DevinL

Well, today I finally hit that 55 mile mark after a slow start back into the season. I have been doing anywhere from 20-40 miles every other day and just have the absolute WORST lower region pains. I have switched from my Selle Italia saddle to a new Fizik which has helped immensely, but around that 30 mile mark I start to feel the need to get up and ride off the saddle.

I have two pair of shorts, One being around a $40 pair of Canari Gels that I think I bought randomly at some unknown shop. I then bought a pair of maybe $50 Pearls and once again... the padding just gets moved every which way during the ride and I end up in some pretty uncomfortable situations. I don't care to spend up to $200 if it will help this problem go away. It's really a ride ruiner.

datlas 

Gel shorts are terrible in my experience.

But choice in shorts/bibs is highly personal/idiosyncratic so I can't really tell you what is best for you. Try a few and see what you like best.

bianchi10

Specialized Romin evo saddle. I have yet to recommend this saddle to someone and have them come back and say it didn't change their comfort over short and long periods of riding.

As for bib shorts, if you dont want to spend $200+ on shorts, I'd look into Pearl Izumi, craft and Louis Garneau. If you are wanting a nicer set but not spend Rapha or Assos kind of money, The new POC bib shorts and Jersey are pretty slick. The chamois pad is really nice.

KonaRider125

If your not opposed to wearing semi form fit double layer baggy shorts, Zoic shorts have by far the most comfortable padding of any short I've tried including high end Pearl bibs. Worth a try if nothing else is helping rear pains, these have serious and comfortable padding.

Zoic Ether Bike Shorts - Men's - Free Shipping at REI.com

Pakiwi

I got two pairs of Panache off fleabay. They were extras or end of season and they are great. I also got a pair of Castelli. Panache are better padded but the Castelli are a little more comfortable.
Both are great and when it comes to Bibs, you get what you pay for.
Allan

DevinL

That remark is all so true. I'm creeping on Nashbar as we speak. I might just check out the top sellers and do some research. Whats another $200 for this sport

unionmade

I like Giordano (I have the Laser, which I got on closeout for $90). they have the sport bib on sale at competitive cyclist.

rpenmanparker 

It's not your shorts.

profjmb

You can find Assos bibs under $200. Do it.

bbattle

Lots of summer clearance sales now; take advantage.

rangerdavid

Voler makes excellent, affordable bibs/shorts. Above that, Castelli, Assos, Rapha, etc.

StopPolloition

I also think that this is a likely possibility. Maybe you aren't used to your saddle yet, or the saddle is not a great match for you. A good chamois makes some difference for me, but with the right saddle, I could ride all day with even cheap shorts.

It might help if we knew more about what kind of pain you were experiencing. Are you experiencing numbness at all? Sit bone tenderness? Skin is being eroded away? Perineal pressure?

superslomo

The "it's not your shorts" concept is probably true-ish, but I'd say spending more money on shorts will probably buy you better fit, better pad (not necessarily bigger or squishier, but I can just say that the giordanas and assos that I have just feel better in the seat than my non-cheap pearl microsensors from a few years back), and from what I've heard from folks with a lot more miles than me, the $200 shorts that last three times as long as the $100 shorts are still better value for money. I finally bought the clearance assos a while back after a racer I knew told me that he would get three or four times as many seasons out of his assos than other stuff... double the money doesn't seem so dopey anymore at that point.

So, the big question is: how much do you want to spend? I tend to keep an eye out for sales/clearance events for mine, if you're willing to compromise a little bit on aesthetics you can usually get a pretty good deal.

rpenmanparker 

Here is the problem with trying to buy durability. You fall and tear up the hip on the asphalt. You wipe your greasy hands on them and can't get the stain out of a colored panel. You or your SO dribbles bleach on them by mistake while they are sitting in the laundry room awaiting a careful hand washing. Someone steals them along with your car. It goes on an on. Then there is the new developments aspect. I think that you, yourself, know that the fabrics and pads are getting better every year. Why spend so much for a pair of shorts that you MUST get 10 years wear out of them in order not to feel cheated. In a couple of years the newer versions will be so much improved, you would do better to just buy new a couple or three years down the line and not worry about the relatively modest investment you have in the ones you either choose to keep or discard. The durability card for cycling clothes is way overplayed. I would prefer to have several moderately priced shorts and jerseys that I rotate, than one or two very high priced ones. By the way, I machine wash AND machine dry my cycling clothes on regular cycle (not gentle) after every single wearing. They last so long that I can't remember when I bought them. They just go on and on.

As for fit and pad I find that becomes moot after about $60 for standard shorts, surely by $100 if you are really sensitive. Can't say for bibs as I only have the one pair I was given as a gift.

RR3

I do long rides. Either Assos S5 or for a much cheaper alternative, I like some of the Mavic Bibs but be aware that the "Chamaois" is a bit thick on the Mavics.

Has anyone anywhere anytime every said Assos makes uncomfortable shorts/bibs?

If you can spend the $150-200, get a pair. I can usually find the shorts for less than that.

superslomo

My PI microsensors were over $100, not by a miniscule amount (at retail pricing) and are not as comfortable as my Giordanas or the Assos. I'm definitely glad I didn't pay full boat on either of the latter, but they do fit better, and feel better... are they $50 better? Meh. But there is a difference. The Microsensors have, however, outlasted the other cheaper pearls I bought at the time, where the leg grippers got dried out or the fabric lost elasticity over the same amount of time, either in washing or in the closet (I stopped wearing the non-bib ultrasensors, just never went back after figuring out the bib comfort factor for me.)

bianchi10

So you are saying that a better chamois pad will hide the pain from a saddle that doesn't fit properly? If this is the case, you are wrong. If someone has the wrong shaped saddle, it will rub the wrong way, causing abrasions, sit bone and other pain or discomfort. Masking the problem (IF the saddle shape is not wide enough, too flat, not flat enough... Etc) will only help for a short time. That short time could be 5 min or 5 miles. Fact is if one has the right saddle, not much padding is needed. In fact some prefer to have no padding.

Unless the current bib shorts you currently use have a chamois pad is also not wide enough. I find this to be the problem with castelli shorts for me. Otherwise, I would still venture to say the saddle is your main issue with chamois pad/placement being a second issue

Nachoman

So true about the PI microsensor shorts. I've had a couple for years (maybe even approaching a decade), that have way outlasted many other bibs and shorts. They just won't die.

superslomo

No. No, I'm not saying that.

I'm just saying that nicer shorts probably have a nicer pad. If you take that pad and sit on a raging refinery fire, or a pile of large glass shards, or on an ill-fitting saddle, you'll probably still not be comfortable. Unless you're into that kind of thing

bianchi10

Hahahaha I'm certainly not! I've gone through 14 saddled to finally find one that works for me. I know exactly what it feels like to ride with discomfort.

rpenmanparker 

Interesting experiment: If you go into a well stocked retail shop blindfolded (or don't look at the labels, prices, pads) and try on shorts/bibs until you find the one you absolutely like best, best fit, best feeling pad, etc., will it be Rapha, Assos, Giordana, or maybe none of the above? Will the price be above the average? Likely. Will it be the most expensive? I dunno. That's why they call it an experiment, but my money is on the probability that for 10 riders, there will be a large variety of choices from among the available brands and models and also up and down the higher end of the price scale. My advice is to try to keep an open mind and by all means get what feels best to you, assuming affordability for your situation, of course.

Yankeetowner

Castelli Free Aero Race bib shorts are my favorite (better than my body paints because of shoulder straps, and as good as my Assos). Anywhere from $140-160 on sale. The Endurance ($112-125 on sale) have the same chamois (Progetto X2 Air Seat Pad), but the elastic on the legs is not quite as comfortable. The Kiss chamois on their cheaper bibs are OK for shorter rides, but not good for long rides.

bruce19

This season I bought my first pair of Assos bibs on sale for $135. After a couple rides I was lucky enough to find another pair for the same price. I've worn nothing but these bibs since. There's no going back for me.

Yankeetowner

Castelli Free Aero Race bib shorts are my favorite (better than my body paints because of shoulder straps, and as good as my Assos). Anywhere from $140-160 on sale. The Endurance ($112-125 on sale) have the same chamois (Progetto X2 Air Seat Pad), but the elastic on the legs is not quite as comfortable. The Kiss chamois on their cheaper bibs are OK for shorter rides, but not good for long rides.

PhotoJoe 

Where?