racing shorts

I've never attempted swimming in cycling shorts, but tri shorts are designed to compromise/accommodate to all three disciplines. I would think the thicker padding in regular cycling shorts would really hold the water from the swim, and I can't even imagine running in them after the bike!

Sharon

I raced in the bike shorts. I have some from my old Norco sponsorship that are lighter material and have a thinner pad, they aren't bad. In the Ironman distance I change to running shorts. For the swim the wetsuit make me so boyant I don't really worry about the extra water retention. I need to replace some stuff this year and will probably get more triathlon specific stuff rather than cycling stuff.

I beleive that the difference is not only in the smaller padding, but the fact that the materiel it is made of dries very quickly. Ordinary cycling short pads, even sythetic one, take an eternity to dry. It is no fun riding a bike with wet shorts, I know from experience. And I can see how it must be pretty awful when running.

I have been wondering if there is much of a difference myself. Saturday I did my long run (4/5-5 mi) with my cycling shorts and won't do that again. I think the thick padding got bunched and let's just say I have now experienced being galled/chafed. OUCH
Time to try tri shorts.

umbach,

thanks for the heads up...I was planning a bike/run brick soon and would have done just that....and....ouch.

I may make that tri short purchase a bit sooner than I planned.

n

You won't believe how quickly they dry! You'll never go back again! And I'm not a proponent of buying a lot of equipment, but pop on over to SportsBasement (if you are ever down SF way, and you can get a good pair for 25 dollars. Don't forget to bring your USAT card if you have it, because they give you an extra 10 percent off. ;-)

Dana