My Witches Britches Experience

[Veronica]

I was really excited to get my witches britches last week. I think they make look thinner. But I'm still disappointed. I've ridden two short rides in them and I don't like the chamois very much. I feel like there is too much of it and it doesn't stay put! They remind me of Pearl Izumi shorts - too much chamois for me. But if you like PIs, you'd probably like the witches britches. The fleece knees are really nice.

So, I'm in a bit of a shorts quandry. The only shorts I like to wear for long distance rides now are my two+ year old Sugois. Sugoi changed the chamois last year and I don't like it as much. My older Castellis are wearing out and I have issues with my last year's Castelli model.

I have to replace some of my shorts, but I want to get something that I can spend 10 hours in and I don't want to even notice them. I feel like I should have other things on my mind during a double. :p

V.

[slinkedog]

Are you looking to sell those Witches Britches? :) I really want a pair of knickers but have been hesitant to buy any. I do pretty well with PI shorts... not my fave, but pretty good and I like a little more chamois now that my girly parts are not a factor with my new saddle. Let me know what you think.

[SadieKate]

Anybody have experience with the newer Descente chamois? V, I think TE carries Descente who finally went to the sculpted chamois in the women's shorts this last year. Give them a call and ask for a comparison.

I really like the Descente shorts themselves but I have the older one piece unsculpted chamois. It's OK but I'd put it on par with the older PI chamois that came in the Ultrasensor a few years back. The newer chamois looks like it might be a bit thinner and smaller. http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=14750

Your Castelli shorts - did you get the Progetto Y pad or the Kiss pad? The Kiss pad looks entirely too minimalistic for a double.

[Veronica]

I have the Y's, but my latest pair seems to have some little bump or something that causes irriation after a couple of hours. Of course I can't find anything that would cause it.

Probably not going to sell the WBs, since they are okay for after work rides, while it's still cold. But I may change my mind. :p I've discovered that I do like knickers.

Thanks for the info the Descentes. Maybe I'll give those a try.

V.

[SadieKate]

If you do try the Descente, I found I ordered the same size as PI, Castelli and Shebeest. Assos is the only brand I've had to go up a size.

[maillotpois]

I used the Assos for 2 double centuries last year and they were excellent!!

[snapdragen]

Which Sugois? And what size? I have a pair - worn once, sz L.

[yellow]

I wore my WBs for the century I did yesterday and got some bad chafing. Not can't-ride chafing, but pretty bad. I was disappointed. I think it's because they are just a tad too big (and they don't make an XS).

Temp-wise I was comfy all day, though. But I don't think I'd wear them for another century. I'm looking forward to getting the the Sugoi knickers with the Ricaro2 chamois in the fall...TE is going to carry them this year!

[Veronica]

Yeah, I got mediums and I think they're a tad too big. I can't picture me a small. I LOVED the old Sugoi Ricaro chamois. This new blue one is too big. I think I'm kind of a minimalist in the chamois department.

I have 4 pair of the old shorts from two years ago and I'm just praying that at least one pair survives all the way through the summer. I've started wearing them only on my long rides.

I've decided I like knickers and I want to get another pair. But none of the chamois in the current crop look like what I want.

V.

[yellow]

The new Ricaro2 chamois is orange, not blue...check it out next time you're in a shop. It's my current favorite, though I think it's even a tad thicker than the one in the WBs. The Sugoi knickers are kind of my last hope since none of the other ones works for me either. I have to wait a few months, though since they (the manufacturer) are all out of them right now.

[Veronica]

Does the new Sugoi chamois go down the inside of your thigh? That's what bothered me about the blue one. I don't need a chamois on my thigh.

I hate the Assos website! It's so hard to find anything useful about their products. And I'm not spending a bizillion dollars on a product that I can't find info on. Sarah and Sarah both love their Assos stuff, so I wanted to look at their knickers. All you get are pictures of models butts. :(

V.

[DeniseGoldberg]

for those of you on what seems like an unhappy hunt for knickers - have you tried knee warmers? On those days when my knees need some extra protection, they've been really happy with PI knee warmers added to my cycling shorts.

--- Denise

[Veronica]

I have knee warmers and leg warmers and love them. But, after many hours the multiple elastic starts to bug me.

V.

[maillotpois]

The thing that bugs me about knee warmers - and I know this is totally shallow - but they make my thigh fat bulge out in just the wrong places!!! :p :p :p One other thing I will do is wear knicker length running tights over my cycling shorts. That gets rid of the multipler elastic problem a bit.

Veronica - if you're still up for a long ride 3.5 in Marin, I can bring my Assos stuff for you to look at first hand.

Sarah

[Veronica]

I think I'll be doing part of the DMD route. I feel like the more familiar I can get with it the better - especially the parts I'll be doing in the dark. Morgan Territory is really chewed up. It's a good thing we climb that section.

Will you be wearing them for Solvang? Maybe we can get together the night before. I'm "sick" that Friday so we can get down there fairly early.

V.

[maillotpois]

I will bring them to Solvang. I plan to get down there relatively early on Friday also. Too bad we can't ride next weekend, but I get it about wanting to know the course. How was Sierra, by the way?? I have to say the descriptions were daunting. Oh well. I will probably have DNF-ed by then anyway!! :D :D

[Veronica]

Doing Sierra all by itself wasn't bad. I want to do Hamilton then Sierra, maybe next weekend. The descent was interesting. I had had an "incident" the day before on Trinity and so was less than my usual zippy self. 12% downhill on twisty roads is hairy.


V.

[yellow]

for those of you on what seems like an unhappy hunt for knickers - have you tried knee warmers?
Oh, I dislike (hatehatehatehatehate) knee warmers more than I dislike okra, I think! I wish I could handle them (the warmers---ferget about okra), but I can't. :p

[SadieKate]

I like my Castelli knee, leg and arm warmers. I hated my PI ones. I think they all use different elastic.

What do you mean you hate okra?:( Both fried and pickled? Yummmmm!:D

[Veronica]

Well at SK's suggestion, I've ordered the Descentes. Of course, I'll probably love them and then they won't have anymore. :p

The chamois in the wicked expensive Louis Garneu's looks interesting. I may try those if the Descentes don't work out.

I definitely prefer a thin chamois. Yesterday I wore a pair of Spin shorts for a two hour date with Coach Troy. They have a very minimal chamois.

V.