uncleezno

With the help of you guys here on the forum, I got myself my first bicycle in fifteen years and have really enjoyed riding it. The only problem has been my lack of appropriate attire - not enough old ratty t-shirts to share between gym days and biking days. I took advantage of the recent sale at Nashbar to pick up a cheap riding top and shorts with a chamois.

The clothes arrived yesterday, and I tried them on, but there's some confusion on my part. Do I tuck the shirt, which is long, in to the shorts, or let it hang over? Also, and more importantly, are the shorts supposed to feel like I'm wearing a gigantic diaper stretching from the back of my butt to the front of my groin? I know that they're for riding, not walking around, but seriously - even with the shorts pulled up as high as possible, it feels like there's three pounds of Pampers between my legs.

I appreciate any advice! Thanks!

DataJunkie

By riding top do you mean jersey? I tend to wear my jerseys on the tight side and they barely come to my waist. I have yet to find one too long. Also, this is the reason I wear bib shorts. Mainly to avoid showing crack or a gut.
Cheap shorts tend to have more of a diaper feeling to them IMHO. The ones I like tend to have a thinner chamois but the diaper feeling never fully disappears. No biggie. It's not like a wear them off the bike.

leob1

The shirt(jersey), does not get tucked in.
The shorts seem to be normal too. Is it a gel chamois?
Wait until after you ride and get them all sweaty, that is an interesting feeling.

uncleezno

Yeah, it's a sleeveless jersey. I was unsure of which size to get, M or L, and the online Nashbar employee told me to go with a L. It's not ridiculously big, and I think a medium would be too small. I'm not doing road races and I feel no need to wear skintight clothing (although I guess the shorts take care of that), so I'll be fine with the large. I'll keep it untucked, and when it gets cold out, it'll have enough room for me to throw on a thermal long-sleeved tshirt.

John Wilke

If the jersey has pockets in the back, then use 'em and don't stuff them in your shorts. Many folks wear bib shorts, so it's impossible to tuck the jersey anyway.

You'll get used to the diaper feeling soon enough. Like you already mentioned, they aren't made for walking in!

uncleezno

Not sure what bib shorts are, but the jersey does have pockets in the back. I don't think I'd put anything in them that I didn't want falling out.

DataJunkie

Bib shorts:
http://www.coloradocyclist.com/commo...395&TextMode=0
Ignore the price. Most are significantly cheaper. For some reason this is the first entry google picked.

As for the jersey pockets, a decently made jersey will allow you to stash amazing quantities of stuff in it.
However, I have found that many looser fit jerseys droop in the back and have loose pockets. Tighter jerseys actually allow me to stash more items in them.