Lycra or Spandex ?

tf19

Can anyone settle a friendly argument between two cycling buddies of mine

Are Lycra and Spandex the same thing, and which is better for cycling in ?

Also which make of padding for your shorts is best ?

route66

tf19 wrote: »

Can anyone settle a friendly argument between two cycling buddies of mine

Are Lycra and Spandex the same thing, and which is better for cycling in ?

Also which make of padding for your shorts is best ?

Spandex is the name of the material; Lycra a brand-name for products that are made from Spandex. So they might be the same thing

Padding - it's a case of what suits you best. I'm ok with the super-cheapo padding that comes with Lidl/Adli gear. Others are more delicate and require more sophisticated padding.

studiorat

Lycra is spandex. It's only really called Lycra here and the UK. I suppose 'cause Spandex makes it sound like you're Ozzy Osbourne.

ednwireland

The name "spandex" is an anagram of the word "expands".[1] It is the preferred name in North America; in continental Europe it is referred to by variants of "elastane", i.e. elasthanne (France), elastan (Germany), elastano (Spain and Portugal), elastam (Italy) and Elasthaan (Holland), and is known in the UK, Ireland, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand primarily as Lycra.

wikipedia great isnt it

flanzer

I too am interested in knowing what the best padded shorts out there are. Did 80k at the weekend with Altura padded outer shorts, while wearing Altura padded undershorts. While there was no chaffing, the bones of my bum were quite tender, and still are!

I'm guessing I should probably invest in ProGel (under)shorts? Or is there any other quality protection out there?

AstraMonti

No undershorts. Go commando with good quality padded bib shorts. There are many recommendations in the forum, just do a search.

el tel

flanzer wrote: »

I too am interested in knowing what the best padded shorts out there are. Did 80k at the weekend with Altura padded outer shorts, while wearing Altura padded undershorts. While there was no chaffing, the bones of my bum were quite tender, and still are!

I'm guessing I should probably invest in ProGel (under)shorts? Or is there any other quality protection out there?

You don't really need to wear padded undershorts under already padded outer shorts. I would have thought that padded undershorts are for use beneath unpadded or conventional shorts.

endacl

flanzer wrote: »

I too am interested in knowing what the best padded shorts out there are. Did 80k at the weekend with Altura padded outer shorts, while wearing Altura padded undershorts. While there was no chaffing, the bones of my bum were quite tender, and still are!

I'm guessing I should probably invest in ProGel (under)shorts? Or is there any other quality protection out there?

Debate over.

http://www.pilkopumppants.co.uk/

awec

Also you will always feel a bit tender in your ass after a long cycle, padded bib shorts won't take that away entirely. If you are expecting to feel like you've sat on a sofa for 5 hours then you're expectations are too great.

It'll just be a lot less noticable when you have decent bibs on.

flatface

I would recommend a visit to the LBS to check out their wares, I picked up some Colnago bib shorts as the padding was the thickest there and they are super comfy.

tf19

flanzer wrote: »

I too am interested in knowing what the best padded shorts out there are. Did 80k at the weekend with Altura padded outer shorts, while wearing Altura padded undershorts. While there was no chaffing, the bones of my bum were quite tender, and still are!

I'm guessing I should probably invest in ProGel (under)shorts? Or is there any other quality protection out there?

Which leads onto another query :

To Vaseline or not to Vaseline : What is the general advice / liking for it on this forum ?

RobFowl

tf19 wrote: »

Which leads onto another query :

To Vaseline or not to Vaseline : What is the general advice / liking for it on this forum ?

Depends how long you are going at it and where you intend to go.....

el tel

Aye save the Vaseline for when you expect to be getting it rough or tight, or when you're in a group but just want to ride at the back.

ktz84

Does this mean that the McQuaid files have to rewritten so that MAMIL is internationalis(z)ed as MAMIS and MAMIE (don't tell Mrs Brown she's not the only MAMIE :eek: )

Technique

studiorat wrote: »

Lycra is spandex. It's only really called Lycra here and the UK. I suppose 'cause Spandex makes it sound like you're Ozzy Osbourne.

Lycra is superior to generic spandex, so always look for the Lycra hangtag for clothing that will retain its shape for longer.

Plus, it's made in Ireland!

tf19

RobFowl wrote: »

Depends how long you are going at it and where you intend to go.....

Sorry ?

tf19

Is it called spandex or lycra in america ?

Technique

tf19 wrote: »

Is it called spandex or lycra in america ?

In America, spandex is the generic product, Lycra is a particular brand of spandex.

In Europe, the generic product is called elastane, and Lycra is a brand of elastane.

Cars and automobiles are a generic product. Mercedes-Benz are a particular brand of car/automobile.

tf19

Like Hoover and Vacuum cleaner ?

Bozo Skeleton

I clicked on this thread hoping it was a heavy metal fashion advice column.
Carry on...

tf19

I think most professional riders prefer Spandex

Technique

tf19 wrote: »

I think most professional riders prefer Spandex

Prefer spandex to what?