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

**zoom-zoom** · 10-01-2011, 08:45 PM

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** · 10-01-2011, 08:55 PM

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** · 10-01-2011, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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

**tulip** · 10-02-2011, 04:37 AM

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** · 10-02-2011, 05:10 AM

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** · 10-02-2011, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by tulip

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.

**zoom-zoom** · 10-02-2011, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

**pll** · 10-02-2011, 10:16 AM

My don't have the seams outside (I can post pictures, if need be), unlike the other shorts I have: Pearl Izumi, Louis Garneau and Sugoi. Do you mean inside seams? I've managed to make the fabric in the Sugoi shorts (RSE) pile in the thigh area, as well as the Pearl Izumi; the Garneau I don't use enough because they are too long. No issues thus far with the Assos, although it might be too early to know. However, I have had their knickers for 3 years and those have not piled.

**zoom-zoom** · 10-02-2011, 10:33 AM

I'm talking about the stitching that attaches the chamois to the shorts. That stuff always comes in contact with the edges of my saddle nose in the inner-thigh region. My newest pair of shorts (Shebeest) are only a month old and the flatlock stitching for the chamois has been disintegrated on both sides. I've run into this with every brand, aside from PI. Because they don't use flatlock or zig-zag stitching to attach the chamois to the short.

**pll** · 10-02-2011, 10:38 AM

I see now. I wear the shorts off about 1.5 to 2 inches away from the chamois edge.

ETA: Have you tried a lycra cover on your saddle? Perhaps eliminating the saddle friction points might work, at $4, might be worth trying.

**zoom-zoom** · 10-02-2011, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by pll

ETA: Have you tried a lycra cover on your saddle? Perhaps eliminating the saddle friction points might work, at $4, might be worth trying.

For some reason I'm thinking lycra would create more friction than the smooth vinyl, but maybe I'm wrong on this...? Or I'd end up wearing my shorts and the lycra cover.

**Marquise** · 10-02-2011, 05:14 PM

I have two styles of Descente shorts in which the chamois is sewn in with a double row of straight stitching like PI but in both styles the chamois is similar to PI in bulkiness. I have serious inner thigh pudge and wear out jeans easily there but so far no problem with cycling shorts.

**goride** · 10-02-2011, 06:34 PM

Zoom-zoom - When I talked about this to a friend a few weeks ago because I was having a similar problem, she suggested tri-shorts since the chamois is very minimal. She has a pair of Zoot tri-shorts that she absolutely loves. She says she hasn't worn anything else since she got them. I haven't purchased a pair yet, but thought I would mention it for your consideration.

**zoom-zoom** · 10-02-2011, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by goride

Zoom-zoom - When I talked about this to a friend a few weeks ago because I was having a similar problem, she suggested tri-shorts since the chamois is very minimal. She has a pair of Zoot tri-shorts that she absolutely loves. She says she hasn't worn anything else since she got them. I haven't purchased a pair yet, but thought I would mention it for your consideration.

I may consider that. I do love my PI tri shorts, but I'm not sure that would be enough chamois for longer rides...I can definitely feel that seam that goes up the center of the short with those. I wonder if the Zoot chamois is a hair more substantial than the PI tri chamois, which is really just a thin layer of cloth with a very light layer of foam under it.

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