Champion System ride with new Chamois

Leading custom apparel company Champion System is constantly striving to make improvements to its highly regarded range of cycling apparel so has recently changed its chamois supplier for its range of cycling shorts.

Champion System New Zealand Manager Hayden Godfrey says the selection process was time consuming and involved a lot of different people, opinions and factors.

“Champion System is always looking for innovative processes,” he says. “We identified some new technology in the way chamois pads were able to be produced and so the global technical team commenced a lengthy and thorough process, and with the involvement of our sponsored pro teams decided this was where we needed to go, certain it would be a huge step up for our already popular range of bib shorts.”

The new Champion System chamois are some of the first to use a new technology founded and patented by Italian company Dr Pad. Referred to as CUTTING Technology, the basic process starts with a single rectangular shaped high quality cycling specific foam from which a special mould is made for each chamois style – this mould is what determines the shape and contour of the chamois.

Dr Pad have commissioned specifically shaped moulds for Champion System use – no other manufacturer has these moulds so it is not an ‘off the shelf’ chamois anyone can buy.

“Champion System firmly believes Dr Pad chamois are the best chamois on the market,” Godfrey says. “Dr Pad believes in making everything in Italy. From the metal moulds used in production, through to the actual foams used are all sourced in the local region and produced in house one hundred percent which allows for excellent quality control and flexibility.”

Godfrey says that the change in supplier has also allowed Champion System to move away from previous thinking in regards to chamois requirements. “Our customers can now choose from a number of different chamois, not based on which one is better or not, but on a number of reasons that include the weight of the rider, their style of riding and personal preference, which is nothing to do with riding style or weight, just some customers just like a lighter or heavier density chamois, so we will let them choose.”

The new Champion System range will include two chamois for men, with the Granfondo replacing the current Endurance chamois and the Veloce taking over from the Performance model. The Donna Forte is a women’s specific chamois and there is a child chamois with specific shape and density to cater for smaller lighter riders.

“We all know that chamois are a very personal thing,” Godfrey says. “It is impossible to have every rider like a particular chamois but there are some key features, and if you can get them correct, they go a long way to creating a positive experience for the vast majority of riders.”