Shorts....again

Supergoose

Right, a good while back I posted looking for recommendations for a comfortable bib shorts. The way my riding is going I was looking for shorts that would give me some level of comfort north of 5 hours in the saddle.

At this point let me say I purchased three different model of Assos just over a year ago, adding up to hundreds of pounds. I used them for over a year but have to admit, they are just not working for me. That's the way it goes.

I would appreciate any recommendations. What do you use?

clx1

I use Assos and Rapha.
If I were you I wouldn't try any others, you already have the best shorts money can buy, in my opinion anyway. Assos are expensive but worth every penny and if looked after last for years.

Supergoose

CLX1 wrote:

I use Assos and Rapha.
If I were you I wouldn't try any others, you already have the best shorts money can buy, in my opinion anyway. Assos are expensive but worth every penny and if looked after last for years.

But, the thing is they simply aren't comfortable for me. Im glad that you are getting the benefit from them but I need to try something else!

Supergoose

CLX1 wrote:

I use Assos and Rapha.
If I were you I wouldn't try any others, you already have the best shorts money can buy, in my opinion anyway. Assos are expensive but worth every penny and if looked after last for years.

But, the thing is they simply aren't comfortable for me. Im glad that you are getting the benefit from them but I need to try something else!

CamR

Have you tried changing your saddle?

I have three different brands of shorts and the Assos are way more noticeably comfy. I also messed around with saddles and now have one that is comfy for me.

So with the optimum saddle and insert choice I am now good for 5 hours + in the saddle

Jonathand257

Shorts and saddles are such a specific item its not really wise to take recommendations from people on a web forum. Ask around people at your club who are similar build what works for them and just have a shop around. My comfiest pair were around £30, its just a case of finding the right pair, not necessarily the most expensive! (good offers to be had on-line!) I know it can get expensive but once you find the right shorts/saddle set-up it improve your ride quality so much!

ADIHEAD

CamR wrote:

Have you tried changing your saddle?

I have three different brands of shorts and the Assos are way more noticeably comfy. I also messed around with saddles and now have one that is comfy for me.

So with the optimum saddle and insert choice I am now good for 5 hours + in the saddle
[/quote

+1

Supergoose

Jonathand257 wrote:

Shorts and saddles are such a specific item its not really wise to take recommendations from people on a web forum. Ask around people at your club who are similar build what works for them and just have a shop around. My comfiest pair were around £30, its just a case of finding the right pair, not necessarily the most expensive! (good offers to be had on-line!) I know it can get expensive but once you find the right shorts/saddle set-up it improve your ride quality so much!

I have to disagree with you there. On the contrary, I think the best way to gauge whether a product may work for you is to garner the general consensus of like minded users.

I use both Aliante and Spoon saddles on my bikes. But I cannot get a comfy ride, so far I have used Assos, Endura, Nalini, Nike. No joy. Dont get me wrong its tolerable but there has to be a better fit for me out there. Hence, the request on a web forum, garnering as much opinion as poss.

ADIHEAD

Would still say the saddles are the most likely problem. I'm going through the same thing myself and have bought an Antares and Aliante to try instead of my Arione. Got them cheap on ebay but to be honest, am now thinking a measurement at a decent bike fit centre would have been a better idea! Still have yet to try them as been messing around with saddle angle and dare I say, different bib shorts but to no avail. Am planning to try the alternative saddles over the next couple of weeks.

Supergoose

Any advocates of Shutt shorts. I need something with a thick pad. I have a freakishly boney arse. :oops:

petemadoc

Supergoose wrote:

Any advocates of Shutt shorts. I need something with a thick pad. I have a freakishly boney ars*. :oops:

I bought some shutt pro bibs last week for the Cheshire Cat (7 hrs in the saddle). I'm just under 5ft 7" and went for the small. I think this was a mistake, the shoulder strap part was a really good fit and the pad was firmly held in the correct place but they were really tight around the legs and seemed really short and generally tight around the groin (I don't have fat legs before you ask).

Anyways I managed to crash after about 25 miles making a big rip in the hip so they're a write off anyway. My search continues. I'm reluctant to go for a medium in the shutt cos I think they'll be too big and I'm not paying assos prices. Might try the standard or DHB's. Loads of people seem to use dhb so they can't be too bad

Supergoose

Shutt are very good with customer service though. Maybe order the medium and send them back if their not right. Given your issues with fit what was the pad like?

rjh299

Castelli Body Paint. Absolutely awesome.

verloren

I like Giordana shorts. One of the advantages they have is that their 'good' pad is used quite low down the range, so while you can get £100 bibs from them, you can get the same pad in something less than half the price to try out first (e.g. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=32300). Of course, your results may vary, but worth a try.

DubaiNeil

I use 2 x Shutt Pro & 1 x DHB bibs

For me the Assos bibs just don't fit correctly (stuck between the medium having the correct short length and the large having the correct upper body part) so can't compare.

The Shutt (when new) were fantastic, but after about a year (or so) one pair are now a little uncomfortable and cause some chafing, while the other pair are still great.

I generally wear the DHB as an "alternate" if doing multi-day rides to alter the feel & relieve the more fragile areas. (a change is as good as a rest...)

I do not consider my saddle to be an issue (which happens to be a Charge Spoon). Longest ride with the Shutt & Charge Spoon was 8 hours moving time (171km's), as day 1 of a 4 day ride.

The customer service I received from Shutt was top notch, and it was nice to support a smaller British manufacturer.

Neil

dbb

have you considered Lusso Gel.
i have a pair and they are great, well made - they juast don't have the premium brand appeal (and Price). you'll get a pair for about £45. go with normal british sizing.

i am also wondering - how much is this just related to conditioning your bum to longer rides?
there is a big difference between being comfortable on a 3 hr ride and still being comfortable after 5hours

magoo289

I've the same issues. I'm under 60kg and with a very bony ar$e. Given up on trying to find the right saddle.

I've tried the Giordana Silverline as mentioned by verloren, and Nalini are awful. Anything over 25 miles becomes unbearable and over 50 miles I'm not going there

Supergoose, I'm keen to know if you find any shorts anywhere near comfortable, before I take the plunge and try Assos and Shutt.

CyclingBantam

I have some Shutt Pro's and they have been excellent. Prefer them to my Assos ones.

I have done many long rides in them (+80 miles) and they have always held up fine. I never notice any issue at all, even at the end of the ride.

Butterd2

I don't know how to put this nicely, but other than trying some other saddles maybe you just need to MTFU?

If you want a sport that doesn't hurt give darts a whirl.

antfly

It is obviously a very personal thing but I find my Assos and Giordanas really comfortable and while it pains me to say it the Shutt shorts chafe {now relegated to mountain biking} and the pad isn't comfortable at all though they have apparently changed the pad now. I also tried the Aliante but much prefer the Arione.

TiBoy

+1 for Shutt, I have got the Pro's and the Coolmax knicks and have had no issues at all with them plus the shorts have lasted longer than the Assos I had before. As previously mentioned their customer service is great and they will give you honest answers if you call them. May be worth joining the Shutt clubroom for free as I think you still get a discount off your order if you do.

http://www.shuttvr.com/shop/category/32/

nickwill

I'm lucky enough to have been selected as a tester for Cervo Rosso kit. I have to put in a disclaimer here because I didn't have to pay for it. I don't want to be accused of bias!
Having been an Assos wearer for the last few years I have found the CR shorts to be more comfortable and they are now my first choice.
http://www.cervorosso.com/index.php?sec ... oductId=53
There is an honest review on my blog (see below).

amaferanga

For this season I'll mostly be wearing Craft Performance Race bibs. I've never owned Assos shorts or any really expensive shorts, but these are so much better than the Santini/DHB/Bioracer/Addidas shorts I've used. And I got mine from PBK for only £42.

derosa

Santini bibs with the twist gel insert do the job for me on longer rides.

verloren

So we're agreed then - you should try some shorts from a manufacturer!

Supergoose

verloren wrote:

So we're agreed then - you should try some shorts from a manufacturer!

Ha! Yeah I kind of figured I would be hit with many types. To be honest, I was looking for a clear standout. That not being the case I think I will try out The Altura pro's, Craft Performance, and the Shutt's although obviously not all at once.

Cheers folks.

260k of Flanders finest next Saturday in my crappy Endura club shorts. :evil:

Supergoose

Butterd2 wrote:

I don't know how to put this nicely, but other than trying some other saddles maybe you just need to MTFU?

If you want a sport that doesn't hurt give darts a whirl.

Who shat in your saddle bag? If you've nothing nice to say then say nothing at all.

Thanks for your thoughts though, really insightful, helped alot.

nickwill

I think that it might be worth looking at a different saddle. As has been said if you find Assos shorts uncomfortable, the problem might lie elsewhere. You have tried a great variety of shorts and yet there is still a problem.
Where is the discomfort? sometimes as with the Fizik Arione, the angle of the saddle is critical, so that might be worth looking at as well. The set up of your bike might be a factor. Too upright a position might be putting too much pressure on your sitbones. All of these things are worth looking at.

verloren

Supergoose wrote:

I think I will try out The Altura pro's, Craft Performance, and the Shutt's although obviously not all at once.

If you're particularly sensitive maybe that's the solution! To be sure you'd have to put a single pea on your saddle though

ajb72

Sorry if I missed it somewhere in the replies - but which Assos shorts did you buy? I found the Mille uncomfortable, but the Uno the best thing since sliced bread.

Also, have you experienced the delights of chamois cream?

Supergoose

ajb72 wrote:

Sorry if I missed it somewhere in the replies - but which Assos shorts did you buy? I found the Mille uncomfortable, but the Uno the best thing since sliced bread.

Also, have you experienced the delights of chamois cream?

Indeed I have used chamois cream for many years. It was the Mille insert I used. I felt the perennial area was all but supported. Furthermore I found the pad compressed pretty quick, not offering much in the way of comfort. Uno you say>