I'm on the market for shorts designed to be comfortable during realy long rides , 250 km + .
I think that the type of pad is the main point , also tightness of lycra fabric counts. If you have some expirience on this field of performance cycling , please , advice me . I am on the way to enter " pave marathon " competitions ( rides from 200 to 500 km ) that mean I have to collect some decent gear . I use alu frame with carbon fork and Flite saddle . My rides were generally short , up to 4 hours - 120 + km .

Wide, thin, ultra-suede chamois with plenty of BodyGlide have worked best for me. I save these shorts for long rides. Modern chamoises, thick, multi-layered, elastic, etc, all find some spot to rub me wrong if I stay out more than 3 or 4 hours.

Boure also makes a short like the Nalini, but I have yet to try them. I see them on brevets worn by less affluent, hard core riders so I'd bet they're real good.

Buy shorts, or bibs, as small as you can without pinching anything. 300k of pinching shorts would be really horrid. 300k of loose shorts sliding around would be only slightly better.

Accept the fact that if you ride 12 hours or more some part of you is going to hurt. Do your best to minimize your suffering, but don't believe for a minute that you can eliminate all discomfort by buying the best or most expensive stuff.

I am extremely pleased with my De Marchi Contour Pro Plus bibs. I have older Assos Campionissimo, and these put them to shame. The straps are a touch long though, but it's only a nuisance occasionally. I've used them on several long rides including the Triple Bypass in the rain, and they were great, reasonably priced too.

Birddog

I'm on the market for shorts designed to be comfortable during realy long rides , 250 km +. I think that the type of pad is the main point , also tightness of lycra fabric counts. If you have some expirience on this field of performance cycling , please , advice me . I am on the way to enter " pave marathon " competitions ( rides from 200 to 500 km ) that mean I have to collect some decent gear . I use alu frame with carbon fork and Flite saddle . My rides were generally short , up to 4 hours - 120 + km .

Shorts are very much like saddles and shoes, in that what works well for one person may not work for others. You can take all the recommendations you want, but you have to try some shorts and see what you like.

Assos FI.13 with petroleum jelly (doesn't sweat off no matter how long you go). Done a number of 11+ hour rides with no problems to taint the experience so to speak.

Just narrowed my " targets " : Santini GENESIS 1 and Assos MiIlle . Tradition and most advanced materials . Thanks for your advices .

I like the Castelli gear a lot.

But I have a big ass.

Peter R.

I have fallen big time for Craft bibs - absolutely love them. Not so readily available (I think), but on long rides, with some Chamois Butt'r, they work great for me.

Assos all the way!

So , I have my new SANTINI Genesis 1 shorts ! After few long rides ( 100 + km ) have to say : very , very comfortable chamois , the best I tried and fantastic fit ! They disappear immediatly after wearing them , like the second skin , and they looks ! Pricey , 159€ on Italian eBay but ... no pain no gain ! Durability ? Will see , seamless technology is new but after long rids in very rainy conditions don't see wear issues , stay like a new .

Assos FI-Mille bib shorts