Pearl Izumi Ultrasensor Short

Price Paid:  $89.00 at Performance Bike

Summary:
What were they thinking of when you came up with the rib pattern chamois? After a 60 mile ride today, my butt developed a rash from chamois chaffing.

What's more, the chamois cut into my privates because the rib channels are always bunching up.

Don't buy it unless you're into sadomasochism

Strengths:
None.

Weaknesses:
Everything.

Similar Products Used:
They suck for a $90 short. My Vermarc bib has smooth Chamois that has never bothered me. I Just notice Pearl came out with a $250 Octane short. Are they smoking crack? That's it with me. I'll never buy another Pearl Izumi products.

Price Paid:  $100.00

Summary:
I've worn through two pair of these and am happily on my third. Most of my riding is touring, so I'll be on the saddle for hours a day for weeks on end. It is important to me to have good shorts. Over the summer, I was on a cross country tour (3700 miles) and for the first thousand or so, I was in pain. I found it mostly to be the saddle I was riding, but the combination of a new saddle along with a new pair of shorts helped me incredibly much. I found these to fit my body far better then the specialized and Louis Garnaeu that I was riding. I feel like the biggest strength of these shorts is seam placement. I've never had any chafing issues when riding these.

Strengths:
My favorite chamios yet. GReat padding in my opinion.
Seams are well built and placed

Weaknesses:
They don't last all that long, I tend to wear through the legs in only about 2000 miles

Similar Products Used:
Far too many pairs of shorts then I'd like to admit.

Price Paid:  $50.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
Bastrop State Park, texas

Bike Setup:
Specialized Roubaix carbon with Terry falcon saddle.

Summary:
These shorts (spring 2006) have the split chamois with the empty channel down the middle (black and gray two tone). They are horrible. The chamois chews me up after about 35-40 miles. On the 2nd day of Houston-Austin MS150, I just about died (74 miles), while I wore the older PI shorts the day before (100 miles) and did ok. I finally sold the shorts on ebay. I am sure they would work better for a lighter person, but me. I am large frame, wide sit bones, 230 lb 5'11".

Strengths:
well made shell with good fabric and seams. Very good fit and compression in the fabric.

Weaknesses:
Horrible tortuous chamois.

Similar Products Used:
I own a pair of PI Fall 2005 ultrasensor shorts with the blue fuzzy chamois and was pretty happy with them.

Price Paid:  $60.00 at Various

Favorite Ride:
Alpine Loop

Bike Setup:
Merlin Extralight, Campy stuff

Summary:
I have tried a lot of shorts, all under $100, and these hold up the best. I like the older model's thinner pad, but the thicker ones are OK. The fabric is strong, the fit good. I ride pretty much every day, and these are the only I have found that will hold up for more than about two years.

Strengths:
Durability, fit.

Weaknesses:
Newer model's pad a little diaper-like

Similar Products Used:
All sorts of Nashbar, Performance, Castelli, etc.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Colorado Cyclist

Bike Setup:
Raleigh R700.

Summary:
Have had a few peair of these. My oldest pair is 6 years old and its still holding up. The shorts are durable, fit well and have good padding in the chamois. The downside of these shorts is once you hit the 50 mile mark in a ride, the seams around the chamois start to get very irritating. I am upgrading to a better short for the long distance rides, but these are great for the trainer or short rides.

Strengths:
Good fit, comfortable.

Weaknesses:
chamois seams.

Similar Products Used:
VO Max