Padded underwear strikes me as a great idea - cheaply make your favourite looking shorts or pants bike-friendly - but it doesn't seem to be sold in many places. Has anyone used it before? Is padded underwear + normal shorts a substitute for cycling shorts? I imagine that the padding may not be as substantial.

And despite my enquires I haven't found anywhere in Australia that sells them - any help? The only thing I've learned is that its best to ask for 'cycling underwear' rather than 'padded underwear' if you're at all concerned about getting strange looks from shop assistants!!

I have never heard of bike underwear. I personally don't use either padded underwear or bike shorts. But the majority of cyclist that I talk to wear bike shorts sans underwear. I hear the seams in the underwear become very uncomfortable.

I wear boxers and regular shorts and never had a problem.

Cycling Underwear is an oxymoron.

However, you can buy padded briefs at nashbar.com, among other places.

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=

Boxers are a bad idea.

Underwear Nazi
DnvrFox...VeloWolf...What is it with these canines?

Mine is derived from my last name.

Mountain Equipment Coop Sells 'em:

https://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1102997339144

Never heard of 'em. I have plenty of bike shorts though so really haven't thought about alternatives. I have seen lots of examples of baggy shorts which have bike shorts inside.

i just wear my favorite shorts over my cycling shorts. works for me, and I don't get people eyeballing my bits 'n' pieces

I do the same. That way, if you stop for lunch in a restaurant or stroll around in a public place mid-ride, you don't look like a moron.

additionally, when I run errands, it's nice to have pockets for keys, wallet and other junk.

Ive used padded cycling underwear. The material is a thin polyester with a fleecy padding. It is not as substantial as bike shorts and works well under normal shorts or pants (uk trousers).
I find them useful enough and sometimes take a pair on tour (in addition to my cycling shirts) since they pack down very small.
I think mine are Madison brand.

I do the same on tour and commuting, but also wear synthetic briefs under the cycling shorts. I bring a few extra pairs of briefs which let me go a few days without washing either pair of shorts if I have to (on tour). I haven't experienced much chafing problems, but if the fit isn't right one could (lotion like "chamois butt'r" helps). The synthetic briefs don't weigh much, breath very well, and dry overnight if its a dry climate.

For "fitness" rides I wear the synthetic briefs under cycling shorts.

I mainly use mine as the bottom layer when Icebiking. I do take a pair along on tour. Two reasons really:

1) It's nice to have something comfortable under normal shorts when I go check out a museum or explore a city.

2) As a precaution against sore butt. I haven't needed them for this yet since I have my great Brook's Champion Flyer saddle but there's no rule against wearing a pair of the padded underwear while wearing a pair of padded bicycle shorts. Double layering. This is sometimes a good technique early in the mountain biking season when your butt hasn't yet hardened like it should!

~Jamie N

The Rivendell online catalog has some as well. I know because I go to their website at least once a day and DROOOOL!

No, you'd look like a cyclist, and there's no shame in that!


<sorry, I couldn't resist>

I haven't used them but have seen them in Brisbane recently, I think at Epic Cycles (07 3368 2324), but if not there then Rebel Sport (07 3221 7894).

I think the MTB / shy shorts would be better for 'mingling' as a shamois is still going to wick sweat to whatever outer wear you have and I expect you'd end up with a big (& visible) wet patch on your jeans or cotton shorts...

Performance, Colo Cyclist, Nashbar, thay all have underwear with padding in the "chamois area".
I have some cool cannondale shorts I got on close out from Nashbar.
There's straps you can cinch the legs and crotch tighter when cycling, then release when off the bike so they look like normal pocketed shorts.

So what's the verdict - will wearing cycling underwear under regular shorts or pants be the equivalent of wearing cycling shorts (either lycra or those double layer ones) in terms of comfort?

Also, it was suggested that lycra cycling shorts could be worn under regular shorts. Wouldn't this make you pretty warm?

it was burning down there, so i just wear cycling shorts during the summer. after a few days with that burning experience i stopped thinking about how dork i might look.

some other shorts on top of the padded cycling underwear or shorts caused "burning"? LOL
WTF

well, just exaggerating a bit. but my shorts are all black so i guess that played a part as well in creating the "burning" feel.

but topping normal shorts on top of cycling ones was really uncomfortable with the normal shorts soaked in sweat on my legs during the summer.

I've been using Andiamo "Padded Skins" under regular shorts (or tights in cold weather) for my commute for about 6 months now. They're plenty comfortable, and they work well under jeans, too, for shorter rides where it's inconvenient to change at the end.

However, 6 months of daily commuting (~100 miles/week) have worn them out -- they have holes on the insides of the legs now. I'm going to keep them around for biking in "normal" clothes, but for the commute I'm switching to regular bike shorts.

Yeah I know exactly what your talking about. I know met the lady that owns the company that makes them. She sent me some to try. In theory it really should work. I mean they are kinda like white biker shorts. But I haven't really got to try them, I mean on a long trip. On my tour this summer, I just wore more normal bike shorts and had some board shorts I could though over them if need be.

Cannot find underwear at MEC or the 3 above. Rivendell has some but not cycling specific.

MEC calls them cycling liner shorts.
I've never seen them refered to as cycling underwear by retailers.

I have a pair of mtn bike shorts.... with the liner that has the padding. the pockets close well for keys and stuff too. I don't use them often... but nice to have for errands.