It's called "washing." ;)

Yes, you should wash the shorts every night; otherwise bacteria will start to cause problems. Typically, you take at least 2 pair on a tour; one dries while you wear the other.

You also want to change out of the shorts and jump in the shower as soon as possible at the end of your riding day, again to reduce exposure to bacteria; using underwear underneath the shorts will likely discourage you from this. Bike shorts are neither bulky nor heavy, i.e. hardly a massive burden that will break the bank or slow you down.

Long story short: bike shorts are purposely designed to be worn without underwear. Underwear interferes with the function of the chamois. I.e. if you opt to wear bike shorts, you do not need, and should not use, underwear underneath 'em.

What do you do if you don't have a shower because you're rough camping + there's no convenient water? I guess just wash the shorts, but surely you're always going to have a problem with bacteria if YOU can't wash, no matter how much you clean the shorts :)

Yes, wash them every night. I usually take my shorts into the shower with me (if I have a shower available). You don't need to necessarily do the world's best job of washing, but make sure you thoroughly rinse them out (in as clean a water as you can find--it doesn't do a lot of good to rinse them in polluted water). Wring them out well. Roll them in your microfiber towel a few times and wring out the towel between rollings. That will get them quite a bit dry immediately.

In dry climates, they should be dry by morning. In damp climates, maybe not. That's why you should always have a second pair. Two pair should be enough most of the time.

Last summer I did my first major tour in Quebec. I had a few 140 mile days. That pretty much sitting on the bike from morning to night. I took three pairs of bicycle shorts. One mountain bike shorts with liner & pad and two spandex. One of the spandex was thick and did not breath well and took a long time to dry after I washed it. The pad was soaked and it was not a comfortable feeling. On my next trip I will add another pair spandex and change twice daily if needed. I think I sae a pair of Lois Garneau at the bicycle shop a few years ago that looked like it had more breathable fabric in that region.

It's not cheap, but I really like Tilley underwear and socks. You can easily wash them and they dry in no time. I also a big fan of their hat, I always carry one.

http://www.tilley.com/thumbnail.asp?...ategoryId&id=3

I wear lycra, but touring, I second the motion for LIGHTLY padded undershorts like Andiamos. They dry very quickly, they're cool and comfortable. I wear light pants-shorts-knickers over, high on synthetic content. That way, I can arrive, strip the undershorts and wash them, and put the top layer pants or shorts on and I'm good to go.

Three tips: the right saddle, broken in (I'm a Brooks guy), scrupulous cleanliness, and a proper pair of shorts. One of the advantages of the two layer system is familiar to any old school hikers who wear two pairs of socks. Nearly all the rubbing happens between layers of fabric, and not between fabric and your nether regions.

Wow you are right, not cheap.

I buy synthetic briefs either at chain stores (Target, Fred Meyer), or at discount stores (Filenes' Basement-when I was back East, and Marshalls/TJ-Max). Finding good synthetic briefs which fit well can be a challenge, but with some looking they can be found for $5/pair. I've found good synthetic briefs last much-much longer than cotton briefs do, but I don't wear cotton briefs for outdoorsy stuff.

I've had one set of 4 synthetic briefs for years now (maybe 5/6 years?). I've taken them on several tours (including my year tour), and a couple extended backpacks, as well as just using them day-to day. They are "Calvin Klein" brand which I bought on closeout at a Filene's Basement for like 15$ for the 4. They are black, but being synthetic I bleach them on occassion to "sterilize" them, and there is no problem with fabric degeneration.

I've probably thrown out 50$ or more worth of regular cotton briefs during the same time frame. The "Calvin's" are still pretty good, fit well, and have OK elastic. I've been looking for more of the same whenever I'm out shopping, but have never seen them again. I'm thinking the company might know that they made them too well and has discontinued them simply because they last so well.

Coolmax are allrite and I have a few pair, but the "Calvin's" I have are more of a mesh type nylon brief.

I usually shower with my t-shirt and shorts on... shampoo is fine for washing clothes (works in washing machines aswell)...
... but remember to take your clothes off before putting them in a washing machine! ;)

Tilly hats are wonderful. Durable to the max. When it gets dirty toss it in the machine.

I had a job in the Seattle area that took me outside a lot. Having that brim keep rain off of my neck and top of my head made a LOT of difference. It was also great during the day at the Oregon Star Party. Camping in an open field in hot summer weather would have been borderline unbearable without it.

what about when you are camping and you don't have access to water for cleaning? what do you do then?

Baby wipes
 

Access to no water? Unless you're very isolated, you can always get water somehow. Gas station restrooms, hose bibs behind churches, a nearby creek or pond. Shampoo as stated or Dr. Bronner's soap, rub it through the shorts and rins very, very well.

For you: try baby wipes. They're pretty good at the antibacterial thing, don't take up much space in the small sizes and they're available everyplace.

On our tours, we almost did not make it to our hoped for destination.. The parks we were almost forced to stay had no facilities. I might suggest taking along one of the plastic portable showers.. Tap water can heat up fairly quickly within those black plastic bags.. Either that our large body wipes. I'd need something , because I doubt i could stand myself in my sleeping bag without a shower. Resulting in no sleep.

. Maybe, But, in the wilderness of Big Sur, there were spots where It would be difficult.

I'm guessing that, if you live in the US, you live east of the Mississippi.

uh... isn't there a big tub of water just west of Big Sur? ;) *just kidding* :D