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The $30 short thread

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Old 10-03-05 | 10:02 PM
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Tight budget here, shopping for decent shorts. I've heard good things about the Performance Century, which is $30. Here's a few $25-30 shorts I've found, if anyone owns them (particularly the Cannondale, which I think is selling for $70+ at a LBS here), can you offer your opinions?


Cannondale Everyday $30
https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=1120

Cannondale Classic 2004 6-panel $30
https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=1120

Canari Veloce $30
https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=1120

Canari Veloce Pro $26 at Nashbar
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=

Performance Century $30
https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=1120
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Old 10-03-05 | 10:13 PM
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I like the bib shorts myself. I just picked up another pair of Voler bib shorts for $44 or so. They are very comfortable.
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Old 10-03-05 | 10:18 PM
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Originally Posted by thewalrus
Tight budget here, shopping for decent shorts. I've heard good things about the Performance Century, which is $30. Here's a few $25-30 shorts I've found, if anyone owns them (particularly the Cannondale, which I think is selling for $70+ at a LBS here), can you offer your opinions?
$48 for 2 pair Falconi BIKE SHORTS on eBay

I've got a few pair of these and they feel great and seem to wear well.

Steve
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Old 10-03-05 | 10:19 PM
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I have a pair of nashbar mondays (usally like 18 US) that while arent the greatest get teh job done on a budget
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Old 10-03-05 | 10:23 PM
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Originally Posted by cheeseflavor
$48 for 2 pair Falconi BIKE SHORTS on eBay

I've got a few pair of these and they feel great and seem to wear well.

Steve
hehe, XL ... my waist is 33-34

i am tempted to buy the $40 Team Jamaica bib shorts. If only I had a rasta-coloured helmet... and some dreads...

https://cgi.ebay.com/New-Bergamo-Jama...QQcmdZViewItem
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Old 10-03-05 | 10:24 PM
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Tell you the truth, I like nashbars cotton short (https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=) quite a bit. I'm not sure why, but the lycra shorts I've worn seem to be more 'noticable', whereas when I'm wearing cotton, it feels like I'm not really wearing anything at all (in a good way! ). Nashbar's monday shorts aren't bad either, but then again, I'm one of those guys who will do 40 miles in street shorts without any problems.
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Old 10-03-05 | 10:24 PM
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Sigh. I have to agree with SDRider about bibs. Having tried both regular and bib shorts, and also being on a budget, I now save up and buy only bibs

The Voler stuff is well made, and you can get some excellent deals on their e-mail list. https://velowear.com/ I haven't seen them for as little as $30, but I have seen them for about $45, which is pretty good for bibs.
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Old 10-03-05 | 10:29 PM
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Originally Posted by cheeseflavor
Ahh, I found the same seller has size M and L, dozens of shorts for sale:

https://search-desc.ebay.com/search/s...e=search&fgtp=
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Old 10-03-05 | 10:36 PM
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The best cheaper shorts I have are the Nashbar Epic. They run small, so buy one size larger, but a decent short for the money. I think I bought them on sale for around $28. But, buy the best shorts you can afford. I got several pairs, but wash after every ride and really only need 2 pair.

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Old 10-03-05 | 10:55 PM
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Originally Posted by 'nother
Sigh. I have to agree with SDRider about bibs. Having tried both regular and bib shorts, and also being on a budget, I now save up and buy only bibs

The Voler stuff is well made, and you can get some excellent deals on their e-mail list. https://velowear.com/ I haven't seen them for as little as $30, but I have seen them for about $45, which is pretty good for bibs.
Howz the chamois on these? I'm lookin for short/bibs that have just a simple and single layer of chamois. It seems finding anything that isn't heavily padded is almost impossible. Even Pearl Izumi, which used to have a thin, qual chamois, has gone to the 'overstuffed' style many years back.

Anyone know of any brands/models that aren't padded or have very thin padding?
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Old 10-03-05 | 11:06 PM
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the MEC Rapide shorts aren't that bad.

Oh, and the Sugoi factory sale should be happening soon. I stock up there at $25/pair.
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Old 10-04-05 | 07:23 AM
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I have a ouple pair of the cannondale everyday's, I think they are great. Very cool and a great fit for me. The chamois is pretty good, I'm sure there are better and worse. They are pretty tough too I went down a month or so back and ended up sliding on my right hip for about 6 feet and it didnt even wear through the shorts. Very satisfied with the durability, still look new after plenty of washings.
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Old 10-04-05 | 07:36 AM
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I have a pair of the Performance Century. They're my first pair of shorts and I dont really have anything to compare them too but they seem to work. I havent had any problems with chaffing and I dont use any chamios creme.
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Old 10-04-05 | 07:42 AM
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I like the Nashbar Crossroads. Probably simular to the Century, but in a 6 panel cut. I bought some Accents from Nashbar that they had on sale, didn't like them near as much and will probably return them for a pair of the Crossroads.
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Old 10-04-05 | 08:10 AM
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I'm a cheapskate when it comes to shorts. I buy the Performance on-sale-cheapies for $15 a pair and buy 4 or 5 of them at a time. It turns out that I prefer these very light shorts to the expensive ones. Sport Europa used to sell 100%

I'm bought or been given some really expensive shorts just to see why they're so expensive. Yeah, they are made better. Yeah, they are heavier. But they sure aren't any more comfortable except on very long rides. For long rides I use the Pearl Izumi or Voler.

I've owned shorts from the most expensive and supposedly best makers in the world whose names shall remain shrouded in silence (if you can say something nice....) that fell apart on the first washing.
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Old 10-04-05 | 08:48 AM
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I've tried Performance, Pearl Izumi and Cannondale. The Cannondale Everyday are by far the best ones I have worn. At that price I'm goning to pick up some more.


Guess not, all they have are size S

Last edited by Baetis; 10-04-05 at 09:00 AM.
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Old 10-04-05 | 09:51 AM
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Why do people like bib shorts? I've always worn regular shorts, so I'm curious what makes the bibs better.
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Old 10-04-05 | 10:20 AM
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I use the Performance century shorts. They work very well, and I have no qualms about them.

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Old 10-04-05 | 10:31 AM
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I use the Pearl Izumi Ultrasensor...at @ $80/pair, they can get expensive...I have 2 pair...a L and a M...the L is too big...fit when I bought them, then after a week of riding, I lost that extra inch on my gut that held them up...

So, I ride in one pair of shorts...needless to say the washing machine is getting a workout.

mscycler
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Old 10-04-05 | 10:53 AM
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Originally Posted by WD_40
Why do people like bib shorts? I've always worn regular shorts, so I'm curious what makes the bibs better.
I got my first pair this year, and I find them much more comfortable. Basically, there is no real waistband so you don't have this elastic cinch around your waist. Sort of like a big old pair of pants held up by suspenders (OK, maybe a bit exaggerated).

Anyway, I was able to get Performance Elite bibs on sale earlier this year for ~$31. I only got one and haven't seen them at this price since then
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Old 10-04-05 | 11:10 AM
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I have 2 pairs of the Performance Elites that I like a lot and a pair of Cannondales, not sure which model, that are OK, the fit and sizing between the two is a big difference.
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Old 10-04-05 | 11:24 AM
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I hate cheap Performance shorts, but that's just me. They're thin, they go up way too high (especially in back), and the chamois isn't that comfortable. I'd stay away from those, but that's just me. They don't support the boys very well.

I have a cheaper pair of Cannondale shorts and I love them. To tell you the truth I forget the model and I can't quite tell if they are one of the ones you listed, but I know I got them for cheap on eBay. They have that C logo and on one of the legs it says "Chrono." The chamois is nice- a little padding, but not too much. They support the boys very well. My only complaint is that the C logo (or was it 2?) fell off, but I don't really care about advertising for Cannondale anyway, so that didn't bother me.

I also have a cheaper pair of Canaris that I got off of eBay, but I don't think they are one of the ones you have listed. They have a thicker chamois that's part blue and part white. Anyone know what the heck I'm talking about? I really should pay attention to the specific names a little bit more. They're nice, but I think they have a little bit too much padding. It's not uncomfortable, just overkill.

If I were you I'd go for the Cannondale.
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Old 10-04-05 | 11:26 AM
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Here.....I found the Canaris on eBay:

https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ELITE-Canari...QQcmdZViewItem
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Old 10-04-05 | 12:01 PM
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Oh how I wish MEC would release a pair of bib shorts.
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Old 10-04-05 | 12:27 PM
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I have some Pace shorts that I got on sale for about $30 each. I've been very happy with them.

https://www.pacesportswear.com/
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