No the pad
Are the pads still stitched in? I gave up on the 400 mile short when the stitching around the pad chafed the hell out of me.
Pactimo Summit Raptors are my favorite. I just got a pair of the stratos 12 hr that I like, but might need a little more chamois time on the road.
My team’s race kit is Twin Six brand Standard Race model. Like them too, chamois is very similar to Pactimo.
Not sure why, but it seems 1 in 4 pairs of bibs the chamois stitching starts unraveling prematurely for me.
PM me for a 30% off pactimo code if you are interested.
My DeSoto 400 milers. I can wear them all day every day.
After so ma y posts here about how good they are over the years, I finally bought a pair just last week
Really likes the T1 wetsuits I got from then as well as their swim skin
But the shorts Yikes less than 30 minutes I had to take them off. Painful is the best way I can describe them
N=1 they were horrible.
Are they painful because they are tight?
I have a pair of the Riviera bib shorts. They were really tight when they were new, then after 10 or so rides they were better.
A year later they’re a little loose.
No the pad
Chipping in with my N=1
These are the best bib shorts I’ve ever owned. I’ve got two pairs that I’ve used for four years, and two more pairs that I’ve bought since then to put into the rotation. They all have a fair amount of compression (which I like) and I find the pad to be very comfortable on anything from one-hour to six-hour rides. I toss them into the washing machine and clothes dryer and they all still look like new. And they don’t cost an arm and a leg.
I’m not a fan of big pads. The Riviera is about the biggest pad I can stand.
So the ones you own that are losing their elasticity or with threads coming undone, are they not under a warranty?
The warranty on these sort of things is limited I find and, not to brag, but these bib shorts often find their way into my cycling wardrobe, on a complimentary basis from clients ( races/events and some brands that I work with in the business), so even, if there were a warranty of significance I would feel bad applying for it since I did not pay for the bibs in the first place!
Fleck is an honorable man
.
My current favorites are Rapha Core bibs. For me the chamois is perfect and the price is very reasonable. I also really like Rapha’s cargo bibs. I was skeptical of the fabric when I first got them as it doesn’t feel especially soft or comfortable to the touch, but once they’re on they are awesome. A little pricey but worth it IMO.
Brands I haven’t been thrilled with:
- Le Col - I like their jerseys but the bibs are too thin and flimsy. Maybe I just bought the cheap ones.
- Zoot - the inseam is too short and the legs ride up constantly.
- Wattie Ink Cargo bibs - I know Wattie isn’t around as a brand anymore but I mention this as I believe Eliel bibs are exactly the same (although I don’t own any). The fabric is really heavy and seems to hold moisture, so they get saturated and uncomfortable pretty quickly. I also found the fit inconsistent from one pair to another.
No the pad
Are the pads still stitched in? I gave up on the 400 mile short when the stitching around the pad chafed the hell out of me.
I’ve provided this precise feedback, in good faith, to De Soto who effectively (yes I’m exaggerating a bit for effect) suggested I was delusional and no one has ever mentioned such an issue.
My current quest and zen is a search for the Perfect Bib Shorts. Looking for great fit. High quality, and durability . . and of course comfort. Just looking for black - no need for fancy colors or logos!
On the quality and durability front - I’ll not name, names, but I have had brands recently last a year or two at the most and they are already losing their elasticity, and threads coming undone - some of these have been shorts I have bought and others comps from clients! Now before you jump on me, I’ve normally got 5 - 6 sets in rotation at any one time and the are washed on the gentle cycle and hung up to dry. So they are getting reasonably light use, and treated very well
Compare to some REALLY old Sugoi and Garneau bibs, that I have had for a very long time (10 years ??) that are now my indoor riding shorts, and these things are absolutely bomb-proof. Still have great elasticity. Fit still great. They are just all faded and don’t look that great and the chamois is kind of compressed - but functionally, and quality wise, they are still GREAT!
Hands down Assos. Their Equipe RSR, Equipe RS and Mille GTO C2 are my three favorites. But honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of their bibs. Quality, fit, fabric and pad is second to none in my opinion. Yes they’re expensive, but you get what you pay for. And for the price you’d expect nothing less. And you’d be right. The haters like to complain about the price, but after one ride, even they’re true believers.
Agreed. Assos hands down.
I will say their Equipe RS do have a seam pattern that is a bit unfortunate, kind of like X marks the spot. I still wear them, but not for rides over 80 miles long, or they literally rub a hole in me. Again, they’re still the most comfortable bibs I own, though.
The Mille shorts have a much better seam pattern. Other considerations are the Castelli Premio Black shorts. Chamois seems identifical to the Assos RS, and the fit on the legs is great; they don’t seem as durable, but they’re going strong as of now.
Sportful are also nice in terms of the lycra and construction, but the chamois is no where near as good as the Assos or Castelli Black.
Rapha fall apart, but otherwise are nice. nothing specialy about their shorts.
Desoto 400 mile: best seam pattern in the business: Zero seams criss-crossing the chamois which is so smart that it’s just stupid other manufacturers don’t do this! But, the rough seam around the chamois does cause some discomfort and interacts with wide saddles to wear holes in the shorts.
No the pad
Are the pads still stitched in? I gave up on the 400 mile short when the stitching around the pad chafed the hell out of me.
I’ve provided this precise feedback, in good faith, to De Soto who effectively (yes I’m exaggerating a bit for effect) suggested I was delusional and no one has ever mentioned such an issue.
My last ever ride in the 400 Mile short was 130 miles on a hot humid day. The stitching on the front of the pad nearly sawed my penis off. I like the compression, but that just contributes to the issue.
**Fleck is an honorable man **
Thank you for the kind words.
Just trying to be honest and up front. I am lucky and grateful that I do have decent amount of stuff like this that is given to me - from Client Races/Events where I have been Announcing, from Client Brands who I may have done some work for, and also from my amazing wife who via her Sponsorship with the Cycling Team she Races for get’s free kit to race in each year and orders an extra set for me!
Everything (like me) I ride in is very old. I haven’t bought anything for a decade except for a really bad bib set I bought from China (meh).
Turns out the indestructible pants I have are Sugoi and Pearl Izumi. The Sugoi were Canadian ( a bit garish) and Club team pants (modestly black) for Olympic distance which I have worn up to IM distance and the Pearl Izumi are the go to training pants I still wear 3 times a week in the basement…nothing kinky, just for riding.
. . . I do have a pair of Ostroy bibs I have yet to try, but these are more of a ‘fashion’ choice, I do not expect them to be amazing.
I have a pair of the Ostroy bib shorts. They look great, but beyond the fashion statement, am disappointed from a price/performance angle.
Specifically, the leg gripper parts are really tight and after a year+ of use, haven’t loosened up. Maybe for folks w/skinny legs it could work. I don’t have skinny legs nor do I have bulky sprinter thighs, but the grippy parts are waaay tight. And the material is fairly grippy. I like to slide back on the saddle to climb and other occasional shifts, and the shorts material prevent that.
My Ostroy’s say “Pretend Pro” on the rear… that’s fun, somewhat accurate, and usually elicits a chuckle from others.
Shorts I do like - DeSoto 400mile bib shorts. Damn, those are good.
I have a pair of these.
They’er junk. They look great but the fit is poor and I can see that they’ll wear quickly and poorly as well.
I haven’t worn them enough to prove that last statement only because the fit is so bad. Too tight in some areas while bunching in others. The straps are the most bazaar and cheap things Ive seen on any bibs Ive ever owned and terribly uncomfortable and the chamois and seems in and around the crotch chaff horribly.
Never again will I purchase a pair of these.
On that note Black Sheep makes the absolute best bibs on the planet. So comfy and the construction is top notch. I could wear them all day anywhere and forget i have them on. My go to pair has a million(okay less then that but a lot) miles on them and no sign of wearing out.
I was fully on the Rapha bandwagon but noticed the quality drop too.
I don’t know if this is related to Wal-Mart buying them out or not but it wouldn’t surprise me.
I don’t know if this is related to Wal-Mart buying them out or not but it wouldn’t surprise me.
Technically Walmart does not own Rapha. Two grandsons of Sam Walton who run a company called RZC Investments own the brand.
It is kind of ironic that a cycling brand when it was founded was known for the VERY high quality of it’s product, is by association, related to a company that is renowned, for selling things as low cost/price as they can - quality be dammed!
For quality and longevity, Assos hands down, all of their gear. I’ve gotten some really good deals from Chainreaction UK on Assos bibs etc. It just lasts forever.
Only caveat - the shorts tend to have a pretty thick pad, and some folks may not like that.
Castellated Superlagga. Super lightweight fabric. Super comfortable. In the 3-4yrs I have been wearing them I have not thought about them while riding.
Pair those with the climbers jersey and I am all set for Phoenix summers
To paraphrase an old bike adage: Price, Durability, Performance…pick two.
There are always tradeoffs. Ex. Assos shorts are durable and performant , but quite expensive. The thin fabric on the Castelli Free Aero shorts is great for hot days, but will wear out faster and is harder to stitch.
One brand to consider on the low end of the price spectrum is Prezwalski ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08Z31YDSZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ). They are $37 a pair, so I got some to spare my more expensive shorts (Castelli and Assos mostly) the wear and tear of trainer rides. The fabric is a bit thicker than the paper-thin Castellis and the stitching is excellent (no loose threads or unravelling seams after 2yrs of trainer rides and over 50 washes). The pad is surprisingly comfortable (not at Castelli ProgettoX2 levels, but not far off) and suitable for multi hour rides. At $37 (shipped) I was willing to take a chance on these, and have been very pleasantly surprised. The fit is US, not Euro, so a M fits like a L Castelli.
For quality and longevity, Assos hands down, all of their gear. I’ve gotten some really good deals from Chainreaction UK on Assos bibs etc. It just lasts forever.
Only caveat - the shorts tend to have a pretty thick pad, and some folks may not like that.
Assos, hands down, are comfortable and durable.
My original two pairs were ~12 years old, and the outer black fabric was looking a bit faded from sun and the lycra was starting to lose elasticity. This is after 12 years. Washing on delicate, hang dry, and 100,000 hard km’s.
I was still hesitant to retire them, so this summer I cut out the (faded, but still amazing) Assos pads and sewed them in to shorter-inseam tri shorts that I wear for indoor biking. Brilliant. So perfect.
I can already see signs of wear on the tri shorts after a winter of indoor training, but these Assos pads are comfortable AND indistructable.