Leading candidates
DeSoto Forza 4 Pocket: http://www.desotosport.com/product/FTF1
Pearl Izumi PRO: http://www.pearlizumi.com/...ctCode-13111202.html
TYR Carbon: http://www.tyr.com/...inch-tri-shorts.html
Thanks for all the feedback. My LTS (Speedy Reedy Multi Sport!) is bringing in these shorts for me to check out. I’ll report back!
Edit: Replaced link to DeSoto Riviera with DeSoto Forza 4 Pocket
Scott
The thread lives! Recent posts remind me that I didn’t report back on my selections. I now have each of the shorts above, except I stuck with the DeSoto Forza 4 Pockets instead of the Riviera. Here is my feedback:
DeSoto Forza 4 Pocket: These are my go-to race short. The thin fleece pad is perfect for racing and I love the long (10") inseam and snug compression. The pockets are handy and the black short looks great with any top. I don’t train in them often, just because I prefer a bit of a pad for training.
Pear Izumi PRO: These are the most comfortable short in the lineup. They are my go-to training short for trainer sessions and bricks (I otherwise ride in bibs). I wear these on the trainer, on tempo days, on warm days or any other day when I know I will be working and don’t want to feel my shorts. The fabric is thin and light…feels like you are wearing the emperor’s clothes (nothing). As a result, the short has less compression than the DeSoto Forza but somehow still provide plenty of support. The pad is subtle but effective. I like the length (9.5"), but the look is otherwise a bit “flashy” for me as a race-kit. That said, I saw a guy in full PI PRO racing Victoria Half-Iron this weekend and he looked (and was) fast. Probably the best all round short.
TYR Carbon: These are the least comfortable short in the lineup. The fabric is just as advertised and reminds me of the “paper” suits we used for swim meets in '89. That fabric is quite water resistant (dry almost immediately after getting out of the water) but is also relatively “stiff” compared with the PI and the DeSoto. As a result, I find the shorts a bit binding in the waist when I am on the bike. Otherwise, they are solid: great pad, nice length (9") and a versatile look. While they are my least favorite of these three shorts, that is just based on my personal preference. This is also a top end short and quality gear.