Gentlemen (or anyone really!) - padded cycling shorts and other recommendations please?

[HollyWoozle]

Good morning! In a month or so I am taking my partner on our first riding holiday, a four night trip at a western ranch (which I have been to before). He is a beginner, although he has had a handful of lessons to get started and has been on a hack.

It's his birthday in a few weeks and I am thinking what essentials I could buy him which would be useful for the trip, plus my family would like to buy him some gifts too. He already has good boots and chaps but he has been using a helmet from the riding school, so his own riding helmet is top of the list. I was thinking some padded cycling shorts might be a wise purchase - are there any that the male riders on here could recommend please? Or any other essentials that might be useful? Maybe some gloves too.

I organise riding holidays for a living but I'm still not that familiar with the best items/brands for men! I just want him to be as comfortable as he can be - riding has been a lifelong dream for him.

Thank you!

 

[JGC]

OH has used cheap, thin Aldi or Decathlon cycling shorts - too much padding can have the opposite effect, apparently ... Make sure he tries them out properly beforehand and remembers that you have to wear them instead of underwear, not as well as

Anti-chafing cream/chamois cream from Decathlon may also come in useful.

 

[meleeka]

My OH has a few padded shorts. There’s not much difference in quality between the cheap and expensive ones. Decathlon are perfectly good as far as I remember. Just make sure they have a fairly wide waistband (OH’s are wide, strong elastic) or they’ll ride downwards giving the nappy effect!

 

[Keith_Beef]

I really don't think that it's worth it.

I took my OH on an all-day ride in Pennsylvania a few years ago; it was the first time either of us had been on a horse for more than an hour at a time, and neither of us had any discomfort.

A couple of years ago, I went on a three-day ride (between six and seven hours in the saddle each day, European GP saddle). This was during the summer, after not riding for about four weeks, and until then I'd never ridden for more than one full day. Still no discomfort.

And you mention that this is a "western ranch"... Western saddle = armchair.

Underwear needs careful attention, though: needs to be snug without being tight.

 

[Kat]

My OH doesn't think cycling shorts (whether padded or not) work well for riding. He suggests snug and supportive pants - you need everything held in place well. He has some from equitech.

 

[MyBoyChe]

Im not sure if padded shorts are the way to go but my boss is a very keen cyclist and swears by Decathlon for all sorts of bits, I would definitely suggest looking in there.

 

[w1bbler]

Chamois cream & well fitting undies

 

[HollyWoozle]

Wonderful, thanks so much for all your input!

 

[Sussexbythesea]

My BiL who only got into riding about 3 years ago has done 2 Icelandic wilderness treks and just done a trans-Wales trek. Apparently he has a “sock” for added protection 😂. I don’t know the detail though (thankfully)

 

[thommackintosh]

Briefs not boxers and he'll be grand.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Tighty whities and a spare sock it is then.

 

[Keith_Beef]

My BiL who only got into riding about 3 years ago has done 2 Icelandic wilderness treks and just done a trans-Wales trek. Apparently he has a “sock” for added protection 😂. I don’t know the detail though (thankfully)

Erm, I'm not entirely convinced that the sock is for extra protection. I've never felt the need to add one.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Well..... a few years ago I bought a pair of cycling leggings as they had a padded bum and I thought they might be a good idea.

They weren't the best idea TBH! Too much padding, and it became uncomfortable and ridged up in all the wrong places, and even worse if you're riding in hot weather.

I have seen specialised "equine" underwear for both ladies & gents for sale at a tack shop somewhere, what I saw was desperately expensive (what do you expect, if has the "equine" prefix!!), which may be helpful? I don't know, never tried it, budget didn't extent to what they were asking.

Might be worth a punt? Tho' I'd certainly recommend trying out in the saddle BEFORE the holiday!!

Re-reading the original post, I see the OP mentions a "Western Saddle"??? In which case an English-saddle seat-saver isn't going to work, tho' they probably do them for Western saddles?? I tried a Heather Moffat one, survived 30 mins and then the dang thing had to come off it was so uncomfortable!!

Don't know what else to suggest, sorry.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thanks for your help. I did consider buying a western seat-saver but it's a big expense when we won't use it often - I ride abroad quite often but prefer to go without one really. I am sure the other half will get on just fine anyhow and I'll be sure to take the advice on here and suggest sensible undies! He hasn't had any comfort issues so far so just hoping that his backside holds up to extra hours in the saddle, although western saddles are like armchairs as @Keith_Beef rightly says.

I don't ride regularly these days but often clock up many long hours on trips and haven't had an issue, I guess I just don't want him to be uncomfortable.

ETA: my parents have been on a western ranch trip and my stepfather ended up with blisters after a long ride - I think it has made me paranoid!

 

[meleeka]

Whatever he wears has to be snug and not loose. It’s rubbing that causes blisters and if his clothes are loose it could happen.

 

[phizz4]

Briefs, not boxers, a good pair of leather gloves, a well-ventilated riding hat (you will be wearing it for a long time) and, dare I suggest it if riding western, a cricket box! You will only land on that pommel once gentlemen!

 

[karenb]

My horse riding husband has done a lot of all day rides over the years and so has fully researched this (!!!) Go for mens Sloggi with the longer leg length and the style which has minimal seams. It's the seams that cause the rubs and so avoid any padded cycle shorts. Lanacane cream or gel is really good.