never had the need to wear padded shorts. but i think my pelvic area has changed shape.
suffering like mad with saddle sores at present.
so i am going to try some padded bib shorts and some kind of ointment.
dhb do big sizes. or is there something better. tips please to rid myself of the pain.
Wearing some Louis Garneux stuff, never looked back after getting into some about 5 years ago. The chamois is generally a difference as you go up the price range so avoid the rock bottom (puns ahoy) ones.
Just make sure they are black 😉
Depends on budget. Assos for the big bucks or Dhb, Polaris for the budget option
Decathlon, they do sizes for a larger gent and the shorts are really good irrelevant of the price. I may be stating the obvious but don't wear undies under them and don't be shy on the chamois cream.
+1 for Decathlon bib shorts, fantastic shorts for the price and they seem a bit more solid than comparable Lusso and Dhb.
The latest ones have less BTwin logos on them too and are nicely subtle if you're not wearing baggies over the top.
I actually like planet x proline 365 bibs , around 25 pound and have been comfortable for 4 hour rides for me. People do say don't skimp on bibs though so it's up to you.
Bought some Madison Premio Road Race short bibs last week from Julie's in Leicester - £49.99 instead of £100 - very nice. They had some other less-pricey Madison ones for the larger gentleman too so maybe check online...
Depending how big you need, check out Fat Lad at the Back - cater for all sizes including the circumferentially challenged as the name suggests. They are good quality shorts, though not as cheap as some of the others mentioned.
In the interests of transparency, I'm a brand ambassador for FLAB, so arguably biased
No specific bib short advice other than to avoid the cheapest cheap ones.
As for chamois cream - I think it's worth trying without first. If you find you get a bit of chafing then the cream can help but otherwise it's just an expensive way to get clogged pores (and therefore other problems) in your regions. Unless you just want a tingly barse, in which case get some of the minty stuff and go for your life.
The posh Kalf ones that Evans do are very good, don't know how big they go but the sizes are as you'd expect
i dont need mahoosive ones........ ;O)
40'' waist aint that big is it.
re the chaffing, i dont get sore like that. more like a boil in the same spot. it may be a ingrowing hair...i do hope not.
If possible try a few different makes on as there is a big difference between the manufacturers.
I started off on dhb, which were good to daily commute (8 miles each way). Tried decathlon bibs which used to be very comfortable for reasonable length rides, but now give me proper grief.
Bought a pair of Assos bibs at the York Cycle Fair, and will quite happily buy them again and again. I know that the racing fit is better for me rather than the regular fit. It's really hard to justify spending nearly £100 on a pair of shorts, but if you are doing a reasonable amount of miles they are more than worth it in the long run.
Rides over an hour benefit from some chamois cream too. I used to get saddle sores, but cleaning your undercarriage thoroughly before a ride (I can hear you s****ing at the back, that wasn't a euphamism), and using cream with a quality pad helps avoid problems.
Another vote for Decathlon , their chamois is excellent.
@ton - chamois cream is a barrier cream designed to prevent chafing. If anything it will make pressure sores/boils worse.
A good clean chamois, clean zones and not hanging about in sweaty lycra at the end of your ride should be your first ports of call before slathering yourself in butter.
I've always found the dhb bibs to be comfortable.
MoreCashThanDash wrote:
"In the interests of transparency"
Please, Ton . . . get good quality fabric!
dhb roubaix aeron ordered. roubaix stuff is thickish......hopefully. i shall be carrying baggies to slip on prior to cafe/pub visits. ;o)
Fat Lad At The Back or Endura FS260 Pro.
I'm endowed with extra gravity, ahmmmm!
Oh, Charlie the Bikemonger's Happy Bottom Bum Butter will help prevent sores and help heal them up.
Good call on the dhb roubaix stuff - got some of their 3/4 bibs and they have been pretty good.
I'm not what most folks would call svelte.... their kit is good though.....
I use decathlon stuff, its comfortable, and if it rips, well its easily replaceable.
Cheap ones could be fine, but wear out a LOT quicker than expensive ones, in terms of stitching, pad comfort and the aforementioned transparency...
Main difference I've found between makes is the position of the pad. Some brands just don't feel right on the bike, some do and I barely notice that the pad is there. Unfortunately trial and error seems to be the only way to work this out.
dh are good - though I tended to find that once I got the right size for my legs, they were a bit crinkled and rucked elsewhere. Sigh. Endura have been good. Rapha if you can get in sales have been really good. They are on the neat side of size though! Large I ended being, and that is still "oh...". Their size chart said I would be a Small, Medium was giving me enough of an injury!
dhb roubaix aeron ordered.
I only wear my roubaix stuff in winter, when it's cold it's basically lined lycra and gets pretty damn warm once you're moving about in it.
from spring through summer into autumn you'll most likely just be cooking your cobblers and adding more sweat to the chaffed arse equation.
for what you've just paid I'd have gone for the DHB 'Classic' or maybe another tenner for the 'Blok' both have a decent pad, generous fit and won't be too hot...
As an aside, Ton, have you measured your arse? Or more specifically your sit bones?
I've been using a Charge Spoon for years on all of my bikes. Last autumn it started to get really uncomfortable and I could barely manage an hour before I was in agony. I measured my sit bones and discovered I have been on the wrong sized saddle for years. I bought a tatty Brooks Cambium C17 off evilBay to try, in theory it's the correct size. It's like sitting on the sofa in comparison.
Video here if this ****ing forum will cooperate.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=E7j9LUVJrjA
I wear a pair of Funkier Bid Shorts under my baggies. Got them from CRC. Pretty cheap, and the XL size fits my 6'1" frame with 34 waist just fine. I also have a pair of XL Castelli bibs (which are a bit tighter - the Funkier fit better) and for the crap weather I wear Castelli bib tights under my baggies.
I can't go back to non bibs - always feel like they want to slip down a bit.
If you have thighs of steel, unlike my chicken thighs, be careful not to choose shorts with tight elasticated leg grippers. The very flexible thin ones (more of a coating of latex inside) can be a lot more comfortable. Pad shape matters, arse butter less so. In fact I seldom use it.
Avoid the cheapest. Avoid the most expensive. If you want to splash out, Rapha Core are excellent and at least as good as their more expensive offerings. Not cheap but nice quality and an excellent pad. They have the flexible leg grippers. And black, of course.
You will never go back...
Decathlon (the range that are around £35ish) are very good value (did RideLondon in them twice) Can't remember what size i've got, but definitely not the largest. (I'm 5'10" and 100KG)
DHB from Wiggle (about £50?) are nicer - i've got a pair of 3/4 length which are great)
Rapha - silly money at RRP (£150) but picked up a pair for around £65 in their sale after Christmas - so much nicer than the other options mentioned above.
I realise you've already ordered some, but my own thoughts:
dhb aeron are really good for the price, on the race side of things but excellent pad and the length of the shorts suit my long legs.
B'Twin (Decathlon), started out good for the price, bit shorter in the leg than I'd like (although not a bad thing if you're planning on baggies on top). Started chafing after I've had them for about a year, I think it's the stitching around the pad that's doing it. Same experience with two pairs.
Morvelo, not done enough miles in them to have a strong opinion. Length and pad both decent, somehow don't feel as "posh" as the dhb.
Edit: the sore that you mentioned, could be an infected hair follicle. I hope not.
