# Bicycle sweat? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 5, 2006, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-sweat/355587 "2006-05-05T19:39:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-sweat/355587/1 "2006-05-05T19:39:57Z")
I’ve started riding my new bike to get places… but I get really sweaty in the crotch area. Could it be a saddle problem? Or is it just because I have fat thighs? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-sweat/355587/2 "2006-05-05T21:56:00Z")
Sadle Problem? :dubious: Unlikely unless it’s thermolite or fur lined. Go with the thighs. 😛 Sweat is the (usually) normal result of physical exhertion. Get used to it. To avoid funk, I suggest you go with underware and shorts made of sweat wicking material (not cotton). You can find it at most sports stores. Also, after extensive exercise, it’s always a good idea to change into fresh clothes and not keep the sweaty stuff on any longer than you have to. Shower if that’s possible. Use a moist wipe to freshen up before puting on clean clothes if shower is not an option. Basically, sweat is okay. Sitting in sweaty wet clothes is normally not. You might also try baby powder or body-glide if chaffing is a problem. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-sweat/355587/3 "2006-05-05T22:13:18Z")
The rest of you is sweating, too, but the wind of your movement dries it off. Your crotch is out of the wind, so it stays wet. Back when I rode to work, my backpack kept my back from drying, so I’d walk in with a wet back and a wet crotch. Yes, go for some wicking undergarments. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-sweat/355587/4 "2006-05-06T01:45:18Z")
Right, I understand that people sweat when exerting themselves, but I’m talking about… I go 8 blocks and my crotch is drenched. What about when I need to use it to get somewhere? Should I wear special clothes and change when I get there? Also, when I said saddle, I meant seat. I heard somewhere that bike seats are actually “saddles”, unless it’s a recumbent, in which case you can say “seat”. ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-sweat/355587/5 "2006-05-06T01:49:34Z")
Have you tried anti-perspirant? ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-sweat/355587/6 "2006-05-06T04:31:53Z")
…in my danger zone? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-sweat/355587/7 "2006-05-06T04:46:39Z")
You could ride slower. Seriously, if you reduce speed by 20%, you only need half as much power. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-sweat/355587/8 "2006-05-06T21:42:27Z")
Try something like [these](http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47986730&parent_category_rn=4927692&vcat=REI_SSHP_CYCLING_TOC). I have a similar pair. They kinda feel like wearing a diaper, but my wife swears she can’t tell I’m wearing them. Of course she has a warped sense of humer too. I have worn them to work in the summer as I bike to work. It’s better than having a sweaty crotch all day. Surb ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-sweat/355587/9 "2006-05-07T00:36:43Z")
> [@](#): > > …in my danger zone? I’m not sure if you are a boy or a girl, but I’m a boy and I do it frequently without any ill effects, it’s no different than your armpit. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-sweat/355587/10 "2006-05-07T20:08:03Z")
What’s your seat look like? You might want to try a seat with a cut out where the pink bits go. They’re readily available at any bike shop, and come in male and female versions. They’re primarily meant for comfort (and they are far more comfortable than the flat types), but if you get one where there’s actually a hole, I would guess it would allow some more air flow through there and potentially help the problem you’re experiencing. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycle-sweat/355587/11 "2006-05-08T02:00:37Z")
[QUOTE=chaoticbear] Right, I understand that people sweat when exerting themselves, but I’m talking about… I go 8 blocks and my crotch is drenched. What about when I need to use it to get somewhere? Should I wear special clothes and change when I get there? Also, when I said saddle, I meant seat. I heard somewhere that bike seats are actually “saddles”, unless it’s a recumbent, in which case you can say “seat”. [/QUOTE] Of course, you could be like me and get a recumbent. I have never had my crotch sweat while riding it.