The primary function of the chamois on bike shorts is to wick sweat away from the groin area so they should normally be worn without underwear. Whether you wear them with an outer layer or not is totally up to you. I don’t wear an outer layer with mine and don’t feel self conscious when riding or making short stops for a cake break but do feel self conscious if I have to go into a supermarket to get drinks and bananas. It’s a bit like the point where swimwear turns into underwear, lying on a beach in a bikini is fine, wandering through town miles from the beach? Not fine.
Two words - smuggling plums.
Wear shorts over them, man, please.
And I will 2nd the notion that you are not old at 56.
Roddy, 62
You people should stay far away from Colorado. Just a heads up.
Please don’t. When you are in class, it’s perfectly fine, but toss some gym shorts on over them for the walk to the gym.
Seriously,guys? Really? The guy’s wearing them AT THE GYM. Yes, please, go ahead! (And by the way, if it makes you feel better, I feel self-conscious at the gym going to my spin class in my padded britches because I’m afraid it looks kind of diaperish and… I dunno.)
At the gas station, not so much. But you still shouldn’t be ashamed of it, because, I mean, duh, you’re on your way to the gym. But that’s iffy socially - gymwise you’d be an asshole to notice. A lot of human etiquette is based on the principle of not noticing things. Including the plums you’re smuggling.
Remember when Cam on “Modern Family” was running around in bike shorts and they pixellated his groinal area? Yeah, there’s a reason for that (other than it was funny) - keep the overshorts on.
If you’re wearing knicks and heading to, from, or doing a spin class, don’t worry about the extra pair of shorts. The internal padding helps disguise what you’re packing and I’d probably look at you more if you were wearing the extra shorts rather than not as it would look weird to me. But then again, I’m a female who road cycles and does spin classes so I’m kind of use to the sight.
If they are just lycra shorts with no extra padding, please wear the overshorts.
And if you want an alternative to your current getup, why not try a pair of mountain biking shorts - they come with the chamois included, but are baggier so may make you feel more comfortable. Some also come without an insert but allow use of a chamois liner which can be removed so you can just wear the shorts after the class.
“But I’m on my way to the doctor’s office, that’s why I wore a backless paper gown to the grocery store!”
At the gym, ok, I suppose. But on the way to the gym and when you leave the gym, put shorts over them.
I have never seen any man, fat, thin, young, or old, who looks decent in just the biking shorts. Please throw something on over them unless you are actually riding or working out at the gym. My young nephew wrote a brief piece of non-fiction about a neighbor of his who wore a Speedo bathing suit to do yard work. He illustrated it with a photo of the neighbor. The consensus of everyone who heard the piece and saw the photo was that nobody looks good in a Speedo. Bike shorts are similar in effect.
And 56 is not old at all.
Wow, I’m really surprised by the comments here. I wouldn’t hesitate to wear biking shorts out in public; it’s just not that big of a deal.
Sure, go ahead and wear the bike shorts. They’re supposed to be really tight, so get at least one size too small. Also a cut-off tee shirt and sweat bands on the head and wrists. Wear one of those fanny packs to finish off the look. It would be a good idea to cut your hair in a mullet and wear clogs too.
Yes, dear, but you *do *live in the hub of the sports world.
Just having them on makes you look like a douche. Having shorts on over them, however, makes it look like you’re finding a compromise between comfort and being non-douchey.
Have I told you lately that I love you?
Some people here have some real hang ups and insecurities.
Of course it is okay to wear work out clothes appropriate to the exercise you are doing while exercising in public. If you are swimming many laps you are totally okay to wear a Speedo or a jammer. Baggy swim trunks are only indicated if you are trying to increase your work out difficulty. (Increases drag.) If you are bicycling or spinning then wearing bike shorts is fine attire. Wearing shorts over them just announces that you are a very insecure person. People here who say otherwise have some real body hang-ups IMHO.
Really odds are no one is looking at you in the gym. They are either focused on their own work out or checking out the hot babe across the room. Don’t worry about it.
I have to echo that the people here are WAY too judgemental and insecure.
Dude, you’re BIKING. Those shorts are LITERALLY MADE EXPRESSLY FOR WHAT YOU’RE DOING.
And if you’re going to keep working out afterwards, go ahead and do that. If you feel uncomfortable, put some shorts on over top, but that’s not needed. I wouldn’t mind if you did that at my gym.
That’s what she said. 
I thought you meant a random public place, not the gym at a spinning class. I mean, you might not want to wear them to a wedding or the DMV or work, but why not wear them where they’re supposed to be worn?
And if you don’t want to get too hot while exercising, then adding an extra layer is not a good idea.
However, if you feel uncomfortable while exercising in just bike shorts then add something extra, because feeling uncomfortable might lead you to give up, spend less time exercising or not be able to focus on getting the movements right.
(You probably don’t want to wear white ones, though.) NSFW, probably.
Oh, god- I hope that second picture isn’t *after *shrinkage.