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Chamois life expectancy?

5265 Views 54 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Xydadx3, 5 mo ago

One Wheel

Discussion Starter · 9 mo ago

I've been wearing a pair of The Black
Bibs for roughly 5 months/ 1k miles. I've heard good and bad about them, personally I've never worn other bibs, and can't fault them until recently when the chamois seems to be getting thinner around the edges, and it's thinking about making a dirty joke about chafing. Obviously it's about time to replace them, but I'm wondering if I'll get more bang for my buck in terms of longevity if I spend more on a higher quality bib, or just a nicer bib while it does last?

I've been washing them after every long ride, or 2-3 short rides: hand wash, lukewarm water, no detergent, hang dry.

41 - 55 of 55 Posts

Lombard

· #41 · 9 mo ago

tlg said:
Sure, if you can go out your backdoor and do it. Kinda like riding a bike.
But I was referring to downhill skiing, where you have to purchase lift tickets to do it.

Nordic centers charge a fraction of what downhill centers do - that can be anywhere from $10 to $30 a day depending on region.

I don't do downhill, but others who do say you can easily spend over $100 a day at a downhill center. Not to mention that downhill equipment - skis, bindings, poles and boots cost more than twice as much as Nordic equipment.

tlg

· #42 · 9 mo ago

Lombard said:
Nordic centers charge a fraction of what downhill centers do - that can be anywhere from $10 to $30 a day depending on region.

Oh, not something I'm familiar with. We only have downhill around here.
Even $10-30 can get expensive if you're doing it a few times a week.
$175/mo if you go twice a week.

Glad I can ride my bike for free.

Reactions: 1

Lombard

· #43 · 9 mo ago

tlg said:
Oh, not something I'm familiar with. We only have downhill around here.
Even $10-30 can get expensive if you're doing it a few times a week.
$175/mo if you go twice a week.

Glad I can ride my bike for free.

Oh yeah, you're in PA. And downhill centers have the luxury of snow making. We Nordic skiers have to take what Mother Nature is willing to provide. Even up here in MA, snow can be paltry some years and necessitate a trip north to VT or NH.

Xydadx3

· #44 · 9 mo ago

tlg said:
Glad I can ride my bike for free.

"free"....until something breaks or maintenance is due, or you're really hungry after a long ride and the food bill = the fuel bill ... or you have to buy new clothing

Those hidden expenses do add up, but I think its way more rewarding and a better use of my money to ride than to drive a car and pay the big oil companies! Just yesterday I saved $40+ in either car rental fees or Uber rides by biking to work and back when my car needed service. Shorts still look and feel new btw

One Wheel

Discussion Starter · #45 · 8 mo ago

After hearing here that the problem is more likely with the bibs than my treatment or expectations of them, I contacted TheBlackBibs. They say that what I'm seeing is a known problem of unknown cause, and offered an identical replacement or equal value discount code.

Bob Ross

· #46 · 8 mo ago

Peter P. said:
Never had a chamois wear out, get thin, or fail.

^^^This. Something else invariably fails before the chamois: Either the elasticity suffers and the fabric loses its compression, or the fabric gets worn so thin as to become translucent. Either (and sometimes both) of those things have caused me to retire a pair of shorts/bibs numerous times -- though never after only 1,000 miles -- but the chamois has always still been in fairly pristine condition when those other failings have made the garment unwearable.

Finx

· #47 · 8 mo ago

I have a couple of pairs of "The Black Bibs". They have several thousand miles on them and I've never seen any signs of premature wear. I'm going to assume this was a one-off issue, and it sounds like they are working with the OP to resolve it.

One Wheel

Discussion Starter · #48 · 8 mo ago

Finx said:
I have a couple of pairs of "The Black Bibs". They have several thousand miles on them and I've never seen any signs of premature wear. I'm going to assume this was a one-off issue, and it sounds like they are working with the OP to resolve it.

I think it may be a batch issue. I didn't want to complain to them without finding out if I had a valid complaint first, but since I've contacted them I have no complaints with their response. They are aware of the quality issue, and working to correct it.

Souke-Cycling

· #49 · 7 mo ago

Maybe you can try SOUKE bib shorts. You may not have heard its name, but the feedback is great. The price ranges 40USD-100USD for entry to Pro level. You won't regret it. //www.souke-sports.com/collections/mens-bib-shorts.

thisisthebeave

· #50 · 7 mo ago

I've been riding since early 2013 and I'm just starting to throw away a few of the very very first clothes I bought. The stuff where I only had 2 of it so it got ridden twice a week. Now I'm not going to be throwing anything away for a while because I have 4-5 of everything for every season and 10+ of some other things. Buy quality stuff, hang dry it, and it'll last you a lonnng time.

Xydadx3

· #51 · 5 mo ago

Xydadx3 said:
Those saying cheap shorts aren’t good seem more concerned about brand names than anything else.

tlg said:
No. Those who say that have tried cheap shorts and speak through experience.

Ok I'll admit a brand name may be a decent investment in certain situations, especially if obtained on sale.

Asking for a 'friend', forgive my ignorance... what brands offer garment repair/replacement for crash damage and has anyone ever used this service? I recall reading it on a site or two but I don't recall which ones and if there are more that I haven't seen out there I'd love to hear from the collective knowledge, for my friend of course.
FWIW the 'cheap shorts' material and chamois have been just fine for the last 2000+mi, with many more expected...until ripping them open gave them an early retirement date.

tlg

· #52 · 5 mo ago

Xydadx3 said:
Ok I'll admit a brand name may be a decent investment in certain situations, especially if obtained on sale.

Asking for a 'friend', forgive my ignorance... what brands offer garment repair/replacement for crash damage and has anyone ever used this service? I recall reading it on a site or two but I don't recall which ones and if there are more that I haven't seen out there I'd love to hear from the collective knowledge, for my friend of course.
FWIW the 'cheap shorts' material and chamois have been just fine for the last 2000+mi, with many more expected...until ripping them open gave them an early retirement date.

I know Assos does. Although their policy has got more stringent.
I have used their crash replacement in the past. It used to be lifetime. But now it's just 30 days.

Customer Assistance

Customer Assistance

www.assos.com

For the first 30 days following the purchase of an ASSOS product, we will repair or replace the item free of charge if damaged during a crash. Simply select CRASH POLICY in the drop-down menu of the CONTACT US form and provide the requested information. We will then contact you regarding your free replacement product.

Beyond the initial 30-day period, we offer an affordable repair service. In many cases, crash-damaged ASSOS products can be repaired, though we will reasonably charge for this service. Use the CONTACT US form to reach us regarding the repair.

As far as repair, I dunno. I imagine it's hard/impossible to repair torn spandex. But if it's a separated seam or torn chamois they could probably repair that.

Assos also has a 2 year warranty. I had a pair of bibs that was getting tears/holes in the spandex in the lower back after a year, and they replaced them. I didn't even have to return them and now they're trainer shorts.

Found this. Not mine.

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Reactions: 1

Peter P.

· #53 · 5 mo ago

It's not hard to repair torn spandex. I've done it.
The trick is, you need an old pair of shorts to scavange a piece of spandex fabric. I keep an old pair for such repairs.
Here's one video example which I emulated.
Pay attention to the direction of the patch material; it may stretch more in one direction than another direction. Give it, and your torn shorts, a tug.
Orient your patch in the same direction if you can.
It's a stupid easy repair which is durable and doesn't look like a hack job.

Reactions: 1

Xydadx3

· #54 · 5 mo ago

Rapha says they repair past 30 days

Font Parallel Number Document Symmetry

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Xydadx3

· #55 · 5 mo ago

Xydadx3 said:
Rapha says they repair past 30 days

I wonder if they’ll repair the sizing. My kids could fit these jerseys!

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