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Tech review - December 27, 2003
Sugoi TechniFine Stretch Evolution bib shorts
Incredibly comfy
The Japanese word for incredible - which is one way to describe some of their more outlandish jersey motifs - Sugoi's products are known for their innovative albeit sometimes quirky design, quality and fit, often using fabrics never seen before on cycling clothing. And as Anthony Tan discovers, their TechniFine Stretch Evolution bib shorts were no exception.
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Around six or seven years ago, one of my cycling buddies told me about a pair of shorts he bought that used a material called "TechniFine". What really annoyed me at first was that he wouldn't stop talking about them: "Ooh, these are so comfy, they just feel so nice," he would say over and over again until I almost wanted to king-hit him. Underlying my abuse, however, was a certain curiosity and jealousness: I always wanted to be first to get the new stuff - especially if it was any good!
My deep psychological problems aside, I went to the my LBS (local bike shop) the next day to try on a pair of these TechniFine shorts. While the fabric exhibited a rougher exterior compared to standard lycra, they certainly did feel very nice against the skin, and the seamless chamois would be a big plus for those longer rides. After one ride, I knew why my mate was experiencing chamois ecstasy. Now it was I who wouldn't shut up.
Sugoi's latest and greatest offering, the TechniFine Stretch Evolution bib short, has managed to step up another notch since then.
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Up close
Thankfully, the short's TechniFine Stretch fabric hasn't changed. Superior breathability comes from using two different surfaces to accelerate moisture transfer, where, according to the blurb, "the smooth inner surface absorbs and pushes moisture to the breathable, open texture of the outer surface where it can quickly evaporate, spreading moisture from fibre to fibre with capillary action".
The main difference between old and new lies in the Ricaro RS chamois. Certainly the most advanced-looking vibration dampener/chafe-stopper for your butt I've come across, the main panel (there's both a male and female variety) is contoured, features an indented surface for fast moisture-wicking, and like my Sugoi's of old, has no centre panel. Underneath this, a thinner but highly distinctive red exterior juts out around the outside, and has been incorporated into the chamois to minimise inner leg friction when pedaling. But wait, that's not all! There's another two panels behind this: 10 millimetres of open-cell foam sits under the main panel to appease the big miles junkies, as well as a harder panel made from Polyfile for durability. Never has one chamois required so much explanation!
First impressions
On my first ride, I initially thought about raising my saddle height because it felt like there was so much material sitting between my tailbones and the saddle. In fact, it almost felt like I wasn't even sitting on a saddle, but rather a couch, leading me to believe for a moment I was back home watching South Park on TV (it only took one abusive motorist to fix that). Another thing I had to reacquaint myself with was wearing bib shorts; I used to be a fan until I got sick of having to take half my clothes off just to take a pee. You know, there's fines for indecent exposure...
Not entirely convinced about this newbie in my clothing collection, I went back to my old pair of Sugoi shorts on my next ride; if I was going to have to change my saddle height just for a pair of shorts, then forgetaboutit. But now ol' faithful started feeling weird and slightly uncomfortable - don't you hate it when that happens!
The problem then sprung on me: I'd been using the same three pairs of Sugoi shorts since 1999! Through gradual wear, I had become so used to the feeling of almost no chamois padding, I (or my bottom, to be more precise) forgot what it was like to ride with a new chamois. You see, the short's TechniFine fabric is so long-lasting, you don't encounter the problem of the material thinning out as with standard lycra, which was the way I used to judge when a pair of shorts should go to chamois heaven. So I bought two more pairs of Sugoi TechniFine shorts (with the standard Ricaro chamois) on the Web, and when they arrived, problem solved. That said, the Ricaro RS chamois in the Evolution bib shorts still takes a bit of getting used to.
As mentioned earlier, TechniFine is still Technifine, so breathability is excellent as ever and although impossible for me to prove, the fibres appear to dampen a certain amount vibration from the road to your leg, adding to the feelgood factor. I've also noticed that the shorts now stay down much better; already a higher cut than many Euro brands, the Sugois' of old used to ride up your leg, something that a certain Lance Armstrong would find abhorrent.
Miles fly by when you're having fun
Four months have now passed, and all is well - no more paranoia about my saddle height, and I'm even starting to ride a bit more now, although I think it's got something to do with summer and daylight saving as well as the luxury of three new pairs of top-quality shorts. I still prefer the non-bib variety, although it really comes down to personal preference more than anything else. And now that they've got the elastic leg-gripper issue sorted out, for me at least, there really is no parallel.
Recommended retail price: US$90.00
Pro: Excellent breathability, quality feel, long-lasting, one seriously
padded chamois
Con: Chamois takes some getting used to, bib shorts not toilet-friendly,
relatively expensive (but worth the investment)
More information: Sugoi's
website
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