Chamois wear, OUCH!

[jpbayarea]

I wonder how long you women out here find you can wear a good chamois without it feeling unpadded. I buy the Sugoi RS Flex, a great short but after about (estimate) 1000+ miles they start to be uncomfortable on longer rides than about 30-40 miles. I haven't any idea how long they are supposed to last. I wash them after every ride but don't use special washing soap. Any thoughts or comments would be much appreciated. Thanks!+

[RoadRaven]

I have 8 pairs of shorts.

I find after less distance than that the lycra can start to get a tad see-through.

Four of those I do not wear when I will be with other riders, or I wear with a short pair of yoga pants over the top. However, when they get this thin, the padding is also getting thin...

Chamois (real chamois) seems to have a longer paddability life than non-chamois...

I don't treat shorts any different from other clothing... warm or cold wash (depending on what I am washing, and hang outside in the sun inside out whenever possible to dry...

[WhirlyGirl]

Are you hanging to dry? My friend and I got new shorts at the same time, she had been drying hers and they were history after about 500 miles?
I've been washing high end real chamois for almost 20 years (only wearing for less than 2):) And have never used a special soap, just cold wash and hang dry!

[Grog]

It could also be that you have changed shape since you bought the shorts..... Just a thought.

[jpbayarea]

Thanks for your comments everyone. I do wash and hang to dry, I haven't changed shapes but wonder perhaps if it is due to 'thinning tissues' which you'd only know about IF you were in the menopausal zone of life. I still don't
know technically how long a chamois wears. I wonder if it's like trail running shoes that can look like new but the inner part of the shoe where the
cushioning is can be flattened out. My shorts look like they did when I bought them in the chamois area but sure don't feel that way. The mystery....

Thanks again for your thoughts.

[SadieKate]

Could your saddle be breaking down?

[indysteel]

Could your saddle be breaking down?

Good question. I thought my PI shorts were all toast this summer after about a year of constanct use and embarked on the quest to replace them only to come to the conclusion that I needed a new saddle. Once I replaced the saddle, all my girly bit issues resolved themselves. I did end up with some great shorts in the process, however, including the Sugois.