padded shorts

OK, I'm heading down to moab tommarow to do some biking with the wife. Will probably hit klondike, porcupine, and possibly gemini and the slickrock practice trail. I had her buy some padded shorts because I want her to be as comfortable as possible...That said, are they really worth the $100 you are paying for them? Right now I have a schwin mens gel saddle(I know its a cheap piece, but more comfy than what came on my bike). So I figured with the gel seat, I should be fine and not need padded shorts...Am I wrong? should I drop by poison spider before starting tommarow and throw down the $ (that i dont really have) for a pair of padded shorts? I jsut dont want to waste the money if it really isnt going to make a significant difference on the trails mentioned above.

Thanks maggots.

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Originally Posted by shmoesmith

Am I wrong? should I drop by poison spider before starting tommarow and throw down the $ (that i dont really have) for a pair of padded shorts?

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yes and yes.

dude.

buy some padded shorts. I don't know about your saddle situation, etc. but padded shorts of some variety are pretty much standard equipment. you should be able to find a pair for under $100 that fit well and are comfortable.

They're definitely worth it. The chamois does more for absorbing sweat and preventing chafe and rash than it does to pad your junk.

Go to REI, you can get padded shorts for WAY less than $100 there, and they're pretty nice.

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Originally Posted by bagtagley

Go to REI, you can get padded shorts for WAY less than $100 there, and they're pretty nice.

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Amen! If you've never had a pair, the $40-50 ones will be a gift from god.

I'd just buy some regular lycra/spandex shorts with the pad built in for less than $50. Wear them under whatever shorts you normally wear for biking.

Padded shorts are well worth the $$$ IMO.

I bought the lightweight padded boxers at REI for $25(they come in a box and are by the gloves.) Padding, plus I can just wear my favorite shorts over them.

couple of things to look for imo
at least 6 panel construction
at least 7.5 oz weight lycra, preferbly 8 or higher
and I like the escher chamios, your boys might like them too I dont know

oh, and dont spend more than 40$
you can find a good short like I described above for less
all of mine ive bought are either performance\supergo brand for ~30 and they rock, especially the supergo ones.

yer ass is going to hurt no matter what if this is your first ride of the weekend, especially if you are riding ALL weekend. i rode for a couple hours, or hour and half, whatever it was today and its hurts to even sit down in my car.

That being said....if i didn't have padded shorts....OH NELLY, it would be WAY WORSE.

i've never had the super fancy baggy shorts, last year i wore my cannondale spandex jobbers with some board shorts over them. I had a pair from REI and they were great. not -quite- as nice as my cannondales, but they were still pretty good, especially for the cheaper price.

Well, I got 2 pairs of padded shorts. Going to try two different brands. One has a dual density pad, the other uses gel padding (the folks at REI said the Gel padding is more comfortable) I am especially curious how the gel will be since I already have a gel seat (so therefore may do jack shit). Will give a full report on it.

Interested in having sex over the next 7 days? Get some padded shorts for both of you.

;)

Yeah, she will NOT want to have sex with you if you don't buy her padded shorts.

They really are a must for a lady, that's common sense for anyone that rides a bike, even with a good saddle. Fork out the money dude.

sex is pretty much out the first few rides anyway:)

but in addition to the good quality padded shorts- i'm a big believer in CHAMOIS BUTTER for the tender bits as well... esp. for longer rides to prevent chaffing.

i was skeptical at first - and it's even quite gross, and you just gotta get used to it- but i love it now.

there's also the medicated AESSOS (sp?) type brand for you types that like the extra tingly feeling.

Buy some shorts, but don't think the "padding" is gonna be super cushy. It's not about that. The chamoix material in the shorts is there to prevent chafing. Note that the chamiox shape is designed to cover the saddle and contour to your crotch when seated without exposing your skin to seams in the fabric. Seams and wrinkles in regular shorts are usually what creates problems for most cyclyst. The chamoix may or may not help with sit bone issues.

The number of panels shouldn't really be an issue, since most shorts are made with some sort of lycra/spandex stretchy material. More panels means more seams, and the seams are not as stretchy as the panels.
Multi paneled shorts were designed when cycling shorts were made of wool, and the wool needed more panels to keep its shape. For some reason alot of companies still use multiple panels in thier shorts and tell you its better, but think about, it doesnt make that much sense to use many panels with all the multi- directional stretch, hi-tech fabrics that are available today.
I would choose a pair that fits good, has few panels, easily washed, (hang to dry), about $50 -75, and be ready to buy 2 pair if you plan to ride alot, so that they dont get all nasty.:eek:

And don't forget to NOT WEAR underwear with the shorts on. I forget about one out of ten rides and always regret getting ready too quickly.

Yeah, and that BUTTer stuff skiguide was talking about. Gross, but helps.

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Originally Posted by skiguide

sex is pretty much out the first few rides anyway:)

but in addition to the good quality padded shorts- i'm a big believer in CHAMOIS BUTTER for the tender bits as well... esp. for longer rides to prevent chaffing.

i was skeptical at first - and it's even quite gross, and you just gotta get used to it- but i love it now.

there's also the medicated AESSOS (sp?) type brand for you types that like the extra tingly feeling.

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Where does one find said Chamois Butter?

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Originally Posted by altachic
Yeah, she will NOT want to have sex with you if you don't buy her padded shorts.

They really are a must for a lady, that's common sense for anyone that rides a bike, even with a good saddle. Fork out the money dude.

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Truer words have never been spoken.

Get her a good saddle (let her try some out before buying. Your local store should be cool with that), and get her the padded bike shorts. Then you get the sex.

Word :biggrin:

update to the trip and the padded shorts in 'padded shorts report' thread.