Hi--I'm usually browsing the Road Bike forum but am here to ask for some advice.

I'm finally considering commuting to school; it's a University and is 7 miles away and takes me around 26 minutes.

I want to commute in my (spandex) cycling shorts/bibs with chamois, then change into regular clothing to go to class which is about an hour and 20 minutes. Then I commute back.

My question is; is it safe to commute in my cycling shorts, let them hang in the locker, go to class for an hour & 20 minutes, change back into the shorts, and finally ride back?

I've heard reusing shorts can cause saddle sores and other unwanted business down there, so that is my main concern.

But here are some things to consider:

- I will shower (at home) before every commute.
- My commute time to school will be at 11:00 AM and I will commute home at 1:30PM
- I live in San Francisco where most days are around 57 degrees to low 60s
- The ride TO school is favorable; tailwind and mostly downhill
- I can use the locker room to rinse off after commuting there.

And finally, I do not sweat like a pig. In fact I may be able to ride to school with minimal to no sweating.

I just want to be safe though, and would love to hear from people who commute with their spandex too, and how they go about changing.

Thank you in advanced.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I want to be in my cycling gear so that on my way home I could just drop off my bags and continue on riding.

I commute in about 11.6 miles each way into central london. Im normally quite hot and sweaty on arrival. What I found was that my top is the most sweaty actually, I find that my shorts don't really feel damp/wet. At the moment it is quite cold here (around 1-2 degrees celsius), maybe thats why.

I havnt encountered any issues with reusing my shorts, I do however use a clean pair each day. So I would say its probably fine.

I sweat a lot and I use the same shorts going home without any issues.

I wouldn't worry about it.

If you're looking for another option, - since the temps are moderate and the cycling gear is mostly for your after school ride you could wear your regular clothes on the way in and save the cycling clothes for the trip home.

I commute 11 miles one way in my cycling clothes, than shower at work and hang my cycling stuuf on my bike and walls in my cubicle. Whe it is time to go home, I put everything back on and go. I am in the south and commute in 100 degree weather and sweet like a mofo. After an 8 hour day at work my clothes are dry and ready to go.

You could always just keep you short on and out regular shorts over them and swap out your jersey with a tshirt while in class, since it is only 1 hr and 20 min. That is really not that long of a time and you wouldn't have to deal with changing clothes all of the time.

i commute 5-11 miles to jobs and school, in the summer i wear my cycling shorts/jersey.

if im only going to be at, say, a class for an hour or two, ill simply change into a normal shirt and put a pair of normal shorts/pants over my bike shorts and throw the jersey into my bag

if its a day you get gross just give yourself a little extra time and bring a whole change of clothes and do the locker option (which i have done also)

I do 11 miles each way, all weather, and I'd say I re-use my bike shorts/tights for 2-3 days before laundering. You'll be fine.

No problems with the same shorts going home.

I wear the same bib shorts every day, sometimes they don't get washed for a day or three. I haven't had any problems. I do have the advantage of them having either 8 or 12 hours to dry while I am at work though, so even if I got soaked through with a downpour I don't end up riding home in already damp chamois.

Have you ridden 40, 50 miles before? There's probably more harm to wearing bike shorts for 3,4 hours at a time (constant warmth and exposure) vs letting it air out for a bit. If you're paranoid, use your underwear for the ride back, or pack an extra set. You're not racing to beat the clock, and an extra 3-6oz is not going to kill you.

I would consider riding in in normal clothes and changing into your cycling-specific stuff for the ride home.

If your bibs are sitting in a closed locker an hour and 20 minutes they may not get dry (if they're at all sweaty to begin with). If you're showering immediately beforehand it seems unlikely that your cycling gear is going to grow stuff in the time it sits, but changing will still take time before class. Over that distance the time spent changing is going to wipe out any time saved wearing cycling-specific clothing. If you're not working up much of a sweat on the way in that's how I'd do it.

I think changing into the stretchypants for the ride home is smart though. If you're already geared up to ride you'll be less likely to putter around at home and you can just drop your stuff off and go on your ride.

I work in an environment where jeans, running shoes and a golf tee are standard, even with top management. I wear bibs, and a golf tee on the ride in-5.5mi @ 6:00 AM. I don’t ride hard in the morning, so sweat is not an issue. I keep jeans in a backpack, and walking shoes at my desk. The jeans go right over the bibs and I wear them all day, even when I do longer rides after work. I take a cycle jersey in the backpack also, for the faster, sometimes longer, ride after work.

It's Just 7 miles.. Id get Polyester treated Briefs that wicked dry, better than cotton, if you need a tech solution.

I do 5 just to get from one side of town, to the other and just wear regular briefs and sweatpants..

Ive lived in SF, its not that Big.. your spandex may be OK if the chicks like watching your young backside as they drive by
and Hoot out the window .. maybe you will meet up at school (SF State?) and start a Family together..

Thank you to everyone who replied--I will commute with cycling bibs, change, then put them on after class.