cycling with a period - advice please

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

I am a fair-weather cyclist, not into racing etc but do sometimes commute to work (13 miles each way) by bike and tend to do 30 - 50 mile rides at the weekend.

For the last day or so of my period, my flow is too light for a tampon so I tend to wear a pad. However, the pad is basically destroyed by the saddle and I end up with it in shreds, which is fairly unpleasant if I stop for a pee on a long cycle ride. Has anyone else overcome this, and how? Please don't suggest a Mooncup, I'm not going to be using one so I don't want to consider it.

Period knickers? I haven’t tried them myself but they are absorbent and made from material so wouldn’t disintegrate.

Reusable pads? Usually made of fleece material.

Surely if you are wearing cycling shorts, which surely you are on long rides, they are snug enough to hold everything tightly in place

Stop for a pee mid ride? You mean wee in the bushes with a disintegrating pad on?! Yuk. Just wear a tampon for bike journeys?

I do 100 mile rides with a pad and never had that. Is your seat too high and making you swing your hips thus causing the shredding?

Sorry to say it but the mooncup was cycling game changer for me. Much more comfortable than a tampon on which would rub and more reliable than a shredded pad. For long journeys, especially with a light flow it's ideal. Not great advice for you but perhaps useful for someone's else. Period pants sounds like a good next option.

I would suggest washable pads, or if your flow is really light just change knickers when you arrive.

small tampon probably your solution, OP.
Mine's so light that I can't even manage a tampon, just bring some spare undies in case of spotting. Find pads quite uncomfy when on the bike.

I. Cycled today with a pad and no shredding. Aldi own brand. No issues. Maybe switch brand.

Swimming when on a period and now cycling
Hmm
Spot a bit of a theme today

The lightest flow tampon should be fine. If your flow is far too light even for that I wouldn't bother using anything!

I'm not sure what you mean Insancerre. I haven't seen a thread about swimming.

I do wear tampons but the last day of my period is too light for a tampon so I wear a pad for spotting. I just find the pad gets shredded - possibly because I'm on the heavy side! I might try a different brand. I went for a 30 mile ride today and stopped off at a pub to use the loo (no peeing in bushes - I'm too old!) Only to find my pad was in pieces. I was just wondering if anyone had a solution that didn't involve a mooncup
.

Ha! Ok! (re: peeing in bushes!)

Maybe you should try the period pants as mentioned above? I've seen them advertised and am thinking I might get them for my dd when she starts.

You could try cloth sanitary wear, it shouldn't disintegrate, anyway. Machine washable liners.

Try maxi pads instead of ultra? They will still take a battering if you are quite heavy due to the movement of pedalling as you are basically forcing it between your cheeks/lips and grinding it between them but personally I find the thicker the pad the better they stand up to hand-jiving butt cheeks.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've not heard of period pants before but have had a google and they might do the trick. It's only a problem for one day a month really, but it is annoying as it's always a Sunday which is when i tend to do my longest rides.

I wear a fleecy/ bamboo washable pad when cycling anyway. Great for preventing saddle soreness.

I know you said no cup, but my body always hated tampons and finds cups much easier.