Destroyer of Inner-Thigh Threads/Seams - am I the only one?

[zoom-zoom]

So I think I have tried at least a half-dozen different shorts that ended up not working for me due to seams that can't tolerate my inner thighs and edges of saddles...from such brands as Shebeest, Giordana, Sugoi, et al. PI is the ONLY brand that sews their chamois' on without using zig-zag or flatlock/reverse seams. As a result they are the only brand of shorts that I can put more than a couple hundred miles on before the seams wear entirely out.

Sucks, since I don't even particularly like PI's chamois'...and I have really liked other brands' chamois.

Incidentally, I have this issue with running tights. I had a beloved pair of Mizuno running tights that wore through the inner thigh seams in under a month.

I could blame my fat thighs, but I had this issue in HS when I was the equivalent of a modern size 2-4. I would wear out my jeans in that spot before the rest of the jeans were worn. And I always had chafing there--this was before there were special products to combat this. I always had to wear compression shorts under my track shorts. I have narrow hips, but thunderous thighs with a pocket of inner-thigh pudge that will always be there...I could be emaciated everywhere else and still have that stupid spot.

Has anyone else had this issue and found a brand or model of shorts that hold up better?

[Owlie]

I wear spots on the inner thighs of my jeans. I don't put in the miles in the saddle that you do, so I haven't noticed a problem with wearing out the seams of shorts. (I can see it being a problem in the future, given the fact that I'm noticing that my thighs rub the nose of the saddle when I'm pedaling.) I remember reading somewhere that the jeans-wearing thing has less to do with the "chub" and more to do with biomechanical things, so maybe the fact that you need a really T-shaped saddle has something to do with it.

[zoom-zoom]

I wear spots on the inner thighs of my jeans. I don't put in the miles in the saddle that you do, so I haven't noticed a problem with wearing out the seams of shorts. (I can see it being a problem in the future, given the fact that I'm noticing that my thighs rub the nose of the saddle when I'm pedaling.) I remember reading somewhere that the jeans-wearing thing has less to do with the "chub" and more to do with biomechanical things, so maybe the fact that you need a really T-shaped saddle has something to do with it.

I'm sure there's something to that...but it irritates the heck outta me. I have having so few options.

[tulip]

Hmmmm, that stinks that you go through shorts so quickly. I have the opposite problem--I wear my shorts longer than I should (5 years or so) and probably show way too much of myself before someone let's me know that it's time to retire them to "strictly under tights" use. I'm not sure that's an entirely positive way to go about it!

Given that it happens with your jeans and running tights, your saddle is not likely the cause, although it could be making it worse. Could you try something like a compression tube and see if that helps? Or compression shorts under your shorts?

I have no idea about other shorts, as PI works for me. Have you tried Terry shorts?

[pll]

Have you tried Assos shorts? They are so terribly expensive, but I like the fabric and fit a lot (I feel skinny when I wear the one pair I have). And they do not have any reverse seams.

[zoom-zoom]

Have you tried Assos shorts? They are so terribly expensive, but I like the fabric and fit a lot (I feel skinny when I wear the one pair I have). And they do not have any reverse seams.

Darn, I just looked...they still have the zig-zag seams, which hold up no better than the flatlock. The issue is the amount of thread that is on top of the fabric. The more thread (in the case of flatlock and zig-zag), the more it's going to get destroyed by rubbing against the edges of the saddle.

[zoom-zoom]

Have you tried Terry shorts?

The one pair of Terry shorts I owned also used flatlock seams...from the photos I've looked at they all seem to do this. I did find photos of one model of Hincapie shorts that appear to have the same sort of double row of seams that PI uses, but the shorts themselves look like they have a 5-6" inseam...I don't like anything shorter than 7".

pll, I may have to suck it up and try Assos, at some point. At the rate I'm going I'm dumping $75-100 into shorts that don't last more than a couple of weeks before falling apart. Assos could actually be the cheaper option.