A name common to many bicycle riders around the Globe… New to us however as we set out on a Motorcycling Adventure.
Wayne Gerdes -
CleanMPG - July 9, 2010
Canari Bicycling Shorts: The Gel Liner (MSRP: $30) -- The Shorts that make the unbearable journey a simple day’s ride and the impossible one, the trek you will talk about for the rest of your life…
The Motorcycle
We are about to embark on a somewhat unique adventure. The first, being the “Iron Butt”. The Saddle Sore. The 1,000 mile ride in < 24-hours… On a bike not known for such distances… Until now.
The 2010 Yamaha WR250X will be the Iron Horse that will take us 1,000 + miles from North of Chicago to Boston plus the 100 mpg Cross Country Challenge Attempt from Boston to Oregon as we make our way West. Way West. Back to Yamaha near LA. And yet something is missing?
Meet Canari
While we have any number of long distance bicyclists amongst the CleanMPG membership, the Canari lineup appears to offer that one item needed to make the WR250X journey possible. With all the planning, all the mods and all the determination put forth for a ride like this, only one thing could put a halt to a multiple 1,000 mile journey. That being a riders pain threshold. Finding a way to sit on an uncomfortable saddle for tens of hours on end. Then perform the same duty the following day. And the next. And the next... And doing so while protecting the more delicate parts of the anatomy.
About 30 years ago a woman named Kathy started sewing bicycle shorts and started her own little business, which grew over time. Canari = Kathy in Armenian.
In 2001 the Robinson family purchased Canari from Kathy and moved the business from San Diego to Vista (just North of San Diego). Today, there are 6 Robinson children, 5 who work actively at the business and 3 who love to ride!
Another unique feature about Canari is they manufacture some of their garments in-house including those that need to be custom built right in Vista, CA. When was the last time you heard of a California clothing company manufacturing within the state let alone within the country?
The Solution?
The Gel Liner: A pair of Canari riding shorts capable of performing a special double duty. Bicycle riding comfort is a given. The special duty is to provide long distance riding comfort for Motorcycle riders no matter their size, shape or form while on whatever bike they may currently ride. In our case, the Canari Liners should transform the Aerostich Darien Pants I ride in into long distance comfort wear while the WR250X moves us through State after State. In doing so, the Gel Liner will be tasked as “The Negotiator” between those special parts and that god awfully hard saddle. And hopefully I will end up no worse for the experience.
The Gel Liner incorporates a comfortable Gel pad in the bottom portion while featuring 4-panel comfort construction, lightweight and durable mesh fabric and a 1½" Canari signature waistband. It is the key that will hopefully make the difference.
Canari’s Gel Pad. Directly from the company’s web site, the gel pad is pure comfort. Using a unique gell filled system, shock is spread throughout the saddle region rather than concentrating in one specific area. A fluid barricade is formed that reduces skin irritation and absorbs shock, providing a superior ride.
Other Possible Suitable Canari Shorts
While the liner may be the perfect solution for our needs, others may find full biking shorts suits theirs for the times on bicycle or when removing your Motorcycle gear and taking a break. Canari’s Gel pad is incorporated into a number of other Canari riding shorts including styles for the purist bicycle racer to styling that can best be described as loose and baggy walking shorts for the Mountain bike crowd. And both are capable of performing said double duty when the need arises.
To see their entire lineup of comfort oriented bicycling gear, visit
Canari at your earliest convenience.
Early Conclusions?
While only an intro, I will let you how they work out. The difference between “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” is what sits between you and the saddle you’re stuck with while on the long and lonely road ahead.
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