Pour des fesses heureuses

For happy bottoms

By Apogée Sports / March 14, 2024

With cycling season just around the corner, it's also that time of year when some people say: time to renew my cycling shorts!

Indeed, overused cycling shorts offer less and less comfort and protection for that very personal part of the human anatomy. Without becoming an expert in the field, here are some tips to guide you on what to look for when shopping for your cycling shorts this summer.

Before delving into details as precise as our ischial tuberosities on a saddle (also known as the "sit bones"), let's clarify two options you'll face: cycling shorts and "bibs" (cycling shorts with suspenders).

 

First, as these photos suggest, these two options will offer very different sensations during your rides. We can simply provide you with a short summary of the feedback offered for each. It's up to you to decide afterwards:
Cycling shorts:
  • Don't go as high up the back;
  • Are therefore less warm (also depends on the manufacturer's fabrics);
  • Sometimes slip down (depends on their size and fabric condition);
  • Move around more (depends on their size and fabric condition);

 

Bib shorts: 

  • Offer more comfort;
  • Remain more stable thanks to the suspenders (depends on size and fabric condition)
  • The suspenders and the extension of the shorts up the back make them warmer (also depends on the manufacturer's fabrics);
Obviously, these points are not exhaustive, can be very subjective, and depend on several other factors in some cases.
It becomes conceivable and essential not to be influenced by your first impression after trying on cycling shorts (or bibs) in a store. Their fit and feel are very different between standing in the changing room and sitting on a saddle. However, not all surfaces will offer the service of letting you get on a bike, and, frankly, underwear in cycling shorts defeats its entire purpose and comfort anyway!

That's why when you're looking for cycling shorts and a chamois, you can keep the following two basic ideas in mind:

- How your riding position can interact with the chamois. Do you ride on the road? In the mountains? The first position is more leaned forward and the second is more upright, which changes the pressure points on the saddle and your need for a more or less thick/dense chamois; and

- the average duration you plan to ride during your outings. This influences the thickness and material used to make the chamois. 

Indeed, each chamois pad is designed with a density adapted to ensure the best response to your comfort and protection needs, regardless of your cycling discipline.

At APOGEE, we trust Elastic Interface® chamois, they are the core of our cycling shorts and bibs. We have specifically targeted them for their ideal properties for long rides, i.e., 50km and more.

Our trust in them is also based on a long-standing cooperation between Elastic Interface® and the University of Padua and its Department of Industrial Engineering. The results of their research allow us to focus on 5 specific and essential parameters to consider when choosing your next cycling chamois, regardless of its manufacturer: 

1 - Its reliability
The chamois must protect the cyclist even after a significant accumulation of mileage.
Elastic Interface® conducts durability tests that allow to define how reliable a specific chamois is over time.

2 - Its breathability
The breathability properties of the chamois help the skin stay drier. The feeling of being "dry" is exactly what you need to feel comfortable while cycling. Not to mention that, conversely, a waterproof chamois that poorly wicks away moisture creates an environment conducive to irritation and even injury... the week sitting at the office the day after your big weekend ride could be even longer!
Beware of simplistic-looking chamois, without visible technical designations, as basic materials may be used and will not offer this characteristic. A chamois displaying a technical patent is more likely to have undergone a more extensive research process.

3 - Its elastic memory
As the interface between the body and the saddle, the chamois is constantly stressed during your ride. "Elastic" memory is what allows the padding to return to its original shape after being stretched, compressed, or otherwise deformed.

4 - Energy absorption
While cycling, the interaction between your position and the activation of the muscle chains necessary for pedaling creates pressure zones on the saddle, mainly in the perineal area. A high-performance cycling chamois must protect these pressure points. The more energy a chamois can absorb, the more it will protect you.

5 - Vibration damping
In conjunction with energy absorption, continuous vibrations from the ground are transmitted through the bike, sometimes exacerbating pain at pressure points. This also helps relieve stress on the pelvic bones and back, which will improve your comfort.
For points 3, 4, and 5, the classic test of pinching the chamois between your fingers can already give you a good idea of these important properties. The chamois should be relatively firm, spongy, with a soft fabric and offer resistance to the pinching action.

Therefore, beware of rather thin chamois, sometimes narrower, and a feeling of a cotton ball between your fingers! If it doesn't look technical at first glance, chances are it isn't. The quick test for characteristics 3, 4, and 5 then offers you some other elements to consider and limit your margin of error!

When in doubt, ask an advisor. Your bottom will thank you!

Elastic Interface® cycling chamois that we use are the result of innovation, R&D, and rigorous testing. Scientific research has led to the development of specific chamois for each cycling discipline. This is how they can offer you, in each case, the best possible conditions to improve performance and fully enjoy each of your rides.

Finally, the interrelationship between the fabrics used for the cycling shorts and the properties of a good quality chamois can offer a real revolution during your bike rides - guaranteed!  

Click here to learn more about our selection of Elastic Interface® chamois

If you're curious and want to learn more about our supplier, visit them by clicking here

And we wish you great rides this summer!

Tags: bib vélo, chamois, cuissard vélo, CyTech, elastic interface
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