Shimagnolo

Wait!
Are you saying the sun *does* shine down there???

YosemiteGirl

$100-$200?!! Maybe that is my problem. The most I have spent so far was $20 on these (I had a coupon!!) and another $20 on a pair of Novarabike shorts I got on sale. The Novaras are nicer but have that chamois that doesn't go high enough in the front.

I guess it is all about what makes you comfy. I'll have to experiment.

Shimagnolo

Both of those are *gel* shorts.
The problem with gel shorts is that instead of putting the gel only under the sit bones where it is good, mfgrs always insist on extending the gel throughout the chamois, so it bulges up against your soft bits, putting pressure where you don't want it, and causing chafing and/or numbness.

Machka 

Well no wonder you're uncomfortable!

I don't wear expensive bicycle shorts, but my least expensive ones are about $40 and I got them because they fit me, felt comfortable, and had good antibacterial, wicking padding (not gel!).

As I mentioned earlier, we go without underwear because we spend money on decent shorts which are designed to be worn without underwear.

Rowan

I am laughing so much, my eyes are watering!!!

First rule of saddle cream is... get a decent bike fit.

Second rule of saddle cream is... make sure that you have a really good saddle fitted before you do the bike fit. My favs, of course, are Brooks... B17 Standard.

Third rule of saddle cream is... get the best quality padded shorts you can afford, and make sure the width and length of the pad suits your build between the legs. Bike shorts vary hugely in this regard between brands. Once you find the ones that fit just right, buy up a decent supply.

Fourth rule of saddle cream... don't wear underwear under the bike shorts. You can wear underwear over the top if you really want to look like Superman, or a dork.

Fifth rule of saddle cream... ride and develop some calluses on your sitbones. That means you are sitting on your saddle properly and shouldn't have any significant chafe issues elsewhere.

Sixth rule of saddle cream... don't buy it if you have the first three rules down pat... it's a waste of time and you won't have to wash your shorts after every short ride because the chamois won't be loaded with useless gunk.

Seventh rule of saddle cream... ride enough on your comfortable saddle so that eventually you will be peeling little bits of skin off your calluses, and you won't need padded bike shorts at all. You will then make do with lycra compression shorts with flat seams. Or just plain underwear. It can be done... I have with my Brooks saddles, and it's liberating.

thump55

If you apply the cream each ride, and go five rides without washing the bibs, you can wring out and re-use the cream.

Andy Somnifac 

If that were the case, no pros would use it.

tuxbailey

Question: I read that Boudreaux's Butt Paste can be a subsitute for chaomis cream. It is a good replacement?

Machka 

I've always wondered why pros use it. After all, if I, and others, can ride 1200K randonnees without it, you'd think a pro could do a race without it.



I've tried quite a number of "cream" products to see if there was something that would in some way make my ride more comfortable, and they all ended up being worse than riding without.

Commodus

Well the lubrication pretty well eliminates chafing. I understand not everyone needs it, but it serves a purpose.

I know that if I were female, I wouldn't use it. But that's just because of the...*ahem* precise area and nature of the chafing I personally experience.

coldehammer

The only reason why I buy bib shorts is for the padding and the lycra, it's not because they dissipate heat better than anything else I've worn. Black spandex running shorts do not have the padding, and if they did - they would be the $100-200 bib shorts you are speaking of. Right?

When I mentioned exofficio boxers, these are active dry fit under garments that many outdoor enthusiasts use including travelers. They are of a different breed than your typical 'cotton' boxers. If I was wearing a Skins undergarment, would that be any different?

ilovecycling

I don't know what you people are thinking wearing boxers under your bibs/shorts. Hell, boxers are irritating to wear when I play basketball for an hour or two. A 6 hour bike ride with boxers underneath my bibs sounds painful. No thanks. Please, do yourselves a favor and ditch the boxer shorts and wear only your bibs. This is how they were meant to be worn.

I use DZ Nuts chamois cream. I apply it only to the taint area and the corresponding part of the chamois. This stuff can tingle/burn and be pretty uncomfortable if applied directly to your goods. I don't know why someone here recommended it on their "twig and berries." Not smart.

Wash your bibs/shorts asap. When I come home from a ride the first thing I do is throw my kit in the washer. I then shower right away. I'm usually pretty filthy by the time I get home from riding all day, so showering immediately not only keeps me from getting my place dirty, but it washes all the chamois cream/sweat/bacteria from those sensitive areas of skin.

Andy Somnifac 

Different strokes for different folks.

WestCoastDan

I'm gonna go out on a perverbial limb and suggest that others who wear a "sport under garment" under their cycling shorts, do so for the same reason(s) that I do.
1- They provide a level of support for the "man-parts"; not unlike a jock strap in the "old days".
2- They provide a barrier layer of hygiene/cleanliness between said "man-parts" and the padding of the cycling shorts.
3- I have NO desire to get a foam pad wedgie; and the under garment prevents the padding from going where it doesn't need to be.
I have never spent $100+ on a pair of cycling shorts or bibs with a 'true' chamois. I only have the kind with the synthetic 'foam padding'.

4- Also, I ride EVERY day. I only have 1 pair of padded cycling shorts and another pair of cycling pants/tights (I don't currently own any bibs, but I am considering a pair).
Probably the biggest benefit - if one can call it that- of wearing an appropriate under garment inside the cycling shorts/pants/tights/bibs/whatever, is to reduce the need to run them through the laundry EVERY day.
For those that are fortunate enough to own multiple pairs of their favorite cycling shorts/pants/tights/bibs/whatever, then this isn't really an issue.
For those others who are fortunate enough to have a housekeeper or a maid service to do their laundry, then I suppose the point is also moot.

Seeing as how a pair of athletic under garments cost around $10 per pair, it seems logical that one might be able to own multiple pairs like I do.

Many folks here seem to be genuinely offended that someone could get more than a single ride from their cycling shorts/pants/tights/bibs/whatever, but they seem to be the same folks that swear by smearing ass-pudding all over their backsides prior to going for a ride.

For those that use these products, especially without an under garment I tend to agree about the single-ride/single-wash technique.

Under garments are certainly washed after every ride; regardless if the crack-jelly was used or not. To not wash the under garment would be as disgusting (or moreso) than wearing a pair of regular undershorts for a second day.

By using under garments, I am able to wear the cycling shorts - AND ONLY THE CYCLING SHORTS - for a second time as they are not sweaty, musty, or packed with filthy ass-goop.
As far as Hygiene is concerned, wearing a fresh pair of under garments each time will prevent any issues related to fungus, rash, etc. that many are squawking about anyway.

I'll bet a good number of the folks protesting such practices don't wash their hands after going to the restroom - now THAT is more disgusting than wearing a pair of cycling shorts for a second time when worn with fresh under garments each time.

--- i'm stepping off my soapbox now----
+++

Spiduhman

Bathrooms and hand washing, hmm...

...hmmm...

After all the things touched, including the handle to the washroom door, gotta wonder about people who then pass all that to their belt, zipper, junk and nearby areas - becuase they didn't wash their hands BEFORE "...going to the bathroom..."

As for washing after - what, you piss and crap on your hands?

Wash your hands before, after, and shaddup already.

YosemiteGirl

Really good comments of all opinions talking about lots of different options and theories on here. Love it! I wear Patagonia's no chafe wicking stuff.

I would absolutely love to see some links to some super great time tested cycling shorts so I know what I should be looking for. Thanks guys!

AlexZ

Try https://www.kucharikclothing.com/-c-29.html I began using Kuchariks in the 70's...the best.
If you want good value and USmade https://www.aerotechdesigns.com/pluswoman.htm excellent stuff great price

FreddyV

1) I apply chamois cream straight to the skin, not to the chamois. That's the way it should be done according to the label on [i[my[/i] brand.

2) Straight skin contact on the bib. I used to wear boxers under my bibs as well, but that caused quite some irritation and rubbing on my skin which wasn't good. This however is not a written rule, but more a personal preference.

3) I put the cream on right before a ride. Not sure whether this is the right way to do it, as I can't find any info on that anywhere.

4) I have 2 bibs, so I have a day to get the used one washed and dried.

Rowan

Well, there are no pros who are members of BFs... and no member here would ride a 1000 miles a week like the pros do on saddles that are provided for them rather than chosen by the rider for comfort... vis a vis, how many Brooks leather saddles are there in the tour pelotons?

I suppose using the same logic, car enthusiasts should wear a crash helmet and full race suit when driving a car because all the pro race drivers do.

rumrunn6

the other day at work, this old dude that works at the same place washed his hands before he pissed, but after he pissed he went to the mirror to check his hair, then the water fountain to take a pill, then the time clock to punch in. he actually thought it was important to wash his hands before touching himself but had no concern whatsoever for the water fountain button or the time clock buttons! fortunately the store provides sanitizer wipes which i use every time I use the washroom and or the water fountain. i also wipe the time clock before i use it. GROSS!

FLvector

They do require helmets at road rallies, so yes it does make sense. The likelyhood of crash and fire isn't high so they don't require suits. The traffic I drive in isn't going 180mph in tight turns drafting 1" off their bumper. We have the advantage of airbags. Not a good analogy.

Pro cyclist aren't riding for comfort and sacrifice by not choosing a bulky, heavy saddle. If they need a few dabs of cream to avoid chaffing and abrasion, big deal. To each their own.

v70cat

+1 yes I must use it or will have friction even on a short ride. I use DZ nuts for this.

jsutkeepspining

that's what i do. its great dz nuts is amazing!

sgaudes

+1

sgaudes

gotta be a Mormon - no other plausible explanation.....