Mr. Beanz

Last time I bought shorts I bought 2 pair PI Quest shorts and 1 pair Ultra sensors. Quest were $45 each and the Ultra Sensors $110. I figured I'd use the Quest for shorter rides and the US for longer rides. Boy was I wrong! The US model had really skimped on the chamois! No, I don't care, I don't want a lighter chamois to save weight so that my heavy arse will moves faster! I want something comfy for the long haul.

Anything out there resonable, around the hood of $100? I can't see paying $200 to get what I used to get for $60! Seems that we're getting drawn into the trap of "they are paying more so we will charge more!" Sick of it!

No, I'm not touring so old cut off Levis and Target sweatpants aren't on my list. Any similar suggestions will place the poster on my " I hate you" list!

Additional info: 230 lbs, 6'1 close to Homey's size but alot meaner and sexier!

CliftonGK1

I'm a big fan of the Performance Ultras for anything up to a 200k, maybe even a 300k. They're very form fitted so the compression is good for us hill-attackers to keep the quads feeling nice; but the elastic isn't binding. They breathe well, so you'll be fine in the California heat with them. I rode the StP double in 92F humid heat up here last year, and a few more 90+ degree centuries this summer. The chamois is fairly minimal but wicks well and holds a chamois creme without feeling slimy or oozing it all over your saddle after 150 miles.
I've also done a couple 300k and a ton of 200k/centuries in PI US shorts with the 3D PRO chamois and I'm not horribly impressed with them any more, either. I think the covering fabric wicks too much and absorbs chamois creme, and when it's saturated with sweat it can start to feel like a diaper and get a bit chafe-ish in the taint. (TMI, but it's true. I won't wear them for anything more than a metric these days.)
I'm going to pick up a pair of Assos Unos (50% over the high side of your range, but might be worth the $$ for LD training and centuries) and a pair of FI.Mille S5 for 300k and longer rides, based on the suggestion of many LD friends who claim that on a century ride they don't make any difference, but past the 200 mile mark they're supposed to be a world of difference.

Mr. Beanz

Thanks Clif, good info!

Saltybeagle

recently purchased 2 pi pro bibs from a PI outlet store they were 50% off, chamois is ok up to 80 miles, I think the chamois on the pro bib does not extend forward enough, really like a pair of adidas shorts that the bike shop recommended, the chamois is soft, and comfy. One day will try assos, when i win the lottery.

Smoked

I am on my second pair of PI bibs. I am not sure what the first one where perhaps the attack??? I know they have a blue chamois. I picked up a pair of the pro bibs for 109$ (on sale at the PI store) they are last years with the red 3d pro chamois and I can say that there is a huge difference between the two.

I am not sure what the best pair of bibs are for the cash, all I know is PI. I am still getting use to this board that they call a saddle on my new bike, but the bibs do help..

mkadam68

Gee... I ride our club shorts on centuries & stuff. Louis Garneaus. $65. We'll be doing Pearl Izumi for next year. Want i should get you a pair?

rthomse

I got a pair of Cannondale bib shorts. I paid 120.00 for a year or so ago.Super comfy on long rides

JoelS

My favorites are the Specialized BG Bib Shorts. They're a fair bit outside your $100 budget, but I'm good in them for 120 miles+ (that's just my longest ride in them). No chafing, and comfy.

Mr. Beanz

No kidding! I have a married couple as friends, They travel to Europe then buy their Assos shorts while on vacation. Must be nice, I can't even afford the shorts!

CliftonGK1

The Performance shorts have been the only ones in the sub-100 buck range which I've found to be comfortable. I know that the price on shorts/bibs may seem outrageous, especially if you look at Castelli, PI and Assos' upper echelon of shorts ($250 - $300 range), but depending on the application it can be well worth it.

I'll do a metric or a century in just about any bibs.
A 200k and I start to get a little more particular. 10 hours in the saddle is a long time.
At 300k and 9000+ in climbing, I'm looking at 15h in the saddle and appreciate a comfortable bib short.
For a 400k, I might be out for 20 - 24 hours (and my upcoming 600k next year has a 40hr time limit). When you're spending an entire day (or two) in the saddle, there's no "close enough" for comfort. What's mildly annoying at 5 hours may feel like a hot dagger after 20 or more hours.

Mr. Beanz

I believe I saw those when I picked up the Ultra Sensors. Might have been about $200 back then!...Nice but I just won't sell my bike to pay for the shorts!

Mr. Beanz

BTW, I'm not a fan of bibs. I have along torso and bibs are like riding with a permanent wedgie! I've tried various brands.

But I'm thinking the shorts have the same chamois, so brand is what I'm considering.

Mr. Beanz

Thanks, but I think I'll window shop so I can see what's out there first. Thanks though!

flip18436572

Pearl Izumi is what I use on 40 miles or longer up to 120 miles without problems. I can't use bib shorts as I have a long torso. I have a pair and I can handle them for about 20 miles and I ripped out the side stitching at the "waist area". I have tried Louis Garneau or however it is spelled, but they were not comfortable for me at all. Most clydes will post to use aerotech designs, but I tried their cheap and expensive and both were very poor quality.

I will probably stick with Pearl Izumi, but my longest rides will probably stay under 150 miles for right now.

If you find something that works well, please let me know also.

Nooch

alright, I'll shoot the noob question in here (and by no means to hijack..)

never worn spandex before... underwear? or no?

CliftonGK1

No.

Mr. Beanz

No undies! Chamois is shaped so that it has no seams in places that may cause irritations. Plus the spandex and chamois are designed to wick sweat moisture away from the skin. Undies will retain the moisture.

Besides, do you really want panty lines while riding?

sstorkel

I'm still a big fan of the Falconi bibs I bought from Love2Pedal.com. In fact, I've shrunk out of the ones I originally bought and am starting to acquire them in the next smaller size. They worked great on my 500-mile tour from Silicon Valley to Los Angeles, including one 90-mile day in 90-degree weather. I have two pairs of expensive Pearl Izumi Slice Ultrasensor shorts (~$100/ea @ retail) that I haven't worn since I got the Love2Pedal bibs. The bibs don't have a super-thick chamois like the PI's, but it seems to work well... as long as you've got the right saddle underneath it!

b_young

I have had good luck with the $20 performance shorts. I also have a $99 pair of Castelli bib shorts. I like them the best. But you don't like bibs. I only had the performace for the first few years. 4-5 centuries per year.

gypz

dont know if there is any truth to it, i was told by an employee at performance bike that, PI makes their 3 top end shorts. Beanz i finally found shorts that work, and PI slice shorts, and tights.

Neil_B

I've found almost any sort of bib shorts works on tour. And no, Beanz, I don't ride in jeans or cheap sweatpants.

Mr. Beanz

Well ya never know what Rocky might do!

Barrettscv 

I alternate between Castelli and Santini. The Castelli fit better, they are longer, but the Chamois is larger than it needs to be. These caused some chaffing and were uncomfortable until my skin toughened. The Santini has a smaller Chamois that fits me better with less chaffing, but these are not as Clyde friendly as the Castelli XXL.

I hunt for cycling shorts and bibs online during the winter months. It's not hard to find good shorts in the $40 to $65 range.

I'm now 200 lbs and six foot tall but find even the XXL size to be undersized.

Michael

Mr. Beanz

Hmmm, thanks. I'll have to take a look at Castelli. I think I'd ike an ovesized chamois since most stuff seems small to me. I'm surprised Castelli would fit well for a clyde. Years ago I tried ona XXL jersey and could barely fit it over my head!... Seemd to Euro fit for me. Maybe the shorts will fit differently.

Barrettscv 

The padded portion of the Castelli is 13" X 8" where the Santini is 9" X 7". I use a Large Brooks Professional (the same one since 1972) saddle and the smaller pad avoids chaffing better.

The XXL Castelli are still somewhat snug for me at 200 lbs. The Santini; even more so.