garysol1 

Some of you may have seen my post a couple of weeks ago asking about how to fix a "pull" in the lycra of my Assos FI-13 S-2's. Well I contacted Assos US distributer and sent me a new pair for a huge discount. I rode them today for the second time. I have about 90 miles on them and guess what? The lycra is all fuzzy and balled up on one side again. I am using a 2007 Specialized Alias saddle and it is not a grippy type saddle so I don't think that is the issue. Any idea's? Here is a pic of my two ride old bib's. I know it does not look bad in the pic's and at this point it is not but I know from experience that once it starts.........

Xrisnothing

That's horrible luck. It has to be your saddle to have ruined 2 in a row.

blonduathlongrl

ya got buns of steal or what?

grahny

Buy different bibs? That assos stuff is obviously crap

Never had any issues like that with my PI, Giordana or Demarchi bibs. Seems like they should refund you completely for them... another discount wouldn't be good enough in my opinion.

garysol1 

Now I know that's not true. But......My Pearl Izumi's have NEVER done this. Same bike, same saddle and same buns of steel (thanks BDG )

garysol1 

Possible I guess. But the Specialized saddles are not really at all grippy so I am at a bit of a loss......

Xrisnothing

Maybe your buns of steel have become more steely.

grahny

yeah I know... but something that expensive shouldn't do that (you'd think). Maybe they just had a bad batch or something. I'd be demanding a refund though.. or free replacement until you get a pair that doesn't do that.

Univega

I had the same issue with the Performance Forté Pro SLX Saddle. The saddle did the exact thing to my bibs. I loved the saddle, but finally replaced it with a Serfas Stinger. The Serfas was very similar but without the embroidery.

GuitarWizard

Get a Toupe...the Alias sucks

mx_599

nothing on the seat at all in that general area? when you rub your hand or fingers over the seat you cannot feel maybe a sharp stitch? like the melted ends of a thread to prevent fraying type thing? i don't think it would take much to make a spot like that.

garysol1 

No sharp edges or stitching. There is a slightly padded area on the side (see pic) but I don't think the spot on the shorts would match up with it. I will check that tomorrow though. The silver areas of the saddle are a little more tacky then the rest of the saddle which is actually almost slick. I am still left to wonder what ever the reason is.....why just the Assos and not my PI's, Bellweather's or Voler's?

Nachoman

My Alias does have some stitching. Doesn't your's?https://backbaybicycles.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=5341
I could see how it could potentially cause problems.

ViperZ

Check to see if the abrasion is coming from where your seat post clamps the saddle rails. Make sure your rails are not abrading the shorts or the edge of the clamp.

Mach42

I doubt that it's the clamps. Not to say that it doesn't happen, but the pilling is right on the padded part of the chamois to the side of the sit bones area. That's usually the seat's fault. If it was something else, like the seat clamp, seatpost clamp, or seatbag velcro, it would likely be on the leg area of the shorts.

The 2007 Alias models seem to have gone away with the stitched sit bone pads, so I'm at a loss as to what it can be. It has to be rubbing on something for that to happen.

garysol1 

That picture you are looking at is the 06 or older version of the Alias that had lots of stitching around all of the pads. The 07 version is lots smoother. It has been completely redesigned.

garysol1 

Here is a pic of my saddle. 2007 Specialized Alias.
[IMG][/IMG]

botto 

^

maybe you're sitting on a weird angle, and the 'piling' is caused by rubbing the plastic bit on the back of the saddle?

ViperZ

I just mention it because I had the same thing happen until I wrapped electrical tape around my rails. It's just a simple check.



Although Garysol's looks slightly back more.

The best thing to do is put the shorts on and have an assitant, somebody else look to determine where the point of abrasion is...

garysol1 

I found the issue. Look at the pic below. See where the "hook" for the "G" wraps up next to the "B"? I think that hook is supposed to have a point at the end but on mine it looks like it was cut off below the point and it has left a sharp edge. There is an imprint in the leather that shows where the chrome should come to a point. So now I guess I need to fight with Specialized. I looked at my PI's and they are also shredding. Thats over $500.00 in shorts up in smoke over a poorly finished saddle.

ri_us

The performance of shorts and saddles is relative to oru size and shape. So, if Pearl Izumi's worked for you, go back to them. You could sepnd a lot of time and money trying to fix the Assos situation with no results.

botto 

read the post above yours to see that it has nothing to do with size, shape, or brand of bib.

R900

Man, that sucks...

hmai18

I've had similar problems with Specialized products before. I ruined a pair of shorts on the "S" logo of one of their smallest seat bag. I promptly returned the bag and exchanged it for a Topeak. They were my first pair of bike shorts and weren't all that expensive, so I sewed up the rip and rode them until I changed over to bibs.

Fast forward to last season when I switched from an Arione to the Toupe. Again, the little "S" logo applique on the tip of the nose started coming unglued and the exposed pointy tip of the logo started rubbing my bibs. I promptly ripped the entire damn logo thing off and wrote Specialized to voice my concern over their shoddy product design.

End result: nothing worth mentioning.

garysol1 

I PLAN on being heard. At least that's the plan. I will kepp you all updated.