Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Bike Shorts

where do you all get your bike shorts? And is there such a thing as seemless bike shorts?

I get my jerseys from Areotech but havent tried their shorts.

Performance Bike and Love2Pedal.

I don't immediately see how one could easily manufacture seamless bike shorts, they have to fix the chamois somehow. No doubt there are technologies that could overcome that, but I'd guess they'd be expensive. Anyway, if they fit well enough the effect of a good pair of shorts is pretty much seamless as it is.

I use Pearl Izumi bibs, most of the time, and they're pretty good. I do have a couple of pairs of Assos bibs and they are superb. I tend to wear them if I'm going to be on the bike a long time, or if conditions are particularly bad. They are expensive, though. Santini is another brand I have found good in the past. One has to be careful with their sizing, though, they seem to regard small people as extra large.

There are a tremendous amount of sources for clothing. Many tout performance cycling because their products are reasonably priced. But if you look around, you can find good prices on anything.

Seamless isn't necessarily what you're looking for, in terms of comfort (I don't know if I've ever heard of seamless, either). Find good quality shorts, regardless of seams, and you'll find comfortable ones. In fact, in the old days, the quality of a short was measured in the number of "panels" it had, which necessitated more seams. Six-panel were the minimum, with the best being 10-panel shorts.

Others can certainly add to this list, but here's some good brands:

Castelli,
Pearl Izumi,
B-Emme,
Pactimo,
Voler,
Assos (the Cadillac of bike shorts, but very expensive).


When new to the sport & buying clothing, I highly recommend buying from a local shop so you get used to how things fit before purchasing. Once you have a good brand, then look online so you don't waste your money.

As for where?, I get most of mine through my local club-it has arranged special pricing deals, and they get it straight from the North American distributor. This year, we used B-Emme clothing, and it is some of the best I've had.

I also have a pair of Castelli shorts & jersey that I got from BonkTown.com (http://www.BonkTown.com/). They have very good pricing deals, one item at a time, for about 30-mins each. Sometimes, like with the Castelli's, they actually have useful stuff. :D (The knock on Castelli is they run 2-sizes too small. Many companies run just 1-size small, but Castelli is extra tight.)

Some other online sources:

probikekit.com (http://www.probikekit.com/)
wiggle.uk (http://www.wiggle.uk/)


Also, Google.com (http://www.Google.com/) is your friend. Specifically, their "shopping" search.

You're going to laugh. I buy my shorts from Aldi and Lidl here in the Netherlands. The two grocery stores carry bike attire that's pretty comfy and at a really good price. I got my long ankle length pants from a local sports discounter store called "Shapiro" and they're "Dutchy" brand. Because I'm an athena, I buy men's sizes and tailor them to fit myself. Trying to find good fitting Athena gear is a pain.

I can't say enough good things about the Falconi Deluxe bibs I got from Love2Pedal.com. I need to order a couple more pairs, as my old Bellwethers and Cannondales are getting a little droopy on me, which makes it easy for tender stuff to shift out of place and get pinched when I'm in the saddle.

where do you all get your bike shorts? And is there such a thing as seemless bike shorts?

If your shorts are made from more than one piece of material, and I guarantee they are, then they're going to have a seam. What you want are shorts with "flat stitched" or "flat lock" or "lay flat" seams. As you might guess from the names, this type of seam is designed to lay flat so they don't cause irritation.

Personally, I'm a big fan of the Falconi Deluxe bib shorts from Love2Pedal.com. For an inexpensive short, they compare very favorably to shorts that cost far more...

I'm partial to Pearl Izumi ultrasensor shorts of one flavor or another... and loads of people carry them. And the sizes are correct. :)

I've used the Aerotech bibs, as well as many other brands. The Aerotechs are fine - the seams aren't in sensitive spots and don't bother me. For me, these are good shorts but not my favorites. I like the Sugoi bibs a lot, but they don't seem to be very durable - they lasted only one season (although it should be noted that a season for me is basically year round, and I put around 8k miles per year on my bike). The bibs that are just as comfortable, and have lasted much longer, are the Assos bibs. I'm now on my 3rd season with these and they're basically showing no signs of wear. Sometimes, you pay a lot to get a lot (and I'm basically a cheap person - it killed me to spend $200 on a pair of bike shorts!).

FWIW, the worst shorts I tried were some Adidas bibs I found in a close out bin. Too uncomfortable even for a 2 hour ride.

JB

In addition, get some Assoss chamois creme and you'll be loving whatever you shorts you sport.

I use the Aerotech shorts; I ordered a couple pair of the "Men's Classic Padded Bike Shorts Cycling Bicycle Biking" from Amazon last year and have been very happy with them.

sstork and craig b: thanks for the suggestion. I am concered about the size but might give it a try.

jona: where did you get yours from?

I have gotten mine from Nashbar, never any trouble.

I can't say enough good things about the Falconi Deluxe bibs I got from Love2Pedal.com.

This times 1,000.
If you are bigger guy these are by far the best bibs. Plus you get free shipping if you type in CLYD at checkout.

The bibs that are just as comfortable, and have lasted much longer, are the Assos bibs. I'm now on my 3rd season with these and they're basically showing no signs of wear. Sometimes, you pay a lot to get a lot (and I'm basically a cheap person - it killed me to spend $200 on a pair of bike shorts!).

I just bought a pair of $250 Assos FI.Mille S5 bibs. There's no question that they're very, very nice but for me they're only incrementally better than the Falconi Deluxe bibs despite being 7X more expensive. I'll be posting a detailed review and comparison soon but for the moment I'll say: save your money...

sstork and craig b: thanks for the suggestion. I am concered about the size but might give it a try.

jona: where did you get yours from?

Direct from Aerotech - couldn't find them locally but they were highly recommended. For the Assos, I bought them locally so I could make sure they fit (aka I paid full retail - ouch!). I was going to buy the next pair online, but haven't needed to yet.

JB

I get my bibs/shorts from Aerotech and have not had any problems with them. I only wish they had a choice of the regular pad or a gel pad. I have found that being a clyde at 300lbs it is tough finding bibs/shorts that fit well. I really like Assos and Castelli but they don't think big guys should wear their stuff or maybe they don't think we bike serious miles. I have also found that most companies size their cycling clothes for the European size and they are way to small for the American men that are clydesdales. Heck for that matter the same goes for the clothing they make for women that are Athens too. Anyway I could rant all day about cycling clothing, like I stated I wear the Aerotech like them.

bendico: if you dont mind me asking, what size did you get from areo tech? I am looking at the 5 xl

I have 3 pairs of shorts and 1 pair of bibs all from Performance bike.

another vote for love2pedal.com. I have their bib shorts, and a couple jerseys from them. Good stuff, quick hassle free exchanges if needed.

I have found that being a clyde at 300lbs it is tough finding bibs/shorts that fit well. I really like Assos and Castelli but they don't think big guys should wear their stuff or maybe they don't think we bike serious miles.

Have you actually tried Assos? Everyone told me they run small, but I took a chance and ordered my standard "Large" size in the FI.Mille. I was surprised to find that I was way too big! At 5'9" and 185lbs, I'm currently wearing a Medium and finding that it's pretty darn roomy...

Have you actually tried Assos? Everyone told me they run small, but I took a chance and ordered my standard "Large" size in the FI.Mille. I was surprised to find that I was way too big! At 5'9" and 185lbs, I'm currently wearing a Medium and finding that it's pretty darn roomy...

I agree. At 6'3" and 205lbs I am only just in the XL category with Assos. And it's my height rather than girth that moves me up from large. Whereas with Santini, for example, XL is distinctly too tight.

I can't say enough good things about the Falconi Deluxe bibs I got from Love2Pedal.com. I need to order a couple more pairs, as my old Bellwethers and Cannondales are getting a little droopy on me, which makes it easy for tender stuff to shift out of place and get pinched when I'm in the saddle.



I just got my 2 for 1 Falconi Deluxe bibs in last week and they're great! Super comfortable and a great deal. Their shipping and service is top notch as well.

I really like Assos and Castelli but they don't think big guys should wear their stuff or maybe they don't think we bike serious miles.

They don't advertise to the larger rider, but they certainly do tailor to them. I agree with the statements below, having worn a pair of FI.Mille bibs in XL when I was 245 pounds last season (I'm 6'6", BTW). When I first tried on the TIR size, they were too big in the middle and in the legs. At 212 - 215 now, I'd even go down to a size Large instead of the XL.

Hincapie Velocity bibs fit me in 2XL at the beginning of the year when I was 260 pounds. At current weight, I ordered a size Large for my new team kit.



Have you actually tried Assos? Everyone told me they run small, but I took a chance and ordered my standard "Large" size in the FI.Mille. I was surprised to find that I was way too big! At 5'9" and 185lbs, I'm currently wearing a Medium and finding that it's pretty darn roomy...


I agree. At 6'3" and 205lbs I am only just in the XL category with Assos. And it's my height rather than girth that moves me up from large. Whereas with Santini, for example, XL is distinctly too tight.

bendico: if you dont mind me asking, what size did you get from areo tech? I am looking at the 5 xl


I wear a the xxxl and I am right at 308lbs right now here is a pic with me wearing them on a ride on the GAP. The thing I like is I order them direct from Aerotech and most of the time I can find a code for free shipping too if I search the net. Like I stated in the past post I have never had a problem with anything from them and they have always been helpful when I called with questions. Oh yea if you click on the pic it should take you to the pic on my flickr page and you can make it full size to see the fit better.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5266/5867792613_b951acbffd.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7731008@N07/5867792613/)

Hey sstorkel
I have tried the Assos at my LBS and no they do not fit me I am 5'11" at 300 and the TIR didn't fit at all. All of the quality stuff is cut super small and even the LBS doesn't understand why they don't make them in bigger sizes for American men. I also try Castelli XXL and I could even get my thigh in the leg of the bibs. I really like the Louis Garneau Lazer bibs but the XXL only has a 42 waist. Like I stated all these companies think people that cycle are super small so this is why Aerotech gets my business.

Hey sstorkel
I have tried the Assos at my LBS and no they do not fit me I am 5'11" at 300 and the TIR didn't fit at all.

Which model Assos did you try? Like I said, I'm wearing the FI.Mille S5 and actually wearing a size smaller than I normally would... I would expect the FI.Uno and FI.13 to be considerably more snug.

Which model Assos did you try? Like I said, I'm wearing the FI.Mille S5 and actually wearing a size smaller than I normally would... I would expect the FI.Uno and FI.13 to be considerably more snug.
I tried the T FI.13_S5 in a TIR size being I am a big guy and I couldn't even get them up the whole way. The LBS even told me that Assos runs small in most of there bibs. I really like them I just feel they don't make them for the American male body style in the bigger size. When I get smaller and can fit into them I will have a few pairs of there bibs. :)

They don't advertise to the larger rider, but they certainly do tailor to them. I agree with the statements below, having worn a pair of FI.Mille bibs in XL when I was 245 pounds last season (I'm 6'6", BTW). When I first tried on the TIR size, they were too big in the middle and in the legs. At 212 - 215 now, I'd even go down to a size Large instead of the XL.

Hincapie Velocity bibs fit me in 2XL at the beginning of the year when I was 260 pounds. At current weight, I ordered a size Large for my new team kit.

You must be like rock hard muscle. I am 6'-3", weigh 230 and have a waist of ~ 39" and I comfortably wear a TIR, I have all three models of bibs and they fit fine. I mean that it's comfortable, very comfortable.

OP, I also use Pearl Izumi, Castelli and Gore, my favorites are Assos and Gore. I like the material in the Assos more since it feels thicker like a compression material, where the castelli and gore feel thinner but the castelli are quite a few years old and I haven't tried them recently.

I love my Aerotech bibs. I buy the tall size since I'm 6'6" now at 285 lbs. The longer legs help me feel more security in the leg.

I have had to buy smaller sizes as I dropped from 348 to the 285. Initially I worried more about waist and had bought some Mt. Borah brand baggies and a set of genuine Aerotech. Both worked well, but now I want the longer legs and those old ones are too big, too loose.

I may try Love2pedal someday, but until then give me Aerotech!

I've had the same experience with Assos - I wear a L with their stuff, but XL with Aerotech or Sugino. I'm 5'10" and my weight fluctuates between 210 and 225.

JB

wow. I had to hit google for a few of these brands...I've been a big guy all my life and never gave much thought to clothes like this, lol!

kudos to you all! I certainly am learning some things already here!

Here's another vote for Aerotech. I've not tried the others because I found Aerotech early and was satisfied, so didn't search any further. Online is not the place I want to explore for clothes.

Their Classic Bike Shorts are good, but I like the Pro Bike Shorts a little better, especially for longer rides. The pad is thinner and feels more streamlined, but still does the job. I also buy their unpadded compression shorts ("Unpadded Compression Workout Short" in their nomenclature), and usually prefer those for rides up to about 25-30 miles.

BTW, a couple of years ago the thread on a pair of Pro or Classic started unraveling. I sent them back, and they restitched them and returned them within a week or so. I like buying from companies that stand behind their stuff.