I’m sure this has been debated and re-debated all over the place, but my situation is slightly unique so I figured I’d ask here. This will be my first season racing 1/2 IM distance events. I only do the aquabike races due to a hip injury. I don’t run…just the swim and the bike. Without getting into unnecessary detail, I’m a thin guy with very little natural padding. I’ve been to hell and back again dialing in my bike, getting professionally fit, and finding the right cycling shorts (Descente Strata’s).
I tried riding the other day with tri-shorts. They felt as if they had no padding at all, and I was raw and in a lot of pain at the end. For the last few seasons, when racing sprint and olympic distances, I would wear a tri shirt and a racer’s-bathing-suit under my wetsuit. Then, in T1, I would put on a pair of cycling shorts over the bathing suit and off I went. It worked fine…although I don’t know if 56 miles on the bike would change things having those 2 layers on.
I have read where people shun the idea of wearing regular cycling shorts under their wetsuit and then just using those for the rest of the event, but those arguments seem to focus on the discomfort of having a wet bulky diaper-like feeling on the run (which is not an issue for me since my race ends after the bike). Question is can this be done in my situation. Would having a wet chamois in a traditional cycling short cause more problems, or would it just take a little longer to dry up and then be fine on the bike? The notion of nothing but the tri short for 56 miles is almost unfathomable for me.
I’m sure this has been debated and re-debated all over the place, but my situation is slightly unique so I figured I’d ask here. This will be my first season racing 1/2 IM distance events. I only do the aquabike races due to a hip injury. I don’t run…just the swim and the bike. Without getting into unnecessary detail, I’m a thin guy with very little natural padding. I’ve been to hell and back again dialing in my bike, getting professionally fit, and finding the right cycling shorts (Descente Strata’s).
I tried riding the other day with tri-shorts. They felt as if they had no padding at all, and I was raw and in a lot of pain at the end. For the last few seasons, when racing sprint and olympic distances, I would wear a tri shirt and a racer’s-bathing-suit under my wetsuit. Then, in T1, I would put on a pair of cycling shorts over the bathing suit and off I went. It worked fine…although I don’t know if 56 miles on the bike would change things having those 2 layers on.
I have read where people shun the idea of wearing regular cycling shorts under their wetsuit and then just using those for the rest of the event, but those arguments seem to focus on the discomfort of having a wet bulky diaper-like feeling on the run (which is not an issue for me since my race ends after the bike). Question is can this be done in my situation. Would having a wet chamois in a traditional cycling short cause more problems, or would it just take a little longer to dry up and then be fine on the bike? The notion of nothing but the tri short for 56 miles is almost unfathomable for me.
This is the most comfortable pad on tri stuff I have ever used and tried a bunch of different ones out.
Emilio has also said that people regularly use his 400 mile bibshorts or shorts in the swim and are fine. Personally I would try the second link and see if you like it. If not they offer a money back guarantee so its worth the shot.
I really think you must have a problem with your fit and need to keep working on it. I do ALL my biking in tri shorts because I find them more comfortable…my furthest at one time is 140 miles…many, many IMs. Don’t give up…keep working on it.
BUT, to answer your Q, you can wear bike shorts under a wetsuit just fine.
You could go naked under the wetsuit and wrap a towel around you in T1 (or not… not legal to be naked in T1, but what are they gonna do, DQ you? So what! You aren’t doing the whole race anyway) when you remove the wetsuit, dry off real good, then put on a a pair of dry cycling shorts. Since you aren’t completing the race (the run part) you likely aren’t all that concerned with your T1 time. Besides at that distance, the extra few seconds aren’t a huge thing.
A few years back I was doing most of my long course training in cycling bib shorts, but I found LG tri shorts to work better for me when riding in the aero position. The DeSoto shorts I had, not so much. The LG chamois, despite being thin, seemed more substantial than the fleece pad in the DS bottom.
A few years back I was doing most of my long course training in cycling bib shorts, but I found LG tri shorts to work better for me when riding in the aero position. The DeSoto shorts I had, not so much. The LG chamois, despite being thin, seemed more substantial than the fleece pad in the DS bottom.
Just an FYI, the ones I linked to are a different model and are not the invisipad that they also have which is the fleece one.
Ahh - I didn’t look at your link. The only DeSoto shorts that I have owned had the fleece pad. Plenty of DeSoto fans here and I wasn’t trying to slight their product. I am just very impressed with these LG shorts.
No problem, just didn’t want the OP to get confused. The two pads have completely different feels to them. I don’t mind the invisipad, I used that for two 70.3’s But i LOVE the itu pad and use that for everything else.
Unless your bike shorts have a really weird pad yes you can do it. My first year I did not have tri shorts and did it all in my bike shorts. As soon as you sit on the saddle almost all the water is gone. Bike shorts are suppose to be designed to wisk away or move moisture away from your body so it is the same with water. They are not as comfortable to run in but it can be done and in your case not an issue. I would really look at your saddle if you are riding in the aero position. Is it a tri saddle or angled correctly? It does make a huge difference how you have it set up.
Another vote for DeSoto. Check the Forza Riviera Tri Shorts which have a fairly decent pad, but not overly so, or for more protection, the 400-mile shorts which are a sort of a cycling short that can be used for tri. I’m strongly considering using my 400-mile shorts for IMSG due to all the chip seal roads in that race. Training with them now to see how it is running long distances in them. So far, so good.
Thank you very much for all the responses. Very helpful stuff. I’ll definitely experiment w/ some of the suggestions here.
I use a San Marco Mantra racing saddle and have it angled at approx 1.5 degrees nose down. It has a huge cut-out, which I need b/c anything less and I have numbness issues. The only other saddle I was thinking about trying is the Adamo (they came out with a time trial version that is slightly narrower than their road version) since its prong-design probably eliminates numbness issues as well. From a power-output perspective, I’m happy w/ my current fit and feel like I have FINALLY found a set up that works. I do find that I pull myself forward on the saddle when I’m working hard, which puts me on the rails of the cut-out, so I might try moving it forward just a hair so I stay toward the rear of the saddle.
I never wore standard, good chamois during the summer training for triathlon, just road in thin Desoto tri pants, and that includes longer bike rides. I don’t bike with road bikers to get into cycling short quality.
After I started developing saddle sores over and over, I decided that shit was going to stop, and I bought some Assos shorts with thick Chamois, and Pearl PRO, for rides longer than 30 miles, and use cream, and I haven’t had a problem since. I will only wear the tri shorts in races or very short rides. All it takes is one long ride to cause a sore.
Last year I forgot my swim bag during my half IM. Lucky for me I had a cycling bib in my gym bag and I found a place that rented a divers wetsuit. (because I suck at the swim and need it for confidence). Anyhow, after the swim my bib was wet but it was not soaked or uncomfortable during the bike. The only problem I had was at the end of my run. I had poured water on my head to keep cool but forgot that my cycling gloves where in my back pocket. the gloves got soaked and were going up and down and rubbing on the stitching of my bib and that caused me to get a little bit of chaffing on my rear from my wet gloves.