Pearl Izumi: Project Uranus

By: T.C. Worley

Alright, this is no April’s fools joke —it is wildly imaginative and heavily tongue-in-cheek, but a legitimate product launch just the same. I am speaking about the newest arrival to the Pearl Izumi family of bicycling products—Project Uranus and the Pro 4-D chamois.

Pearl Izumi claims the 4-D was “tested in the most hostile environment: Uranus”. Their designers “used computer pressure map testing to pinpoint the exact location,
thickness and density of our chamois padding technology to key contact
points for optimal short and long-distance riding comfort,” says lead director of Project Uranus, Cache Mundy. Or in layman’s terms: They studied butts and used computers to make your riding shorts more comfortable.

Though they did not truly go to space to test the new chamois, I believe their promotional video is out of this world. Regardless of your feelings of lycra on men, you should go watch this video. And if the product is as good as the marketing, head to their website to grab a pair for yourself.

—T.C. Worley