Which Shorts

Jonathan D. Proulx said:

What's the "best" cycling short around these days. Impossible question I
know, I'm looking for a price performace sweet spot not the absolute best,
where do you start paying more for the name than for the product?

My LBS has Assos F.I. 13's in stock, which feel awfully seductive, but
honestly they're about 50% of what I paid for my current bike and I imagine
a lot of that is for the high zoot name. I'm willing to lay out the cash
if it really makes that much difference in comfort, but I'd much rather be
in the $100-$150 range than the $225-$275 range.

The rest of this tries to answer the obvious "It depends on how you ride"
answer.

I recently (mid May) picked up cycling again after about 5 years off the
bike. In my last cyclist incarnation I was a commuter / fast rec rider,
followed detailed training plans and kept diaries for a few years but never
found the time to get a license and race (having a very young family), many
moons before ('85-'87) I was a fanatically overtrained and poorly
performing junior.

Any way the seven year old Pearl Izumi shorts (I for get which model they
are about $80 in the late 90's) aren't protecting back side the way they
used to though I don't notice any obvious wear in the chamois.

In my current riding I'm typically riding 8-12hr per week, when I can manage
a large block all at once I'll get 6-8hr in one ride though mostly the
long days are 4hr. I'm 5' 11" (1.8m) 167lbs (76kg).

Looking forward, I'm seriously considering racing next season, but not
committed to that yet. Wether I do or not I expect my riding time to be
about in the same range perhaps extend a bit in the early season base
period.

you get wht you pay for and what is your butt and taint worth.....buy
the assos, pay the money, keep em clean and enjoy

Jonathan D. Proulx said:

What's the "best" cycling short around these days. Impossible question I
know, I'm looking for a price performace sweet spot

<snip>

You can do lots worse than (no affiliation) Voler
<http://www.voler.com/>, and you can pay more for nothing better. I
have. I like the Voler 8-panel shorts lots, and like them much better
the PI. Google them, and you'll find many favorable reviews. They are
my current favorites.

Regards,
Larry

Jonathan D. Proulx said:

What's the "best" cycling short around these days. Impossible question I
know, I'm looking for a price performace sweet spot not the absolute best,
where do you start paying more for the name than for the product?

$50, but then again, I hate all of these overly padded shorts that the
LBS stocks, like the quite infantile Pearl Izumi diapers. I just got a
set of minimally padded house brand Novara shorts at REI, and with my
NOS Cinelli Unicanitor saddle clone, I just feel like I float over the
saddle. I like the "hydrogel" or whatever they're calling them these
days at Performance, as well. Minimal padding with a gel insert to
prevent chafing. Usually on sale for under $50. If you're uncomfortable
with either short, it's because your saddle doesn't fit, it's adjusted
wrong, etc. Of course if you want bibs, $50 ain't gonna cut it, but
imho, the lush padding of the "high end" shorts creates more friction
and discomfort than it solves.

"Jonathan D. Proulx" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

What's the "best" cycling short around these days. Impossible question I
know, I'm looking for a price performace sweet spot not the absolute best,
where do you start paying more for the name than for the product?

My LBS has Assos F.I. 13's in stock, which feel awfully seductive, but
honestly they're about 50% of what I paid for my current bike and I
imagine
a lot of that is for the high zoot name. I'm willing to lay out the cash
if it really makes that much difference in comfort, but I'd much rather be
in the $100-$150 range than the $225-$275 range.

The rest of this tries to answer the obvious "It depends on how you ride"
answer.

I recently (mid May) picked up cycling again after about 5 years off the
bike. In my last cyclist incarnation I was a commuter / fast rec rider,
followed detailed training plans and kept diaries for a few years but
never
found the time to get a license and race (having a very young family),
many
moons before ('85-'87) I was a fanatically overtrained and poorly
performing junior.

Any way the seven year old Pearl Izumi shorts (I for get which model they
are about $80 in the late 90's) aren't protecting back side the way they
used to though I don't notice any obvious wear in the chamois.

In my current riding I'm typically riding 8-12hr per week, when I can
manage
a large block all at once I'll get 6-8hr in one ride though mostly the
long days are 4hr. I'm 5' 11" (1.8m) 167lbs (76kg).

Looking forward, I'm seriously considering racing next season, but not
committed to that yet. Wether I do or not I expect my riding time to be
about in the same range perhaps extend a bit in the early season base
period.

Assos = lovely. Lovely = very expensive.

Personally I like Nike bibs. I have pairs of the middle-of-the range and 1
of the top-notch. They seem pretty durable. 1 pair is 4 years old and
apart from the logo disappearing (no bad thing), they still look good and
work well. They're a lot less than the Assos, and are *almost* as good in
my opinion.

I expect that most brands are similar at any given price. you pays your
money....

Skippy
E&OE

In article <[email hidden]>,

LF said:

You can do lots worse than (no affiliation) Voler
<http://www.voler.com/>, and you can pay more for nothing better. I
have. I like the Voler 8-panel shorts lots, and like them much better
the PI.

I own both, too, and prefer PI Attack shorts to the cheaper Voler shorts.
Price is about the same. I guess it depends on which one fits you better.
Lots of bike shops sell PI so you can try them on before you buy.

Quoted message said:

You can do lots worse than (no affiliation) Voler
<http://www.voler.com/>, and you can pay more for nothing better. I
have. I like the Voler 8-panel shorts lots, and like them much better
the PI. Google them, and you'll find many favorable reviews. They are
my current favorites.

Regards,
Larry

What are the current Voler's like? I tried some about 4 years ago and hated
the + shaped seam right under the chamois. There was a real lump where the
material came together. I had order two pair and both were identical.
Luckily they took them back but the rest of the short seemed well made.
They just have to do a better job or how they join the material in this
critical area. If you like Assos try the F1 Unos, $125.00 from
http://www.wisecyclebuys.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=96. They
are amazingly well made and very comfortable as long as you get along with a
very thick pad.

Tim McTeague

I just took a chance and bought a pair of Performance Century shorts,
on sale at their new store in my town. Then rode a century--my
first--on them, and found them to be wonderfully comfortable. Went
back and bought a second pair.

I had been using Nashbar Gel Shorts, and they were OK, but the
Performance chamois is better-shaped, and doesn't have any of that
diaper feel.

Jonathan D. Proulx said:

What's the "best" cycling short around these days. Impossible question I
know, I'm looking for a price performace sweet spot not the absolute best,
where do you start paying more for the name than for the product?

I am surprised no one suggested Sugoi. I first had a pair of
Cannondales (OK) then a pair of Pearl Izumis (better) then found a pair
of Sugoi on sale. Wow!! Never wore support hose, but I suspect that
this is what they feel like. Extremely supportive and comfortable.

Gunny

Jonathan D. Proulx a écrit :

Quoted message said:

What's the "best" cycling short around these days. Impossible question I
know, I'm looking for a price performace sweet spot not the absolute best,
where do you start paying more for the name than for the product?

My LBS has Assos F.I. 13's in stock, which feel awfully seductive, but
honestly they're about 50% of what I paid for my current bike and I imagine
a lot of that is for the high zoot name. I'm willing to lay out the cash
if it really makes that much difference in comfort, but I'd much rather be
in the $100-$150 range than the $225-$275 range.

You are a retailer's dream. I picked up a bunch of newest Assos
recently for about 15 euros the pair. Sold the ones that didn't fit to
other club members. Kept one, free, so to speak. I expected the
experience to be transcendental, but it was far from it. (They are
reputed to last long, and maybe so.)

The Poli and Santini mid-range shorts I have (also found at less than
full ticket) are much nicer. But it's a personal choice.

For what you envision spending, get a really nice suit. Forget the tie,
and find a bargain on something more modest.

I didn't mean to shatter your dreams.

--

Sandy
Verneuil-sur-Seine FR
--
C'est le contraire du vélo, la bicyclette.
Une silhouette profilée mauve fluo dévale
à soixante-dix à l'heure : c'est du vélo.
Deux lycéennes côte à côte traversent
un pont à Bruges : c'est de la bicyclette.
-Delerm, P.

Jonathan D. Proulx said:

What's the "best" cycling short around these days. Impossible question I

The one that fits you(r requirements) best. I bought so far bibshorts
from 5 different manufacturers and all but one cause me (minor)
problems on rides longer than one hour. The one that "works for me"
is (unfortunately) also the most expensive of those: Castelli Ypro.

LF said:

Jonathan D. Proulx said:

What's the "best" cycling short around these days. Impossible question I
know, I'm looking for a price performace sweet spot

<snip>

You can do lots worse than (no affiliation) Voler
<http://www.voler.com/>, and you can pay more for nothing better. I
have. I like the Voler 8-panel shorts lots, and like them much better
the PI. Google them, and you'll find many favorable reviews. They are
my current favorites.

Regards,
Larry

Volers are OK. The pad's very thick & foamy -- although most new shorts
seem to use these (I don't like them much). My real problem is that
Voler's spandex doesn't last very long. It seems to go breakdown &
become see-through in random spots.

Jonathan D. Proulx said:

What's the "best" cycling short around these days.

I've been using Lusso Coolmax bibs for a couple of years. These are
around 30 UK pounds less VAT if you're out of Europe - plus freight of
course. They are a heavy grade lycra with a basic moulded pad. I don't
know if the fabric or the pad or both are Coolmax. I use them for rides
of several hours and find them comfortable in cold or hot, humid
weather. I've never chafed, as I have in more expensive knicks. I like
the supportive feel of the firm lycra. I'll keep buying Lusso.

Donga

Per Jonathan D. Proulx:

Quoted message said:

What's the "best" cycling short around these days. Impossible question I
know, I'm looking for a price performace sweet spot not the absolute best,
where do you start paying more for the name than for the product?

My rides aren't that long (2-3 hours max) and I ride MTB (less time in the
saddle)... but my favorites so far are the ones Performance sells under their
house brand: the ones that are one step up from the most el-cheapo.... and the
el-cheapos work pretty well for me too.
--
PeteCresswell

Sandy said:

I didn't mean to shatter your dreams.

Saving me $100us is hardly shattering.

From reading elsewhere it also seem the ultra high end bibs (Assos and to a
lesser extent Castelli) have durability issues. It also seems that "fit"
varies greatly so that my original question is even less possible than I
imagined to answer.

Putting it all together I'm looking at:

Santini CX - lots of good press on the web for comfort and durability
Sugoi Evolution - much the same reviwes as the Santini
Giordana Forma - less info, but what little I've read is very positve (any
one here used 'em?)

Thanks,
-Jon

Tim McTeague said:

What are the current Voler's like? I tried some about 4 years ago and hated
the + shaped seam right under the chamois. There was a real lump where the
material came together. I had order two pair and both were identical.
Luckily they took them back but the rest of the short seemed well made.
They just have to do a better job or how they join the material in this
critical area.

I think the pad got thicker last year or the year before. I'm a bit
surprised that you could feel a lump at the seam -- I've not been able
to feel that with either the older or the newer pad.

Pat

Claus Assmann (no-copies-please) said:

Jonathan D. Proulx said:

What's the "best" cycling short around these days. Impossible question I

The one that fits you(r requirements) best. I bought so far bibshorts
from 5 different manufacturers and all but one cause me (minor)
problems on rides longer than one hour. The one that "works for me"
is (unfortunately) also the most expensive of those: Castelli Ypro.

I used to ride Black Bottoms, years ago. I heard they were back, or
maybe never went away?

The mid-level PI's I've been using are sorely lacking, to ruefully coin
a phrase.

http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/clothing/shorts/Black/PRD_21267_1655crx.aspx#reviews

If these are still available, I'll get at least one pair. Super
durable, the old ones were, and at least acceptable in the comfort
dept. (I seem to remember them being much better than that) --D-y

I'll throw one more suggestion into the mix - the Pearl Izumi 3D Pro Bibs.
These are a higher end Pearl Izumi offering, not inexpensive by any means,
but not as highly priced as some of the other brands that have been
mentioned. If you ride in hot weather like I do they do a great job of
wicking moisture away from the skin. The chamois is actually a little
thinner than some of Pearl's others offerings but I find it to be more than
sufficient.
Chuck

My current favorite shorts are the Boure Elite. Nice heavy lycra, snug
fit, no problems so far. This is my first year using them, so I can't
comment on durability.

Check out www.boure.com.

Bill

In article
<[email hidden]>,

Quoted message said:

Claus Assmann (no-copies-please) said:

Jonathan D. Proulx said:

What's the "best" cycling short around these days. Impossible question I

The one that fits you(r requirements) best. I bought so far bibshorts
from 5 different manufacturers and all but one cause me (minor)
problems on rides longer than one hour. The one that "works for me"
is (unfortunately) also the most expensive of those: Castelli Ypro.

I used to ride Black Bottoms, years ago. I heard they were back, or
maybe never went away?

The mid-level PI's I've been using are sorely lacking, to ruefully coin
a phrase.

http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/clothing/shorts/Black/PRD_21267_1655crx.aspx#reviews

If these are still available, I'll get at least one pair. Super
durable, the old ones were, and at least acceptable in the comfort
dept. (I seem to remember them being much better than that) --D-y

I ride Blackbottom 8 panel bib knickers. They are
comfortable, and excellent value.

--
Michael Press