike shorts or underwear, just the thermals under whatever pant I would normally use.

Honestly the only time I wear bike shorts is when I am touring or on long recreational rides. For commuting I just wear whatever I would normally wear off the bike, be it shorts, jeans, slacks, or whatever.

mtalinm

For my longish commute I wear bike shorts. I winter, I put some thermal tights over them for warmth, I find that putting layers under bike shorts feels icky.

tsl

Keep in mind, there are two common definitions of "pad", and people new to padded shorts almost always pick the wrong one.

There is pad as in "cushion", and this isn't the real reason for the chamois, although depending on the chamois, it may be a secondary side-effect.

The other definition is pad as in "absorbent", and that's the primary purpose for the chamois.

This explains why the chamois is worn against the skin. You don't wear underwear or thermals under your bike shorts. It defeats the purpose.

My winter commuting gear is my regular cycling shorts worn under unpadded windfront thermal bib tights. I use bib tights because I don't like two sets of elastic waistbands squeezing the same spot in my middle.

I also look for an articulated knee. This prevents binding in the front and bunching in the back. Some makers splice in a longer section in the front of the knee, and others splice in a shorter section in the back. I own both types and they both seem to work just fine.

gerv 

No1mad: Since you asked to be schooled on spandex, I figured you should go for the Phd.

Spandex is made from Lycra, a petroleum by-product owned by the secretive, but influential Koch family of Wichita Kansas.

https://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...al%20pollution

Just thinking about this makes me itchy every time I put on a pair of bike shorts.

mtalinm

This makes me want to wear bike shorts all the time!

no1mad 

Cbad, tsl- helpful and informative as always.

Looks like lycra will be another YMMV, trial and error thing. Guess I'll start with the Nashbar/Pricepoint stuff and go from there.

fietsbob

Lycra/spandex, a Knit light nylon fabric with thin rubber threads running thru it for stretch recovery

rubber thread will break down, after repeated wash and hot dryer, stuff get really translucent then..

That Linux Guy

I was wearing swimming trunks until I ponied up for a pair of bike shorts. Aside from my bike, the shorts have been my favorite bike accessory yet. If you can get over the looks you get wearing what most identify as "tight shiny boxers" in public, then I'm sure you'll find them comfortable.

A bit of warning though: if you're not used to pants or shorts that are tight the crotch area than it can take some practice getting used to. I've found that pulling up in the back and less in the front works for me and my... well you get the point. As for walking around in them, they're not comfortable; It feels like a diaper; A really tight diaper. If they're comfortable on the bike then walking will be awkward. If you adjust them to allow you to walk more comfortably then they'll be uncomfortable on the bike.

Personally, I like the roadie look so I dig the shorts. Then again, I also exclusively ride a road bike. I could see how the spandex roadie vibe would look a bit out of place on a mountain bike or cruiser, that's merely one person's fashion opinion. Comfort is paramount, no matter how you look.

zoltani

Uh huh. Funny story really. I was touring and using some bibs that I had recently bought. Too bad I went for the cheap bibs, after a few hand washes they were really transparent. I didn't notice until it was too late, I'm just glad I didn't eat out in a restaurant that day or something cause I would have exposed a little more than people would probably care to see.

no1mad 

Just perused the Nashbar site. They had padded shorts, bib shorts, and liner shorts. The liners are essentially compression shorts with a chamois, correct? And if so, then what is the difference between liners and road shorts?

tsl

No clue what a liner short is.

I started four years ago with the Nashbar Essential Short. It's an okay product. The inseam is a little on the short side, and the pad is a little thick for my taste, but I still wear them every now and again. Mainly under cargo shorts when shopping in the three-seasons.

My regular commuting shorts are their DeMarchi Aero shorts. Longer inseam, thinner pad, and they stand up to daily commute wear. After finding them, I bought enough (on sale) to get me through the full work week without laundering.

Note about care: Shorts are machine washable in cold or warm. In my experience, the gentle cycle is not necessary. I just wash them with my regular stuff. Don't put them in the dryer, and never, ever use a fabric softener with them.

no1mad 

These are what Nashbar is marketing as "liner" shorts- Cannondale Inner, Nashbar Liner, Canari Gel Liner... multiple brands, so there must be a market for these things.

Sundance89

Liner shorts would take the place of your underwear and worn under whatever your regular dress shorts or slacks you want. They're padded cycling underwear basically.

Sundance89

I'll wear liner shorts sometimes under my Nike shorts for when I ride to the gym. That kind of thing. Also, when I take my bike while vacationing, same thing. I usually find a gym there too and then after for just hanging out adventuring, so I'd rather have on loose fitting Nike shorts or some other athletic wear other than my cycling tights.

JanMM

As a recumbent guy, I don't wear padded shorts much.
A little more history: My first several pairs of traditional cycling shorts came with chamois leather pads.

From Wiki: 'Chamois leather, traditionally made from the hide (animal) of the chamois, is very smooth and absorbent and is favoured in cleaning and polishing because it produces no streaking. Modern chamois leather may be made from chamois hide, but hides of deer or domestic goats or sheep are commonly used.'

In recent years, as various non-leather materials have replaced chamois leather in cycling shorts, the cycling community has come to refer to that non-chamois 'stuff' as chamois. Ain't language fun?

no1mad 

Okay, so would they be comfortable enough to walk around in for a few hours daily? Or too much of an ick factor and change into more conventional underwear between rides?

Sundance89

Putting on regular underwear between rides would be far more an ick factor in my mind.

Liner shorts are very sheer, even more so than regular cycling shorts, and have the same wicking abilities for sweat so you cool down much faster. Sweat always comes on the most "after" I get off the bike, so that last thing I would want to do is put on some normal underwear - let alone the inconvenience of having to change and carry around some funky drawers when you decide to take them back off again.

BarracksSi

Bibs rule.

Welded seams around the chamois pad are nicer than loose edges.