Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Bib Short recommendations for distance riding...

I'm in the market to purchase a couple pairs of bib shorts with spring on the way. I've only been riding a couple of months seriously and have worked up to a longest distance of 70 mi. I've been wearing Castelli Y-Pro bibs and they are ok until around 30 - 40 mi or so then the pain sets in. Just wondering what might be available that has a chamois with longer distances in mind? If there is such a thing. I know it comes down to personal preference but I'd like to weed out the best choices. Thanks

I'm in the market to purchase a couple pairs of bib shorts with spring on the way. I've only been riding a couple of months seriously and have worked up to a longest distance of 70 mi. I've been wearing Castelli Y-Pro bibs and they are ok until around 30 - 40 mi or so then the pain sets in. Just wondering what might be available that has a chamois with longer distances in mind? If there is such a thing. I know it comes down to personal preference but I'd like to weed out the best choices. Thanks

what sort of pain? even cheap shorts shouldn't cause pain. if they don't fit right, then perhaps there's some friction or bunching up, etc, but if they fit right then perhaps you should look elsewhere while also considering a higher end bib.

check: your bike fit and your saddle.

I've a ton of bibs, most high end, and my go to bib is the assos s5 uno bib. i had to order up a size from my typical size medium (6' 32" waist)

i also really like the hincapie ceramic, sugoi rs, and gore xenon. the ones I've been less than impressed with are the giordana forma and santini gel twist.

What kind of pain? The problem might not be the brand of shorts.

At any rate, I've done well with Descente and Louis Garneau. Assos have an excellent reputation but are pricey.

I keep trying other bibs, some are actually kinda pricey. I still haven't found anything better than Performance Ultra. I do centuries, and last year, for the Davis Double, these were what I picked. They gave me NO issues at all in 100+ weather.

Do wait for a sale and a coupon.

The Best: Assos FI Mille
Ever since I started using these, I have never had a saddle sore or any chafing whatsoever.
(And I've done a lot of brevets with them, including the PBP).

I keep trying other bibs, some are actually kinda pricey. I still haven't found anything better than Performance Ultra. I do centuries, and last year, for the Davis Double, these were what I picked. They gave me NO issues at all in 100+ weather.

Do wait for a sale and a coupon.

I own those along with the others I mentioned in my post. I did not mention them because I think they are significantly inferior in quality compared to all the ones that did get named. I'd like to say they just don't fit me well, but every other brand I own fits me fine in size M (besides assos L) so I find it hard to say that is the case with the performance.

I don't think they are uncomfortable at all. The chamois is very flimsy and doesn't really offer any noticeable padding, but again, I don't think it creates any discomfort.

I find the Ultra's shoulder straps to be very thin and stretchy compared to all other bibs I own besides Hammer nutrition's voler bibs, which, not surprisingly, cost about the same. Sadly, it seems you do get what you pay for. I think the Ultras are one step above the Hammer voler bibs but not even close in quality to the others mentioned. Comfort, perhaps closer, but durability and fit not even in the same league.

the fabric is poorly sewn in places, and they show quite a bit of wear on the insides near the chamois from saddle friction. The piling started after one 300km brevet last year.

I was in the bike shop looking at shorts recently, I think they are mostly selling Endura clothing. I was surprised to see how thick the padding was. This doesn't really appeal to me much.

Wow, do we have different experiences. So different I wonder of we are talking about the same bib.

I sometimes can't keep the Elites and Ultras straight in my mind,
I was referring to the Ultras (with black straps) and not the white-strap Elites. Are you?
I find everything you say true about the Ultras, but not the elites.

The Ultras have wider straps and a very soft feel. They almost disappear when I put them on. The chamois is just right for me, it's not real thick, which I like, but it does it's moisture control job perfectly.

My four pair are holding up perfectly.

And so it goes. I guess YMMV is always true.





I own those along with the others I mentioned in my post. I did not mention them because I think they are significantly inferior in quality compared to all the ones that did get named. I'd like to say they just don't fit me well, but every other brand I own fits me fine in size M (besides assos L) so I find it hard to say that is the case with the performance.

I don't think they are uncomfortable at all. The chamois is very flimsy and doesn't really offer any noticeable padding, but again, I don't think it creates any discomfort.

I find the Ultra's shoulder straps to be very thin and stretchy compared to all other bibs I own besides Hammer nutrition's voler bibs, which, not surprisingly, cost about the same. Sadly, it seems you do get what you pay for. I think the Ultras are one step above the Hammer voler bibs but not even close in quality to the others mentioned. Comfort, perhaps closer, but durability and fit not even in the same league.

the fabric is poorly sewn in places, and they show quite a bit of wear on the insides near the chamois from saddle friction. The piling started after one 300km brevet last year.

de Marchi Contour Racing bib tights work great for me, and have an impressively comfortable chamois even on a hard saddle (Forte SLX). In their bib shorts they probably use the same one.

Wow, do we have different experiences. So different I wonder of we are talking about the same bib.

I sometimes can't keep the Elites and Ultras straight in my mind,
I was referring to the Ultras (with black straps) and not the white-strap Elites. Are you?
I find everything you say true about the Ultras, but not the elites.

The Ultras have wider straps and a very soft feel. They almost disappear when I put them on. The chamois is just right for me, it's not real thick, which I like, but it does it's moisture control job perfectly.

My four pair are holding up perfectly.

And so it goes. I guess YMMV is always true.

Definitely the Ultras. they are all black, including the straps, with the escher fabric and grey colored chamois.

the best: assos fi mille
ever since i started using these, i have never had a saddle sore or any chafing whatsoever.
(and i've done a lot of brevets with them, including the pbp).

+1

It's probably not the bibs, just lack of saddle time. Ride more. 6 days/week even if all you can manage is 1/2 hour some days. And grease. Everyone likes something different. Bag Balm is good and cheap. Also might not be your perfect saddle. That's the most likely thing, with saddle time a close second. You can't tell about a saddle until after the 3rd hour.

It's probably not the bibs, just lack of saddle time. Ride more. 6 days/week even if all you can manage is 1/2 hour some days. And grease. Everyone likes something different. Bag Balm is good and cheap. Also might not be your perfect saddle. That's the most likely thing, with saddle time a close second. You can't tell about a saddle until after the 3rd hour.

It could be saddle time, I'm riding 3 times a week with the weather we're having. Also using chamois butter on anything over an hour. Just my sit bones that get the pain, no sores no rubbing etc. Using a specialized alias saddle.

I know it's most likely not the bibs I'm wearing, but as I'm buying a couple of new ones I'd just like to buy what will help with the long time in the saddle.

Thanks all...

It could be saddle time, I'm riding 3 times a week with the weather we're having. Also using chamois butter on anything over an hour. Just my sit bones that get the pain, no sores no rubbing etc. Using a specialized alias saddle.

I know it's most likely not the bibs I'm wearing, but as I'm buying a couple of new ones I'd just like to buy what will help with the long time in the saddle.

Thanks all...Ah, an Alias. Great saddle but, as they say, firm. Your butt will have to break in. Yes, just saddle time. Iron butts can ride that saddle in nylon shorts. Recent PI Ultrasensors, the kind that are gray inside with a red pad, have a thicker pad that might help. I only have the shorts, so don't know if the bibs are the same.

Ah, an Alias. Great saddle but, as they say, firm. Your butt will have to break in. Yes, just saddle time. Iron butts can ride that saddle in nylon shorts. Recent PI Ultrasensors, the kind that are gray inside with a red pad, have a thicker pad that might help. I only have the shorts, so don't know if the bibs are the same.

That's the 3D PRO padding you're talking about (so others can find it by name on PI products.)

I've got the same thing in my Gavia Plus bib tights and it's super comfy. The only issue I've found with it is having to use extra chamois creme on longer rides because that padding tends to soak up a good amound of the stuff in the first 50 or so miles.

Been riding Sugoi RS bib's for years. The fit, fabric and padding is phenomenal for me. They also hold up really well.

The Best: Assos FI Mille
Ever since I started using these, I have never had a saddle sore or any chafing whatsoever.
(And I've done a lot of brevets with them, including the PBP).

+2, though I got the PI PRO Octane by mistake from R&A :thumb:(half price so I kept them) and they seem to be of the same quality and comfort as the Assos, but a little pricey at msrp - $275.

I'm in the market to purchase a couple pairs of bib shorts with spring on the way. I've only been riding a couple of months seriously and have worked up to a longest distance of 70 mi. I've been wearing Castelli Y-Pro bibs and they are ok until around 30 - 40 mi or so then the pain sets in. Just wondering what might be available that has a chamois with longer distances in mind? If there is such a thing. I know it comes down to personal preference but I'd like to weed out the best choices. Thanks

Hammer Bibs $55

or

Voler Bibs, can sometimes be found on sale for $55 (they make the hammer bibs by the way).

For anything over 120 miles, the Performance Ultras cause chafing for me in some places...usually when it's humid and I get some salt build up from dried sweat. The material on my Voler bibs (not the hammers) seem better in that regard.