These keep popping up on social media, always a bit suspicious of brands using this sort of marketing but I am interested.
One review on road.cc gave them 7/10 but didn’t really do into much depth. Also a Reddit thread seemed generally positive, but any first hand experience on here?
After general saddle discomfort started becoming a more serious issue on multi day ultra bike packing events, I spent a tidy sum before settling on a combination that was comfortable (Ergon SMC Core saddle and 7mesh mk3 bibs) but I could do with a second pair and these are nearly half the price of 7mesh, and I’m thinking two different shorts/pads might help by moving any pressure/friction points when switching shorts.
I've wondered this also, hadn't realised there had been a 'real world' review, will have a look.
I forget how chafing is actually caused? I did a long three days this weekend (by my standards anyway) and the only thing bothering me was a bit of chafing.
I had stupidly worn (bike specific) baggies over the top just out of modesty, but clearly the extra seams still causing rubbing through the lycra and pad of my shorts. Ditching the baggies on day 2 certainly helped..
imo and ime chafing on long multi day rides can be caused by the padded shorts. They're not really designed to be worn for that amount of time in a day. Though the better pads breathe ok, they tend to hold heat and moisture and that's what causes sores or chafing. I ditched padded shorts after a couple of week+ long rides and multi-day distance races in discomfort and have been much happier since w/o them. Crucially I do use chammy cream in small doses and you need a good saddle, but the main point is to avoid having that damp pad next to the skin all the time. Soft, wicking polyester boxers and trail shorts vent and dry much faster and cool dry skin is tougher than damp skin.
I wondered the same but somone asked about them on one of the FB audax groups yesterday and user responses were good, comparing them very favourably to more expensive and well known brands.
Checking their website, they seem to have a different sizing approach, measuring round the glutes and offering 3 leg lengths. Looks they have been going for 10 years now, tempted to try a pair.
I ditched padded shorts after a couple of week+ long rides and multi-day distance races in discomfort and have been much happier since w/o them
I can see the logic in this, I would swear I felt 'chafing' in areas that weren't really in prolonged contact with the saddle, could be explained by just being hot and sweaty. Also removing the outer shorts presumably helps keep things cooler.
Problem is I don't get many opportunities to do week long rides or multi-day races so it's unlikely I would ever get past the uncomfortable phase! 😬
Sounds like they are worth a gamble 🙂 Interesting comments about the baggies, I tend to wear minimal slim style baggies over the top but I can see potentially that I am just adding seams back in that the bibs have to deal with. Although with decent premium shorts you’d hope that they avoided putting seams in the seat area, I’ll take a look at mine. Potentially I’ll just take one pair of water repellent baggies to put on when it’s wet and muddy instead if that improves things.
Will report back if I buy them.
I ditched padded shorts after a couple of week+ long rides and multi-day distance races in discomfort and have been much happier since w/o them
Possibly a "sponsored" rider/influencer thing, but watching a lot of YouTube vids on these kind of events/adventures and you don't of many avoiding padded shorts.
I ditched padded shorts after a couple of week+ long rides and multi-day distance races in discomfort and have been much happier since w/o them
Possibly a "sponsored" rider/influencer thing, but watching a lot of YouTube vids on these kind of events/adventures and you don't of many avoiding padded shorts.
I wouldn't expect so. I rode enough to know what works for me and I know a few others who do the same but none of us make youtube or instagram content. And there are plenty of influencer racers who still have problems here and DNF because of saddle soresness.
Padded lycra shorts are a cultural thing in road and distance cycling and most people go with the accepted wisdom - it's a dress code and fashion as much as anything. That racer fashion didn't feel so comfortable to me walking into a cowboy bar in Wyoming looking for food at 10pm, but it was all ok, they didn't care.
Truth is pad-less isn't as comfortable initially or generally but it's not uncomfortable as such and it doesn't get worse. Padded feels cushy for a few hours but can get worse as time goes on. Either approach needs some management if you're going to ride 12-18hrs a day repeated days for 3, 7, 15 days or whatever the event is. And it does depend on the type of discomfort you get - for me it was hot spots / mini saddle sores or simple chafing. For some it's just padding they need and really that's something you should be getting from the saddle.
A bit OT perhaps but when someone mentions discomfort on multi-day rides esp. self-supported racing where hygiene can be less than 100%, I think it's worth raising - it changed multi-day riding for me.
Interesting comments about the baggies, I tend to wear minimal slim style baggies over the top but I can see potentially that I am just adding seams back in that the bibs have to deal with. Although with decent premium shorts you’d hope that they avoided putting seams in the seat area, I’ll take a look at mine.
The chaffing I experienced improved markedly once I ditched my slim fit Altura baggies on day 2 BUT the chaffing I experienced was more extensive than the areas where the seams on the Altura shorts were.
I think it was just the extra material maybe contributing.
I'm also considering saddle (again 🙄). My Fizik Terra Argo seems perfect for long distance MTB, lots of real estate to move around on and a good nose for prolonged periods on the aero bars. I did wonder if the saddle was too padded though, or if I could buy a narrower size to reduce the amount of 'redundant' contact area...
^ I would try a firmer saddle rather than a narrower one, assuming your current saddle is the correct width. It's better to be a bit too wide than narrow. Narrow saddle won't support the sit bones and the width of the contact points seems to depend on how far fwd you lean or hip angle.
If you’ve got narrow sit bones then a narrow saddle would suit, personally I measure with the sit on cardboard method.
i tried a couple of expensive saddles that specifically said they help with relieving pressure on sit bones (they didn’t seem to help) but what did was the Ergon SMC Core, the whole base of the saddle is a dense foam so it’s got a separate layer of flex under the main/regular padding. That seems to help immensely and also it reduces and chaffing from the edge of the saddle for me.
Well I’ve ordered a pair.
Ships from Singapore so about 10 days delivery and with duty and tax I’m expecting to pay about £150 in total (approx £35 in duty and handling)
Well I’ve ordered a pair.
Ships from Singapore so about 10 days delivery and with duty and tax I’m expecting to pay about £150 in total (approx £35 in duty and handling)
Be really interested in how you get on with them.
I've got a pair of their 'The Cargo Winter Bib Tight with Pockets' and like them but they're now too warm... they were a bit of a birthday treat to myself last October.
I queried sizing with Yuva before placing the order and he was absolutely spot-on. Perhaps testament to doing one thing and doing it well; all he designs is shorts and bibs.
They're made in Italy and do indeed ship from Singapore so their carbon footprint is considerable!
I can't remember if I paid duty and tax, have a hunch I didn't - good luck!
