A man in womens' cycling shorts

[scotsbikester]

Here's the thing.

I don't think I need padding. I've got a couple of padded under shorts, one Carnac (Planet X) and one that came with Endura Humvees (clickfast).
Neither of them made any difference. Because so far I don't have a problem with "soreness". The longest I've ridden in a day is 40 miles, and I could feel muscular tiredness, but nothing that I thought would be improved with padding. The padding feels bloody stupid, to be honest, like wearing a nappy. Also it's got to dry out after washing.

I'm on a B17 with a steel seatpost, by the way.

I started cycling in Humvees (full length) and some other MTB trousers, Altura maybe. Then I switched to Tudor York tights:

https://www.tudorsports.co.uk/york-tights-with-stripe.html

Which are fine, but a bit warm in this weather. They are full length and quite a fleecy material.

Underneath I wear Dilling merino boxers, or SAXX, or M&S lightweight boxers. I think the Dilling chafe a little, on a long ride, but not terribly.
What I would like, especially as the weather gets warmer, and so do I, cycling harder, is something cycling specific where the cloth moves with me, and perhaps conducts heat/moisture away, BUT WITHOUT THE PAD.

A quick search found, in another forum, somebody who said they buy women's cycling shorts. I think it was a man, and I think he meant this sort of thing:

https://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/w...ts/c/uk-womens-clothing-shorts-cycling-shorts

Have any men tried anything like those? The style of the advertising suggests they are aimed more at the "lounging around looking gorgeous" buyer, than serious cyclists.

And/Or:
I've got a pair of Assos Trail shorts on the way. What "ordinary" unpadded boxers does anybody wear under loose/MTB style shorts? Are there any cycling specific (material/stitching) unpadded boxers available?

Many thanks.

 

[cougie uk]

Triathlon shorts have minimal padding if that helps

 

[HobbesOnTour]

I ditched padded shorts very early. I wear a variety of shorts depending on what's available when I need them. My preference for underwear is whatever is light and will dry quickly. Primark do good, quick drying boxers, although my latest sets I've found the waistband crumpling up. In fairness it has been very hot and I've been sweating profusely.
The only ass issues I recall was cycling in excessive heat and humidity after resetting the saddle position. It wasn't right, I didn't stop to fix it and managed to remove a small section of skin.

The thing is - everyone is different. What works for me may not for you. Between bodies, saddles, angles, materials, conditions there is so much variety. The most important thing, in my book, is to keep everything clean. And if things don't feel right to do something about it. Sometimes an adjustment of millimeters is all that is needed.

Good luck

 

[fossyant]

Decathlon do a number of sports grundies, and some are exactly like unpadded cycling shorts.

 

[vickster]

Look at unpadded compression shorts? They do for men as all the footballers wear them...Decathlon a good bet. Don't need to wear undies underneath
eg https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/mp/po...rt/_/R-p-19bf7c1a-3156-4e67-974e-d38ff23f550b or https://www.decathlon.co.uk/browse/c0-men/c1-clothing/c3-briefs/_/N-1w52hyl
or another online retailer https://www.mandmdirect.com/01/details/UM3451

If you want to try on before buying, then Decathlon or Sports Direct maybe

You've linked to a fashion not sports item for women, they're just called 'cycling shorts', but they're not being sold for cycling, more for the gym, or wearing under a dress or a long loose top etc

 

[MontyVeda]

...
You've linked to a fashion not sports item for women, they're just called 'cycling shorts', but they're not being sold for cycling, more for the gym, or wearing under a dress or a long loose top etc

I think he's aware of that, hence the thread title.

 

[vickster]

I think he's aware of that, hence the thread title.

he can get the same sort of thing for men however

 

[PaulSB]

Here's the thing.

I don't think I need padding. I've got a couple of padded under shorts, one Carnac (Planet X) and one that came with Endura Humvees (clickfast).
Neither of them made any difference. Because so far I don't have a problem with "soreness". The longest I've ridden in a day is 40 miles, and I could feel muscular tiredness, but nothing that I thought would be improved with padding. The padding feels bloody stupid, to be honest, like wearing a nappy. Also it's got to dry out after washing.

I'm on a B17 with a steel seatpost, by the way.

I started cycling in Humvees (full length) and some other MTB trousers, Altura maybe. Then I switched to Tudor York tights:

https://www.tudorsports.co.uk/york-tights-with-stripe.html

Which are fine, but a bit warm in this weather. They are full length and quite a fleecy material.

Underneath I wear Dilling merino boxers, or SAXX, or M&S lightweight boxers. I think the Dilling chafe a little, on a long ride, but not terribly.
What I would like, especially as the weather gets warmer, and so do I, cycling harder, is something cycling specific where the cloth moves with me, and perhaps conducts heat/moisture away, BUT WITHOUT THE PAD.

A quick search found, in another forum, somebody who said they buy women's cycling shorts. I think it was a man, and I think he meant this sort of thing:

https://www.newlook.com/uk/womens/w...ts/c/uk-womens-clothing-shorts-cycling-shorts

Have any men tried anything like those? The style of the advertising suggests they are aimed more at the "lounging around looking gorgeous" buyer, than serious cyclists.

And/Or:
I've got a pair of Assos Trail shorts on the way. What "ordinary" unpadded boxers does anybody wear under loose/MTB style shorts? Are there any cycling specific (material/stitching) unpadded boxers available?

Many thanks.

You clearly have a lot of gear already and buying Assos trail shorts your getting great quality.

If you're prepared to pay Assos prices, I am and do, it could be worth you looking at the Assos Mille GT shorts or bib shorts. Yes these are padded but the pad is very light, dries quickly and for me I'm not even aware of there being one. I've worn nothing but these and it's predecessors for 25 years.

Thanks for the comment on Trail shorts. I'm thinking of getting some but was unsure at £105 but I now see Wiggle are only £63.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Why not just wear any old shorts with a bit of stretch if you don’t need the padding? No need to overthink this.

 

[Twilkes]

Get some cosy fitting mens underwear trunks with some elastication in the material? The key thing would be not having seams in uncomfortable places like normal briefs might have. I wore something like that for a while, but that was on an upright hybrid, for my road bike saddle I need a little bit of padding just to take the edge off.

edit - that would be for wearing under MTB shorts, not sure if you're looking for something you can fly solo in though.

 

[scotsbikester]

Some very good suggestions there. Thanks folks.

Yes, I'm thinking about both single garment (no knickers) type shorts but without the pad. It looks like that might not be possible, but very lightly padded could work. So maybe the Assos or triathalon.

I'm also after good "plain" knicker boxers, to wear under my imminent Assos Trail shorts. I suppose anything that's marketed as "non-chafe" or "seamless" should probably work, even if it isn't called cycling specific.

Many of your suggestions are cheap enough that I'm willing to take a punt. Go for a long ride, wash, dry, go for another ride and if they still work buy lots.

I do actually teach in a girls school, and at least one of my female colleagues is a very keen cyclist. But I figure if I go around asking pupils and colleagues - "do you get any chafing on your inner thigh" I figure my career could come to an abrupt end!

 

[scotsbikester]

Look at unpadded compression shorts? They do for men as all the footballers wear them...Decathlon a good bet. Don't need to wear undies underneath
eg https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/mp/po...rt/_/R-p-19bf7c1a-3156-4e67-974e-d38ff23f550b or https://www.decathlon.co.uk/browse/c0-men/c1-clothing/c3-briefs/_/N-1w52hyl
or another online retailer https://www.mandmdirect.com/01/details/UM3451

If you want to try on before buying, then Decathlon or Sports Direct maybe

You've linked to a fashion not sports item for women, they're just called 'cycling shorts', but they're not being sold for cycling, more for the gym, or wearing under a dress or a long loose top etc

Just so I understand - are you suggesting compression shorts without anything either under or over them? Those Decathlon ones describe themselves as "baselayer".

Would I be right in thinking that cycle-specific padded shorts are really just compression shorts plus a pad? More or less?

Thanks.

 

[vickster]

Just so I understand - are you suggesting compression shorts without anything either under or over them? Those Decathlon ones describe themselves as "baselayer".

Would I be right in thinking that cycle-specific padded shorts are really just compression shorts plus a pad? More or less?

Thanks.

Yes, indeed and you don’t wear undies under cycling shorts to avoid chafing, they are basically underwear any how, hold bits in place.
You may want to wear something over the top for modesty I guess, that’s where the trail shorts come in

 

[Ming the Merciless]

P.S. normal underwear is fine for the distance you mention.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Look at snug fitting running shorts.