Riding Under Garments

[Phil3]

I have seen that bicycle riding shorts, or other such garments are supposed to help with seat pain (2007 Tuono). I desperately need ANY relief, and first thing I thought I would try is something other than the standard white Fruit of the Looms currently in use. Recommendations? I have heard of compression tights, riding shorts, etc. Just want to get something that is as effective as possible.

[nomadak]

http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=&L2=&L3=&L4=&item=EVS_UG02-M

best gear I've found for "down there". I have a deal with them....so that helps me. Other cycling gear at REI is comparable.

I also use polypro top (long sleeve) and bottom under the ballistic gear when the temps are <60 F.

I add a Gerbing heated vest and gloves below 50 F.

Heated riding gear has "transformed" my riding. Those cold/clear days don't stop me anymore.

[AusNitro]

On long distance rides I use bicycle shorts with the chamois lining. I know alot of long distance and Iron Butt riders that swear by LD Comfort shorts http://www.ldcomfort.com/ because they don't have seams in buttock region, dry in minutes after washing them and all the other reasons on their website. For cold weather riding ( well as cold as it gets in West Australia ) I use UnderArmour gear thermals under a textile jacket and Draggin Jeans

[weeksy]

Ride a pushbike more....

The Tuono seems a dream compared to a pushbike :)

[burntout]

Get a custom seat made perhaps?

I've always ridden in me boxers (under leather that is....I'm not that fruity) and found my neck gives out well before my buttocks.

The seat is very flat on the Tuono / RSV which causes point loading on the posterior when you really need a UDL.

[Shovelstrokeed]

Things to look for.

No seams except a center one.
Whatever material they are made of, it should have wicking properties lest you wind up with Monkey Butt.
Ever notice where the padding really is on pushbike shorts? It is not where you sit on a motorcycle seat. You, if you remember back that far, wind up feeling you have a load in your diaper.
The longer the legs, the further the bottom seams stay away from the pressure points on the seat. Think basketball or board shorts.
All will be useless if you go riding in jeans or any pants with rear pockets. Get some proper riding pants and wear them.

[naimchase]

Sargent Seat.

http://www.aerostich.com/aerostich-riding-shorts.html

And when cool, silk long johns:

http://www.wintersilks.com/viewproduct.aspx?BRANCH=1~10~&ProductDisplayID=732&dept=Silk+Long+Underwear-Mens+Lightweight&prod=basic+long+john+pants (http://www.wintersilks.com/viewproduct.aspx?BRANCH=1%7E10%7E&ProductDisplayID=732&dept=Silk+Long+Underwear-Mens+Lightweight&prod=basic+long+john+pants)

[JohnB]

I had to make a 600 mile trip. I called Sargent, needed 6 weeks! So I went to the auto store and bought some of those car seat beads. Attached them with elastic ribbon to my bike and off I went. Not a bother. Best $10 I ever spent.
Also recommended...Johnson's Medicated Baby Powder (extra strength is better) and a cramp-buster for highway relief.
Friends have also used the alaska butt pad and say it's pretty good.

[naimchase]

and a cramp-buster for highway relief.
I like this because it pops off easily while riding:
http://www.kuryakyn.com/index.cfm/go/Home.ProductDetail/IMID/262

And most pads are good for only long straights.
You want them off when curves appear.
I used a sheepskin bungee-on for unavoidable long stretches out West.

[Falko]

I wear a pair of cycling short liners. Thin, breathe well, and have a little bit of padding. But they're tight so they keep the bundle where you want. The liners are a bit cheaper than the actual shorts and more comfy under mc pants.
I am having a seat made right now, complete with gel insert. i did the third and final fitting the other night. Pretty excited about it.

[Chuck B]

Stop at Johnsons Leathers there in SF...I use their undergarments for all my riding. Cotton is the worse...

[drift]

Another vote for the bicycle shorts. If I didn't already have them, I'd probably look at the motorcycle-specific ones from dianese or the like. way better than regular underwear - seams/cotton/etc are not nice after an hour or so.

If you have any gut at all, try the 'bib' type, they are very comfortable.

Bruce

[Ape76]

I was thinking of something similar with "comfortable" impact padding as well to fit under riding pants or leathers...

Hey Nomadak,
Do these provide some impact protection or are those pads useless?
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1...tem=EVS_UG02-M

Thx!

[suedboy]

Here you go: http://www.dainese.com/us_en/motorbike/racing-seamless-pant.html?cat=31

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj187/psychosuede/suits/seamlesspant.png

[drift]

I was thinking of something similar with "comfortable" impact padding as well to fit under riding pants or leathers...

Hey Nomadak,
Do these provide some impact protection or are those pads useless?
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1...tem=EVS_UG02-M

Thx!

link goes to a page with a ton of stuff on it -- but if you are referring to this:

http://www.dainese.com/media/catalog/product/cache/209/front_image/450x560/8a02aedcaf38ad3a98187ab0a1dede95/3/8/3879556_623_F_S_7.png

I have an older version of them, the pads are great -- but since mine are mesh like this, they don't provide any comfort. I wear them over bicycle shorts.

Bruce

[AusNitro]

Worst comes to worst get an Airhawk http://airhawk.com.au/. I know a few riders with and they reckon they're great.

[nomadak]

I was thinking of something similar with "comfortable" impact padding as well to fit under riding pants or leathers...

Hey Nomadak,
Do these provide some impact protection or are those pads useless?
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1...tem=EVS_UG02-M

Thx!


I think you were referring to the EVS brand's "UG02" riding shorts. AS someone above said, the link you provided went to a page full of all kinds of gear.

The EVS UG02 is little more than lycra riding shorts with 2 thin hip pads and a tail bone pad that are removable. They are not much in the way of protection, they would maybe help with preventing bruising in a soft fall, nothing more.

The Dainese item someone else posted would probably be a much better selection for that protection you are looking for.

For me, under garments mean just that. A layer that provides wicking action and comfort. All of my outer gear is protective (motocross pants for dirt, ballistic riding gear for the road). I don't want the added bulk on the actual undergarment.

In my experience, when I have used those pads, that area doesn't wick moisture away and I get chaffed/irritated in that area.

[Ape76]

sorry I used the same link you originally posted. I rode with bike tights in the past and will have to use some form of butt powder to prevent chaffing...

Those Dainese shorts look nice but may be too bulky...maybe the Bohn underarmor shorts will work...who knows?

I just thought it would be nice to have some impact padding thats not to bulky under my riding pants. I want them to be comfortable on longer rides as well... Most riding pants and leathers don't provide adequate hip protection or butt protection...

[williamr]

I'm really getting puzzled by all these threads about comfort. You get a bike - any bike - set it up to fit you, and ride it.

I wear jeans and a t-shirt under textile gear summer and winter. No base layers, comfort layers or the like. I add a jacket liner in Winter, but heated grips? I was riding at around 10F a week ago. If you have circulation problems and need them you have my sympathy. Most people don't. If it's a business trip, I wear my suit under my gear. Take the gear off at the destination and stuff it in the top box. Convenience takes priority over comfort.

Comfort seat? I needed to raise my seat about an inch to make the bike a better fit. A 1" slab of hard polystyrene is taped to it. Has been for the last 2 years. It's hard. That isn't a problem if you get the riding position sorted out so that your weight isn't taken on the base of your spine. My lower spine was damaged in the same spill that smashed my hip. Maybe that's forced me to learn how to set up the riding position properly over the years.

8 hour riding days are no problem. I don't much like long rides in heavy rain, and I don't much like slow heavy traffic rides in hot weather. Apart from that, you just accept and ignore what slight discomforts are left.

People seem to want everything to be perfect. Life isn't like that. You do the best that you can then just get on with it.

Rob

[drift]

alright Cotton--

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/10/Cotton_hill.jpg/250px-Cotton_hill.jpg

[nomadak]

I add a jacket liner in Winter, but heated grips? I was riding at around 10F a week ago.
Rob

I appreciate most of the position you were speaking from in your post williamr, but the sentence I quoted raised my eyebrows.

I'm not talking about a ride down the street a few hundred yards to the store.

I'd like to see you ride in 10 F weather at 75 mph for about an hour. :bs:

I live in the sub arctic. Trust me, I can handle some cold. What you are talking about doing leaves people without fingers up here.
:cheers:

[jhawkmille]

I bought a pair of Aerostitch padded shorts last summer, and to me they made quite an improvement. When worn with my leathers I can put a full day in on the Mille quite comfortably.

[Ape76]

Thx for everyones feedback regarding my posts! Wow I just got confused after reading my own post & WilliamR's...??? This is not just about bike setup Sir...My RSVR is perfect as is! It's about saving my ass in case it kisses the pavement...

I was referring to impact and/or padded protection of some sort that actually fits and is usable under leathers; from those who have tried it...

Jhawk,
I'll check out those Aerostitch shorts as well...much appreciated...

Now when will the snow leave so I can ride again?

Cheers!

[williamr]

I appreciate most of the position you were speaking from in your post williamr, but the sentence I quoted raised my eyebrows.

I'm not talking about a ride down the street a few hundred yards to the store.

I'd like to see you ride in 10 F weather at 75 mph for about an hour. :bs:

I live in the sub arctic. Trust me, I can handle some cold. What you are talking about doing leaves people without fingers up here.
:cheers:

That ride was about 150 miles at motorway speeds - a bit higher than 75 mph. I'll admit to some tingling in my fingers, but otherwise no real problems. And I used to do rides like that regularly in the days when we had those Winter temperatures regularly. It never crossed my mind that I ought to be cold afer a respite of probably 15 or 20 years, so I wasn't.

I'll admit that 10F is about as low as I like to go, and even at that I'll probably use the car for shorter trips. As for the 100 yards down the road, I don't believe in starting an engine for anything less than a 10 mile ride if I can help it - it's bad for the motor. for short trips I walk or cycle. My fingers actually suffer more in traffic when the cold from the brake and clutch levers seeps through to chill my fingertips than they do from faster riding when they're not actually in contact with anything.

Rob

[williamr]

I was referring to impact and/or padded protection of some sort that actually fits and is usable under leathers; from those who have tried it...

Cheers!

Sorry for misunderstanding.

I think there's a generational issue here. It never crossed my mind that anyone would feel a need for extra protection under normal riding gear. That alone is such a massive improvement on what I grew up with that adding to it just seems like overkill to me.

As for the snow - yesterday was dry, sunny and cold(ish) - about 28F, so I got to use the bike for a trip into Manchester. Today the snow's back.

Rob

[BRBJackson]

I've had a pair of Bohn Adventure shorts for 4 years now, and wear them under the Draggin' Jeans in-town, leather sport pants in the canyons, and leathers at the track. They are a really nice compromise of comfort and protection, but I did end up taking the tailbone pad out, as it was a bit too intrusive.
http://www.bohnarmor.com/catalog/proddetail.php?prod=BGK

I have crash tested these shorts, and can tell you I would have done some significant damage to my hip (or worse), had I decided to just use "normal riding gear". Embrace riding gear advances, and give yourself some extra peace of mind.

[Ape76]

Thx I'm looking into things of the sort...

[JohnB]

10 degrees F in Cheshire England??? When was that??? Do you mean celcius?

[drift]

10 degrees F in Cheshire England??? When was that??? Do you mean celcius?

Don't try to egg him on, anyone that says they ride in 10F for 2 hours at 75MPH without "special comfort equipment" is begging for an argument. I say it's BS.

[BRBJackson]

Thx I'm looking into things of the sort...
No problem, good to hear you are considering wearing more protection (without too much bulk...). As an aside, owning those shorts for 200+ weeks means that I probably wore them on ~250 rides, and NEVER thought about them at all... until they saved my ass ONCE, that is.

Sorry to be brutally frank here, but williamr's posts in this thread sound like those of a macho, overcompensating slave to the past. I started sport riding in the late 70's/early 80's, and vividly remember the pitiful gear available at that time . Of course, many aspects of the available protection on current "Normal Riding Gear" have improved dramatically in the last couple of decades. Shoulder, elbow, and (occasionally) knee impact protection are now substantially better, and overall construction standards mean that leathers rarely ride up the arms/legs in a shunt (I know, trust me...), and have outstanding abrasion resistance. THAT SAID though, what kind of bullheaded, myopic hypnosis would lead one to say "current protective gear is so much better than when I was a lad, why would I bother considering any extra protection"?...
Real back protection requires an additional device. A dozen great options exist, but you would ignore this at your mortal peril.
Chest protection? Again, look to the aftermarket. Plenty of low-profile, proven solutions.
Thigh/hip protection is still woefully inadequate. As mentioned, though, there are a number of solutions that can be ADDED to the overall armada of 'What if?'.

All for now. Let me know if there are any specific questions.

CHEERS

[nomadak]

Don't try to egg him on, anyone that says they ride in 10F for 2 hours at 75MPH without "special comfort equipment" is begging for an argument. I say it's BS.

Finally. :cool:, I knew you were out there. :peace:

[Aprilia_RSV_Dan]

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/8445/designalldll.jpg

[drift]

Finally. :cool:, I knew you were out there. :peace:

I resisted until I just couldn't stand it anymore. Didn't want to get into an egg-slinging contest.

[pkarjanm]

Apparently these guys have taken biker view to the problem. Go have a look [URL="http://www.rukka.com/lfashion/rukka/rukkawww.nsf/vwpagesbyparentunid/7A47C6C2D42B76BEC225764600439BFD?OpenDocument[/URL]
Rukka finally has an importer in our neck of the woods too http://www.innotesco.com.au