Selle SMP Strike

[Mags...]

Perhaps one of my musings might be a tie-breaker. The Assos short is a simpler design, just a few panels, and the fabric is a shiny, high-stretch lycra, very similar to what might be used for bathing suits.

Thank you koala, I think you've helped me to make my decision - well at least I think I can eliminate the Assos, sadly 'cos they sound like they have a lot going for them. I really don't like shiny lycra, I've retired each and every piece of shiny from my cycling wardrobe, and now go for the matt finish.

Now the decision seems to be between the 3 pairs of LG's. The Powers sound like they would do the job, but being a shorty, I'm not keen on the leg length. In any event, they are out of the running 'cos TE only has them in XL, and I'll need S. So, it's Alveo with the Ergozone chamois with 8mm thickness in the rear, or the top range model the Airstream with the amazing chamois that looks like a topographical map. As you said earlier, it would really be essential for your sit-bones to line up with the ridges in the back area. I must say, I'm impressed with the style/look of the airstream... hm.. they certainly look the part, and both shorts have the muscle support fabric....

I wish I could afford both...

[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!

[Mags...]

hahaha koala, we think along the same lines..
I have now put in an order with TE, I only ordered the one pair of shorts, the Alveos. Only because we're now heading out of summer and I'm thinking ahead to autumn and beyond, I'll be needing nickers and then longs before too long. Decided to buy the one pair to see how they go, so that I'll have more hands-on experience when I decide what I'll be wearing as the cooler months approach. (Won't say cold - in comparison to your winter - I'd imagine you'd find my winter quite different to yours).

So... I agree completely on the shipping issue - to 'save' (hubby would roll his eyes upwards if he read this)... I had to buy a few more items, so thinking ahead - I ordered some gloves (haha), I ordered the Gore Windstoppers (blue) as well as a long sleeve crew and the Sugoi Mid-Zero knickers (no pad) - both for running in cooler weather.

So, I'll now be eagerly awaiting the delivery man, hope everything fits. Thanks so much for all of your help, it's been really interesting, I appreciate your input. I'll let you know how the shorts go...

[koala]

Well, if you felt pressure in the soft tissue area I would be more suspicious of the shorts than the saddle, as there is no saddle in that area!

If you are looking for wider, forget the Evolution & Stratos. Believe the Evolution is 129 in width, & the Stratos is 131. The Selle SMP site would have the particulars.

[Mags...]

Hi merryn, I have the strike brochure here, the Evolution is 230gr and 129mm wide, the Stratos is 250 gr and 131mm wide and the Glider is 260 gr and 136mm wide. All saddles are 266mm long. The Pro is 290 gr and 148mm wide and the Plus is 330gr and 159mm wide. These saddles are 278mm long. So quite a bit longer, heavier and wider.

Since I posted earlier on this thread, I tried the different shorts that koala suggested. I tried 2 pairs of Louis Garneau shorts, the Alveos and the Airstream in both S & M. Although both of these shorts were beautifully made, excellent fabrics, I wasn't happy with either of them on the fit, the Size S was too snug in the waist while the M was too roomy round the chamois. I also tried on the Etxe Ondo Sahn shorts and while also beautiful fabric and very stylish, I felt the chamois was no better than what I already had. I ended up trying on some Assos shorts and I was so impressed I bought 2 pairs (they're not really that shiny...). They had them on sale at a triathlon store as they were 2006 models. Koala was also spot-on with her comments on sizing, the style is snugly fitted, but the Size S was perfect and the chamois is exceptional.

I can't even feel the saddle until about the 60-70km distance. On a 100km ride I do have some soreness, but it's not too bad and certainly no-where near the level of pain I've felt with other saddles I've tried. If I sit at my desk chair for 3 hours without shifting much I'd have the same level of discomfort.

So, all-in-all, I'm really happy with my saddle and also with my Assos shorts....

[sloflin]

Hello Mags, any updates on how your SMP Stratos saddle is working out? I've been considering this saddle but can't decide between the Evolution, Stratos, and Glider. I'm 5ft2, 120 lbs and have fairly narrow hips. I'm on a Terry Damselfly and have been for a couple of years but am ready to see if something different will be more comfortable for the ultracycling events. Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks!

[Mags...]

update on this saddle is all positive. I've now settled really well with this one, I've done hundreds of kilometres on it now, 4 or 5 100km rides, with no saddle discomfort. Well, I've had fatigue, but not from the saddle. All of my longer rides I've done with my Assos shorts, just to be doubly sure that I'll be comfy. My shorter 30 - 50km rides I've happily done in Sugois and Shebeests.

I'm now questioning whether it's valid to reject a saddle straight up after one or two rides - when I did my first 100km on it, I was really sore and I took it off the bike and was wondering if I should sell it on. But a few people said I should put it back on, give it some time and see if I could toughen up to it. I had my doubts, but did it anyway, as well as taking onboard Koalas opinions on the shorts. But I'm now really happy on it - I'm not sure what changed or if I have 'toughened up'. But on this experience, I'd recommend giving a saddle a bit of time to see if things improve before outright rejecting it.

Sloflin, we're very similar in height and weight, I'm also 5'2" and 121 pounds (55kg). The Evolution doesn't appeal to me - it just seems too lean, the Glider seems like the safer option and originally, that was the model I had in mind to buy. Looking at the specs, I imagine it would have been quite OK, there's not a lot of difference between the Glider and the Stratos. The Glider might be less risky, a safer bet, if you aren't able to easily do a return or a swap if it turns out you don't like it.