I went out today on a post-Labor Day ride, taking a nice, long spin on my new Forte Pro SLX saddle and Ksyrium Elites. It was supposed to be something like a slow and easy 80 mile ride.

I learned today that a chamois can make the difference between making 100 miles easy and 60 miles PAINFUL.

As soon as I hit Alpine, NJ (as patendad calls "L'Alp d'Alpine"), it was game over for my butt. Now, I bought these Louis Garneau shorts (something like $40 or $50) about 300 or 400 miles ago, and they are completely done. NO long-term padding whatsoever. I bought 10 packets of Chamois Butt'r, and applied one of them, and it didn't help too much.

I want to lay down the card and skip a payment for GOOD bibs, but I'm afraid that they will crap out early too. I mostly washed my bibs and shorts either in cold water by hand or cold water in a machine. I even changed my saddle thinking that may have been it. Is there something I'm overlooking?

BTW: For those in NYC, if you want a long and hilly route, I highly recommend extending the Nyack route to Route 59, and then heading back to NYC via Montvale/Ridgewood/Kinderkamack Rd. It's good for you.

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