Bib tights and padding!

[Punkawallah]

I wear man-made fibre running shorts/tights, no padding, with a Brooks saddle. Seems to work fine for me, as I can wash them out in the shower after a day’s ride and they will be dry by morning. Keep a second pair in the panniers, ‘just in case’.

 

[blackrat]

I moved away from padded cycling clothing a few years back now. I found that the heat build up and moisture retention was giving me terrible saddle sores. I also found trying to take extra pairs on tour a real pain because of their bulk and the fact they would take an age to dry. I now wear thin Merino Wool Boxer shorts and haven't had a saddle sore since. Thin Merino boxers are also really light, easy to carry on tour and wash and dry really quickly.

I must admit I also have never tried Bibs or tights, I've always shied away from lycra, I just don't get on with those types of clothes. Loose MTB shorts and Merino wool T-Shirts are my go to in summer and layering up in the winter.

I agree regular bike wear is a pain. I haven't tried no-padding but I cannot imagine it would be comfortable.
Getting ready for a hike it takes me minutes; shorts, top, shoes and I'm off, but with the bike, it takes ages just to get on the bike.

 

[Fastpedaller]

My cycling shorts in my youth had a chamois (yes a real one - or to be more accurate a piece of the skin of a chamois )

 

[Gwylan]

The Chamois ones I have suited a younger, much younger, me. About 40 years ago.
My form has changed, theirs has not. Lycra does not keep any secrets.
Just poses embarrassing questions.

Anyway, these days I seem to have enough padding of my own. Also 200km a day is a thing of the past for me. Hence ancillary padding is less necessary.

 

[chriswoody]

I haven't tried no-padding but I cannot imagine it would be comfortable.

It's a very individual thing, I wear thin Merino wool Boxers, MTB shorts and sit on a Brooks C17 saddle, which is a stiff saddle with no padding. I ride mostly off-road on rough trails and in the summer will go multi day bikepacking, this summer for example, I crossed the Alps, 500km, mostly off-road on rough gravel.

Despite all this, I genuinely feel really comfy in the saddle and no longer suffer from saddle sores since I ditched the padding. The padding was just creating hot spots and sores which were intolerable after several days.

 

[Webbo2]

I wonder how many of you with no padding and no cycle specific clothing are wearing hair shirts as base layers.😉

 

[Punkawallah]

I wonder how many of you with no padding and no cycle specific clothing are wearing hair shirts as base layers.😉

Hair shirts? P’shaw, sir! Nothing but the finest Barb-Wire Weave for me!

In all seriousness, I think that if you have to wear padding you might need to change your saddle. I wear Karrimor running shorts/tights If I’m going out for the day, looking at about 40 miles, which means 4-7hours depending on surface/hills/how lost I get with no issue. The longest day I’ve ridden is about 10 hours (not by choice) and my legs complained more than my backside.

 

[PaulSB]

An idle thought. To what extent is one's view on cycle clothing influenced by bike choice and riding style? I ride road and gravel, both on drop bar bikes. I have a small bar bag in which I carry tools, tube, snacks, glasses, keys with some room to spare. In years gone by tools and tubes lived under the seat and everything else was stuffed in jersey pockets. The comfort aspect to one side before I invested a cycle jersey was pretty much essential.

From time to time CCers post images of rather lovely bikes. Very often the bike type, set up etc. is far different from mine. People mention ride, times and distances. Again I see a great diversity of styles. When I consider this I appreciate why there is such a wide range of views on clothing choice and many other subjects.

Currently I'm wearing Lusso Terra bib shorts or tights. These are the best I've ever owned. Quality, fit, and pad are perfect for me. Add to this a pocket on each thigh and one the full width of the back and these are, again for me, perfect. My jersey pockets no longer bulge and I can very comfortably carry phone, bananas and waterproof in said pockets.

I can't imagine wearing anything other than cycle specific kit if I'm to feel comfortable on rides between 50 - 120 miles, 4 - 9½/10 hours ride time.

 

[Mo1959]

Currently I'm wearing Lusso Terra bib shorts or tights. These are the best I've ever owned. Quality, fit, and pad are perfect for me. Add to this a pocket on each thigh and one the full width of the back and these are, again for me, perfect. My jersey pockets no longer bulge and I can very comfortably carry phone, bananas and waterproof in said pockets.

The thought of a banana stored in lycra shorts might make for interested bystanders!

 

[Webbo2]

Hair shirts? P’shaw, sir! Nothing but the finest Barb-Wire Weave for me!

In all seriousness, I think that if you have to wear padding you might need to change your saddle. I wear Karrimor running shorts/tights If I’m going out for the day, looking at about 40 miles, which means 4-7hours depending on surface/hills/how lost I get with no issue. The longest day I’ve ridden is about 10 hours (not by choice) and my legs complained more than my backside.

We are riding different games. 40 miles would be less than 3 hours riding and 10 hours would be heading towards 150 miles. So we are in different positions on the saddle I believe.

 

[PaulSB]

The thought of a banana stored in lycra shorts might make for interested bystanders!

I'd best say no more 🤣🤣🤣

 

[Punkawallah]

We are riding different games. 40 miles would be less than 3 hours riding and 10 hours would be heading towards 150 miles. So we are in different positions on the saddle I believe.

Still the same amount of time in the saddle, though?

 

[PaulSB]

We are riding different games. 40 miles would be less than 3 hours riding and 10 hours would be heading towards 150 miles. So we are in different positions on the saddle I believe.

Yes, very much my thoughts. Generally 40 miles is less than 3 hours for me. My last long distance ride was 116 miles in 7:41, 15.2mph avg.

I feel this explains why different riders have varying clothing needs or wants.

 

[PaulSB]

Still the same amount of time in the saddle, though?

Yes, but I'm imagine with very different riding styles. On a good day 40 miles is about 2:40 for me.

 

[Punkawallah]

Yes, very much my thoughts. Generally 40 miles is less than 3 hours for me. My last long distance ride was 116 miles in 7:41, 15.2mph avg.

I feel this explains why different riders have varying clothing needs or wants.

If you need padded shorts for a three hour ride, but an old fart like me does not for a four hour ride, maybe you need a different saddle.