Anyone try the Oomph Distance Tri Shorts?

[KSH]

Well, with my HIM coming up I have a decision to make... to take the tri bike or not to take it.

The course I am doing has a lot of rolling hills and a few steep climbs (the worst two being at miles 50-56, HA!). It's easy for me to shift my roadie and if there aren't a lot of flats I'm not sure how much I'll be in aero.

So, the only downside to taking the roadie is the seat. There is no way in hell my butt is making it 56 miles on that seat in tri shorts with no padding. And being the race is about 3 weeks out I'm not willing to try another seat.

I could change in transition... but I'd have to go to a port-o-john and then my T1 and T2 (changing out of cycling shorts into tri shorts) would be extremely long.

So, I saw that Oomph makes distance tri shorts. Has anyone tried these? I'm very close to ordering a pair as it's getting down the wire... but I wanted to get some feedback on them if I could. Do they REALLY have padding in them or is it this pathetic excuse for padding like typicaly tri shorts?

TE sells them, but they don't have pictures of the chamois. Dang it. Here's a link to them:

http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=20929

If this doesn't work then I'm back to the idea of taking the tri bike. Being in aero does get my off my sit bones and I know I can make it 56 miles in tri shorts on that bike. But again, with the hills, I'd rather not take it.

[silver]

not a direct answer to your question.....

I ride a road bike in our tri's around here cause we've got rolling hills and some climbs and I feel that I have an advantage over those on tri bikes.

Could you.....switch the seats...put the tri seat on the road bike?

Could you pull on road shorts over your tri shorts in transition then pull them off to run?

This won't really help you, but I often wear my tri uniform when I'm just out riding and then I wear regular bike shorts under my tri shorts

[KSH]

Yea, I could try the bike shorts over the tri shorts. Chafing might occur though. Hhhhuuuummmmm.

I love my tri bike, and bought it for races, but I'm leaning towards the roadie on this one. I have more positions on the handlebars too, so that might be good as well.

[silver]

Chafing thing I learned from running marathons.....

use gel anti-persperant (sp?)

I know you didn't ask about what to do about chafing.....I just thought of it cause I used it yesterday. I've had a problem on longer rides in the hot weather because when my shorts are soaked with sweat the chamois edge rubs my thigh (this is not the seat) yesterday I dressed, was in a hurry and didn't see the body glide on the counter so grabbed the degree deoderant/anti-persperant amd rubbed that on....no problems.

I'm curious why you can't switch the seat?

[KSH]

Chafing thing I learned from running marathons.....

use gel anti-persperant (sp?)

I know you didn't ask about what to do about chafing.....I just thought of it cause I used it yesterday. I've had a problem on longer rides in the hot weather because when my shorts are soaked with sweat the chamois edge rubs my thigh (this is not the seat) yesterday I dressed, was in a hurry and didn't see the body glide on the counter so grabbed the degree deoderant/anti-persperant amd rubbed that on....no problems.

I'm curious why you can't switch the seat?

Interesting tip. I'll stick to the body glide... unless I'm in a pinch like you were!

I would change seats, but the tri seat really is a bit too wide for me. On the tri bike I can get by on it because of being in aero position. But if I'm sitting up the extra width will be noticed.

I love the size and shape of my roadie's seat... it just needs more CUSHION on it. I did buy a cover for it, which gets a VERY LITTLE BIT Of cushion to it. But I need to have the bike refit to get it on there, as it raises me up just enough to make my legs not feel just right.

I guess I just need to put the cover on and get refit... eh? It's just so hard to find the time with all the training. But I know... I need do it.

[silver]

Interesting tip. I'll stick to the body glide... unless I'm in a pinch like you were!

I would change seats, but the tri seat really is a bit too wide for me. On the tri bike I can get by on it because of being in aero position. But if I'm sitting up the extra width will be noticed.

I love the size and shape of my roadie's seat... it just needs more CUSHION on it. I did buy a cover for it, which gets a VERY LITTLE BIT Of cushion to it. But I need to have the bike refit to get it on there, as it raises me up just enough to make my legs not feel just right.

I guess I just need to put the cover on and get refit... eh? It's just so hard to find the time with all the training. But I know... I need do it.

Got it! I bought a new seat for racing this summer. It's 175g lighter than my regular seat. But I don't much like it for rides longer than 20 miles. It has hardly any cushion at all.

I don't have too much trouble with it except my sit bones feel bruised after too long.

I've switched back to my regular seat for the rest of the riding season (I don't have another tri planned for this year and I'm just a summer racer) guess the extra weight will just make me stronger

I'll be curious what you decide to do. I'm following your progress now. I'll probably be in Lou next year to cheer you on!

[KSH]

I'll probably be in Lou next year to cheer you on!

WOW! That would be so cool! The more people cheering for me the better! HA!

[knapplaura]

I ordered those shorts last year and sent them back to TE. I found them extremely tight, uncomfortably so. I ordered my normal size, but their 'compression elastic' feels like the top of super-ultra control top panty hose!

I could not imagine spending a day racing in them, with that ultra-constrictive elastic/ lycra squeezing me, so sent them back.

Instead I got the 2XU long tri shorts (bought at the TriSports.com store in Tucson) and they worked great for my IM (bike and run). The chamois is there, but not so thick to hinder running. And they breathe REALLY well! Which helped prevent saddle sores.

I highly recommend the 2XU, but everyone has different preferences.

[KSH]

I ordered those shorts last year and sent them back to TE. I found them extremely tight, uncomfortably so. I ordered my normal size, but their 'compression elastic' feels like the top of super-ultra control top panty hose!

I could not imagine spending a day racing in them, with that ultra-constrictive elastic/ lycra squeezing me, so sent them back.

Instead I got the 2XU long tri shorts (bought at the TriSports.com store in Tucson) and they worked great for my IM (bike and run). The chamois is there, but not so thick to hinder running. And they breathe REALLY well! Which helped prevent saddle sores.

I highly recommend the 2XU, but everyone has different preferences.

Oh my that sounds horrible. I hate elestic stuff digging into me. Thanks for giving me this review.

I might look into 2XU. I don't like long shorts though. My stubby legs look horrible in long shorts.

*Sigh* But to the "my butt will hurt" delima.

I can put on the cover I bought, but honestly it doesn't provide enough cushion.

I saw that Terry has a really nice gel seat cover... but it's HUGE. It can cover saddles up to 7 inches wide and mine is only 5.5 inches wide. I'm not sure that having an extra 1.5 inches over over hang is going to work out. I would hate to pay for shipping for it not to work and then I have to ship it back and pay for shipping again.

[mariposa]

Hi. I tried the Ooomph distance shorts for the first time this year, 'cause they were on sale for $20 at Wildflower. I'd say they are neither my favorite nor my least favorite of the tri shorts I've trained in. Supposedly these shorts have more padding than other brands; but I've trained in many brands and I find the Oomph padding just average, not the most substantial, not the least. (Actually I do not know of any tri shorts where there is substantial enough padding to overcome an uncomfortable saddle! My saddle is really comfy for me.) If you do try the Oomph shorts, size up for sure. I am usually a medium but got a large in Oomph and they are still (as someone here said) fairly tight at the waist/hips. I guess, on balance, I would *not* pay full price for these Oomph shorts. For full price I would be willing to lay down money only on two very high quality brands, Sugoi or Desoto (although I hear 2XU and Craft have good tri shorts and I just haven't tried either of those yet). I noticed the blue colored Desoto Rapida tri short is on sale for a great price here on TE (though the Desoto's I have are unisex rather than women's, so I haven't tried this particular one).

[Zen]

Mariposa, a lovely name do you ride one?

But back to the subject, I have a possible solution to the changing shorts option.
Wrap a beach towel around your waist or quick slip on an elastic waisted skirt -old shorts off, new ones on!
Don't forget to take the skirt off :P