Like most cyclists (and that’s a big assumption on my part) I rotate through several pairs of bike shorts during a typical week. They vary quite a bit in terms of style, quality, and performance. But I’ve got one pair I prefer over all the others.
They’re by Sugoi, the Canadian maker of bike wear. I’ve made mention of them here in the past. I like them because they are probably the best quality of all the shorts in my drawer, and they have a chamois pad that’s bigger and cushier than any of my others. I know some people think that might be a strike against them, because thick pads could lead to their own kind of discomfort in the saddle, but for me, they give the best on-bike feel.
Imagine my chagrin, then, when I put them on on New Year’s Day, just before taking my first ride of the year. I discovered a hole along the seam near the bottom of the shorts!
Now, I’ve had tears along the chamois on some of my other shorts. A cheap pair from Nashbar is slowly losing its foam pad, but the spandex itself hasn’t come apart. My Castelli bibs are in like new shape. My Pearl Izumi bibs are showing some unraveling along the seams of the shoulder straps — but the seams in the shorts part are still solid, as are the ones on my Pearl Izumi shorts. Even my other cheapo Nashbar pair is holding together with no rips anywhere.
So, is it unusual that I’m seeing this kind of wear and tear on the good shorts? On the other hand, I got them just under four years ago. Maybe it’s not unreasonable that they’ve seen better days.
How long have yours lasted? Have you had any experiences with poor quality shorts that came apart after a relatively short time? What brands do you recommend?