Bib Shorts
Author
Discussion

Slaav

Original Poster:

4,370 posts

239 months

Wednesday 20th April 2011
quotequote all
Apologies in advance for the mental image this may propogate but I am thinking of taking teh plunge and going for some quality bib shorts.

Any specific recommendations? Especially wrt the pad.

Currently quite like the gel pad on my Altura 6 or 8? panel shorts.

Figure that people rave about Bibs so although VFM is an issue, will happily stretch to bigger budget if actual jump in quality and comfort.

Any ideas anyone?


As always, thanks in advance

Jimbo.

4,213 posts

218 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
quotequote all
Giordana Tenax Carbon! £72 from CRC. Fit is on the small side (order a size up from what you'd normally have), but they're cut *perfectly*, the materials are nice, and the chamois/pad is spot-on.

Rouleur

7,415 posts

218 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
quotequote all
My current Castelli shorts are the best I've ever had by far, and well worth the extra cost over Endura/Lusso/Giordana etc

itsnotarace

4,685 posts

238 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
quotequote all
You need to spend north of £100 to out-do these I reckon

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-aeron-cycling-bib-shor...


hughjayteens

2,029 posts

297 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
quotequote all
I splashed out (?!) on some Assos F1 Mille bib shorts and they are like sitting on an armchair! Expensive, but great value.

itsnotarace

4,685 posts

238 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
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Hope you wiped it off

Garlick

40,601 posts

269 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
quotequote all
Rouleur said:
My current Castelli shorts are the best I've ever had by far, and well worth the extra cost over Endura/Lusso/Giordana etc
Same here. Mine are very nice to wear, although the shorts are better than the rider smile

UpTheIron

4,058 posts

297 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
quotequote all
My Castelli shorts are way better than my Wiggle/DNB ones, I sit here typing this feeling the 40 miles I did yesterday whilst the Castelli ones were in the wash!!!

Uriel

3,244 posts

280 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
quotequote all
Any Castelli with the Kiss3 pad or better (body paint are supposed to be the nuts, but I've never actually tried them), Rapha (I believe the top DHB bibs have the same Cytech pad, but are only available in a loud white/black colourway) or any ones by Assos IME.

If you do any amount of riding, then your gooch is worth the extra expense, even if at first it seems preposterous to spend that much on a pair of lycra shorts.

Edited by Uriel on Thursday 21st April 11:56

Zippee

14,121 posts

263 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
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Northwave Vertigo for me at the moment.

jodypress

2,102 posts

303 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
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When doing long rides (2hrs+ in the saddle) the difference Castelli and Assos makes is unbelievable.

I would have laughed if someone had suggested a couple of years ago spending £100 on bib shorts but not now. Totally worth it.

Slaav

Original Poster:

4,370 posts

239 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
quotequote all
Uriel said:
Any Castelli with the Kiss3 pad or better (body paint are supposed to be the nuts, but I've never actually tried them), Rapha (I believe the top DHB bibs have the same Cytech pad, but are only available in a loud white/black colourway) or any ones by Assos IME.

If you do any amount of riding, then your gooch is worth the extra expense, even if at first it seems preposterous to spend that much on a pair of lycra shorts.

Edited by Uriel on Thursday 21st April 11:56
Thanks to all and in particular this post as this one has gone some way to narrowing things down. Much appreciated.

Uriel

3,244 posts

280 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
quotequote all
When it comes to bibs, I think if you're going to spend much time in the saddle, you either need to find a giant bike shop that has all the main brands in stock so you can have a poke and a try on or you're pretty much reduced to deciding the max you can spend and go for the one in that price bracket from the brand you like the most with the design you like the most. After that it's just a very expensive game of trial and error...much like finding a saddle to suit you.

It's not like buying a frame where you can research specs, read reviews, compare weights/materials/dimensions/wind tunnel figures etc. Very few of the brands share a chamois and they all have their own 'special' anatomic cut that's supposedly great, but it's all meaningless waffle that doesn't give any benefit in making an objective decision.

BTW, Ribble and Wiggle both have pretty decent offers on bibs at the moment.

shalmaneser

6,420 posts

224 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
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Endura all the way.

Gooby

9,269 posts

263 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
quotequote all
shalmaneser said:
Endura all the way.
There are 2 types of endura - "basic" and "expensive" Both are very good, expensive is better!

shalmaneser

6,420 posts

224 months

Thursday 21st April 2011
quotequote all
Gooby said:
There are 2 types of endura - "basic" and "expensive" Both are very good, expensive is better!
He's not wrong.