Sugoi -v- Louis Garneau

[Mags...]

I'm looking at 2 pairs of shorts and cannot decide between them. I'm hoping some of you ladies will be able to offer your thoughts on these shorts to help me make my mind up. The choices are:

Sugoi RS http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSU_38377F_1.html
I've had the RS shorts before, probably 18 months ago, the style looks the same, but the chamois was different.

Louis Garneau Speed Matrix http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodLG_1050243.html

It's not the style or the fabrics or the cost which have me undecided, but the differences in the chamois. My saddle is the Selle Italia SLR Lady, so not a lot of padding/gel, so for longer rides (4+ hours) I like to have a short that gives some support and comfort.

Does anyone have anything (negative or positive) to offer on these 2 options?

[Grog]

I know nothing about those Garneau shorts, but based on past experience with their clothing I'd say go with Sugoi, which I have found overall much more reliable, quality-wise...

Others may know that model specifically though, and have a more enlightened opinion.

[Misandal]

My only experience with LG is their knickers and that chamois did not agree with me at all.

See my post "Sugoi RS shorts rule!" to get my opinion on those. I spent many, many hours in them, in both wet and dry conditions, and they worked out great for me. As someone has said before, they are the first shorts that actually do feel like they're compressing the muscles - all of them say they do, but these really feel like they do. I love the length, the material, the chamois and the way it's sewn in. They fit more snug than other shorts, but that helps keep everything in place and the chamois from moving around. They've been great for me.

Missy

[VeloVT]

I have no experience with Louis Garneau shorts, but I do have a pair of Sugoi RS shorts from last season.

The chamois shown in the detail on the TE pags looks just like the chamois in my RS shorts.

I LOVE the shorts part -- the fabric and fit are fantastic. The fabric is both very supportive and very well ventilated, and the panels are very flattering and contribute to a great fit. However, I don't love this chamois. It's just ok for me. I find the front (which is where I need a bit more padding) to be thin and hard, while for me, there is too much padding over the sitbone area where I don't really need it, and that padding is quite firm.

However, this is such a personal thing, if you liked your other RS shorts you may like the newer ones too, and certainly lots of people love the chamois in the RS shorts. Just not me .

If you have a chance to try them on, you might compare them with the Castelli Visio short, which I like a lot -- I really, really like Castelli's Ypro chamois. The fabric is also very supportive, unlike some of Castelli's other shorts (though a very different feel than the RS fabric).

Good luck!

[Misandal]

Liza that's so funny! For the reasons you don't like the chamois, I do! I don't like a lot of padding up "in my business" but I do like the padding at the rear because my saddle is firm.

Some people say that saddles/shorts shouldn't impact the comfort of the other, but I firmly believe that they need to pair up right. I think the wrong saddle will make the right shorts feel bad, and the wrong chamois can make the best saddle unbearable! JMO.

[SadieKate]

Some people say that saddles/shorts shouldn't impact the comfort of the other, but I firmly believe that they need to pair up right. I think the wrong saddle will make the right shorts feel bad, and the wrong chamois can make the best saddle unbearable! JMO.

Amen! I have shorts that are horrible with my road saddle and perfect with my mtb saddle, and vice versa.

[Miranda]

I like this post, as I'm trying to decide if I want to order the RS short. I ordered two pairs of Sugoi from TE a while back. The Gusta for trail, and the same chamois for road. The Gusta short is the most $cha ching shorts I own, but holy cow are they worth it. Att, I didn't like the road and returned. I had mainly PI ultrasensor and an upper end SheBeast. But NOW that I'm saddle shopping... I'm reaaally eyeballing the RS roads for the wider back end chamois. I got out my tape measure to the other road chamois sitz bone areas and gheez, no wonder they aren't working together. Not even how thick the chamois is... but width across to stretch the sitz. Sugoi Gusta chamois is wider across. It appears to me the RS road is wider too... well, that's what I'll hope anyway if I click "buy".

EDIT: my experience in the Louis shorts similiar are in trying on, not ownership. I liked the way they fit, but I felt like the fabric was a bit on the thin side (these were the bubble/bumpy version fabric, not sure if exact same as your link shorts)... ok, ummm, like in the dressing room I had a bright print panty on and it showed through the black shorts... hmmm, went my brain... leave at store...

[Misandal]

FWIW, I tried the PI Ultrasensors (prior to all the nipple-nonsense in their ads) and wasn't able to use them because the seam around the chamois was directly lined up with the edge of my saddle. Bad combination! The RS chamois is wider there, so no edge/seam issue with those.

[Miranda]

FWIW, I tried the PI Ultrasensors (prior to all the nipple-nonsense in their ads) and wasn't able to use them because the seam around the chamois was directly lined up with the edge of my saddle. Bad combination! The RS chamois is wider there, so no edge/seam issue with those.

Misandal... thx for that post... that is exactly what I was looking for in terms of info. When I first starting cycling, I used a thicker chamois PI. Then drew to the ultrasensor for it's thinner design. But, seems like the next pair I bought the seam lay out changed when it went from green to red. I was disappointed for the price. I have a long torso for a shorter gal, and I found Sugoi for that reason and was impressed (I have jackets & jerseys). I was really choking the price tag down hard for the Gusta... but their design lives up the Sugoi name, "incredible". Until I started this massive saddle search, I never really thought about where my seams were... NOW, I do. Well, I had some type for free shipping email from TE recently, so guess I'll have to try them now. I never mind paying more for something that is really worth it.

[Mags...]

Some people say that saddles/shorts shouldn't impact the comfort of the other, but I firmly believe that they need to pair up right. I think the wrong saddle will make the right shorts feel bad, and the wrong chamois can make the best saddle unbearable! JMO.

I have the same thoughts, I tend to look at the shorts and the saddle as a combo. I have a much more padded saddle that I sometimes put on the bike, the Selle Italia Diva Lady and I have to wear my lightly padded shorts with that saddle.

OK, I think I'll eliminate the LG's - I do really like Sugoi ... I have some other pieces of their gear and it fits me really well. But before I order, I'll throw another pair of shorts up for further consideration...

What about these Gore Ozon Lady shorts http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodGB_TOZONL_0.html
I've got a few pieces of their clothing (windvest, winter nix, gloves, sleeveless jersey) and it also fits well and I really like the quality. The chamois in their windstopper long nix is different to the one in these shorts, but I do like the look of this chamois. It has a little cutout area in the middle, it could be good for reducing pressure there I think. But I really like to have a bit of padding up the back as my preferred saddle is a bit firm, and this one doesn't look as thick up the back as the Sugoi one.

Does anyone have an opinion on these Gore's?

[Misandal]

Miranda, it was my DH who talked me into trying the more expensive RS short over the Evolution. He was tired of hearing me cry about how my shorts didn't stay put, the chamois bunched, etc., etc., and finally said, "Get good shorts." I'm a middle-of-the-road purchaser, so I was like, "But honey, how much better can they really be?" and he said, "Get. Good. Shorts." Ok, then. So I tried the RS - and the Evolution (I had to know if they were just as good at the lower price point), and the difference in the side-by-side comparison was really striking. For me, the difference made all the difference! The RS shorts were worth every penny.

Mags, I did try the Gore Ozon shorts and ended up sending them back. I thought the little cutout in the middle looked appealing in the picture on the TE website, but in actuality, it's not as cutout as it appears, and it seemed to me that all the extra "channels" or whatever they are that encircle the oval would provide too much opportunity for pinching down there. (Also why I sent back the Shebeest SSS. Smaller oval but same thing.)

[VeloVT]

Mags, I did try the Gore Ozon shorts and ended up sending them back. I thought the little cutout in the middle looked appealing in the picture on the TE website, but in actuality, it's not as cutout as it appears, and it seemed to me that all the extra "channels" or whatever they are that encircle the oval would provide too much opportunity for pinching down there. (Also why I sent back the Shebeest SSS. Smaller oval but same thing.)

It is interesting how different we all are. I think the chamois in the Shebeest SSS short is perhaps one of the most comfortable chamoii I've tried. Unfortunately I don't really like the shorts that much. Shebeest is just not as nice as a lot of other brands in terms of fabric and cut (in my opinion at least). Otherwise I'd have lots of them.

[karatemom]

I have the sugoi RS flex shorts, which I loved until someone told me you could see through them! Does this happen to no one else? I had them in the chocolate color. It's really too bad--they are comfortable. I still wear them under my tights in the winter.

And, by the way, how DO you pronounce "Sugoi"?

[Veronica]

I have the Sugois and I have 5 pairs of the previous version of the LGS.

For me they pretty much interchangeable. The Sugoi chamois does seem to be a little wider.

Veronica

[OakLeaf]

like in the dressing room I had a bright print panty on and it showed through the black shorts

wow, what a great idea I'm always worried my shorts are too thin and I can't tell... great way to check them out in the privacy of your own home! I don't know why I didn't think about that when I always have to co-ordinate my bright colored underwear with my regular shorts...