Replies

1. 
   sherryv | Oct 04, 2006 09:32pm | #1

   Evie,

   Try Seattle Fabrics for a monolith pad - it's the pad they insert in those bike shorts:

   http://www.seattlefabrics.com/more.html#Monolith_Pad

   Hope this helps :)

   SherryV

1. 
   Teaf5 | Oct 07, 2006 03:10am | #5

   Wow, what great ideas on this website!  I commute to work on a bike, and I've spent many miles wondering how to get a more comfortable seat.  My current, very high-tech, "female" seat has an awkward-looking cavity in the center, but I slip all over it and end up riding on soft tissue or a single side of my pelvis, neither of which is very comfortable. 

   Since my commute takes me through the center of town and campus, I like the idea of something over the utility padded bike shorts, but I wonder if a skirt would get caught in the spokes?  Maybe I should pull out my old culotte patterns from the 1970s...  Thanks for the ideas!

2. 
   Dorothy80516 | Oct 05, 2006 11:19pm | #2

   Evie, I bicycle and I sew.  Yes, I wear those lycra bike shorts -- I just don't look at myself in the mirror!  The new shorts have some amazing multi-layered pads that are so much more comfortable than the plain chamois pads.

   Have you considered wearing the lycra shorts with a wrap skirt over them?  The Terry Bicycles catalog shows some of these skirts so you can see what I'm talking about. 

   If you made the wrap skirt to fit you out of a supplex nylon type fabric, you could have the best of both worlds.  Lycra and super padding comfort with appropriate disguising.

   Also, there is a website for women who bicycle, Team Estrogen, that has a similar chat room--they might have more ideas on how to make your bike seat more comfortable.

   Good luck and happy riding!

   --Dorothy

1. 
   sherryv | Oct 07, 2006 04:17am | #6

   I agree, Dorothy's idea for a lycra wrap skirt over the regular cycling shorts is brilliant!  I love to ride, but would be hugely self-conscious with those shorts, though I always wished I could wear them.  I don't think your skirt would get caught in the spokes, but then, I don't think we're talking about a regular street-wear type skirt here, either.  It would probably need to be just a bit longer than the shorts, and have minimal flare so it would not spread open into the mechanisms during a ride.  Thanks, Dorothy for your good advice!

3. 
   Evie | Oct 05, 2006 11:42pm | #3

   Dear SherryV & Dorothy80516---     Thanks so much for the great ideas. I am going to order the Monolith pants linings and intend to browse the other sites for further ideas. I knew the folks at "Gatherings" would be helpful. Thanks again.      Evie

1. 
   Josefly | Oct 06, 2006 04:46am | #4

   I personally like the John Deere tractor seat idea! Seriously, the skirt idea is great. And I even see some young, fit women wearing baggy shorts over their bicycle shorts.

1. 
   Evie | Oct 07, 2006 05:51am | #7

   Dear Josefly---You are right. Baggy pants would be more my style. Since I am riding on the bike trail and not on city streets I don't need to look dressy---just comfortable. I am a senior citizen and can get away with looking a little odd while I get my excercise. The websites are great--lots of great gear. Thanks again to all of you.       Evie