Bibshorts recommendation

[TheFungle]

The time has come to buy a new pair of shorts, struggling to justify my first choice of Rapha classics (would much rather cheaper shorts and a new jersey) but unsure as to what to go for at around the 70-80 mark.

Much prefer understated styling which would appear to rule out Castelli, don't get on well with Endura, LBS have Etexondos at 89 but they appear VERY flimsy.

Currently wearing DHB Aeron Pro's which have been pretty good although the DHB isn't quite perfect for me, I feel as if I should be an inch taller for them to fit perfectly. I also have a pair of 'emergency' shorts which I had to buy from a random shop which were £60 and sre terrifically comfortable.

So to summarise, I want Rapha style and quality at half the price

[Disco You]

What're your dimensions?

[TonyHetherington]

TheFungle said:

So to summarise, I want Rapha style and quality at half the price

eBay? Lots of people sell Rapha stuff on eBay as it holds price very well (watched a pair of bibshorts go for £80 last night). Give them a good scrub, choose right and it may be a very good purchase?

[TheFungle]

Disco You said:

What're your dimensions?

That's a bit personal, I hardly know you

32" inside leg, 34" waist, slightly long in the back, I should be a large in most UK focussed brands.

[TheFungle]

TonyHetherington said:

eBay? Lots of people sell Rapha stuff on eBay as it holds price very well (watched a pair of bibshorts go for £80 last night). Give them a good scrub, choose right and it may be a very good purchase?

TBH, and especially for bibshorts I'd pay the extra, with the 15% code they are £130 which still leaves with the dilemma of one really good pair or two cheaper pairs.

For those who have the Rapha (and other high end shorts) I'd be interested to hear how the pad holds up, do they still feel as good after 5000 miles?

[Disco You]

TheFungle said:

Disco You said:

What're your dimensions?

That's a bit personal, I hardly know you

32" inside leg, 34" waist, slightly long in the back, I should be a large in most UK focussed brands.

Height kinda matters too...

I'm 32" inside leg and 31" waist, 6' tall and wear a DHB medium...

Feel free to pm me more measurements too

[TonyHetherington]

I've got the classics (bought from Rapha in April time I think it was) so they've not done mega mileage, but enough. I've spent some long days in the saddle in them and I've actually felt them get comfier, I think. I really highly recommend them. I haven't abused them much though so don't know how they'll hold up after lots of use, wouldn't like to say.

[TSCfree]

The best bibs I've owned are Assos FI Uno, the chamois is amazing. However I really needed a second but could justify spending the same again. Went for the SMS Santini Bibs from Prendas which were on offer at £40. Quality wise there's not much in it, the Santini bib has a gel tech chamois which is slighly firmer but that's it.

[anonymous-user]

I bought some Continental bibs made by Cuore recently which are nice and comfy, pretty cheap too at around £45. I htink they were from CRC. The pad is standard for that sort of price, multi-density foam with channelling but the panel cut and fit is very good.

[WinstonWolf]

TSCfree said:

The best bibs I've owned are Assos FI Uno, the chamois is amazing. However I really needed a second but could justify spending the same again. Went for the SMS Santini Bibs from Prendas which were on offer at £40. Quality wise there's not much in it, the Santini bib has a gel tech chamois which is slighly firmer but that's it.

I was just looking at these but might go for the Mille instead. Anyone owned both?

[BadgerBenji]

Not tried Rapha, can't get past the pricing, but getting good service from Castelli Due Bibs and Polaris items, all pads still good, only issue is some slight abrasion to the stitching from very muddy cross races, but never found a pair of shorts that haven't suffered this.

[Rouleur]

Assos for £90 delivered. Unbeatable.

http://www.assosfactoryoutlet.com/men/shorts/t-pro...

[itsnotarace]

Rouleur said:

Assos for £90 delivered. Unbeatable.

http://www.assosfactoryoutlet.com/men/shorts/t-pro...

Those are the race cut ones and the pad is a bit thinner. The Assos equivalent to the Rapha Classic bibs are the Mille s5's

FWIW I've had a pair of the Classic bibs for 2 years and no problems, not even a pulled thread

[E38Ross]

Rapha stuff seems really quite expensive.... About the same as Assos, are they even more expensive than Assos?

I've got an Assos jersey and I will admit it is very, very good quality. Not sure if it's better than my Castelli Garmin Sharp Climbers jersey though.... Time will tell.

Are Rapha "better" than Assos? Generally seems than Assos are more expensive than Castelli....

[TheFungle]

E38Ross said:

Rapha stuff seems really quite expensive.... About the same as Assos, are they even more expensive than Assos?

I've got an Assos jersey and I will admit it is very, very good quality. Not sure if it's better than my Castelli Garmin Sharp Climbers jersey though.... Time will tell.

Are Rapha "better" than Assos? Generally seems than Assos are more expensive than Castelli....

From a pure performance PoV I'd say Assos have the edge but for me I really, REALLY like the whole Rapha design ethos, if not the price tag although I don't grudge paying for kit that works.

[Jimbo.]

Castelli stuff is OK, although I'm finding the "gripperless", err...leg grippers of the Velocissimo shorts are losing their elasticity. Not cool

[NitroNick]

E38Ross said:

Are Rapha "better" than Assos? Generally seems than Assos are more expensive than Castelli....

I bought a pair of Rapha pro team shorts a month ago, first time I tried them on there was a rip along the seam. Very disappointed.
Anyway...I sent them back and they were replaced a week later.
Wore the new pair twice and noticed a different seam had ripped.. so now they'll be replaced again...
They get 1 more chance to get it right before I take a refund.
I've never had any issues with Castelli or Assos.

The one positive is that rapha's customer service is excellent.

[E38Ross]

as said, i have an Assos jersey that was just given to me (a neighbour was bought it as a gift but it didn't fit....saw me on my bike one day and the next day brought it round don't think he knew the value!) and i've been really impressed with the quality. I'd buy more Assos stuff if it wasn't so darned expensive.

http://www.assos.com/en/19/singleProduct.aspx?prod...

not a huge fan of the design but it's such a comfortable jersey and the material quality is superb. depending on the cost of this bike fit service, may treat myself soon.

i could do with new shocks and springs on the rear of the E38 after replacing the fronts last week at £650 though

[dontdobends]

For £60 and 10,000 miles later the Lusso pro gel bibshorts are still super comfy and the insert hasnt gone flat, it got best Bib shorts review in cycling Active against the likes of Enduara, Pearl Izumi, DHB and Gore. Not sure why some of you guys have to buy over priced kit thats made in the far east, these shorts are every bit as good as the Assos that I have and the money saved I bought myself a set of tyres and innertubes
They have just got a review in Cycling plus for best buy in S/S cycling Jersey even though the price stated is wrong but at £40 you cant beat a bit of British made kit
www.lusso-clothing.co.uk

[TheFungle]

Just been into the LBS and they have a fine selection of Etxeondo shorts at £90, £140 and £180. The ones at £140 seem very nice and would appear to be their version of the Rapha classics.

Any experience's of them at all?