General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Will not wearing bike shorts help on longer rides? Rss Feed  
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2013-05-02 8:50 AM

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Subject: Will not wearing bike shorts help on longer rides?
I'm training for my 1st IM (IMWI in Sept). My longest rides have been around 70 miles (haven't gone that far this year yet). I'm not a huge fan of bike shorts, but will wear them on long rides. The weather here has been colder than normal, so it's not been warm enough to wear shorts outside. I've yet to put on a pair of bike shorts (even indoors), instead have been wearing running tights w/chamois cream & have been fine.

My thinking is this will help me in the long run on longer rides, by having lots of shorter rides (up to 3 hrs so far) without extra padding. It seems like a lot of people say you need more time in the saddle to get used to it, & this might be a shortcut. (Not a shortcut to lots of riding to get better/handle the distance, but a shortcut to being comfortable in the saddle) Am I crazy?


2013-05-02 8:57 AM
in reply to: #4723708

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Subject: RE: Will not wearing bike shorts help on longer rides?
I couldn't imagine a 6 hour ride without good fitting shorts with padding. I've owned cheep short and high quality shorts. There is a BIG difference in comfort and fit when the hours in the saddle get long.
If you've got the iron butt to handle with no padding, do whatever works for you.
But I don't think riding without builds up any sort of endurance but could contribute to saddle sores much sooner.
Good luck.
2013-05-02 9:00 AM
in reply to: #4723708

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Will not wearing bike shorts help on longer rides?
I would suggest getting some tri shorts and get used to wearing those.  They don't have nearly as thick of a pad (some have no pad at all, just a chamois).  I do most of biking in tri specific clothing (even group bike rides).
2013-05-02 9:00 AM
in reply to: #4723708

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Will not wearing bike shorts help on longer rides?
How about tri shorts instead?  That would be between bike shorts and what you are doing now.  You can ride and run in them then.
2013-05-02 9:02 AM
in reply to: #4723708

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Expert
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Greenville, SC
Subject: RE: Will not wearing bike shorts help on longer rides?
ever try putting the tights on over the shorts? i think this is the route most people go so they can take them off during the ride if it warms up.
2013-05-02 9:02 AM
in reply to: #4723708

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Subject: RE: Will not wearing bike shorts help on longer rides?
Get Tri shorts.

I only got bike shorts when I started using a road bike and worked up to 50+ mile rides.



2013-05-02 9:17 AM
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Omaha, NE
Subject: RE: Will not wearing bike shorts help on longer rides?
I already have tri shorts, & a tri suit & my bike shorts are comfortable (& good quality), but I just haven't felt the need to use them yet. I do prefer the tri shorts over the bike shorts (less diaper-like). I know that as I go longer I will need/want them, but wondering if there is a benefit to not using them now.
2013-05-02 9:24 AM
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Subject: RE: Will not wearing bike shorts help on longer rides?

Not all tri shorts have similar pad. Some have just hour glass piece of fleece where others have a tri pad chamois much like a bike short chamois but smaller and thinner plus designed to dry faster.

Once I'm fit for IM I could wear just about anything but I prefer shorts with long distance chamois in them. 

Do you have a good bike or tri store in Omaha where you can go try things on? If not I tend to order a few different pairs from good online store, and try them on. What is always a bummer is when you try them on and they seem to be good then you ride in them and you don't like them.

I find Oomph tri shorts with long distance pad is fabulous. They are a small company and not many places carry them.  DeSoto makes various type tri shorts that are sort of blend from tri to bike shorts. Their 400 mile bike shorts can be worn for IM. They also have a few other top quality tri shorts that are I think what you are looking for.

Good luck!

2013-05-02 9:27 AM
in reply to: #4723708


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Subject: RE: Will not wearing bike shorts help on longer rides?
Everyone is a little different, as to what will be comfortable for long rides for one person my not work for someone else. As other have suggested you may want to look into getting some good tri-shorts (I like Desoto brand). I use them for all my rides up to an including 100 milers. In cold weather I put a pair of tights (with no chamios) over the tri- shorts. In varying temperaure rides I will wear leg or knee warmers to start out and take them off if the temp rises so I am comfortable just wearing the shorts.

The other thing is to consider getting a saddle that fits you very well. That reduces the need for padded bike shorts.

2013-05-02 9:33 AM
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Subject: RE: Will not wearing bike shorts help on longer rides?
however you do it... need to get out there and log miles.  sept is coming quick
2013-05-02 9:49 AM
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Subject: RE: Will not wearing bike shorts help on longer rides?

tri saddles tend to have a lot more padding than road bike saddles.

so tri shorts with tri saddles, and regular cycling shorts with the firmer road bike saddles.

anyway- that seems to work for me.

 

but you know the real answer.  ride a LOT, for months, and your butt will get used to it.



Edited by morey000 2013-05-02 9:49 AM


2013-05-02 11:54 AM
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Subject: RE: Will not wearing bike shorts help on longer rides?

Omahabritt - 2013-05-02 9:50 AM I'm training for my 1st IM (IMWI in Sept). My longest rides have been around 70 miles (haven't gone that far this year yet). I'm not a huge fan of bike shorts, but will wear them on long rides. The weather here has been colder than normal, so it's not been warm enough to wear shorts outside. I've yet to put on a pair of bike shorts (even indoors), instead have been wearing running tights w/chamois cream & have been fine. My thinking is this will help me in the long run on longer rides, by having lots of shorter rides (up to 3 hrs so far) without extra padding. It seems like a lot of people say you need more time in the saddle to get used to it, & this might be a shortcut. (Not a shortcut to lots of riding to get better/handle the distance, but a shortcut to being comfortable in the saddle) Am I crazy?

I never went so far as to wear shorts with NO padding, I did actually find more comfort in tri shorts with very little padding. I did my ironman in a pair of tri shorts and was far more comfortable than when I wore the shorts with bulkier padding....and I took a while, almost 7 hours.   I'm not sure if the padding helped, but i can't imagine having nothing.

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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Will not wearing bike shorts help on longer rides? Rss Feed