Selle SMP Strike

[koala]

Hi Mags..., now that you've narrowed it down to $$ issues, I'll throw in my 2 cents. You can take it for what it's worth.

No matter which way you go, you're out the $35 for shipping. Since you've already decided you would really like to have both, get both & your ship cost per short goes down to half. You will be able to try on both styles so that if your sit-bones don't end up on the ridges, you already have your back-up in hand. If both fit, you now have the option of retiring your older shorts with thinner chamois. A chamois doesn't last forever, and particularly after being washed & sweated into, what little resiliency was in the thin models wears out. When you think of how much riding you do, to buy 2 pair of shorts for one season isn't a whole lot. And if you've already accepted the price of the more expensive style, plus shipping, the additional cost of the 2nd short isn't that much. You can probably find something else in your budget to cut back on to make that up rather quickly.

After some years of dealing with lesser gear that left me cursing & sore after riding, I have gotten over this issue of retiring shorts. Comes a time to bury them & admit they were the cost of your learning curve. I won't even use them on short rides anymore, soreness is a cumulative issue. In the long run, you are better off with 2 pair of great shorts that you can ride day after day without soreness, than 10 pair of shorts that make you hurt.

Because you're so far away, it makes sense to load up with anything else you're likely to need/want for the rest of the season with this order. Gloves? I happen to be very fond of LG's Airstream glove, comfortable & light-weight. I find myself moving away from gel models, they're hot, heavy & the gel hardens over time. Sports bra? CW-X is great. How about a new jersey for spring? Cycling socks? Get your money's worth out of that shipping. Instead of placing little orders & feeling like you're being eaten up by shipping, save up & do one big hit. Then sit back, enjoy all the great gear you got & go for a ride!

Maybe talk it over with hubby, too. Men are usually pretty sensible about these things, they tend to look at the bigger picture. We women get caught up in the little details & end up worrying stuff too much. Then we end up doing nothing due to analysis paralysis. I know all too well...

Best of luck!