How to stop buttocks hurting on a bike (and choose the right shorts)

If you don’t feel good in the saddle of your bike, it’s obvious that you will not be able to ride it very far.

If you once went out for a long time without shorts, you must have had the "happiness" of a cowboy outing 🤠 for the next 3 days, you worshiped Ricky Zarai's sitz baths unconditionally 🍃.

Shorts are an integral part of the mountain biker's outfit, they determine the comfort in the saddle and prevent injuries. It acts like a second skin, acting as an interface between the cyclist's buttocks and the car.

In fact, these are particularly sophisticated technical clothing that must serve several functions:

• Limit friction and irritation
• Create comfort
• Let sweating go away easily
• Be warm if necessary
• Be aerodynamic so you don't degrade performance
• Do not interfere with pedaling or moving in the saddle in the case of the technical part.
• Be resilient in the event of a fall (e.g. practice started at DH)
• Be light 🦋

The shorts should be tight, primarily lycra leather. The advantage of this material is that it is elastic and adheres to the skin. This prevents friction, which is a source of irritation.

A short garment should provide good perspiration wicking. Mesh or fishnet mesh on the abdomen or back provides good ventilation.

Each has its own practice

While mountain bikers on rough terrain will prefer to wear shorts (short or long) without extra thickness, gravity lovers will prefer bottom shorts, which are worn under loose tight shorts.

Indeed, shorts are more suitable for workouts in which leg movements are more numerous and more likely to snag on them: therefore, it is important to have sturdy shorts that remain comfortable.

And then, I must say, downhill or freeride shorts, they represent the style side 😂, all of a sudden, the nickname isn't enough to rename the shorts, and a lot of them start out with a mold of something. We also find mankini and borate in connection with the cult movie of the same name.

Therefore, for this article, we will keep the descenders and enduro riders with undershorts.

Short or long shorts?

We can distinguish two main families of shorts: long cycling shorts and short cycling shorts.

Short cycling shorts will obviously be preferred for summer when temperatures are warm or mild. On the other hand, when it's cold, long shorts are necessary because they have more heat dissipation. They can also be useful during transition periods to assess the sensitivity of a mountain bike to cold.

With or without straps?

For long trips, bib shorts with braces are recommended as there are no seams at the waist, which means less pressure on the abdomen.

Make sure the shoulder straps are wide enough so they don't slip off your shoulders. It's a matter of comfort.

Shorts with suspenders are more "voluminous" and allow you to forget about you, because they do not move at all: suspenders allow the shorts to be held in an optimal way, without the need to regularly return them in place.

A woman or a man is not the same battle!

The shorts are not unisex! Women's shorts ♀️ usually have no shoulder straps or have a clip between the two shoulder straps to make room for the chest.

The insert and cut also differ from each other and are adapted to the female physiognomy, for example, without any central seam.

Insert = suede leather

The insert is in the crotch of the shorts. It can be made from a variety of materials, each designed to absorb shock and reduce friction or irritation.

The function of the shorts (or suede 🐐) insertion is to limit vibrations from uneven terrain and reduce friction when pedaling. It is placed on the surface of the ischial bone and perineum.

This part must be dermophilic (antibacterial treatment). It also needs to wick away sweat during exercise.

Each manufacturer tries to bring many different technologies to this part. Thus, you can find various materials of which it is composed, such as special foams, fibers of different elasticity, morphological shell castings, etc.

In the form of foam or gel, they come in different thicknesses. A comfortable insert should provide good cushioning for several hours. It can be sewn onto or embedded in a short dress. The latter solution avoids stitches, irritations or even burns on the fulcrum.

If you do your practice or travel long distances from time to time, we suggest you use the thick and comfortable 3D molded gel pad to better understand morphology and help wick away perspiration.

What thickness of suede to choose?

It all depends on the length of your hike and the number of trips you plan to make.

If you plan to ride a maximum of fifteen times during the season, for trips of 1 to 3 hours, foam suede will work very well.

To make sure the suede is of good quality, squeeze it with your fingers. It should be tight and firm without sagging. The tightest part of the insert should reach the bones that are in direct contact with the saddle.

How to properly support your shorts

First rule: you should wash your shorts after every walk to avoid the growth of bacteria.

Lycra does not support high temperatures or tumble dry, so hand washing is recommended.

You should restrict rotation as much as possible because it can damage the skin of your shorts. Some washing machines have a sports program for washing these garments. If you have an old car, you can choose the delicate program.

For food, do not overdose on detergents or fabric softeners, as it may happen that the product remains in the foams of your suede. A special detergent keeps the shorts in good shape for longer.

In fact, we repeat, there is nothing better than washing your hands.

When drying, avoid bending the insert, which may deform or even crack. Prohibit dryer as the temperature rises even higher than in your washing machine. Generally, technical sporting goods are dried on a flat surface and in the shade to extend their lifespan.

Cycling shorts and their liner are bacteria-treated, but over time this protection fades. The foot cream not only reduces friction but also prevents bacterial infections.

Should you put underwear under your shorts?

Нет!

Shorts are made to do without underwear. Underwear rubs and causes burns and irritation of seams or elastic bands.

You always have one or more areas of friction. The inner part of the shorts is designed to avoid the slightest roughness that could hurt you as the fabric is continuously rubbed against your skin.

Wearing underwear will only destroy all the benefits of shorts' design.

All naked, no panties, no panties, no panties, no lace thongs, we will tell you!

What is the life span of a short

The impact on the elements, friction will eventually overcome a short one (breaks, loosening of the seams, sagging of the insert ...).

The lifespan of a short depends on the frequency of use, quality and care.

For entry-level shorts, the full summer season will be a good range of use. In addition, the insert will lose its quality and the fabric from which it is made. High quality technical shorts will last longer.

So you have several options: either have a few short positions in the mid-range and make the move, or invest in high-quality goods.

Tips for choosing the right one

Choose shorts with as few seams as possible to avoid irritation and burns 🤕.

Make sure the anti-lift silicone bands at the bottom of your thighs are lightly pressed against your skin. Not too much, not too little. Too much and you run the risk of blocking blood flow. Not enough, you run the risk of overheating because the bottoms of the shorts will slide.

Straps or not: it's up to you. They effectively hold the shorts in place without tightening the belly and waist. So good for hiking but not for DH.

Try it in a cycling position, leaning forward, or even better on a bicycle saddle:

• If the shorts reach down to the hips, they are too big.
• If the shorts are too tight on the thighs, or if the suspenders cut off the skin, the shorts are too small.
• The insert should be ideally positioned in the area of ​​the ischium and perineum.

In short, it must be perfectly adapted to your body type!

Finally, you can take practical and safety aspects into account, such as pockets located in the back for carrying energy bars or keys (this should be considered if you are driving without a hydrator). In turn, reflective stripes allow you to see better, especially when mountain biking at night.

What if my ass is really tender?

There are creams that limit overheating and irritation due to friction between skin and tissue. The product prevents cracking by forming an invisible film that protects against friction and irritation. It is resistant to water and perspiration, and has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties.

Apply the cream before going out in a thick layer into the perineum. Don't penetrate.

Usually the app is paired with quality shorts, which is pretty awesome.

We recommend Squirt's excellent barrier balm.