Just been out for a ride in some fairly new bib shorts and found them very uncomfortable despite them being fine originally. I appreciate things wear out but seat pads seem to go very quickly. So, is the best plan to buy cheap and throw away often or shell out for a premium short ? If the latter which short have people found to stay comfortable longest? ( the ones I have just chucked were a well known mid price brand)
When I first started doing more cycling in 2017, I was shocked at the price of some bibs and wouldn't spend over ~£40.
I then bought a pair of Castelli (Endurance 4?) around '20 with the top tier Progetto X2 pad for ~£65.
I've now also got two other pairs of Castelli bought no sooner than '22, all still in great condition, despite a fair bit of turbo use plus bit of outdoor and super comfy.
Another vote for Castelli bibs, always buy last season on Sport Pursuit or Merlin. I have 3 pairs now and happy
Rapha Core, often on sale at reasonable price. I have 3 pairs, very comfortable
Assos are probably the best quality bibs I've used. Expensive but they last well.
I appear to have a Rapha shaped arse. Core or the regular ones, on sale are pretty good value.
I also have a Fat Lad at the Back shaped arse. Or at least the more forgiving waistline helps. The brand closed last year but Amy took the rights to Cycle Wear Central.
I like the Ale bibs, seem comfortable for me and I'm not of the racing snake build……
A budget option for me. Decathalon. Many years and kilometers service and teh pad is very comfy and intact.
Planet-x work for me and seem to last...I think I tend to buy 2 or 3 pairs when they are about 22 quid...haven't bought any in the last 3 years though as all the pairs I do have are lasting and wearing very well.
Agree with Assos being long lasting, they do a good repair service to although I expect an out of warranty pad replacement is probably not much cheaper than new shorts.
For a "just accept they're disposable" option then the more expensive (7/8 hour pad) YKYW bibs on AliExpress are decent
Bioracer Epic for me, I've got two sets and they are still the best bibs I own, good pad, compressive fit. I keep thinking they must be ready for the bin considering how old they are, but they are no less comfortable.
They make some of the Stolen Goat stuff too.
Castelli for me, the pads are very comfy and last years, normally buy last year’s model at a discounted price
Other option is Sportful (owned by Castelli) they are basically Castelli but made with slightly cheaper materials, slightly less design features and made in a cheaper country
I had the Planet X 365X bibs before, they were comfy but the pad was massive and felt like a nappy!
Other option is Sportful (owned by Castelli) they are basically Castelli but made with slightly cheaper materials, slightly less design features and made in a cheaper country
That's interesting! I like the general cut and features of my Sportful bibs, but am beginning to wonder if something about the chamois covering is causing more chafing that I would otherwise expect. Will experiment with a different short next time I'm out...
As an ex-roadie I've a collection of Castelli bibs, some going back quite a few years which are still performing well. I use many of them under my mtb shorts these days. Very comfortable.
Unfortunately the expensive ones generally do last a LOT longer. I have Castelli bibs from 10 years ago that are still fine on the turbo - the back material around the pad is like tissue paper, but the pad itself is still comfortable.
What is it that makes pads last longer? Is it the material, the construction, thickness etc? Why are they more expensive?
*most* manufacturers don't make their own Chamois, they buy them (or spec something custom) from someone like
https://www.elasticinterface.com/en/technologies/chamois/
who list Gore, Specialized, 7Mesh, Shimano and Assos amongst their customers.
Part of the problem is some issues don't show up for years. removing stitching from pads removes one of the things that can rub. But if the glue fails it all falls apart. My most comfortable shorts are my ancient Zipvit branded ones. the chamois are still comfortable at the point where the elastic is failing in the lycra. But I've never found the identical pad in other shorts. We even went as far as working out who'd made them for Zipvit but the shorts we thought would be the same, from the same factory, weren't anything like as good.
The real problem is that you need can't work out whether somethings comfortable for long rides until you've ridden it (at which point returns are out, and shorts are expensive). And you can't work out whether they have longevity until time has passed, at which point the manufacturers have 'updated' their shorts and they no longer have the same fit and pad.
Galibier look interesting - direct to consumer, use high quality factories. I've not tried yet, but the shorts K got from them were a super strange fit and didn't work at all. Their gloves are all great.
It was the cheapest Galibier shorts that prompted this thread. Their more expensive models have a different chamois which presumably is more comfortable. I have to agree with b33k34 though, new shorts usually feel ok for the first ride and only show problems when it is too late to return them
It was the cheapest Galibier shorts that prompted this thread. Their more expensive models have a different chamois which presumably is more comfortable.
Not Galibier but that's my experience elsewhere. I bought a few pairs of Pearl Izumi a few years back in the post covid selloffs. The top end ones are great. I thought one model down in their chamois range would be fine too (PI, still expensive at RRP) but they absolutely are not for me.
I have Altura indoor shorts for the turbo, they have an elastic interface chamois which is pretty good too. But I have found that one of if not the most important thing for comfort is using minty arselard for the turbo and long outdoor ridese
minty arselard
on the question of minty arselard, what are peoples preferences these days? My last purchase was BeElite but that went with Evans (or was it CRC?). And that was after something Planet X used to stock became unavailable.
(I notice RoadCC still recommend the BeElite as best value in their '2026' article without actually checking you can still buy it....
Both better, and better value than Assos IME.
on the question of minty arselard, what are peoples preferences these days
I know that Muc-Off lubes get short-shrift on here, but their arselard (not proper minty) seems to stop any chafing
what are peoples preferences these days?
Veloskin or Assos. The Assos definitely works better for me personally, but I save it for the longer rides due to cost!
on the question of minty arselard, what are peoples preferences these days
I know that Muc-Off lubes get short-shrift on here, but their arselard (not proper minty) seems to stop any chafing
Agree, the only Muc-off stuff I buy are the big bore lite valves and the chamois cream. Works well, is pretty cheap as seem permanently on sale, can get it next day via Amazon in an emergency and comes in various sizes inc. single use sachets that can be handy on long wet rides or multi-day trips.
Giordana FRC bib shorts and Assos cream for me when going for a big day out.
