Cycling Shorts & Tights Question

[Globalti]

A word about padding: a few years ago the cycle clothing industry decided that thick gel padding was the way to go and now it's almost impossible to find shorts that don't have thick spongey or gel pad. This is fine for somebody who only rides a few miles but the original purpose of the shorts pad (worn next to the skin) was that it was dense and resisted folding and creasing. A well-shaped saddle and correct bike setup took care of comfort.

It follows that cotton pants under padded shorts are a bad idea because they will crease and ruck up and hold moisture.

My own preference in winter is to wear an old pair of shorts that have gone a bit transparent in vital places underneath my Lusso bib tights (which are not padded), saving my decent shorts for summer.

My most comfortable shorts are a pair of dhb 3/4 bib tights, Roubaix lined, which have a thinnish but quite dense pad. They are suprememly comfortable and they keep the thigh muscles at just the right temperature in those in-between months. Sadly even dhb have now fallen for the gel padding myth.

 

[ianrauk]

My most comfortable shorts are a pair of dhb 3/4 bib tights, Roubaix lined

Mine too.

 

[mjr]

It follows that cotton pants under padded shorts are a bad idea because they will crease and ruck up and hold moisture.

Yes, if you want to wear cotton, it's best if any moisture can carry on migrating outwards and it seems it won't do that from inside most lycra shorts. It's also a very good idea to avoid seams where your leg meets your bum and maybe under the middle if you ride very leant-forwards (typical road bike).

now it's almost impossible to find shorts that don't have thick spongey or gel pad

This is absolutely hilarious to long-distance riders who use unpadded shorts but saddles with a little, structured gel padding on them but are often told that gel saddles are uncomfortable and put pressure in the wrong places by people who now look like they've got two small pillows shoved down the back of their spandex. How has this happened? I noticed while watching Paris-Nice that even the pro skinsuits seem to have thicker pads stretching higher up the back this year. Has there been some study or is it just fashion?

 

[Globalti]

Here is a picture of two dhb shorts pads: the one on the left is thin but dense and covered in a brushed fabric. It's in some oldish 3/4 bibs, which are very comfortable. The one on the right is a newer pair of shorts and is gel-filled. It feels comfortable for the first few miles but soon becomes sweaty and irritating as your sit bones sink in and the slightly rough material comes into contact with sensitive bits, leading eventually to chafing:

This is a new Naano technology pad I tried but it didn't perform very well in the rain and people behind me started sniffing and talking about stopping for food:

 

[tallliman]

^^ I hear the Peshwari Naano pad is a little more comfortable though.

 

[mjr]

the one on the left is thin but dense and covered in a brushed fabric.

Heck, what's with that seam around the edge? Doesn't it saw your legs and cock off?

 

[Globalti]

Heck, what's with that seam around the edge? Doesn't it saw your legs and cock off?

No, it's flat-stitched and you don't notice it at all.

 

[mjr]

No, it's flat-stitched and you don't notice it at all.

based on my experience of similar "flat-stitched" seams from other manufacturers, which may be made in the same place as dhb.

 

[stalagmike]

Naanotech is not far off reality. I think I read somewhere about a tradition in the early days of the tour or giro for riders to pouch a thick cut of steak in their shorts to provide comfort on the climbs and a tenderised meal at the end of the day.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Here is a picture of two dhb shorts pads: the one on the left is thin but dense and covered in a brushed fabric. It's in some oldish 3/4 bibs, which are very comfortable. The one on the right is a newer pair of shorts and is gel-filled. It feels comfortable for the first few miles but soon becomes sweaty and irritating as your sit bones sink in and the slightly rough material comes into contact with sensitive bits, leading eventually to chafing:

This is a new Naano technology pad I tried but it didn't perform very well in the rain and people behind me started sniffing and talking about stopping for food:

I like that Madras Lentil chamois butter, as well. Goes well with all the new Naanotechnological stuff.

 

[tallliman]

Naanotech is not far off reality. I think I read somewhere about a tradition in the early days of the tour or giro for riders to pouch a thick cut of steak in their shorts to provide comfort on the climbs and a tenderised meal at the end of the day.

Wicketkeepers certainly used to put steaks in their gloves to tenderise them during a session in the field.

 

[chrisb1357]

Ordered a pair of these today so will let you know how they are. going yo try them under the padded tights first.

 

[youngoldbloke]

We used to wear woollen shorts with a real chamois* leather insert - not a pad, more like a car-leather or window-leather - I had a Brooks Professional saddle at that time. Very comfortable. With the right saddle you don't need a thick pad.
*why today we still talk about 'chamois cream' or 'chamois butter'.

 

[Globalti]

On that point - presumably the chamois became dry and hard after washing and needed to be moistened with an oil or emulsion of some sort?

I wonder if you can still buy shorts with genuine chamois?

 

[youngoldbloke]

On that point - presumably the chamois became dry and hard after washing and needed to be moistened with an oil or emulsion of some sort?

I wonder if you can still buy shorts with genuine chamois?

I don't remember having to give the chamois any special treatment. I'll ask some of my even older club mates if they do. My mum would have been responsible for the washing! I do remember buying shorts in the 90s that had fake chamois, thin and unpadded.