Best Century Bike Shorts - Men's
03-17-15, 07:36 PM
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Best Century Bike Shorts - Men's
Several centuries coming over the next few months- time to replace my favorite shorts, what is the best for the really long rides?
03-17-15, 08:22 PM
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Personal preference rules when it comes to cycling shorts. Kinda like saddles, one person may love what another person hates.
I would cycle through a few different shorts each time you do a longer ride and see what you like.
I would cycle through a few different shorts each time you do a longer ride and see what you like.
03-17-15, 08:31 PM
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03-18-15, 05:11 AM
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If you are in shape to ride 100 miles, short selection becomes irrelevant. I have shorts from 5 different manufacturers and can tell no significant difference.
03-18-15, 12:00 PM
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I can't tell you what the "best" are. Only which one of my several sets are my personal choice, for my butt, on my saddle, for a century. DeMarchi.
03-18-15, 12:04 PM
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I prefer bibs/shorts with a relatively thin and flexible chamois. Others like a thick, dense chamois. Others like something in between. IOW, it's a preference. Find out what your preference is.
03-18-15, 03:15 PM
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You are lucky then, I have shorts from 3 (Gore, Izumi and ?) and big difference after 60 or 70 miles. Gore works best from the 3 I've tried. A bad pair of shorts (not always the cheapest) is a real pain.
03-18-15, 04:42 PM
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03-18-15, 04:47 PM
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I've got shorts from Primal and Aerotech (Top Shelf) and I find either very comfortable for 50-100 mile rides.
03-18-15, 06:32 PM
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Gore Oxygen 2.0. They work great and I planned to buy another pair to replace the ones I have, but the graphic design this year is terrible - has red arched piping around the rear- I can't imagine what they were thinking - absolutely the ugliest short on the market right now - can't bring myself to buy them.
03-18-15, 06:43 PM
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03-18-15, 06:55 PM
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Thanks, that was one I was looking at already, so just ordered a pair!
03-18-15, 07:20 PM
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I did ten rides of 100+ miles last year including a 130 miler on dirt/gravel canal towpath and a 192 miler across Alaska. For the late winter century I had Specialized BG knickers. The other nine rides were all using the Performance brand bibs that I paid between $40 and $60 (depending on sale price). Maybe I'm just lucky to not feel the need to get $130-$200+ bibs.
03-18-15, 08:15 PM
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I did ten rides of 100+ miles last year including a 130 miler on dirt/gravel canal towpath and a 192 miler across Alaska. For the late winter century I had Specialized BG knickers. The other nine rides were all using the Performance brand bibs that I paid between $40 and $60 (depending on sale price). Maybe I'm just lucky to not feel the need to get $130-$200+ bibs.
03-18-15, 08:22 PM
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03-18-15, 08:35 PM
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For rides less than 20 miles- Nashbar shorts are good.
21-50 miles- Performance brand shorts.
51-75 miles Castelli's are the only ones to wear.
76 -100 - don't even think about anything other than ibex merino wool shorts
If greater than 2o lbs overweight, go with the brand at the next higher level than the ride mileage above.
There are other opinions out there, but they would be wrong.
21-50 miles- Performance brand shorts.
51-75 miles Castelli's are the only ones to wear.
76 -100 - don't even think about anything other than ibex merino wool shorts
If greater than 2o lbs overweight, go with the brand at the next higher level than the ride mileage above.
There are other opinions out there, but they would be wrong.
Last edited by surgeonstone; 03-18-15 at 08:38 PM.
03-19-15, 12:36 AM
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I have some Primals that I love for long rides.
Pearl Izumi makes nice stuff, but they run a little bit small.
I'm a fan of anything with a bit of a firmer pad when it comes to long rides, but as mentioned earlier, saddle and saddle position will GREATLY affect the misery index on a longer ride.
Pearl Izumi makes nice stuff, but they run a little bit small.
I'm a fan of anything with a bit of a firmer pad when it comes to long rides, but as mentioned earlier, saddle and saddle position will GREATLY affect the misery index on a longer ride.
03-19-15, 04:01 AM
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Cheap unlined Adidas climalite shorts
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Cambodia bikes, Bridgestone SRAM 2 speed, 2012 Fuji Stratos...
Cambodia bikes, Bridgestone SRAM 2 speed, 2012 Fuji Stratos...
03-19-15, 10:01 AM
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Î did a handful of centuries last year and the Markleeville death ride, 130/15000'. My weekend rides are routinely 70 to 90 miles. I use performance shorts that costs 60 to 70 on sale. YMMV
Of course I can also spend 6 hours on a mountain bike with some random pair of padded REI MTB shorts. Don't over think it and HTFU.
Of course I can also spend 6 hours on a mountain bike with some random pair of padded REI MTB shorts. Don't over think it and HTFU.
03-19-15, 11:32 AM
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I've found that it's less about the pad, and more about the compression/panels when it comes to centuries.
I prefer a bit more compression and a smoother leg gripper/cuff for longer rides. shorter rides don't matter as much.
I'm cheap and only have three pairs of bibs... my cannondale domestiques are good for around 50-60 miles... after that I go to my performance ultras... the performance elite are good too, but I like the strap structure less on longer rides.
I prefer a bit more compression and a smoother leg gripper/cuff for longer rides. shorter rides don't matter as much.
I'm cheap and only have three pairs of bibs... my cannondale domestiques are good for around 50-60 miles... after that I go to my performance ultras... the performance elite are good too, but I like the strap structure less on longer rides.
03-19-15, 11:41 AM
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My current fave is the Voler Caliber. $69. Did the STP one-day in them last year, no problem.
