Weighing Bibs costs vs comfort on longer rides 100km +
 

Hello,

I am looking at purchasing another pair of bibs, I was particularly looking at the Louis Garneau Mondo bibs.
I have read the other thread and most people say that cycling apparel doesn't need to be expensive, so here I am asking is the cost of these bibs $180 out weigh the comfort they should provide over another cheaper pair of bibs? As a relative rookie here I have to admit that most of the stuff I get is expensive so I am just looking for the best bang for the buck right now.

thanks for looking

Shorts and saddles is where things start to get down to personal preference...I don't cut corners on either butt what works for me may not work for you.

That said, I've always had good luck with Pearl Izumi, Sugio and most recently Gore... Assos seams to be another popular choice, I may have to give them a go next.

A good pair of bibshorts is essential for long rides and you do get what you pay for. What you pay for in bibshorts are two things: the chamois, and the lycra material. Personally, I pay a lot more attention to the chamois. The ones I like the most for long rides are the Assos Mille, Pearl Izumi PRO 4D, Castelli X2, and Sugoi RS.

This. I personnally like Craft Performance bibs. They were really low priced on last year realcyclist fall sale (something like 70% off).

I have found that the durability of Assos mitigates their cost considerably. I'm sure that other premium brands offer similar performance, but I don't have personal experience beyond the Assos...

Maybe this helps...
http://mybloodybikeblog.com/in-praise-of-assos/

Dave

I'm quite fond of my Rudy Project bibs. I wear them almost exclusively. They normally charge $125 for a set of bibs, but if you message me I can hook you up with 40% off.

Some folks are more sensitive than others, but I've found that the improved quality is worth paying more. I like my lower end Castellis with the Kiss chamois, but my far more expensive Gore shorts are significantly better.

But then up to about 200kms or so I can wear just about anything, so for the 100km range? You might be wise to start with cheaper ones, maybe they will be fine for you.

I like Descente Aero-X bibs. Have about 6 pair, and based on the deal below, I'm hoping the wife gets me a pair or two for Fathers Day. I also use Perforamcne Elite, but the Descente's are my choice for long, weekend rides.

http://www.coloradocyclist.com/product/item/DESXBPS5

FIFY.

I don't know what the obsession with bibs is on here, but it really a matter of personal preference. For good shorts, I have 5 pairs, 2 of them happen to be bibs, the other 3 aren't. Of them, I have one bibs/one non-bibs that are exactly the same, and I definitely prefer the non-bibs more. I need to wear a larger size in bibs, which results in less compression on the legs (IMHO where it really matters most).

That said, I really do like LG shorts. My favorites are the LG Equipe. Like I said, I have them in both bibs and normal. I have others, but if I know I'm going to push a ride, do a ton of climbing, etc...I grab these. Got them on sale on Amazon a few months ago for around $80.

I find it odd that people prefer shorts...I have both, and I just can't see any benefit at all.

But I guess that's why they still make both.

ATM I've only got 1 pair of LG Equipe shorts and one pair of Capo-bonktown-special bibs. The longer the ride the more comfortable the shorts over the bibs. I don't think it has anything to do with shorts vs. bibs, I just think the LG shorts are better made.

Moral: you get what you pay for.

I'm picking up a pair of Giordana Laser bibs next week and I'm hoping they live up to the hype.

This is where personal choice comes in - I have that exact pair of bibs and can't stand them. Out of my 5 shorts (with that one being the big) they are definitely the pair I dig out last and never for long rides. It's got more to do with the shorts / chamois part than the bib although based on that one bib I prefer shorts.

Nothing like looking like an overpriced billboard in exchange for some half ass shorts.

If it means getting a decent pair of shorts for a lot less than other brands of competing quality, I'm okay with it.

Has anybody tried the Biemme
or Nalini bibs?
Any feedback?

To OP: I'm using "shorts" to refer to shorts and bibs. I'm a fan of bibs and will never go back to shorts, but not everyone agrees.

I totally agree that shorts are such a personal thing that while I guess it's not a bad idea to get input, there is only one way to figure it out, try them. You at least have to try them on, but best of course is to ride with them. And, while we all have budet limits, it's totally worth upscaling the budget a bit if it means the difference between unsatisfactory and satisfactory shorts.

That said, think hard about buying from Performance Bike or any other seller that has a no questions asked return policy. Shorts are so small and lightweight, you could return several pair by US Priority mail for a medium prepaid mailing box, or even less. Performance carries several brands, so there's somewhat of a selection, but they don't carry the high end premium lines. I also urge you to try their house brands. I have found that for my usage, the Elite and Ultra bibs are as good as any I've ever used, even costing 2-3 times as much. Is the quality the same as the $200 bibs? Undoubtedly not. I have no idea if they will last as long, but I know I'll get at least 5 or more. I'm not a high end user, so my 5 years is probably like a "real" bicyclist's 1 or 2 years (call it 8-10,000 miles), and I actually like trying new stuff after a few years and therefore don't care that much if I get more durability than that, especially at the price point. Again, easy to try (even on rides) and return if you don't like them.

I've seen some recommendations for Pearl Izumi, Craft, Gore, LG, and others. I have no knock against any of them, but just to show you how personal it is, I didn't like any of them. I have two LG shorts and one PI bibs. I bought, but returned at least one example of each of the others (mainly due to basic fit issues). The LG shorts I used for several seasons and thought they were OK, but after I tried other brands of bibs are now totally unused. They don't work for me, I know now. The PI bibs I have I do keep in the rotation for 20-40 mile rides, but for longer rides I always try to pick one of my Performance bibs.

After you find some you like buy at least 2-3 pair. You really should wash after every use, and it's nice to have a rotation so you can combine some laundry.

I am partial to Specialized RBX and SL series shorts/bibs. This is a very personal choice.

Castelli has a very, very good thin chamois with no stitching and a flat seam.

Sugoi has an excellent chamois that is thicker in the right places, without being bulky.

They are not the same, at all, but they're my favorites.

My pearl izumi bibs were $45 and I think they're fantastic.

Im lucky enough to have never tried anything better though.