Sausage legs!!!

[Crankin]

DH bought me 2 pair of the RS shorts when TE had that sale a few months ago. Although they look exactly the same as the 2 pair I bought last winter, as well as some older ones I have, I found that the chamois seems a little wider, right where it meets the crease of my legs, and was annoying. Washing them has softened them out a little, but since I haven't ridden that much since I got them, they haven't been used a lot. It's not as bad as the Gore chamois in pair of tights I bought from someone on TE. Those were so wide, they were definitely an instrument of torture for me. I think I mentioned this on another thread and someone said Sugoi had quality control issues. The waistband and length were still the same, though and I am hoping they will soften up.

[Artista]

Indy, I had forgotten that you switched to the Evolution after Sugoi changed the RS. Is the Evolution fabric much lighter than the RS? I noticed that Sugoi calls the Evolution chamois by a different name than the RS chamois. Is the chamois in the Evolution mostly the same as the RS? Maybe Sugoi will fix some of their quality control issues in 2013.

Crakin, your input on chamois width is helpful. I like the Terry Bellas in part because their chamois is narrower than other popular brands like the LG Neo Power and Gore Oxygen. I want sleek black shorts, slightly heavier fabric, and a narrow chamois that doesn't feel like a board right out of the package. The Terry Bellas meets all of those criteria except for their gosh darn contrasting thread. I don't want my rear-end framed with gray or pink stitching.

[OakLeaf]

If you're just going by photos of the LG Neo Power and haven't tried them on, the "wings" of the chamois are extremely thin, and the "business" part of it is plenty narrow for me. Chamois that are too wide and/or too thick are a big issue for me too (the Sugoi shorts I've tried on fall into this category), but I get along really well with my LG's except for the forward length, oddly, which probably has to do with my very low rise ... the chamois kind of sticks out over my mons when I'm in riding position (NOT standing, it's plenty flexible), and the pedaling motion wears out the lycra in that area sooner than it ought.

[Artista]

I've tried the LG's and the chamois was just wide enough that it chaffed where my legs meet my crotch. I have a pretty narrow frame that must equate to a slightly narrower crotch width.

Did you find the Sugoi shorts to be too wide or too thick, or both?

[ny biker]

I've tried the LG's and the chamois was just wide enough that it chaffed where my legs meet my crotch. I have a pretty narrow frame that must equate to a slightly narrower crotch width.

Did you find the Sugoi shorts to be too wide or too thick, or both?

I recently bought a second pair of LG Neo Power shorts, and the chamois feels wider and thicker in the crotch than the one in the pair that I bought a couple of years ago. I haven't worn the new ones during a ride yet, so I don't know if they will bother me. FWIW I have worn them while sitting on my bike in the living room and backpedaling, and the wider chamois only seemed noticeable while I was standing on the pedals, which I don't do much when I ride.

[OakLeaf]

Both. Sigh.

[Artista]

Hmmm...based on your input ny biker & Oakleaf, I may just resign myself to riding with a framed rear end. Everything else about the Terry Bella shorts are perfect for me. I should write Terry asking for an all black version. It's probably too late for this year's offerings but maybe they'll change it up in 2014.

[OakLeaf]

There's always black Sharpie. Works on all sorts of things.

[indysteel]

Artista, I haven't tried the most recent iteration of the RS's chamois. My guess is that the Evolution chamois is a tad bulkier, so it may not be to your liking. The fabric is also slightly thicker and less compressive. If I were in your shoes, I'd order both to determine which one I preferred. So long as you try them with undies, you can send back the rejects. But you might find, as Oak has suggested, that even the RS chamois is too bulky.

I think the RS runs small by the way, while the Evolution runs true to size.

[Crankin]

I don't find the RS chamois bulky, but my latest versions do feel thicker/wider, as I said. It may be in my head. I can't take bulky chamois, but I don't like really thin, tri-like chamois, either.
Artista, what bothers you about the contrast stitching? I don't even notice it. Personally, I think the Bellas make my legs so much nicer, that no one else would notice anything, either.

[Artista]

Thanks for the Sugoi info, Indy. Based on all of the input on these shorts, I think that I'll stick with Terry's for another season.

Crankin, I'm just being picky about the contrast stitching. I love the look of sleek black bike shorts under bright jerseys. I think that the contrast stitching competes with the jersey and frames the rear end with the arced stitching over the rear hips.

I wrote Terry asking if they were planning on an all black version of the Bellas. It turns out that Bellas with "dark stitching" are being discussed for 2014. I'm guessing that there won't be any changes for this year. The heads-up is enough for me to stick with my current shorts this year and wait to see what Terry offers next year.