Short Choice

[Trekhawk]

Oooh, with NASA cooling technology!

LOL - that must be why they are so expensive.

I think you are right V I wasn't that impressed with the airstreams so I should probably stay away from the LG ones. Hmm now just need to decide between Nasa or Swiss technology.

[Deanna]

I haven't tried those particular items, but I have used both of those brands. I concur with Veronica - go for the Castellis over the LG's.

[jobob]

I don't mean to be disloyal to TE, but I really like the shorts from Ground Effect in New Zealand. (TE doesn't carry them, alas ...)

I have a couple of pair of their Witches Britches knickers, and I also have a pair of their Jitterbugs shorts, which are very similar to the WBs.

The lycra is very smooth and stretchy, and I like the fact that the shorts don't have gripper elastic, yet they stay snug on my legs without being too tight. The chamois isn't very thick, but I'm beginning to like that. Also, the waistbands are relatively high (oh-oh, Mom shorts! ) and I like that too. Your preference of course may be different.

And the price is quite reasonable, about $55 US for the shorts.

I wore the Jitterbugs on my ride up Mt. Diablo on Saturday and on my 112 mile hilly ride with Veronica on Sunday (um, washing them in between ) and they were great. I'll be wearing them on my 300K brevet this coming Saturday, unless it ends up being on the chilly side, in which case I'll wear the Witches Britches.

I like the Jitterbugs so much I ordered another pair today from Ground Effect, along with their more 'deluxe' Mojos shorts (about $75 US, but I'm worth it!). Oh, and shipping from New Zealand is surprisingly reasonable too.

I feel kind of bad putting in a plug for a product not available from TE, but I think they're really good shorts.

[Trekhawk]

I haven't tried those particular items, but I have used both of those brands. I concur with Veronica - go for the Castellis over the LG's.

Thanks Deanna - yep the pair I seem to have lost were the Castelli Donna shorts and I really liked them ( I still have one pair of Donnas but I like two long distance pairs). Might have to talk to SK she has both Assos and Castelli and see which she prefers.

Thanks Girls

[SadieKate]

Assos FI pad hands down over the current Castelli chamois. I loved Castelli's YPRO3chamois from a few years back but, alas, they just had to "improve" it. It's OK and I'll take it over a bunch of other chamois but the Assos F1 is better over the long haul. I also like the waistband on the Assos. Next best thing to bibshorts. I don't think the new Castelli pad stretches and conforms as nicely as the old one or the Assos.

Bill favorably compares the OD-3F pad in his Giordana Tenax to the the Assos. The Assos wins but by a small margin – and the Giordana are less expensive.

The OD-3F pad is available in a women’s version in two shorts from TE -- http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=25987
http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=25981

I’ll probably try it this year but I haven't decided between the Laer short or the bibshort. I know my LBS is getting in the bibshort and maybe the halfshort.

Editing to add a note that the new Castelli pad and the upper level Hincapie pad are virtually indistinguishable to me. I like the Hincapie shorts better between the two. It doesn't have a leg band.

[Trekhawk]

Thanks Jobob and SK. Oh so many shorts to look at now. I will have to do a little research on the ones you guys mentioned that I havent looked at.
LOL Jo about the mum shorts - yep I prefer my shorts to come up higher in the waist because it helps hide my belly (and I do blame that on my three kids hee hee and I'm sticking to that excuse).

Thanks again - I'm off to look at all the options.

[jobob]

Yeah, all these choices are kind of overwheming, aren't they?

Poor Lee went shorts shopping the other day, and found out that REI no longer makes the shorts he likes. All I could say was, "welcome to our world".

At least he doesn't have to shop for bras ...

[SadieKate]

Yeah, tell him how we all feel for him.