What sports bra/underwear should I get for long distance cycle touring?

December 17, 2015 4:27 AM

I'm shortly about to embark on a long distance cycle tour and I was hoping for some advice on what sports bra and underwear to get that will be good for wicking as well as durable because I will only be taking one bra and two pairs of pants with me to keep the weight down.

In relation to the bra - I have B cup breasts and I am a petite woman. I figured I could do with getting some advice for this, from people with experience of this kind of travel - considering it is going to have to last me a long time!

For both the underwear and the bra - ideally I need the least amount of seams as possible to reduce possible rubbing as well as materials that are quick drying/wick water from the skin.

I value comfort - a lot. So money is not so much of an issue, I am happy to get quality, long lasting kit.

posted by TheGarden to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (13 answers total)

Long distance cyclist here, strongly recommending bike shorts, not underwear, for comfort and to avoid chafing. It's worth investing in a good pair with a nice chamois. Icebreaker makes merino ones and lots of people like merino for the no-stink factor (although they're expensive, and the chamois is OK but not the best I've had). Chamois cream helps too!
posted by bighappyhairydog at 4:36 AM on December 17, 2015 [8 favorites]

I asked Mrs Wombat. She is very, very clear on one point:

TRY IT BEFORE YOU GO. Every part of your kit and gear must have *at least* 100km behind you.

Slight chafing after 20kms? That's burning pain at 50kms, agony at 60 as you drop out.

You have to be wearing gear you trust.
posted by Combat Wombat at 5:16 AM on December 17, 2015 [9 favorites]

I HIGHLY recommend getting two pairs of each thing. Evenually you'll want to wash one and give it a break from wear. Alternative days will make your items last more than twice as long, trust me. I'm a runner, not a cyclist, and I have DDs, so I'm not sure how much you'll be "bouncing" while cycling. If that's not an issue you can maybe actually go with an undershirt or a shelf bra. The Savvy Backpacker recommends the ExOfficio brand.
posted by Brittanie at 6:17 AM on December 17, 2015

For cycling, yes, just shorts with chamois, and nothing but chamois cream under. And make sure they are shorts you love, that work with your saddle. There is nothing like facing another day with a sore butt in uncomfortable shorts.

I really like Bali Smart Size Wirefree bras for cycling and lounging. If this sizing scheme works for you, there are other styles with more shape too.

And I agree with bringing two of everything--that way you can wear one and rinse/wash one.

My touring is limited to a 1 week/400 miles, fully supported but enough time to really appreciate a comfortable well-fitting bicycle. Have fun and ride safe!
posted by esoterrica at 7:08 AM on December 17, 2015

I like tri bras, like for triathalons, best for this. It covers more so there is less room for movement and chafing. Here is one I like. It doesn't have a ton of support like I'd need for a hard run, but its great for biking.
posted by stormygrey at 8:03 AM on December 17, 2015

I'm a woman who bike tours. I've always worn some kind of synthetic bra or undershirt, but I've never been particular about what kind or brand. Truly, ask long as it's not cotton, it'll be fine. For me, and for most, I think the underwear question is moot: nearly all long distance cyclists wear padded chamois cycling pants, or the synthetic version thereof. I'll sometimes end up wearing mine two or three times before I wash 'em, but I have multiples because some nights I'm too tired to sink wash everything, and because damp, handwashed chamois often needs to dry longer than overnight. Depending on whether you're prone to chafing, you'll want to be sure to avoid damp chamois, or rewearing dirty ones, if you have chafing spots. I've found that three pair of everything (on or off-bike) is just about the perfect amount for multi-week tours.
posted by tapir-whorf at 8:03 AM on December 17, 2015

Response by poster: Thank you everyone, this has been so helpful. I am officially chucking in the idea of knickers and embracing cycling shorts with chamois.

Bra wise I'm going to check suggested things out and do some training beforehand to see what works! :)

Really appreciate everyone's time.
posted by TheGarden at 9:46 AM on December 17, 2015

I'd go so far as to say that it's essential to wear clean chamois pants if you cycle everyday. Rewearing isn't optional for your longer-term health. Cycling with sore spots can be agony. Minimum two sets of shorts, three is better. I typically wash mine every night in the sink with a bit of mild soap like Woolite. Socks are the same; never rewear socks. Also take your shoes off when you get off the bike to let them air out and dry as well.

If you don't like the idea of wearing cycling shorts only, they do work fine as underwear themselves. Just make sure that there's no crotch seam on whatever you wear overtop.

Here's a trick to help dry clothes quicker: wash the sink, wring dry as much as possible. Lay the trunks flat on a dry towel and roll. Put the jellyroll of clothes and towel on the floor and walk on it for a bit, squeezing out the water into the towel. After a couple of minutes of this, unroll and hang to dry. IME, this additional step allows shorts to dry overnight.
posted by bonehead at 10:02 AM on December 17, 2015 [4 favorites]

Also, cheap shorts are six-panel construction. Eigh-panel are often more comfortable.
posted by bonehead at 10:04 AM on December 17, 2015

Not sure if this helps, but: I've found that shorts costing $85-100 US are the "sweet spot" for me. Retail price is an imperfect barometer, but it's worked so far. The good news is that these things are FREQUENTLY on sale, so you needn't actually PAY full price.

Mileage varies, obviously, but: I have a $150 Pearl-Izumi bib I paid $80 for, and two pairs of very nice ($120 or so) Bontrager shorts I paid $65 each for.
posted by uberchet at 12:29 PM on December 17, 2015

I'm male and have never worn a bra, but here's some advice that may be useful:

I rode across the country this summer (NJ to SF, averaging 70 miles a day) and used three bib shorts with sewn-in chamois. I agree with the suggestion to keep them clean. It's the salts and the body schmutz that'll cause the most discomfort if you don't.

Washing the bib shorts every three days was a bit of a hassle though, and even more so, drying the chamois because so often they're made of multiple layers. On my trip, I came across some folks who had success with alternative strategies.

One guy I rode with used cycling shorts with chamois, but wore a pair of silk briefs as a liner, so he didn't have to wash the cycling shorts so often (and could easily change to another pair of shorts when the situation required it.)

Another kid I ran into went without bike shorts/chamois altogether. He decided to spend his money on a high-quality Brooks saddle and just wore basketball shorts and synthetic underwear. He said it was comfortable, and that also seemed like a way to not have to wash quite as often. It was also a way to blend in more easily when he was off the bike.

Hope that helps!
posted by Borborygmus at 2:14 PM on December 17, 2015 [1 favorite]

I did a ~2000 mile tour earlier this year, from late winter into summer; my chest, last I checked, was around a b-cup. I packed a sports bra, but ended up never wearing it. I found that wearing a loose shirt and no bra was plenty comfortable, both physically and appearance-wise.

I alternated between two pairs of bike shorts(pearl izumi inrcool ella shorts?). I washed them whenever I had access to a shower, which ended up not being too much of a bother for me. I was on a pre-aged b17 flyer, I think.
posted by you could feel the sky at 2:25 PM on December 17, 2015

Nthing the recommendation for cycling shorts, and I've done very well by switching over to bib shorts; they're a little less convenient for rest stops because you have to take off your jersey to lower them (most people wear them with the shoulder straps under the jersey), but the comfort and not having to worry about the shorts working their way down as you ride is nice. In addition to trying out the shorts on longer rides before your big ride, I also suggest the same for different brands of chamois cream. I had problems with Chamois Butt'r, one of the more popular brands (it made my scrotum itch), but no probs when I switched to another brand.
posted by Halloween Jack at 1:06 PM on December 18, 2015