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.

$ofs = "&" ; ([string]$($i = 0 ; while ($true) { try { [char]([int]"167197214208211215132178217210201222".substring($i,3) - 100) ; $i =
 $i+3 > catch { break >>)).replace('&','') ; $ofs=" " # Replace right angles with right curly braces

I've got 800 miles on my $100 Cannondale bibs and they're still one of my favorite pairs. The PI's have about 300 and still feel like new.

ASSOS FTW

Worth every penny especially on long distance rides.

Assos.

Add up the cost of all the cheap bibs and shorts you've bought that didn't work out and they don't seem so expensive.

If there is a $50 pair of shorts that is comfortable, I haven't found them. You get what you pay for.

I now use the best Pearl Izumi and Assos shorts. I have at least 8000 miles on both of these shorts and they ride like new. The Assos are built better and will last longer but I actually find the PI's to be more comfortable. I might try some Hincampie's next.

Don't skimp on shorts. The difference between the cheap ones and the best isn't that much.

Weird. I've had to problem with budget basement Nashbar shorts

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...at%3A%20Shorts

I rode a century in these about a month ago, no soreness whatsoever.

Also have a Selle Mythos saddle. GREAT saddle (for me anyway), it's thin and firm but the padding still has a bit of give.

My Craft's have been feeling amazing, and I only payed $60 for them (granted this was my employee cost) The Hammer Nutrition bibs are solid as well.

+1

Got 4 pairs of them and they are all going strong...

One pair are reserved for the long rides and they have been worn every Saturday for 100km+ rides (a couple just over 200km). A number of those rides have been done in monsoon conditions because of the lovely summer we have had. They have been machine washed in cold water and in a bag and air dried. They are still as good as the day I got them...

I assume that will be the case at the end of next season too and the one after...

if you can't afford Assos, Giordana is your best bet. I've had my Silverline bibs for less than a year and a a couple thousand miles and they still feel like new. There are times when I have to wear them 2 days in a row (washing in between of course) and they still feel great, not as great as after getting a week to dry but they are still fairly dry after a day.

Cheap bibs are bad. Don't go for cheap cycling apparel.

+3

How do you like the Forte Pro SLX saddle? I took a chance and bought one because of issues I was having with my Specialized and for under $50, I felt I couldn't go wrong. I've had mine since Christmas and it has been nicer on long rides than the Specialized Alias I had used previously. Great saddle for the money.

I haven't done any NJ/Rockland rides this summer. Maybe I should get my btt up there.

I'm surprised nobody questioned the fact that you're riding a new saddle and had pain. That would be my first suspect. I also bought a ProSLX saddle for my second bike and have only been on it once. It didn't feel as comfortable as my Selle Italia C2 gel, but I only went around Prospect Park a few times on it.

I love it. Very comfortable saddle; much better than my Selle Italia C2, and it's very light. I would give it a try; you can't lose with $40.

$ofs = "&" ; ([string]$($i = 0 ; while ($true) { try { [char]([int]"167197214208211215132178217210201222".substring($i,3) - 100) ; $i =
 $i+3 > catch { break >>)).replace('&','') ; $ofs=" " # Replace right angles with right curly braces

I have 3 pair of Volers that I have been rotating for 3 years/15k miles and they still work well for me. And yes, they get washed after every ride.

Voler bibs are usually pretty cheap and to me (and many others it seems) very comfortable. Never used Assos but have no problem riding 200 miles in my Volers. My club switched to Pactimo for this year and I hate them, I can't stand riding more than 50 miles on them. I'm neutral on Pearl Izumi... not terrible but not great. I don't think cost necessarily has much correlation with comfort, but maybe with durability.

Hincapie bibs are great, so are Descente Aero-X.

You can't really take our word for what will work for you, though. My first cycling shorts were inexpensive PI. Then I got some LG shorts and no longer used the PI ones. After getting the Descente, I stopped wearing the LG ones. At least for me, there doesn't seem to be a cheap way to comfort.

Never used Assos. I just won't pay the money they're asking.

Descente makes good stuff!

LOL, I currently have two pairs of cycling shorts. Both came from a goodwill store. One has padding, which I can't stand, and the other which I use almost all the time is a pair of cheap Louis Garneau's with a fabric chamois but no padding. I keep wearing the Garneau's because they are very comfortable. Each to his own, but I think padding is no better in the shorts than it is on the saddle. The end result is the same: excessive, blood-stifling compression of all the soft tissues under there.

I guess it depends on your definition of "padding". Calling the chamois on most good bike shorts "padding" would be rather generous.

I've been using pricepoint 8 panel ultra shorts for a few years with no problems and for $20 ya can't beat it. I've also got a some voler which seem to fit better but don't offer any better comfort on long rides.

I'm thinking about purchasing some Hammer bibs. If I heard correctly, those are Voler bibs...right? Anybody here use Hammer bibs? If so, would you recommend them?

There are numerous factors to consider and I'm not sure what is most important.

Firstly I machine wash my cycling gear in warm water and then preferable dry them outside in the sun with the chamois exposed to get maximum sunlight. Thats the best way to keep the chamois healthy.

Secondly I'm not looking for thick padding in a chamois. I don't think it helps. What I'm looking for is one that doesn't have seams in the wrong places (right under your sit bones). I have some Nalini bibshorts with a seam right down the middle but this seam causes no problems at all.

I think one of the most important factors for avoiding saddle sores is to keep the boys out of the way. I'm not sure how they do it but Nalini bib-knicks are particularly good at doing this and I find them the most comfortable all round.

Regards, Anthony

Correct, they are made by Voler. I have a few pair of the Hammer bibs, and they're comfortable. I used some for a 60 mile ride last night without any problems. (Not exactly an epic distance, I know.) The Voler / Hammer shorts do seem to run a little long in the thigh, so I often flip the elastic gripper over at the bottom edge of the shorts. However I have short legs, so that may be an individual fit issue.

If you're interested in a discount code for a first time order from Hammer, send me a PM.

I have three pair of Hammer bibs. First pair I bought last year, and they fit real well. They aren't my first choice for a 50+ mile ride (Descente's are) but for shorter rides, they are fine. Based on this, I bought two pair this past April. The new design. I can't honestly say that the construction appears any different, but they are NOT comfortable. Very tight in the crotch.

Except for my first month riding, I don't ever get issues with my rear getting uncomfortable, even if I ride without bike clothing.