Gore Bike Wear Oxygen knickers

I scooped a pair of Gore Bike Wear Oxygen knickers on sale. I had huge hopes for them. Today was ride #2 (44 iles) and I will proclaim these knickers are evil instruments of torture. According to the size chart, I should be a small. The chamois area seems to be too big, and the chamois moves about and one could think it was made of cardboard. It's been two hours since my ride and I am still in pain. :mad: I feel like shredding them.

The two attached pictures, taken after the ride, show how stiff the chamois is. First, from the side -- you can see the chamois sticking out. And from the back -- when you get up from the saddle, they fold and give you a "wedgie". Argh. I'm so mad.

The one positive thing I can say about them is that the windstopper fabric is very nice on the knees. I liked the length, too. I have another pair that is a bit too short and they ride up.

Attachment 15321Attachment 15322

I had the same experience with a pair of Gore tights with built in chamois. I was in total pain the whole time I used them, exactly as you describe. I always wear an x small in bottoms and these were x smalls. Since I bought them from someone on TE, for 25.00, I gave up and threw them away.

I had the same problem with a pair of Gore tights. Fortunately, the problem was apparent at the try-on stage so I was able to return them. There seems to be a lot of Gore shorts fans here. I wonder if the chamois in the shorts fits differently than the tights and knickers. I can't imagine anyone tolerating the chamois folding like that.

7 hours post ride and I still hurt. I don't know, I've never experienced something like that; I may not be able to ride tomorrow. Maybe it was a bad batch and that is why it was on sale? Maybe they were designed by Joseph Raztinger for the Vatican's Chastity Cycling Team...

Ouch.

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Originally Posted by pll

Maybe they were designed by Joseph Raztinger for the Vatican's Chastity Cycling Team...

Ouch.

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:D

Those are some weird knickers.

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Originally Posted by Muirenn

On another subject--assuming you haven't burned the knickers yet, can you remove the chamois and salvage them?

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The offending knickers are out of my house, never to be seen again. I managed to ride on Sunday, but on Saturday I headed to a store that is some distance away to pick a pair of Assos bib knickers. Outrageously expensive, but they work as they should.

I wondered about these. I have the lower end Power 2.0 (I think that's the model) knickers and LOVE them (the chamois feels weird and stiff off the bike, but great on). Just wore them for the Tour de Tahoe ride on Sunday. I also am a fan of the Oxygen shorts--best short I've ever worn. I don't *get* the Oxygen knicker...if it's cold enough to need wind-blockers I don't want my shins exposed.

I have an older pair of Oxygen shorts, and they didn't work for me AT ALL. Similar problems - chamois too big, stuck out from the back, and moved around; too much fabric in the butt but too tight in the legs (and I have too much junk in the trunk, so that's saying a bit). I gave them to my sister. I don't think she's bothered to try them.

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Originally Posted by jessmarimba

I have an older pair of Oxygen shorts, and they didn't work for me AT ALL. Similar problems - chamois too big, stuck out from the back, and moved around; too much fabric in the butt but too tight in the legs (and I have too much junk in the trunk, so that's saying a bit). I gave them to my sister. I don't think she's bothered to try them.

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I wonder if the newer ones are different. Mine aren't any tighter than anything else I've tried in the legs and they aren't big in the rear, either. Man, I hope they don't change them from what they are now--they work so well for me!

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Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

I don't *get* the Oxygen knicker...if it's cold enough to need wind-blockers I don't want my shins exposed.

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In Chicagoland, the end of summer and fall are windy, with regular wind anywhere from 5mph to 10mph (and then some gusts). I wanted to use these knickers for those days in which the temperature is around 55 degrees (maybe even 50) when I start and does not get beyond 65 when I am done. For me, warm knees are happy knees. I could ride with short sleeve on those days, if needed, but I take care of the bike engine.

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Originally Posted by pll

In Chicagoland, the end of summer and fall are windy, with regular wind anywhere from 5mph to 10mph (and then some gusts). I wanted to use these knickers for those days in which the temperature is around 55 degrees (maybe even 50) when I start and does not get beyond 65 when I am done. For me, warm knees are happy knees. I could ride with short sleeve on those days, if needed, but I take care of the bike engine.

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Same here. I would love to find a pair of knickers (not Oxygens!!) and a pair of very lightweight tights, both with some windblocking on the front only. Thermal fabrics, for me, are an ineffective solution on windy fall days: they make me both hot and chilled all at the same time.

I had such a problem finding tights with chamois that I liked that I went the other direction. I've lighter weight Sugoui Mid Zero tights without chamois (for temps above 48 degrees), and PI Amfib without chamois for lower temps. As far as a chamois I usually just use the insert from my Terry mtb shorts and that works for me. Especially with the Amfibs I've great wind-blocking in the front and have the added benefit to be able to wear either pair of tights under my jeans for winter hikes.

I've tried on Gore tights but they didn't fit me right - regardless of chamois. Would love to try Assos someday, but that is outside of my price range...