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Are dhb Aeron the best bang-for-buck shorts out there? Any alternatives?
They'll need to be up to 100 milers.
They're good value and fine for 100 miles. Don't buy the ones with a white band around the leg; it fades horribly.
Altura ProGel are a very good budget choice.
I was looking at the red trim 😀
My aerons did 254km straight out the bag zero complaints
+2 for Aerons, have some of the old ones in shorts and 3/4 - great things!
Thanks for the input. Sounds like the ones to go for.
I've just bought a second pair of planet x proline bibs, they're lovely. Feel well made and really supportive with a good pad. Paid £20 a pair too.
Yes, really good. Has the excellent cytech pad that you could pay a lot more for.
Decathlon 700 series for me. Done 250 mile rides in them and they work. Cheap too.
Got some 2xu and Louis Garneau ones that are super comfy, all picked up in sales
I got the ASV Race from wiggle a couple of weeks ago, and they seem identical to the Rapha Cores.
50% off Giordana at Bikerooms. Look at the carbon FRC shorts.
I have various DHB bibs, and will probably get myself a new pair of Aerons soon, but every single pair I've had have had the stitching come away around the saddle at some point. The cheaper ones in particular have done this pretty quickly. The Aeron Pro or whatever the equivalent was when I bough them have lasted me 3 years now before stitching came away.
Quick fix mind. Just a bit annoying. Their budget ones (I forget the name) only lasted a handful of rides.
Has anyone tried the Decathlon offerings? The Aerofit bib shorts seem to get good reviews.
Has anyone tried the Decathlon offerings? The Aerofit bib shorts seem to get good reviews.
I have. They are very, very good indeed. The Aerofit or 700 series stuff is top class, they're my go to shorts, better than some I have costing 3 times as much. I've done 200 mile plus rides in them with no issue at all. Good review of them in road.cc today too.
Using the PX ones, they seem ok for the monies...
Cheers, Steve
@ lunge: That's where they came to my attention.
I've had DHB before and they have lasted well. However the pad starts thin and gets very thin. For me this started causing issues downstairs. I'm now trying slightly more expensive sportful ones, which I cut slightly better around the nether regions, and the pad is thicker.
The actual fit of the rest of the short is pretty similar ie both very comfy
Decathlon user here. Wasn't expecting much but very good.
As FunkyDunc says, and as in my similar thread, the DHB Aeron's are great for a few hours but can get a bit achy on longer rides.
[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/new-road-bibshorts-endura-fs260-prosl-any-good ]other thread[/url]
Merlin do own brand bibs, the medium price ones are power lycra and a cytech pad for £30 which could be a win, tempted to get a pair to try
I have a pair of the Merlin ones and have been pretty impressed. Though they are my first pair of bibs no nothing to compare to! Quality seems good, sizing chart was pretty accurate as well.
Decathlon bib shorts here, very comfy and great value... Seem well made too...
Im not as much offering advice as willy waving. I did a 700km ride (edinburgh to london) on saturday snd a bit of sunday. Dhb shorts were good although i wore a few pairs over 32 hours.
Seruously though, i like them and im sure they use the same cytec pads as premium stiff
After 700km I'm not sure I'd feel capable of willy waving, no matter how comfortable my shorts!
Aeron - great. Castelli - great. Rapha - great. Have some cheap ones from DHB which are shit and are only used on the turbo.
^^^^ how you find the sizing on the Rapha ? I recently got a pair of their Classics in Large, which is as per size guide but they are so stretchy I might try a medium... 5ft 10.5, 34 waist, 12 stone 2....
The Large ones seem to wrinkle a bit around thigh area, but maybe just the material
I've had DHB before and they have lasted well. However the pad starts thin and gets very thin.
I find the thin Aeron pad is more comfortable than the thick gel pad in my Lusso bibs. I expect it's much like saddles - personal preference.
In terms of return on investment, [url= http://tenn-outdoors.co.uk/products/tenn-mens-coolflo-padded-cycling-bib-shorts ]these bib shorts by Tenn[/url] have been absolutely superb.
Well-placed padding; good fabric and stitching... Mine have now done 1000s of kms without a snag.
^^^ £25 is hard to argue with.
iainc - Member
^^^^ how you find the sizing on the Rapha ? I recently got a pair of their Classics in Large, which is as per size guide but they are so stretchy I might try a medium... 5ft 10.5, 34 waist, 12 stone 2....The Large ones seem to wrinkle a bit around thigh area, but maybe just the material
Regarding Rapha, I recently bought some core bibs, tried them on in the shop beforehand.
I found the medium to be the best fit I'm 6ft, 32" waist, 10 stone 5. My castelli bibs are all large (due to the straps).
thanks for that nathb, sounds like I might be in the right ones with Large then - a fair bit wider and heavier !
They're good value and fine for 100 miles. Don't buy the ones with a white band around the leg; it fades horribly.
I use them for commuting and done a few big rides in them, never noticed any issues. I have the ones with the white band round the leg, what do you mean 'fades horribly', what does white fade to? My white bits are still white, they haven't faded to grey [i](One man on a lonely platform
One case sitting by his side[/i] - some of you may get this some won't have a clue:)) or anything.
Thanks for the input. I've taken a punt on the B'Twins: If they dont fit then I may be back 😀
Several pairs of Decathlon/BTwin here - they are great, I did RideLondon last year in a pair with no issues.
However, just bought a pair of Rapha Classics (very cheap from a mate who used to work for Rapha) and they are lush, not sure they are worth about 4 x the cost of the Decathlon bibs though!
Aldi bib shorts have been worn more than my Gore ones, and compare very favourably to them
Hundreds of miles cycled in them (worn for commuting)
I got the ASV Race from wiggle a couple of weeks ago, and they seem identical to the Rapha Cores.
They both use [url= http://www.elasticinterface.com ]Cytech Elastic Interface[/url] pads, which are superb. For that reason alone the dhb ones are very good value. Out in some Aeron Speed bibs last night, ridiculously good quality for 70 quid.
I'm a huge fan of Sportful bibs. Love the TC Pro pad. The R&D ones are superb. No leg grippers on the hem - you wouldn't think it would work, but they stay put all day.
I've got a pair of those DHB ASV Race bibs arriving today to use for training and commuting. Hopefully they're as good as this thread thinks. 🙂
Sportful are very good, but prefer the pad in the top end dhb ones. Pads a bit like saddles though, find one that works for you and stick to it, experimenting can be a painful process!
Rapha Classics both going back here, Large ones suffer from legs riding up and wrinkling while Mediums are a bit tight on the leg grippers 🙁
Rapha Core are pretty good but will compare with Assos Equipe before deciding which to keep. Also have some ASV Race coming on back of this thread !
Decent road ride today with the DHB ASV Race ones - great fit and very comfy, hard to see past these I reckon....
I've just done 120km in my new B'Twin Aerofit bibs and I can confirm they are very comfortable. The caveat is that they are my first set of bibs, so nothing to compare them too, but the shorts themselves didn't move at all and the upper part was barely noticeable, and overall they are an excellent fit. The pad is comfortable, without feeling nappy-like.
I do need a new saddle, though, as I just can't seem to settle into the Specialized I've got.
I used my pair of ASV race bibs for training last night. I'm really impressed. Saying "they're good for the money" would be doing them a serious disservice. They really are excellent bibs. The fit is good. The fabrics are excellent. The legs are nice and long.* The fact that they cost less than half of what most brands average bibs cost is just the icing on the cake.
* I'm 189cm, 76Kg, and bought a large. I normally have the problem that anything that fits my hips and waist only comes half way down my thigh.
^^^ yeah, not sure I will keep the Rapha Core ones after today's try of the DHB ASV Race ones as the DHB's seem pretty much perfect. The Rapha are very comfy in the house but the leg grippers gap a bit off the bike, which seems common on the feedback on the Rapha site. Hard to see beyond the £60 tag of the DHB but will hang off and see it the Assos Equipe are twice and a bit as good !