Sweden's Göta Canal And The Perils Of Padded Cycling Shorts!

It was a surreal if well-meant conversation: how thick did the gusset on my shorts need to be in order to withstand the rigours of Sweden’s Göta Canal tow path and the cycling trip I was about to embark on!

Was it uphill? Downhill? Might I need waterproofs? Would the saddle be sprung or of firmer racing design?

For my neighbour Mary, a seasoned cyclist, it was an important business: “If you wear jeans your nether regions could be left shredded if there is a seam running along your gusset, however, if you buy proper cycling shorts, they may take time to ‘bed in’. It’s a dilemma.”

The words ‘no win’ came to mind but, with just three days of cycling in prospect, I decided to throw caution to the wind, opt for the former route and risk...