Btwin Shorts/Tights

[458bhp]

Since getting back in to cycling over the summer and having worn a pair of football shorts over my padded under shorts it's about time I consider buying some lycra shorts and tights (for the winter). I don't want to spend too much, max of £40 on a pair of shorts and £50 on tights. Been looking at the DHB and Altura offerings on Wiggle, but wondered if the Btwin 700 shorts were a better/cheaper option from Decathlon? I don't think they do the 700 in tights though.

Any recommendations at this sort of price point?

[R1gtr]

If you are getting shorts get bib shorts as they will be comfier, no waist band cutting in to you as you lean forward.
I have DHB bib shorts and they are superb.

[idiotgap]

I had a birthday recently and asked for (and got) some planetx bib tights on the recomendation on another thread.
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLPXWISHBT/planet-x-w...
They were £21 at the time but £49 now, seem very decent, but it's not been cold enough for me to wear them yet and I've been off the bike for other reasons.

I'm sure another planetx sale will be along shortly.

[ukbabz]

I alternate between my btwin bibs and a pair of dhb ones. To be honest, I find the DHB ones a little more comfortable on shorter rides as it's softer but the longer rides tend to favour the btwin ones.

I think it's the 700 that have the blue pads in, all I can say is avoid the red padded btwin shorts as they don't last!

[tenohfive]

ukbabz said:

I think it's the 700 that have the blue pads in, all I can say is avoid the red padded btwin shorts as they don't last!

I was about to say how happy I am with my (red padded) B'Twin shorts (the 500 I think) - comfortable, good fit etc. But I've not had them long enough to comment on their durability. Doesn't sound promising.

[jjlynn27]

tenohfive said:

ukbabz said:

I think it's the 700 that have the blue pads in, all I can say is avoid the red padded btwin shorts as they don't last!

I was about to say how happy I am with my (red padded) B'Twin shorts (the 500 I think) - comfortable, good fit etc. But I've not had them long enough to comment on their durability. Doesn't sound promising.

Blue ones were recommended to me by member of staff with explanation that gel padding is better. Red ones are sponge (or whatever is called).
Very happy with blue padded ones. They were under £30 from memory.

[ukbabz]

tenohfive said:

I was about to say how happy I am with my (red padded) B'Twin shorts (the 500 I think) - comfortable, good fit etc. But I've not had them long enough to comment on their durability. Doesn't sound promising.

I've got a pair of the red pads that i'll still use on occasion on the MTB for shorter rides (2hours tops) but when on the road bike I found them to get too soft too quickly and get sore.

[petsco]

The 700 bibs (and shorts) are excellent. Can go 5 hours easily with no chaffing or pain.

[tenohfive]

ukbabz said:

I've got a pair of the red pads that i'll still use on occasion on the MTB for shorter rides (2hours tops) but when on the road bike I found them to get too soft too quickly and get sore.

I'm regularly spending 3 hours a day in mine (and I'm new-ish to cycling) and find them comfortable. At the price I paid - £15 - I can't fault them.

Decathlon are doing a pair of the FDJ bibs at £30 if you're a size L or above though.

[K1909]

I've got a 4/5 different pairs of btwin shorts, when I was trying to work out which range to go for, when I first started riding. Anything with the blue pad will be comfortable for long rides. All my bib tights have the blue pad and kept me warm throughout the winter. I wouldn't go near the orange pad though.

[Kell]

Planet X have a sale on at the minute.

I got some AGU bib shorts in the last sale and this time got two pairs of AGU bib tights for just £20 (for once it paid to be a fat git as they were only in XXXL. They're actually a little big for me, but for £20 I figured they'd be OK.

Not worn the tights yet as it's no where near cold enough - and I didn't wear tights at all last year.

I normally do about 15-20 miles a day (but in 4 journeys - due to trains) and they're fine for me at anything up to an hour. Not really tested them beyond that.

Edited by Kell on Friday 23 September 10:54

[458bhp]

Thanks for the recommendations, will be going to Decathlon on Wednesday, hopefully their sale will still be on.

As for the planetx winter tights/bibs on sale, unfortunately the sizes left would act more like a wind sail than anything else.