Contact points on the bicycle are hands, feet, and seat. What’s between you and your seat is Roadcycling.com’s business. On the menu is the men’s Pro-Line cycling short from Primal Wear.
Primal Wear says the chamois is an engineered 4T-MS pad with four way stretch. This led me to dust off the micrometer and measure it. The thickness was 12mm. I thought I would have to lower my seat but all was well without doing so.
The chamois was unique to me. The size is deceptive with the primary pad being red and the secondary pad black in color. It looks smaller than it is. It is wider than other brands. The secondary pad is actually made from two thicknesses. The entire chamois is cushioned rather than just layers of fabric. Shape is also important. The multi thickness pad contours to your inner leg. I am prone to chaffing and saddle sores on my left thigh. I believe the inner leg contour of these shorts substantially reduced this problem. During aggressive, nose forward riding, the chamois maintained its comfort with no sensation of pressure points or bunching. Breathability was good as there wasn’t excessive moisture from sweating nor was there heat buildup. I could concentrate more on spinning at end of the ride, instead of standing up because of soreness.
Noticeably different to me was the height of the short. It rode above my hips up to my belly button. I felt as though this provided more support in my lower back and stomach muscles. The height and compression seemed to mask my love handles. It didn’t hinder deep breathing. The inseam is 10” and the legs also rode higher than my other brand. The grippers kept the short in place without pinching. There was no bunching or folding on any of the panels. Primal Wear’s design of this eight panel short follows the body’s form. The short was snug, not tight. The contrasting colored flat lock stitching and the U-shaped stitching lines on the back added to the style.
After a couple of weeks of testing, I encountered a problem. On a commute home, the sore spot on my thigh became tender after a couple miles of riding. I was wondering why the discomfort returned all of a sudden since I had been pain free while wearing the Pro-Line. When I got home, I realized I was wearing another brand. I had mistakenly grabbed it because both the Primal Wear short and it have a red chamois. The next day, I was sure to wear the Primal Wear Pro-Line cycling short and rode pain free. This short promoted healing for me. There has been no need for cream, lubricant, ointment, snake oil, etc.
Comfort equals more enjoyable riding. This leads to better conditioning because of more training on the bike. As a satisfied owner of Primal Wear clothing for over seven years, I’m not surprised these shorts are noticeably more butt friendly than my other brand. Knowing Primal Wear’s craftsmanship, I expect them to last many miles.
