A question for the ladies

I want to see the bloomers

@ Balki, I thought you implied that I wore bloomers and to be fair they would go well with my Bibendum/Michelin image.

Well... thats kinda what I was going for.

Anyway, I just want out of this thread now if thats ok.

Why did you tell me to come here Vee?

To talk about her undergarment preferences. She clearly wants you to.

Can you get these in the UK? Just had a look at their website and only US suppliers are listed.

I'll bring 'em back from the States for you, if you like. I'm going in 3 weeks.

What would she recommend?

Currently it would seem that she likes the blue Altura type padding. She also cautions of the depilatory affect of women's specific saddles.

depilatory effect? I have no idea what she's talking about. I have the specialized jett (well, it's the same as the dude's one) and it's great. cut out ftw!

but good to have info about padding type, have no idea about diff types, just "buy shorts, discover what's good and what sucks".

Currently it would seem that she likes the blue Altura type padding. She also cautions of the depilatory affect of women's specific saddles.

Yowser, that is most excellent advice. [Jenne - that means the fabric of some saddles has a tendency to pull hairs out].

Lol!

Oh, I gotcha! Ha! I always just thought that was my pants! It has to be, though, cos that was when I wasn't wearing shorts.

aha, so .... Saddle Alert - Specialised Jett ... Only use with padded shorts.

why did you try that one? I love that saddle! it takes some getting used to but it's really good once you do.

if that one's too hard for you don't even think about the specialized toupe!

Doh! I didn't try it, I was summarising your experience with it ... à la 'plucking' ... Lol!

moi? I've finally found the saddles for me - Charge Spoon on the Pinarello, and Fizik Nisene on the fixed ... with padded shorts.

The thing I find interesting is that men often seem to complain of numbness in the nethers after long rides, whereas for women it seems to be completely the opposite. I had an acute episode of saddle-sore yesterday (you'd think I'd be over that sort of thing by now!) and it was horrible. Actually swollen, and so sore I could barely walk in the evening. Ouch. Give me the numbness any day!

(Though of course, being as I've never experienced it, I don't really know what I'm talking about.)

Emilia, just stop and think about what you just said...

A man. He thinks with his cock, yes?

So therefore when a man has numbness in his nethers, that's like brain death.

You can rub cream into soreness. You can't rub anything into numbness. And even if you did, you wouldn't feel it anyway.

Doh! I didn't try it, I was summarising your experience with it ... à la 'plucking' ... Lol!

moi? I've finally found the saddles for me - Charge Spoon on the Pinarello, and Fizik Nisene on the fixed ... with padded shorts.

Ha! No, I don't think it was my saddle b/c I only have the problem when I'm wearing knickers. I love my saddle to bits, I never have pain in the nethers. Just on the sits bones.

Noticed these while browsing the bargin section of GBcycles. The ACS pad is apparantly pretty decent, cant comment on the fit of the shorts though.
£35 instead of the usual £60
http://www.gbcycles.co.uk/eshop.asp?wci=product&wce=SHBCAM07C14901&desc=CAMPAGNOLO+WOMAN+SPECIFIC+BODY+SHORT+C149

Ok, as my other shorts are falling apart, I've finally talked myself into forking out for some Assos
Picked up a pair of these today from Parker.
http://www.parkerwear.co.uk/parker/mia/d/assos+h+f1lady+s5+half+shorts+blue+2010/pid/9955743/
Cheapest I could find them, haven't ridden any long distance in them yet, but will test them on the Hastings run on Sunday, first impressions are good, rather thin (so perfect for wearing under stuff) and the pad is the most impressive I've ever seen. The waistband is particularly good, as it's cut so it doesnt dig into you or roll over.

I've been meaning to update now I've got a bit more experience from when I first posed the question about knickers under cycling shorts ... I heartily recommend not wearing knickers under cycling shorts! I never actually did in the end. I do however take a second pair of cycling shorts with me on my commute so I have a clean pair to ride home in.

I recently read Andy Pruitts Complete Medical Guide For Cyclists which notes: "The biggest mistake new riders make is wearing underwear with their cycling shorts, or even not using cycling shorts at all. Additionally remaining in your cycling shorts after a ride can lead to boils because the bacteria have time to penetrate and infect abraded skin."

So, my experiences of different types of cycling shorts:

Sugoi Ladies Evolution Cycling Shorts w/ RC Pro Chamois - These are my favourite shorts. Very very comfortable, longer in the leg which is more comfortable on 'less muscular' legs.
Sugoi Ladies Evolution Cycling Shorts

Pearl Izumi Elite Women's Short w/ 3D Elite Chamois, I picked these after having a really good experience with the same chamois in the tights (see below). They have a 'matt' finish and are slightly thinner so not too hot in this weather. Second favourite shorts.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pearl-izumi/elite-womens-short-ec022524

Bontrager Sport WSD Short w/ Sport level Chamois - very comfortable design waist that drops below navel, very comfortable with a decent chamois. Action Cycles, Sheen.

Pearl Izumi Sugar Shorts w/ Tour 3D Chamois - a bit short in the leg for me (good for skirt wearers) but the padding is good enough for me to ignore the leg length. Not as good as the 3D elite chamois though! (I got my pair at Harris Cyclery, home of the late great Sheldon Brown!).

Liners / lightweight cotton padded shorts (dhb Earnley Ladies Padded Undershorts) - didn't get on with these at all, padding too thin and not held snug enough.

Last winter I discovered Pearl Izumi Thermafleece cycling tights w/ 3D Elite Chamois, these are just great. Warm but not thick, and the padding is great.

L&W, your review reminds me I really need to upgrade from my Lidl specials I've been using for commuting/local riding almost two years now. My best padded is the Specialized one I used on the L2B ride. No sweating, and very comfy.

just an update on the gf's preference, she is currently loving Skins.

Fortunately this doesn't mean that she avoids chaffage by knocking off Dev Patel when out riding but uses these: http://www.skinsusa.com/.

Emilia, I can't believe I spent my entire courier career layering tights and underwear and not wearing padded shorts. Dumb dumb dumb.

I have a mtb saddle for commuting on, and it's rather well padded, so I tend to wear normal shorts and undies for the commute.
For slightly longer rides, it's all about the cycling shorts, no underwear. Chaffing sucks.

On the short front, i quite like Endura, and they do a three quarters length in both summer and winter weight.
I have some assos hot pants (I cannot actually call them shorts), and although they have a fantastic pad, it's too much padding for my fizik arione to deal with and I get an odd bunching.
I also resent that I'm an Assos size large.

My new favourite = the Rapha womens 3/4 bibshorts. They have a super soft lining, and are great for the 'inbetween' weather (ie. not super cold, and not super hot). Pad is awesome, and they don't cut in at the waist. Even better as I picked them up for half price in the Rapha sale a while back, usually £120 which is a lot more than I'd choose to pay.