Underwear

Eyon
Eyon Posts: 623
edited March 2011 in Road beginners
I read conflicting messages on this one, some people say they ride with their underwear under their biblongs/shorts (like I do), and some say its just a bad idea as it defeats the purpse of the pad?

What do you all do/think/say

I am hoping this doesnt come across as a weird question, just wanted to know if there is a benefit in going commando as some people on a google search say!
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Comments

  • Short manufacturers go to great lengths to make smooth, seam free, anti-bacterial, keep you cool and dry padding. Why ignore all this and wear underwear???
    Has the head wind picked up or the tail wind dropped off???
  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    No brainer, my answer is no.
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    NO!!!!!

    The only valid reason for wearing anything under cycle shorts is not knowing that you are not supposed to.

    That said, having just pulled the trigger last night on a pair of assos FI.13s, it occurred to me that the stupendous cost of these things potentially makes them a target for opportunistic muggers. Wouldn't like to have to find my way home wearing only a jersey, having just been relieved of my shorts at knife-point... :)
  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    Course not. That'd be like wearing boxers under your swimming trunks.

    What he said above. Manufacturers design comfortable sleek shorts with anatomically correct padding. Where's the logic in over-riding that with an additional layer?
  • paulbox
    paulbox Posts: 1,203
    Definitely not.
    XC: Giant Anthem X
    Fun: Yeti SB66
    Road: Litespeed C1, Cannondale Supersix Evo, Cervelo R5
    Trainer: Bianchi via Nirone
    Hack: GT hardtail with Schwalbe City Jets
  • Eyon
    Eyon Posts: 623
    see, this is why it goes in the beginners section! I will try without next time I am out. I felt it was a bit of an embarrassed question to ask as no doubt its "common knowledge" but if its all pro's and no con's I will become a convert!
    Where's the logic in over-riding that with an additional layer?

    Easy, 21 years of habit of putting them on!

    Thanks
    Ian
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    Just make sure you also obey the other unbreakable rule, which sort of follows on logically from the first... always wash shorts before next use!

    Not doing so is a recipe for nasty saddle sores, and a urinary tract infection if you are really unlucky... :(
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    You can wear padded SHORTS under your UNpadded biblongs, but that is about it.


    Never, ever, ever, ever wear underwear under padded shorts. On the outside - certainly. If you are a superhero. But never under.
  • like my buddy told me he heard from someone else...riding with underwear in padded shorts is a huge no-no, you might as well throw a handful of broken glass in there white you're at it.

    commando.jpg

    all the way!
  • danowat
    danowat Posts: 2,877
    Noooooooo
  • bobtbuilder
    bobtbuilder Posts: 1,537
    Pokerface wrote:
    You can wear padded SHORTS under your UNpadded biblongs, but that is about it.


    Never, ever, ever, ever wear underwear under padded shorts. On the outside - certainly. If you are a superhero. But never under.

    ^^^WHS.

    The shorts are designed to be worn next to your skin, with minimal seams (to chafe you). Why on Earth would you wear something under them that's going to cause irritation??? :?
  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    What's more scary is the fact that so far 5 people out of 32 who've voted do wear underwear. Blimey.
  • nickwill
    nickwill Posts: 2,735
    CiB wrote:
    What's more scary is the fact that so far 5 people out of 32 who've voted do wear underwear. Blimey.
    +1
    Maybe they wear their helmets backwards as well.
  • Harry182
    Harry182 Posts: 1,170
    CiB wrote:
    What's more scary is the fact that so far 5 people out of 32 who've voted do wear underwear. Blimey.

    Hopefully the 5 are the superheroes Pokerface was referring to.
  • I cannot believe people are saying yes to this, think about the VPL guys............where is Gok when you need him :D
  • dodgy
    dodgy Posts: 2,890
    CiB wrote:
    What's more scary is the fact that so far 5 people out of 32 who've voted do wear underwear. Blimey.

    MAMILS
  • springtide9
    springtide9 Posts: 1,731
    LOL... what about wearing cycling specific underwear under your padded longs/shorts? :oops:

    I must admit... I must have a very delicate rear.... as I've experimented with the different combos and now wear padded underwear AND padded longs/shorts.

    I believe the REAL test to whether this is right or not is whether you feel sore after 8 hrs in the saddle. I'm a firm believer in doing what works for you - and not what works for others!

    There is no point in suffering in the saddle just because it's not seen as the 'proper way' :lol:

    [And before someone asks. Have I tried not wearing underwear? Yes. Have I tried different types of longs/shorts and/or different padding? Yes. When I tried these did I really give it a real go.. as in - did I try it for a few weeks? Yes, I tried the combos for periods of time and hoped it would improve.]
    Simon
  • Tom BB
    Tom BB Posts: 1,001
    Nickwill wrote:
    CiB wrote:
    What's more scary is the fact that so far 5 people out of 32 who've voted do wear underwear. Blimey.
    +1
    Maybe they wear their helmets backwards as well.

    3871673208_fa167dfa27_o.jpg


    You just know this guy is also wearing boxers :D
  • Mister W
    Mister W Posts: 791
    No, no, no and no again. You've got a lovely soft, seam free pad to cushion your nether regions from the saddle and you want to put a piece of fabric with seams between that lovely soft pad and your @rse? That's a recipe for abrasion and pain.
  • Mister W wrote:
    No, no, no and no again. You've got a lovely soft, seam free pad to cushion your nether regions from the saddle and you want to put a piece of fabric with seams between that lovely soft pad and your @rse? That's a recipe for abrasion and pain.

    +1
    It's a no brainer really
  • +1

    Wearing underpants with padded shorts is akin to wearing socks with sandals. :D
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    Lillywhite wrote:
    +1

    Wearing underpants with padded shorts is akin to wearing socks with sandals. :D
    No it's not, it's equivalent to wearing sandpaper with sandals
  • bompington wrote:

    No it's not, it's equivalent to wearing sandpaper with sandals
    :D
  • springtide9
    springtide9 Posts: 1,731
    Mister W wrote:
    No, no, no and no again. You've got a lovely soft, seam free pad to cushion your nether regions from the saddle and you want to put a piece of fabric with seams between that lovely soft pad and your @rse? That's a recipe for abrasion and pain.

    I think you are missing the end goal here...
    The aim of using padding and finding a seat that fits well.... is so that you are comfy on long rides. The aim is not to just blindly do what others do.

    You take other peoples advice as a way to finding out what works for you. It you find it uncomfortable - you don't blindly keep doing it because someone told on on a forum.

    What a bit more detail... OK. Wearing padded shorts/longs without underwear give me terrible piles (there you go, I've said it). I switched to using padded underwear and they went away. I tried again not wearing underwear again and they came back. I've now worn my preferred padding system and I've not suffered for over 10 years.

    Kind of reminds me of the Harry Enfield sketches - "You don't want to do it like that..." :P
    Simon
  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    Mister W wrote:
    No, no, no and no again. You've got a lovely soft, seam free pad to cushion your nether regions from the saddle and you want to put a piece of fabric with seams between that lovely soft pad and your @rse? That's a recipe for abrasion and pain.

    I think you are missing the end goal here...
    The aim of using padding and finding a seat that fits well.... is so that you are comfy on long rides. The aim is not to just blindly do what others do.

    You take other peoples advice as a way to finding out what works for you. It you find it uncomfortable - you don't blindly keep doing it because someone told on on a forum.

    What a bit more detail... OK. Wearing padded shorts/longs without underwear give me terrible piles (there you go, I've said it). I switched to using padded underwear and they went away. I tried again not wearing underwear again and they came back. I've now worn my preferred padding system and I've not suffered for over 10 years.

    Kind of reminds me of the Harry Enfield sketches - "You don't want to do it like that..." :P

    If you need to wear padded underwear under your padded shorts....

    then (IMO) you either have crappy shorts or the wrong saddle. (Or a combo of both).

    There is simply no justification or reason why you should need to wear TWO padded items of clothing in order to get the right level of comfort.

    But as I said - IMO.
  • springtide9
    springtide9 Posts: 1,731
    Pokerface wrote:
    then (IMO) you either have crappy shorts or the wrong saddle. (Or a combo of both).

    There is simply no justification or reason why you should need to wear TWO padded items of clothing in order to get the right level of comfort.

    But as I said - IMO.

    As you said... In YOUR opinion :)

    But In MY Opinion - there is a justification.

    As I've previously stated - I have tried - and tried hard (piles are very painful BTW - and you throw money at the problem to find a comfy solution)

    I've owned lots of pairs of shorts/longs and seats over the years - none of them 'crappy'.

    Maybe I haven't found the right shorts/longs that suit, but after 25 years of cycling (yes I'm in my 40's and have been riding properly since I was 16) - but maybe I never will.

    I wear what I wear. I find it comfy on long rides and don't suffer the next day. So what's the issue? Is this some kind of secret roadie thing that you have to not wear underwear to be in the club? :?
    Simon
  • cornerblock
    cornerblock Posts: 3,228
    Pokerface wrote:
    then (IMO) you either have crappy shorts or the wrong saddle. (Or a combo of both).

    There is simply no justification or reason why you should need to wear TWO padded items of clothing in order to get the right level of comfort.

    But as I said - IMO.

    As you said... In YOUR opinion :)

    But In MY Opinion - there is a justification.

    As I've previously stated - I have tried - and tried hard (piles are very painful BTW - and you throw money at the problem to find a comfy solution)

    I've owned lots of pairs of shorts/longs and seats over the years - none of them 'crappy'.

    Maybe I haven't found the right shorts/longs that suit, but after 25 years of cycling (yes I'm in my 40's and have been riding properly since I was 16) - but maybe I never will.

    I wear what I wear. I find it comfy on long rides and don't suffer the next day. So what's the issue? Is this some kind of secret roadie thing that you have to not wear underwear to be in the club? :?

    Alright don't get your knickers in a twist. :)
  • springtide9
    springtide9 Posts: 1,731

    Alright don't get your knickers in a twist. :)

    I am a man - I am not a number! :P :lol:
    Simon
  • Ginjafro
    Ginjafro Posts: 572
    This is why we should not wear underwear...

    meninlycra.jpg
    Giant XTC Pro-Carbon
    Cove Hustler
    Planet X Pro-Carbon
  • TuckerUK
    TuckerUK Posts: 369
    Is that one of those 'What shape comes next' tests?
    "Coming through..."