Hi everyone! It's Kebby with Coeur sports
(using Charlotte's log in
). I wanted to share what we've learned and have come to believe about bike and tri shorts.
First, I have to say that we're very familiar with the companies named and they all have really good gear. Also, to a large extent, you do get what you pay for. For a pair of bike or tri shorts, the fabric, the pad, and the gripper make up a substantial part of the cost and if you see a pair of shorts that are really inexpensive, it's probably because one
(or all
) of those items are lower quality. But...in some cases, that may be ok. Just like you can get away with an improper bike fit for a short jaunt around the neighborhood, an inexpensive pair of shorts is fine if you're not going to be in them very long. At least that is our opinion.
If, on the other hand, you're going to be wearing them for nine, ten, or even 16 hours
(hello midnight finish
), then the little things matter. So, in those cases, our recommendation is that you look for shorts that have at least these three features:
1. A really good and comfortable pad
(aka chamois
). Cytech is one of the best chamois producers we've found and it's hard to go wrong if your bike shorts have one of their pads. We're proud to have created the tri shorts with a fleece liner with hidden seams
(#Noangrykitty
) and are flattered
(and a bit sad
) that others are starting to copy the idea, but it really does help with chafing.
2. Flatlock Stitches: The best shorts use something called a Flatlock seam where the fabric doesn't overlap. It's a more expensive seam because it takes a specialized sewing machine, but we
(and others
) strongly believe that it makes a difference when you're riding for a long time.
3. A comfortable waist band: Constriction around the middle is bad in a short race and almost unbearable on a century ride or during an Ironman. We strongly encourage people to put on the shorts and see how they feel when you poke out your stomach. Some of us
(yep..I'm talking about myself
) have a habit of pulling in our stomach when we try on clothing. For shorts, you want to do just the opposite. See what they feel like when you're a bit full around the middle
(trust me, interesting things can happen to the GI tract during a long race
).
As I said before, all the companies listed have really good gear, so as long as you check these three boxes, you should be good to go.
Thanks and Happy Racing and Training!
Kebby
https://www.coeursports.com/