snapz

I've been riding a pair of small Pearl Izumi shorts for two years - the ones with the blue chamois, about $50. They fit me perfectly. They got a hole in them, so I bought a new pair of $50 small Pearls with a blue chamois (though this is a completely different chamois). This pair is a wee bit tight. It feels a bit like wearing a tourniquet. The other thing I don't like about these is that it takes forever to dry the darn chamois. I have to put it in the dryer for two hours!

I gotta do something different, but I've personally witnessed how getting the wrong chamois can be a bad thing for my bum. I had bought a pair of the PI 3-D shorts (the expensive ones from a couple of years ago), with the "real chamois" and they are the worst thing I've ever sat on.

Psimet2001 

First thing you need to do is ditch PI. Worst chamois EVER!

Pretty much anything else will be an improvement.

snapz

I tried on a pair of Nike shorts and the chamois seemed to fit awkwardly. Not sure those would necessarily be an improvement.

botto 

you put your shorts. in. the. dryer?

botto 

correct. (apart from performance, nashbar, bellweather, and adidas, which are just as bad).

dtrain

in the dryer for 2 hours? Wow, I wouldn't do that to any of my cycling clothes.

snapz

I can't very well lay them out to dry for three days! I gotta ride once in a while.

Don't get me wrong, I set the dryer to the lowest "heat" setting. It's one of those Neptune ones in which you can dry stuff that's not supposed to be dried in a dryer.

My old small PI's would dry in about 20 minutes. With these new ones, the chamois never really dries.

The point of this discussion is what is a better short for about $50?

Psimet2001 

Performanc Ultra Bibs. Look for sales and 20% off coupon times, etc. I scored a set for around $30 when the moons lined up last year.

Apart from botto's dig against them, I find their chamois much more comfortable than the PI ones. They stretch with your body very well. Also I use them on my commute and rinse them in the shower when I get there in the morning. I hang them to dry in the office, and they are always dry before the end of the day for the ride home.

Sizing on the Ultra bibs has gone a little wacky last year and this though. They definitely fit tighter than the guidlines they have listed for sizing on the site.

They also do some funky stitching on the pad to hold it in place while they are finishing the garmet. When you first put them on those stitches tend to pop. Doesn't affect the garment in any way, but makes most people feel pretty sketchy about the quality.

snapz

Thanks. Never tried bibs. My trouble with chamois pads is more about bunching up in the middle than whether they stretch. With the two-year-old 3-D ones, they bunch in the middle and they make me slide around on them, so they chafe and are generally unusable for rides over 10 miles.

What about the ones Bicycling Mag gave their editor's choice to recently?

https://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6...6044-1,00.html

ElJamoquio

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/297929-bibs-vs-shorts-poll.html

Portis

I love Pearl Izumi Ultra Sensors. They are a HUGE improvement over Nashbar, Performance etc.

nesdog

How do you feel about the full back on them? I tried on a pair yesterday at the shop and wondered if they would be a bit warmish in the hot summer weather.

Sheldon

2Tired2Shift

I just got some Performance Elites for $39. I like them.

Psimet2001 

I never really notice it. I wear the bibs with a base layer even in the extremely hot weather in peak summer. Rode the RAIN ride across Indiana last year with temps right around 100 using the Ultras with base layer and jersey.

botto 

what are you doing, drying them in a cellar in New Orleans?

was7g

Assos bibs, dude, Assos bibs.

[thump! thump! thump!] - That's the sound of me beating a dead horse.

Camilo

Bike shorts are like underwear and socks... and any clothes you wear for exercising. You need more than one pair, especially if you ride every day. I don't wear the same jersey day after day w/o washing and therefore have several. Even though they're expensive, you probably need at least two pair of shorts.

I believe you'll find the washing instructions on your shorts probably recommend against the dryer.

snapz

PI's care instructions say "machine wash cold, gentle cycle, tumble dry low." Why should that be a problem?

Anyway, what I'm after here is recommendations regarding fit of short or bib and quality of chamois.

Adagio Corse

aerotechdesigns.com makes the BEST bibs under $70. I have Assos and Castelli, and these aren't too far behind.

snapz

What, exactly is the advantage of bibs? The elastic waist of shorts doesn't bother me. Is that the only real difference, that there's no elastic waist?

Cromulent

Don't dry your bike clothes in the dryer. I mean you can, but for three hours? You could dry them in ten minutes in the dryer. Thirty if you take 'em out of the washing machine and just hang them up on a door. Wearable in twenty minutes.

Bibs are just better. More comfortable, no elastic, and stuff stays where it needs to.

FatguyRacer

I dont think i've ever paid that little for shorts. If you can find them on close outs, Castelli shorts are great. The last two clubs i've been with/on both used/use Castelli. Great stuff.

I did pick up a pair of Nike bib shorts on sale about a month ago and i like them alot.

gear

Get three pairs of Pearl Izumi micro sensor 3D bike shorts and air dry them after you wash them.

BassoCoral

I absolutely LOVE Voler's Avanti Pro shorts, both bib and bibless. Bibless on sale now for $49.95, or even less if you sign up for their free "club." They pay the postage for exchanges you make to get the size (or even color) dialed in perfectly. These shorts are really popular with regional racing teams. Check out velowear.com.

snapz

I quite liked the old pair of PI's I had, but this new version of the old pair sucks. It seems much smaller and the pad never dries.

I'm looking around the web at the suggestions made here, but would still be interested in hearing from anyone who has tried out the ones Bicycling Mag rated so highly.

https://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6...6044-1,00.html