Just need to vent a minute.

[cherinyc]

sadiekate - thanks for your reply. I don't know what a PRT chamois is - is that what's in my new....uh...new for me....shorts?
I am thinking that with rsing costs - these may have been equivelant to a $100 pair of shorts today.

[SadieKate]

sadiekate - thanks for your reply. I don't know what a PRT chamois is - is that what's in my new....uh...new for me....shorts?
I am thinking that with rsing costs - these may have been equivelant to a $100 pair of shorts today.

The shorts may have had a tag describing the chamois. It's gray and looks like corduroy. Fairly thick. I think of it as the first generation of the diaper feeling pads - but once you are on the bike, you'll never notice the diaper feel.

Chamois is one expense in a short. Number of panels, the fabric and flatlock seams are the other. A $100 pair of shorts today has some of the seams flatlocked and will have a "higher tech" fabric.

Ultrasensors today are $90 and have the front seams flatlocked. Same fabric but different chamois which some of us hate. I think of Ultrasensors (and similar shorts) as the first level of really high quality shorts. Excellent value for the money and will let you ride 100 miles in comfort.
http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=17180

[bcipam]

Terry also has a good selection of shorts - and it sounds like you would be perfect for the Terry Hi-Rise. Because I'm tall, and for some reason manufacturers make women's jerseys so short, I have to have a hi-rise short otherwise I'm sportin' some really unsightly belly flab! Ick!
Also I am not a fan of Performance, but they will take back anything if a customer is unsatified. Without any arguments! That is the one feather in their cap.

[DDH]

Mary, your outfit is great!!! You should take up making bike outfits for the girls, I bet you could make a bundle, and lots of girls would be happy. Ecspcially us big girls who have such a hard time finding them anyway.

SadieKate, I know I should try them on there, but my LBS is in an old building with a very small bathroom in it that you can hardly move around in, so I didn't even think about trying them on there. I get a little (MONK/OCD) about some things sometimes. LOL
Plus in all honesty, I hate trying clotes in a store of any kind. I know it's crazy but I would rather take them home try them on and then take them back if need be. Some places just creep me out as far as what kind of people have been in those dressing rooms. My house isn't spotless, but at least it's only my germs and my families germs in there. LOL
I know, I'm crazy.

I did get a suprise in the mail today. A nice pair of nickers arrived to me from a very generous, understanding my dilema lady. They fit just fine, and now I will have something to wear on my ride Sat. Thank you so much, it couldn't have come at a better time.

[mimitabby]

I did get a surprise in the mail today. A nice pair of nickers arrived to me from a very generous, understanding my dilema lady. They fit just fine, and now I will have something to wear on my ride Sat. Thank you so much, it couldn't have come at a better time.

Well DDH you have some good friends! how cool!

[DDH]

It was our own Chainsoflove here on the site. She doesn't even know me and after my first post about trying to afford these items, she offered a pair she no longer uses to me.
I hope she doesn't mind me giving her a public pat on the back.

All of you ladies are great!! So much support and helpfulness and understanding.

[tulip]

Mary, you've inpired me to get out my sewing machine. I love to sew, but somehow other things have taken over. My trusty 1952 Singer still rocks!

I have not worked with lycra and other stretchy materials. What stitch have you found best that minimizes puckering and pulling? I don't have a fancy sewing machine, but I can pull a zigzag.

Yes, shorts are expensive, but once you find ones that fit and are comfortable, it's worth it. I only buy Pearl Izumi Attack shorts (Ultrasensor are just too expensive), and I buy one pair per year. As they wear out, I can still wear them under hiking shorts because the chamois is still good but the lycra is a bit too transparent.

[mary9761]

Mary, you've inpired me to get out my sewing machine. I love to sew, but somehow other things have taken over. My trusty 1952 Singer still rocks!

I have not worked with lycra and other stretchy materials. What stitch have you found best that minimizes puckering and pulling? I don't have a fancy sewing machine, but I can pull a zigzag.

Yes, shorts are expensive, but once you find ones that fit and are comfortable, it's worth it. I only buy Pearl Izumi Attack shorts (Ultrasensor are just too expensive), and I buy one pair per year. As they wear out, I can still wear them under hiking shorts because the chamois is still good but the lycra is a bit too transparent.

I use a standard stitch, just use a quality thread and try not to PULL the fabric as it will cause the fabric to pucker. I recently purchased a stretch needle but haven't had the opportunity to see if it helps keep some of the pulling of the threads later. I've been told it's best to use this needle for lycra etc.

I recommend taking a couple pieces of the scrap lycra and practice sewing with it to experiment with which stitch will work best for you. I also sew a double seam stitch one butted against the other especially in areas that might get extra pull and possibly pop a seam.

The pattern I use doesn't include a chamois so I ride without a chamois basically. It helps that I have a comfort seat, but I've ridden over 5000 miles (indoor and out) 4000+ outdoors in the past year without a chamois and have survived. One thing I do though especially for the crotch area is cut out a second layer of those pattern pieces then when I assemble the shorts, I lay those pieces with the inner crotch seams facing each other. That keeps me from having seam allowances in sensitive areas AND gives an extra layer of protection from fabric that may end up being too transparent AND if I end up with a seam that blows on me then I'm still covered.

I'm in no way a professional. I'm still working out the bugs and finding better ways to do things each time I sew a new pair of shorts or jersey. One thing I will suggest if you purchase ANY pattern, trace it onto freezer paper then you have a the original to continue to retrace when needed. Most patterns are printed with ALL the sizes on them and you'd need to cut some of the pattern off to get the size you need. You iron the pattern that you've traced onto your fabric then peel it off once you have cut the pattern from the fabric. You can reuse this pattern many times without damaging the original.

The Jalie pattern I purchased I got through patternreview.com
Mary