Hincapie Power Lycra shorts - good or bad?

[Misandal]

I'm hoping you all can offer me some assistance. I'm looking at the Hincapie shorts and they sound wonderful; however, when I look at the picture of the chamois, it appears to have some stitching like right where the crease of the leg would meet the saddle. I ride the SSM Aspide Glamour saddle, which is fairly flat and hard, so I'm concerned that the stitching would coincide with the edge of the saddle, resulting in chafe. Chafe is bad!

Can anyone tell of their experience with this short?

I'm also looking at the Sheebest Ultra D as an alternative. I've got a 5-day tour coming up, and I'll be spending about 6-7 hours each day in the saddle, so comfort is my quest!

Thanks!
Missy

[SadieKate]

I like mine but this is on my body and with my saddle (a very firm Avocet 02).

I notice that TE doesn't carry the "other" short any longer - the one that had a waistline that could be used as a bra.

[teawoman]

I've worn the Sheebeest Ultra D's on a century, and they were extremely comfortable. No issues at all. But to each her own.

[Misandal]

I know that both shorts and saddles are a very individual thing, but if the majority of women find them comfortable, chances are good I will too. Conversely, if it's negative...I'm probably not going to spend the money to try for myself. So thanks!

[ny biker]

I haven't tried the Hincapie shorts, but I find a world of different between a seamless chamois and one that has stitching between me and the saddle. I have Shebeest shorts with both the Shelastic chamois and the one that is in the Ultra D shorts and I like them both.

[7rider]

FWIW, I have the Super Rubaix bib tights with the same chamois. I can't say that I have any complaints about it. Comfy chamois, comfy tights (although not the warmest in my arsenal).

[Eden]

In Hincapie shorts
Grey chamios = just fine
Red chamios = evil butt eating stitching....

post a pic of the chamios in the shorts you want to buy and I can tell you if its the one that I would never wish on anyone...

[Misandal]

LOL! That doesn't sound good at all!

Here's a pic from the TE website:

[SadieKate]

Hmm, I must have a butt of steel.

I truly think that some problems are caused by a mismatch in saddle and chamois. I have a PI chamois that is horrible on my road bikes but great on my mountain bikes. Same chamois, same butt, different saddle.

[Eden]

That's the evil backside eating chamios .

To be a bit more fair - I did not have problems with it on shorter rides - but there were several times (and I think it was only one of my two pairs of shorts that had a rough seam) on longer rides and once when it had been very wet and gritty that I took those shorts off and had what could be described as a small shark bite on my heinie... a lovely crescent shaped gouge in my backside from the stitching on that chamios - not, I think, from contact between the seam and the saddle, but more from the sawing action of the seam against my backside - it was up further on my rear than the saddle contact area. Slathering up the seam with chamois butter had a minimal relieving effect. I have other Hincapie shorts with a grey chamios and those are just fine, but I don't recommend risking the red one.

[Misandal]

Dear "Buns of Steel" (SadieKate),

I think you're right about the saddle/short combination. My Glamour is a wider saddle, which is why I was concerned about where the stitching would fall. Or gouge.

I love the wide rear platform for climbing but I do have to be mindful of chamois that are too narrow or stitching where there shouldn't be stitching.

[SadieKate]

Dear "Buns of Steel" (SadieKate),

Butt of Steel and Buns of Steel - two different things.

Think steel enclosed cottage cheese.

[Misandal]

Eden, thanks for the warning. That's exactly what my hesitation was when I saw the chamois.

I had a pair of Adidas Response Race shorts and the leg grippers didn't really grip so the shorts would ride up and there was a killer seam that would eat into my rear. I know all about the little shark bites you described!

Sounds like either the Shebeest Ultra Ds or SSS would be a better choice for me.

[Misandal]

SadieKate, you're cracking me up! Point taken.

[OakLeaf]

Another one for the Shebeest SSS. I'm on a Specialized Lithia 155.