Hello
looking for a bib short for longer rides, needs no to be comfy! .. so something with a bigger pad, maybe gel.... i tend wear my shorts thin on the back, so would be nice if fabric is a bit strong... height 190 cm, weight 85 kilo...
price range 80-120 quid..
Thanks !
Can only recommend what I know, but now have two pairs of Castelli Volos (I'm an XL, would suggest you need XXL based on height anyway, I'm 85kg and 183cm).
Pad is very comfy, construction otherwise seems great. I see Castelli also do an 'Endurance' short, suggests it might be better for longer distance.
My second go-to pair is some old Endura MT500 3/4s. Sturdier construction and still comfy. Endura now offer a range of pads so you could probably find something suited to the mileage you want to do.
yes, I looked for Endura 3/4 bib shorts/longs, don't think you can get them any more which is a shame!
They do a MT500 bib short which are a decent heft - not thin. I size up for ease - would be a Medium but settled on Large. Others to look at are the usual Morvelo and Rapha offerings. May need to wait for sales for those though - however they are very good - used my Rapha one on a 200mi Audax, was still comfortable by the end.
Galibier are pretty good
Santini shorts are my absolute favourite, better than anything else I’ve tried. So I recommend them! You can get them from these guys!
Try taking a look at RedWhite Apparel, designed from the outset for long-distance riders. Good customer service, too.
I agree with the vote for Galibier. Good value too. Now I was going to keep this to myself for fear of being branded a hipster or something but I've just bought some CHPT3 (David Millar) shorts in their sale. They are very, very nice. Made by Castelli, including their Progetto X2 pad. The styling is very subdued too, they don't shout "look what I'm wearing". They're pricey but I'll be keeping an eye on their website for future deals.
Lusso's Active Aero bibs won Cycling Weekly's test:
https://www.lusso.bike/collections/mens-bibshorts/products/active-aero-bibshorts
They are made in Manchester and extremely comfortable.
Sportful Super Total Comfort Bib Shorts
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/dk/en/endura-fs260-pro-bibshorts/rp-prod157689
i found these ... seems good!
planet-X supposedly have a sale on their bib shorts, though theyre seemingly the same price as they were earlier in the week, as I'm looking too. I had just dicovered the zipvit ones, which I find really comfortable, emailed them to see if they'd have more stock, only to find they are no longer doing their cloithing range..
Those Endura fs260 pros are good, Pad is excellent , got three pairs of the shorts myself, longest ride 165 miles, no sore arse
Another vote for FS260s here.
Tried others, but these seem to suit my nether regions up to and beyond 100miles.
Thanks guys, loads of good info here!
In the fashion of recommending what you have, the Rapha core shorts have a thick pad that work well for me on most saddles. Nice and comfy shoulder/back strap arrangement too. And they come in plain simple black.
They are made in Manchester and extremely comfortable.
I don't like mine at all. They size up too big and they're uncomfortable.
I find DHB and Howie's are both good.
I'm dabbling in the dark side and did my first century at the weekend. 8 hours in the saddle wearing Planet X Clubman Light Bib Shorts and I found them very comfy. £25 you can't go wrong. Back in stock on 15 August. I'm 78kg and 183cm so went medium. You'd be a large.
Decathlon top end ones. Best I’ve used and I’ve used many of the above.
These seem good and well under budget so I’d say worth a punt. I’d have recommended howies but they’re sold out
Bib-shorts are bit like decent wine. You think they're okay until you try better ones, then you realise that they're not as good as you thought. Rapha's top-end ones are, fortunately given the price, pretty good. Morvelo's standard ones are very decent for the price. The Rapha Core get good reviews, but don't seem to be durable. My experience of Endura FS-whatever was that the pad was sewn in the wrong place and Endura simply didn't want to know. DHB Aeron Pro with a stacked discount are good, but imo the Morvelo ones, with a discount, are better and don't cost that much more.
looking for a bib short for longer rides, needs no to be comfy! .. so something with a bigger pad, maybe gel….
I'd avoid gel. It's not breathable and the pad has a tendency to get somewaht soggy as a result.
Pactimo are the best I've tried, definitely superior to Rapha Pro Team.
The medium size work well for me at 193cm/76kg. Plenty of length if you go for the long leg option.
The RRP on them is expensive but they're often on sale or if not you can get 30% off with a discount code.
I had just dicovered the zipvit ones, which I find really comfortable, emailed them to see if they’d have more stock, only to find they are no longer doing their cloithing range..
shit. glad I bought 3 more pairs earlier this year. I reckon they were about half the price they should have been. The manufacturers 'own brand' women's shorts ended up bing about £60 a pair when we got some for L after Zipvit drapped them.
Another vote for the Endura FS260.
I have 3 pairs of varying vintage and consider them my 'best' shorts for any road ride. I've covered up to 100 miles in a day with no soreness/pressure/contact related problems!
https://www.montonsports.co.uk/mens-2018-pro-misaki-bib-shorts/
These are really nice.
I can get you 20% off as well.
Weird how we all have our favourites. I just don't get on with Pactimo, either their jerseys or their bibs. I bought some of their aero range last autumn, was ok at first, but after a few washes they look well used and the jersey hasn't really retained its shape, feels loose in the arms.
I use Rapha Pro Team, but wife recently bought me the Core with the pocket, very impressed by them. Doesn't feel any different than my Pro Team, seams maybe different but not £80 different. Pocket is unbelievably useful, never thought I'd find it useful - but very impressed. Due to crashes etc I don't have great mobility in my left arm, so getting into my jersey pocket when riding isn't that easy - now I don't need to.
I also have some DHB ones (3 quarter length), and also impressed by those. Comfy for long all day rides.
Big fan of the Morvelo ones, think I have the Stealth model. Easily my favourite pad.
If you get the Santini ones then I recommend you get at least XXL (they go up to something like 5or6XL) just for the length. I am 196cm tall and the XL which the Prendas guy recommended are ball crushingly tight.