Which are the best high end cycling bibs? Ready, go… which & why? Assos, LG, Craft, Pearl Izumi, etc…
I can only speak to what I have. I love my Assos and PI. I absolutely HATE my Craft, the stretch is weird and they are are super low rise, the pad sucks too.
I can only speak for what I have too, DeSoto
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Best? Rapha, no contest. All of my assos have fallen apart, my Sugoi lasted much longer. But the Rapha are the most comfortable, well thought out piece of cycling clothing I’ve ever owned. Same for winter tights, jerseys, etc.
Assos are the bomb. Desoto for the money. I personally like Castelli and the higher end Hincapie stuff. I rarely get to wear the good stuff though since I’m generally in a team kit (now ChampSYS - not horrible, but in comparision …)
Assos are the bomb. Desoto for the money. I personally like Castelli and the higher end Hincapie stuff. I rarely get to wear the good stuff though since I’m generally in a team kit (now ChampSYS - not horrible, but in comparision …)
I’ll second the Castelli.
I don’t care what it costs (and it’s expensive), it’s comfy and the pad’s good for well over 100 miles.
I stopped joining Teams because I’d rather wear the best (and avoid the annual order which leaves my closet filled with cycling clothes I no longer wear. Instead, I choose Assos and buy fewer clothes, take better care of them, and enjoy my rides more.
I have Mille and Uno. Bang for the buck, the Unos are pretty nice, but the legs are a bit short for winter (can be a problem with knee/leg warmers). The Mille are FANTASTIC.
I break shorts into categories as follows (based upon my previous experience as a 24-hour solo guy):
Sub-2 hour shorts: Most “Team Kit”… Vermarc, Castelli (the Team stuff), Voler, Capo, Giordana…Decent for racing or quick rides, but rarely have a high quality chamois or more-importantly a cut which keeps the chamois in place.
2-6 hour shorts: Castelli (Body Paint/Y-Progetto), top-end PI (but these have never really fit me well), Santini Twist Gel (actually, these are pretty close to “all day” shorts, but they don’t have as refined a pattern which typically results in a bit more “resetting” of the junk), Rapha (same reasons as Santini).
All day shorts: Assos… Top-end chamois, quality compression, timeless style, well-designed patterns. Simply set your junk in place and don’t worry about it again. Castelli Body Paint also fits the bill.
Candidly, I’d have never considered Assos, but when I was living in Europe, I’d see TONS of cyclists on aluminum (gasp!) frames with Shimano 105 (double gasp! for the ST crowd) wearing Assos and high quality shoes (frequently Sidi)… So, I asked them about it. Most simply said that the contact points are far more important than frame components.
Beware… High end shorts such as Assos are just like bibs… Once you buy a pair, you’ll never go back.
As for the one element that will make ALL shorts more enjoyable… Assos Chamois Cream or DZ Nutz.
BTW, I met one of your athletes at NAB Coronado today.
Regards,
Puskas
I’ve come around to Castelli. I also like my Giordana.
Gonna try Rapha next. Heard great things. Assos is probably good, but for some reason I just think being all decked out in Assos gear would make me an asshole. I know, I know… It makes no sense. Blah blah.
Thanks for the input. Yes, I agree, better to spend more $ on one or two items then on a number of pairs of crappy items that you never want to wear. I have gotten rid of my junk bibs, which leaves me with 1 pair of nicer bibs & a pair of decent bibs, though I’m riding a lot now, so will pick up another pair or two. Once you find something nice, you never want to go back. I’ve used chamois cream for 2 weeks now, on the trainer, which helps a lot on the friction hot spots.
I must say, Assos may have done well with their product quality, but horrible product names. Gives people a headache just trying to figure out the differences b/t all of them…names like " FI.13_S5" & “TFI Uno S5” … you can’t exactly tell much about them or their differences in the name 
I would recommend you give the Desoto 400 mile shorts a try. I am pretty sure you will like them and if you don’t I believe that will take them back and refund your money.
I would recommend you give the Desoto 400 mile shorts a try. I am pretty sure you will like them and if you don’t I believe that will take them back and refund your money.
I HATE the 400 mile shorts.
Not because of the pad, but because of the drawstring waist. Pain city.
The Castelli bibs that I have are the Rosso Corsa type.
Between the Deva gel saddle and the shorts, it’s like my ass never left the house.
Top of the line, but so worth it.
and “the buck stops” at - Castelli BodyPaint! nothing better (used DeSoto, Castelli Free Aero, Sugoi RS)
I have the Biib shorts so no draw string.
That’s right, Assos are the only way to go.
I used to say Assos, but then I tried Capo Padrone and was amazed. Pricey, yes, but you get what you pay for.
Bob
I’d recommend the Assos Mille or give the upper end Gore bibs a try. The pad in the Gore is designed a bit different than many of the others, but it worked very well for me. Not as “wide” as the Castellis.
Giordana Body Clone FTW, the lack of pressure points makes it.
I have ridden tons of different bibs and here lately I am really impressed with the DeSoto 400 bib shorts: http://www.trivelosports.com/DeSoto-Mens-400-Mile-Cycling-Bib-p/400bib.htm . They are super compressive and the padding is out of this world comfortable. Prior to the DeSoto bibs I was set on the Sugoi’s.
Britt
Check out my online store: www.trivelosports.com
I’m really surprised no one mentioned CAPOFORMA. I really like their stuff fits me really well.Their bibs are of very high quality material and just plain soft. Great shams too.
Castelli is generally across the board very High quality and you pretty much can’t go wrong.
Never had any assos stuff or rapha. But from what people say its pretty great. Personally I like the look of Rapha stuff more than the assos stuff.
I actually wore pearl Izumi when I started cycling but, once you go italian it’s very difficult to go back.
Socks