Assos saved my ass!
Discussion
So after spending a good 6k on a bike and struggling for 3 months with saddles, I've eventually found the source of the problem, the bib shorts pad/fit..
The weird thing is I'd used funkier shorts on my previous road bikes just fine. On the test ride week of the bike, the same saddle and the funkiers, I had no issues with, up to 20ish miles anyway. But when i'd bought the bike , at 40/50/60 miles I was getting serious pains down there!
So after getting some advice from the chap who did my bike fit, he said that Assos make some of the best pads.. I figured that this couldn't be It as the funkiers are far thicker... But felt a bit baggy (when id move off the saddle to stand up and spring id have to be conscious to lift my ass further up and then back to ensure the pad didn't snag on the nose of the saddle). After struggling on for a few more weeks I decided to bite the bullet and bought some assos shorts from their factory outlet. I didn't wear them initially as they seemed somewhat tight.. After suffering one more ride( I know, I'm an idiot) I bit the bullet, put on the assos (and used some buttshield) and went on quite a hilly bumpy route around Bath..
Revelation! I think my idea of tight was just fitted properly. After the first mile it felt like a glove and I forgot I had ever struggled down there.. 25 miles in, where I'd get some pain and have to get out of the saddle to relieve, I was absolutely fine. I cant wait to test them on further distance, but I've a strong suspicion that i'll be just fine.
Moral of the story - don't put up with s
t bib shorts with poor quality pads. Snug is better than loose and flappy ! Don't put up with it for as long as I did !
The weird thing is I'd used funkier shorts on my previous road bikes just fine. On the test ride week of the bike, the same saddle and the funkiers, I had no issues with, up to 20ish miles anyway. But when i'd bought the bike , at 40/50/60 miles I was getting serious pains down there!
So after getting some advice from the chap who did my bike fit, he said that Assos make some of the best pads.. I figured that this couldn't be It as the funkiers are far thicker... But felt a bit baggy (when id move off the saddle to stand up and spring id have to be conscious to lift my ass further up and then back to ensure the pad didn't snag on the nose of the saddle). After struggling on for a few more weeks I decided to bite the bullet and bought some assos shorts from their factory outlet. I didn't wear them initially as they seemed somewhat tight.. After suffering one more ride( I know, I'm an idiot) I bit the bullet, put on the assos (and used some buttshield) and went on quite a hilly bumpy route around Bath..
Revelation! I think my idea of tight was just fitted properly. After the first mile it felt like a glove and I forgot I had ever struggled down there.. 25 miles in, where I'd get some pain and have to get out of the saddle to relieve, I was absolutely fine. I cant wait to test them on further distance, but I've a strong suspicion that i'll be just fine.
Moral of the story - don't put up with s
t bib shorts with poor quality pads. Snug is better than loose and flappy ! Don't put up with it for as long as I did !
JPJPJP said:
Shorts are a bit like saddles - once you find a brand / style / fit that works for you, it is marvellous. A revelation even. - but there isn't a brand / style / fit that will be perfect for everyone
Just to underline this point, the Assos shorts I bought specifically for a JoGLE trip, solely because so many people said how comfy they were, turned out to be the most uncomfortable I've ever owned! Whereas I've done many century rides in my cheapo DHBs with no trouble at all; it really is horses for courses (or arses).Cool story, I had similar with cheaper DHB products - but as said it's a lot to do with your "area".
I now only use Castelli and have 3 decent pairs that I rotate.
However my current problem is my actual "area". On a fairly aggressive ride recently, wearing a spare pair of cheaper shorts (where I also forgot to cream up) - I rubbed a sore and broke the skin! It's only a tiny patch, but my fking good lord does it hurt!
It now hurts on the bike and in the shower (when water gets down there). Currently stealing my child's sudocrean nightly - but unless I put the bike away for a week I don't know how it's going to heal?
I now only use Castelli and have 3 decent pairs that I rotate.
However my current problem is my actual "area". On a fairly aggressive ride recently, wearing a spare pair of cheaper shorts (where I also forgot to cream up) - I rubbed a sore and broke the skin! It's only a tiny patch, but my f
king good lord does it hurt!It now hurts on the bike and in the shower (when water gets down there). Currently stealing my child's sudocrean nightly - but unless I put the bike away for a week I don't know how it's going to heal?
russy01 said:
It now hurts on the bike and in the shower (when water gets down there). Currently stealing my child's sudocrean nightly - but unless I put the bike away for a week I don't know how it's going to heal?
Get yourself some of this cream, available everywhere, it will heal in a day or two and subdue the pain.https://www.superdrug.com/Superdrug/Superdrug-Hydr...
bigdom said:
russy01 said:
It now hurts on the bike and in the shower (when water gets down there). Currently stealing my child's sudocrean nightly - but unless I put the bike away for a week I don't know how it's going to heal?
Get yourself some of this cream, available everywhere, it will heal in a day or two and subdue the pain.https://www.superdrug.com/Superdrug/Superdrug-Hydr...
bigdom said:
Get yourself some of this cream, available everywhere, it will heal in a day or two and subdue the pain.
https://www.superdrug.com/Superdrug/Superdrug-Hydr...
https://www.superdrug.com/Superdrug/Superdrug-Hydr...
product information said:
Do not use on the eyes, ano-genital region, broken or infected skin including cold sores, acne, impetigo and athlete’s foot.
I would have thought Sudocream or this would be better. http://www.metanium.co.uk/nappy-rash-treatment
We used it to clear up our both of our sons skin which both sufferred at one time or another from bad nappy rash, almost broken skin which bled. Normally all gone in 2 days.
russy01 said:
It now hurts on the bike and in the shower (when water gets down there). Currently stealing my child's sudocrean nightly - but unless I put the bike away for a week I don't know how it's going to heal?
bigdom said:
Get yourself some of this cream, available everywhere, it will heal in a day or two and subdue the pain.
https://www.superdrug.com/Superdrug/Superdrug-Hydr...
I stand corrected! https://www.superdrug.com/Superdrug/Superdrug-Hydr...
Roger Irrelevant said:
Just to underline this point, the Assos shorts I bought specifically for a JoGLE trip, solely because so many people said how comfy they were, turned out to be the most uncomfortable I've ever owned! Whereas I've done many century rides in my cheapo DHBs with no trouble at all; it really is horses for courses (or arses).
My Assos are ok but I've never really felt that they were that comfortable. I've found my Castelli £140 jobbies to be almost perfect. I now need to buy another pair. They make such a difference on long rides. .
I've taken research in this area to extremes. My conclusions are that fit is everything. The quality of the pad is almost irrelevant if the cut of the shorts means it sits and stays perfectly in place. For my shape Assos have the cut absolutely dialled and although they're a struggle to get on and off the fit is perfect.
Also, Sudocrem is far superior to every chamois cream I have ever tried. It will still be working its magic long after a chamois cream has thinned out and worn off. The only downside is that it is harder to wash out.
Also, Sudocrem is far superior to every chamois cream I have ever tried. It will still be working its magic long after a chamois cream has thinned out and worn off. The only downside is that it is harder to wash out.
Plus 1 for Assos here! They aren't afraid of doing things differently, I wear the padded boxers from the Urban collection and you'd swear you were wearing them inside out, they put the seams and the pad on the outside! I have some bib shorts that have a proper pouch for your bits instead of squashing them. I bought a mountain bike top that is just brilliant (it was about £250 gulp) , if the cut suits your body shape you won't be disappointed!!!
80sMatchbox said:
My Assos are ok but I've never really felt that they were that comfortable. I've found my Castelli £140 jobbies to be almost perfect. I now need to buy another pair. They make such a difference on long rides.
.
I found the Castelli's quite a tight fight so sent them back , sort of wondering if they actually fitted now but I was just used to things being baggier!. Doh.... .
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