Best Century Bike Shorts - Men's
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 28
Bikes: Trek Madone 7.7, Co Motion Primera, Calfee Dragonfly Project
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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?
#3
blah blah blah
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,520
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
Likes For rpenmanparker:
#7
Speechless
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Central NY
Posts: 8,842
Bikes: Felt Brougham, Lotus Prestige, Cinelli Xperience,
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 163 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 39 Times
in
16 Posts
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.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Posts: 2,318
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
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.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,520
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20810 Post(s)
Liked 9,456 Times
in
4,672 Posts
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.
#10
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 28
Bikes: Trek Madone 7.7, Co Motion Primera, Calfee Dragonfly Project
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
#11
Senior Member
#13
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 28
Bikes: Trek Madone 7.7, Co Motion Primera, Calfee Dragonfly Project
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SW Fl.
Posts: 5,618
Bikes: Day6 Semi Recumbent "FIREBALL", 1981 Custom Touring Paramount, 1983 Road Paramount, 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL3, 2018 Specialized Red Roubaix Expert mech., 2002 Magna 7sp hybrid, 1976 Bassett Racing 45sp Cruiser
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1068 Post(s)
Liked 785 Times
in
504 Posts
#15
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 28
Bikes: Trek Madone 7.7, Co Motion Primera, Calfee Dragonfly Project
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks, that was one I was looking at already, so just ordered a pair!
#16
Senior Member
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.
#17
Senior Member
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.
#18
Senior Member
#20
Senior Member
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.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 367
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
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.
#22
Not lost wanderer.
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Lititz, Pa
Posts: 3,328
Bikes: In USA; 73 Raleigh Super Course dingle speed, 72 Raleigh Gran Sport SS, 72 Geoffry Butler, 81 Centurion Pro-Tour, 74 Gugie Grandier Sportier
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 885 Post(s)
Liked 990 Times
in
522 Posts
Cheap unlined Adidas climalite shorts
__________________
Cambodia bikes, Bridgestone SRAM 2 speed, 2012 Fuji Stratos...
Cambodia bikes, Bridgestone SRAM 2 speed, 2012 Fuji Stratos...
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 364
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Potomac, MD
Posts: 776
Bikes: 2012 GT Transeo 3 2014 Cannondale CAAD 10 105
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
#25
just another gosling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,533
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3889 Post(s)
Liked 1,938 Times
in
1,383 Posts
My current fave is the Voler Caliber. $69. Did the STP one-day in them last year, no problem.