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Inanity incoming - new to roadbike attire, like the idea of bibs staying up, but perhaps good shorts are as good? Any other benefits with bibs? Usually just go for short sub 1 hr rides.
Looking for something with
1. White suspenders (if going bib)
2. Mid thigh (shorter is better)
3. No huge garish logo (unless it begins with ST or SK of course..)
4. Not gigantic pad
5. Under £100
Prefer to buy from Europe, but open to getting something on Aliexpress..
Or just get Rapha. Core Bibs, white straps £85 https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/core-bib-shorts/product/COB01XXBWT. Job done, I have them and find they're great.
Endura pro sl of you can find some reduced. Come in different leg lengths and pad widths so easy to get good fit. Bibs much nicer to wear than shorts
Or just get Rapha. Core Bibs, white straps £85 https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/core-bib-shorts/product/COB01XXBWT. Job done, I have them and find they’re great.
Good idea - unfortunately all sold out.
Endura pro sl
Looks good, and you can get the correct pad width from knowing your sitbone spacing presumably?
Definitely buy bibs, roadie jersey's have a habit of riding up on shorts exposing your back. Also the bib helps to keep the shorts pulled up tight.
The rapha core cargo shorts are awesome. Never had an issue with exposed back or them not staying in place. And they have pockets on the thighs.
Found the Endura Pro SL Bib II in medium with medium pad (194 cm, 90 kg, 33" waist, 143 mm saddle so Endura recs medium) for £109 so far, hard to find the right size.
HUUB Core 2
Morvelo ones are nice.
another vote for morvelo. super comfy
+2 for Morvelo. Good bibs.
Morvelo smells like private labeled Chinese bibs to me (what to expect from a company started by two mates and £500 in 2008) and doesn't look as good as Endura or Rapha but cost the same? Not sold.
Granted, Rapha has a similar story.
Pactimo are my favourite bibs. They do different leg lengths.
Also good in the sub £100 bracket are Galibier and Lusso.
Defo bibs. I really like Sportful. Same parent company as Castelli.
FYI The majority of manufacturers all use the same company for the pads you just assume they make their own.
Decathlon, the top tier models. They’re cut a touch shorter than most others and are super comfortable.
And bibs, they just work. In fact they work for MTB as well.
Also good in the sub £100 bracket are Galibier and Lusso.
Galibier doesn't have a plain one, Lusso looks good but not that short!.
The majority of manufacturers all use the same company for the pads
Yes both bids and pads are AFAIK all made in Asia, but you typically see older brand like Endura have the better designs and tech than newer brands that just started private labeling existing products.
Sportful seems like a good value option but like rapha sold out, didn't Sagan wear those ;p
Shorts/pads are a bit of a personal fit thing. I would always choose a bib.
Mostly these days I wear DHB, they're cheap and I happen to have a DHB shaped arse, but they are a little bit looked down on as a "brand for newbies" I think...
I have a pair of Sportful Gruppetto that probably meet the more minimal pad/shorter leg requirement and can be had for £60-70ish depending on the logo/lack thereof, they do have a great big 'S' on the arse though, sizing is a bit on the 'Italian' side...
I did have some really nice Assos years ago if you can find those in budget the branding tends not to be too in your face and I found them fit good...
Come in different leg lengths and pad widths
well that is Endura’s reputation with sizing 🙂
A lot of the Morvelo kit is made by Bioracer in Belgium, and Bioracer make a lot of kit for other brand names too. It’s good kit and they’re good people to deal with.
Morvelo smells like private labeled Chinese bibs to me (what to expect from a company started by two mates and £500 in 2008) and doesn’t look as good as Endura or Rapha but cost the same? Not sold.
Made in Poland according to the label 🙂
I've found Madison's own brand "sportive" bibs are great and around £60 retail I think
Made in Poland according to the label 🙂
You're right, all their bibs are made in Poland.
Dechatlon has a seemingly decent one for £25 and are in stock, might as well try it as they pay for return shipping.
If I'm brutally honest unless you increase the length of your rides its all pretty irrelevant. It's only once you are riding for a couple of hours plus that the nuance between different brands makes any difference and quality shines through.
Fair point. I'm not too fuzzy as long as it looks good and fits - see how this one works out.
Nobody has said Castelli, so I will say Castelli because they are good and options under 100
Personally I rate Morvelo over Endura for the road stuff I've bought in the last few years on longevity, performance, and looks. Although looks wise it depends what you like; the Morvelo stuff can be a little loud but I prefer that over the boring.
Well I would say Castelli (they do have some under £100) but their current range doesn't have any with white bibs! Shop around online though and you may well get lucky. I have several pairs which I got at well below RRP - and I mean well below.
Anybody tried the rivelo bibs? Looking at the honisters on sport pursuit. Either those or dhb classics.
This lock down has turned me roadie.
I have some Morvelo Stormshield tights, they have the worst cut of any I’ve tried.
I’ve just bought some Rivelo bibs on SP. very comfy and seem nicely made. I reckon they come up on the small side. I’m usually at the top end of medium and large is a good fit in these.
as they pay for return shipping
On bibs?
I might be wrong but I assume that they won't take them back once you've unwrapped them for the same reason durex aren't big on returns.
Or just get the Aussiegrit bibs so you can use them for mtb. Normally £180, but currently 50% off everything. I’ve got the non bib version and they’re very good, but I’d rather have the bib version
Dechatlon has a seemingly decent one for £25
Those bottom of the range Decathlons are nowhere near as nice as the top of the range ones that lunge recommended.
Those bottom of the range Decathlons are nowhere near as nice as the top of the range ones that lunge recommended.
Go for the 500s minimum. If you want stuff that looks great though, whilst it's perfectly useable stuff it doesn't have the same finish as more expensive brands. The Decathlon design department was clearly transported into the future via time machines from the early 90s too.
Most stuff is probably longer in the leg than what you want to be honest.
Following with interest!
I'd love my Castelli Volos, the saddle genuinely seems to disappear underneath them, but the fit is wierd, one of the seams makes a determined effort to saw through my inner thigh ☹ It's as if the pad is just too narrow and puts the seam in the worst place.
Tempted by Assos, had read on here I think that the pad was wider?
Tempted by Assos, had read on here I think that the pad was wider?
The ones I have - I bought them years ago to solo 24/12 - have a wider, softer (though it's probably softened up with age) pad than anything else I've used, mostly Rapha Pro Team, DHB Aeron Pro, Gore Bike Wear, Morvelo. I don't know if current versions are the same though and it's comfortable in big, comfy sofa sort of way. Otherwise they're really well made and have lasted brilliantly.
I've not used Castelli shorts though. And I don't know how consistent Assos is with their pad dimensions. The ones I grab for proper long days are the Rapha Pro Team.
as they pay for return shipping
On bibs?
I believe so, plus they refund the shipping you paid so doesn't hurt to try.
The Decathlon design department was clearly transported into the future via time machines from the early 90s too.
Most stuff is probably longer in the leg than what you want to be honest.
Looks fine to me and people are happy with them, we shall see.
Assos on swissiconic clearance website, castelli also great... morvelo do a 30 day trial money back if you ain't happy so worth a punt? Just had a Jersey from them and am impressed 😊
I've got some Decathlon winter bib tights and the stitching around the pad can be quite irritating TBH, I end up smearing the stitching with chamois cream before a ride. I'm not sure if they were the top end ones though, around £40?
Chapeau! bibs work well for me on road and MTB. Depending on your size they have some on sale at the moment (L, XXL) for £51, or the newer versions for £90
Morvelo do 30 day no questions asked returns including worn items. Assume this means their shorts are immense (I love mine) and/or their markup is several hundred percent.
Would highly recommend their stealth classic shorts.
Have invested in the rivelo honisters. Will see how they go.
Are white suspenders are more aero than black?
Rapha core from post 2 now back in stock...