I ride in jeans all the time except during
competition. I put half-chaps on over them and I don't really have any
trouble. Mine are not new and not the 15 oz. denim usually featured
in men's jeans. They are women's jeans, probably about 12 oz. denim with
just enough lycra to give them a bit of stretch. I don't have trouble
with
rubbing behind the knees, as long as I smooth out any
wrinkles as I put on the half-chaps. I can ride about 25 miles in jeans,
but wouldn't want to take chances with longer mileage.
As for rubbing, I once rode a rough horse, 5
consecutive days, on a narrow twist English saddle. Oh, talk about
pain! Fortunately, I had a jar of White's A & D ointment, a Vaseline
based product with cod liver oil (I think that's what's in it.) It's very
soothing and is used extensively on babies with diaper rash. It's the
ONLY thing that saved my life, and of course it oozed through my cotton-lycra
riding tights. A mess for sure, but I could not have continued without
it. And we do this for fun?
Beth, put an all over sheepskin cover on your
saddle. It works. I usually wear riding tights when I do distance
just because I am not taking a chance on rubs. However, with the
sheepskin cover, I can ride in jeans and I have ridden about 15 miles.
But if your jeans get wet, you just might get rubs.
Jeanie
