Padded knicks do help prevent saddle sores and chafing, provided they fit snugly, go on bare skin and come off soon after the ride. On long summer rides the usual culprits are a chamois that moves, seams under you, sweat that stays on your skin and a saddle that is set up wrong.
In short
- Saddle sores and chafing come from friction, pressure, heat and sweat where you sit.
- Knicks help most when they fit snugly and go on bare skin.
- On hot days, get out of sweaty knicks soon after the ride and wash them every time.
- A sore that does not heal or keeps coming back needs a doctor or health professional.
Why do long hot rides cause saddle sores and chafing?
Heat and sweat add to the friction and pressure that every ride brings. A 2020 review in Methods and Protocols describes saddle sores as a range of skin problems on the buttocks, groin and inner thighs, caused by a combination of friction, heat, pressure, moisture and bacteria in the saddle area. A four-hour ride in 30°C heat ticks every box on that list.
Chafing is the milder version: red, stinging skin where your inner thighs or the hem of your knicks move against you. A saddle sore sits where you meet the saddle and can range from a tender patch to a painful lump. Both become more likely as rides get longer, which is why the first big rides of summer catch so many people out.
The same review points out that most prevention advice has never been tested in proper studies. Read what follows as habits experienced riders rely on, not a promise.
Do padded knicks stop chafing?
They do more than anything else you can buy. The chamois spreads pressure under your sit bones, its stitching is low profile so nothing sharp sits under you, and the Lycra moves with your skin rather than sliding across it.
That only works if the knicks go on bare skin. Undies add seams and hold sweat, as our article on underwear and cycling knicks explains. In summer the sweat part matters even more.
Our cycling knicks and bib knicks use a 9D contoured silicone gel chamois and an 80% polyester, 20% Lycra fabric that the product pages list as quick dry and breathable. Their 45 mm silicone leg grippers are there "to avoid pinching and shifting on long rides", in the words of the product page.
How should knicks fit for long rides?
Snug. Loose knicks let the chamois slide, and a sliding chamois rubs, no matter how thick it is.
Do this check at home, in your riding position, bent forward as if your hands were on the bars:
- The chamois lies flat and centred, with no creases.
- The grippers sit flat on your thighs and do not roll or creep up.
- Nothing digs in at the hem or the waist.
- Bib straps feel lightly tensioned when you stand up.
Our sizes run small, so check the size chart on this page before you choose. Our knicks have a club fit cut, so size up if you are between sizes.
Old knicks are a common cause of new rubbing. Once the fabric thins, the chamois flattens and the grippers tire, everything starts to move. Our guide to how long bib knicks last has a seven-point check worth doing before summer.
Bib knicks or shorts for the longest summer rides?
Most riders pick bibs once rides pass a couple of hours. The straps keep the chamois where it belongs without a waistband, so there is less movement every time you shift on the saddle. Waist knicks are handier for quick rides and coffee stops. Our bib shorts vs knicks guide has the full comparison.
Good long-ride picks include the Men's Pro-Band Classic Gel Padded Cycling Shorts, described on the product page as "built for comfort on longer rides", and the Women's Pro-Band Classic Gel Padded Cycling Bib with the same 9D chamois and wide grippers. For men who want bibs, the Men's Plain Colour Pro-Band Gel Padded Cycling Bib is the plain black choice.
What else helps on long summer rides?
The right knicks are half the job. These habits do most of the rest:
- Start in clean knicks. Wash them after every ride. Yesterday's sweat and bacteria are part of the problem.
- Try chamois cream on long or hot rides. It is an anti-friction cream that goes on the skin or the pad before you set off. It helps with friction but will not save knicks that fit badly.
- Get changed soon after. On a hot day, sitting at the café in soaked knicks keeps sweat on your skin for another hour. Change first if you can.
- Ride early. Summer starts at dawn mean less heat and less sweat on the long rides, and the roads are quieter.
- Check your saddle. A saddle set too high makes your hips rock on every pedal stroke, which adds friction. A bike shop can check the height and angle quickly.
- Build up your hours. Going from one-hour rides to a full day in the saddle is a classic way to end up sore. Add time over a few weeks.
- Stand up now and then. A few strokes out of the saddle on small rises takes the pressure off for a moment.
Wash at 30°C as the care label says, then hang your knicks up to dry. Keep them out of the dryer, which is hard on the elastic and the grippers.
When should you see a doctor about a saddle sore?
Mild chafing often settles once the rubbing stops. A sore that does not heal, keeps coming back, gets bigger, hotter or more painful, or comes with a fever is a reason to see a doctor or health professional. This article is general information, not medical advice.
Many riders take a few days off the bike while a sore settles. A short break will not undo a summer of riding.
Non-customised items come with 60-day store-credit returns, so a pair that does not fit can be swapped. See our returns policy for the details.
Knicks and bibs for long rides
Online Cycling Gear
Women's Pro-Band Classic Plain Color Gel Padded Cycling Bib
$79.99$89.99
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Online Cycling Gear
Men's Pro-Band Classic Plain Color Gel Padded Cycling Shorts
$69.99$74.95
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Frequently asked questions
Do cycling knicks stop chafing?
Snug, padded knicks worn on bare skin cut friction a lot. Loose knicks, or undies underneath, can make chafing worse.
Do I need chamois cream in summer?
Not always, but many riders use it on long or hot rides. It reduces friction. It does not replace knicks that fit and a saddle that is set up right.
What are the best cycling knicks for long rides?
A snug pair with a contoured chamois, low profile stitching and wide leg grippers. Many riders choose bib knicks for the longest days because the straps hold the chamois in place.
How do I stop sweat causing saddle sores?
Start in clean knicks, ride in the cooler hours and get out of wet knicks soon after the ride. Wash them every time.
Should I keep riding with a saddle sore?
Many riders take a few days off to let it settle. If a sore does not heal or keeps coming back, see a doctor or health professional.
Sources
- Prevalence, Prevention and Treatment of Saddle Sores among Female Competitive Cyclists (Methods and Protocols, 2020)
- Online Cycling Gear Australia, Men's Pro-Band Classic Gel Padded Cycling Shorts
- Online Cycling Gear Australia, Women's Pro-Band Classic Gel Padded Cycling Bib
- Online Cycling Gear Australia size chart
- Online Cycling Gear Australia returns policy