Modern Vespa

I was wondering if anyone has tried fitness compression garments under their riding gear for long or endurance rides... If so, what were your experiences?
Thanks!

I've never tried them. Might be nice in the winter when I'm looking for layers to bundle up in. We recently bought our 12 year old a "cooling" shirt for him to wear under his armored jacket. But it isn't really tight. Just form fitting.

I had to google what fitness compression clothing is. I'm not convinced it would help at all. On long rides, I'm not doing much. The fatigue I feel at the end is mental rather than physical. At least for me.

It keeps fluids from pooling. For example compression socks on an airline flight will reduce risk of blood clots as well as when I have worn them, I don't feel as fatigued when I get to my destination. I workout quite regularly and I notice compression fitted leggings give a bit more stamina. Body building men will wear long sleeve compression shirts. It crossed my mind if someone was to do an ironbutt or other long ride, how these items might help.

It is worth a shot. If you already have the clothing, try it out and report back.

Also, I edited my previous post because I googled what this clothing is and what it is supposed to do.

In the summertime, I wear looser clothing because I hate to sweat.

Yea. I think I just might... Early next week I will plan a longer ride and wear stuff under my riding gear.

I think that depends on your riding position too. What is your favorite position? If you are one the cool guys/gals hiding behind the flyscreen with your elbows all the way down to the floor board I wouldn't recommend anything too tight and constricting.

I just purchased and installed my midsize so that has helped quite a bit. I sit pretty upright. Shifting around as needed for butt relief. Most of my compression clothing is snug but comfortable.

When riding in hot weather, I pretty much only wear moisture-wicking shirts. Some of them are compression, some are looser-fit. The compression ones also do a good job of cooling the body when they are gotten wet, say in the rest stop bathroom.

I have worn compression shorts while riding, and to me it does feel better than cotton underwear. I don't know if it's a design thing or that it's wicking as well...

When I'm doing long rides, I also like to wear some of my running socks, again which are moisture-wicking. I've got some from Under Armor, New Balance and Fila, but I like the UA ones best. They do help keep my feet feeling drier, both when running and riding.

So, yes, I feel it helps. But there's only so much they can do. A long day of riding is still going to be mentally tiring, even if you lessen some of the physical fatigue...

Mark

Thank you for your response. I as well love UA gear. I have tried others but they just don't seem close to how UA works. From, yoga, running, lifting, etc.

In the hot summers here, sometimes I won't even ride because it feels so hot. Sometimes it feels like I am getting dressed to go snowboarding with my full gear but it is 95f degrees air temp.

I am planning a few long rides in the near future and want to make it the most comfortable possible. To reduce any discomfort with clothing or gear will be ideal. Then I can just concentrate on what I need to, the road and ride.

Beyond what I've already said, I've used a few other products/techniques to keep me cool on long, hot rides:

* A helmet liner. You'd think adding something else on your head would make you hotter, but it doesn't. It keeps your head/hair from sticking to the inside of your helmet. It can also be wet down at stops to keep your head cooler. And, as any bald man will tell you, your head radiates a LOT of heat...

* Soaking my mesh jacket before getting back on the bike to ride. It may only provide temporary relief, but it's sure better than nothing...

* I bought an AlpineStars evaporative vest. It looks basically like a sleeveless compression muscleman shirt, but when soaked, it's supposed to retain water longer for more evaporative cooling. Combined with the wet mesh jacket, it helps a lot for quite a while. (Though how long that while is depends on airflow, temp and humidity, i.e. how quickly the water is evaporating)

* Not clothing-related, but I also have a 3L Nalgene Osprey drink bag. (Basically, Nalgene's version of a Camelback bag). It has a wide enough slot in the plastic around the mouth that I can hang it from the bag hanger on the inside of the leg shield on my MP3. Whenever I need it, I can just grab the tube and take a sip, even with my helmet on. Because as everyone should know, by the time you feel thirsty, you're already starting to get dehydrated. Staying well hydrated will also make you take bathroom stops, which you'd probably want anyway so you can stretch and re-wet your gear...

I haven't done an Iron Butt yet, but I have done 800+ miles across Kansas and towards home on a day where my scooter said it was 107 degrees, and these things helped. I was still wiped out at the end of the day, though...

Thank you so much for the tips. I think any ironbutt I attempt will be planned on ideal weather to minimize the heat issues. The suggestions and gear you mentioned are awesome. I as well was bald for a while and I miss it. Anything under 60f degrees felt super cold though so I grew it back out at the end of fall.

Thank you!

Wuss.

Bill x

Only because you have calluses where you need them for your Ironbutts and marathon rides.

I think for Cannonball and Ironbutts 1 and 2 I wore tracksuit bottoms under leather riding trousers.

Lycra is OK when it's warm but in the desert especially in Arizona it got really cold so the trakkies worked really well.

Also try and keep your chest warm with tank top under your jacket to keep your trunk toasty.

Bill x

Thank you for the suggestions. I am thinking bringing easily changeable layers so if I need to pop on or off a layer it can be quick at a gas stop.

For many years the secret weapon of the Iron Butt riders has been bicycle shorts. The compression works well, and the pads are in the right place to do some good. I never used them on a long ride, but they got great reviews from those who did use them. I use them on bicycles, and wouldn't ride without them.

They seem to do men a lot of good...ahem. Maybe more than for women. Keeps "things" packed up and away from movement and friction. You don't wear underwear under them. They are the underwear.

Take a supply of this for the long rides...

I road bike and have some of those padded pants. Good point. I think my gear pants have a gonad region pad too. Both together will be some serious padding!

Some day I will give you one of those cushined air blown thingies for your rear end just to see your reaction. If I were you I would be taking more care of those cheeks.

I frequently wear 2XU compression tights under my pants whether I'm going for a ride or not! I ride a bicycle a fair amount and have some basic tights I've worn for colder weather.

But the 2Xu compression tights are great for a day of riding. Can I tell if I feel better because of wearing them? Just barely. It's hard to do a day by day comparison because every day you feel a bit different, different conditions, different ride, weather, etc.

Overall, I do think they help. Only have the one pair of tights, no tops or socks.

Hope this helps...

Ahh. One of those ass gasket balloons for the people with hemorrhoids!

It does. Thank you.
Doing the mental planning....

Cool. Interestingly enough, I won't even go on a ride more than 4 hours without the tights on, under my jeans of course. Maybe I just feel like superman if I'm wearing them. Haha!

While not "gym" gear; Cyclegear makes a compression like top and bottom for cold or hot weather to wear under M/C pants instead of a liner. I have the warm weather variation to wick away sweat. So far it works really well.

Maybe some padded board shorts, I used them when wakeboarding. I haven't used them for riding, but they do a great job preventing a sphincter spanking

Awesome. Now just to plan out the ride and the rest of it.
Thank you. I think temperature for the ideal ride will be 60-85f. Now looking at a window of weather and route

Ideal temperature if you are not accounting for the rain and wind.

Off Topic


Don't forget the subtile fatiguing effect of constant noise. Ear plugs?

Have I made a blunder?

Surely not!! What??

Ear plugs are a must for me. Even for short rides.

I carry two boxes with me in my puppy bucket as well as always wearing them. Good point.

Unless it was a mandatory ride, I wouldn't pick a day to do an endurance ride with a chance of weather. Not my favorite conditions to ride in but in worst case scenario I can do it. Would not be my choice day, even worst case I would hotel or overpass wait.

Max. I actually prefer the pain.

If I try and make it easier I feel like I'm compromising.

Bill x

There are plenty of things you could do to make it more painful. Perhaps a ironbutt wearing a thong edition or a swarm of bees strapped to the floorboard.

I'm surprised you haven't taken the foam out of your saddle.

I was totally serious about this stuff. It looks like a joke but it works! I used this for 700 mile days on my rigid frame H-D.

-Craig

I'll second this. The name is a little odd, but it is a medicated powder, calamine I think, and it does work.

Johnson's baby powder works too, but who wants to smell like that?

I mean... Not to get graphic... But how does a powder help? Perspiration or just friction? (That sounds horrible lol)

I am picturing clouds of powder behind me and on my black gear pants.