Giordana Bibs Question
#1
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Giordana Bibs Question
I'm eyeing a set of the giordana sport men's bib shorts, marked down at competitive cyclist. Anyone have any experience with these? I love my one pair of assos currently, bought at an insane discount when they were discontinued, but I can't justify a pair at full price... are the giordanas a good buy at the discounted going rate? I have some of their jerseys, older styles, and they are well made and solid... also, would the XL fit in the giordanas be similar to the assos XLs?
Thanks.
Thanks.
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Giordana's are pretty good. They ain't Assos, though nothing is, but IMO Giordana makes bibs about as well as anyone other than Assos. Fit should be about the same.
(I have Assos and Giordana Forma Red bibs)
(I have Assos and Giordana Forma Red bibs)
#3
SuperGimp
I have two pair of Lasers and one pair of Forma Reds and I do like them. The legs are nice and long too. I'm not sure what the difference is between those and the model you're considering but they do fit snugly (which I like). Similar fit to Castelli IMO, and I have XL in both.
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I use Giordana Silverline and Laser models of both bibs and regular shorts. IMO, the Silverline versions are the most "bang-per-buck" in the high quality clothing bike world. They fit me great, last a long time, and don't bust the bank when I need a pair.
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Sounds like they are a takeoff on the forma reds that have a more old school look and feel, similar material and a chamois that is shared with some of the other higher end shorts in their line... for $136 instead of $200ish, I'll give them a day in court, and report back once I've gotten some miles in. I went ahead and ordered... even at the discounted price of $258, the assos were just far, far too insane for my sort-of-sensible budget priorities.
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You have only one pair of bibs?
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I'm eyeing a set of the giordana sport men's bib shorts, marked down at competitive cyclist. Anyone have any experience with these? I love my one pair of assos currently, bought at an insane discount when they were discontinued, but I can't justify a pair at full price... are the giordanas a good buy at the discounted going rate? I have some of their jerseys, older styles, and they are well made and solid... also, would the XL fit in the giordanas be similar to the assos XLs?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Rode in a pair of Giordana Sport bibs for 107 miles. They're great. And actually made in Italy. Sized similar to Castelli (meaning size up when you buy). The chamois is very comfortable, construction is top notch and they last through rides and wash cycles. I love mine. They're reasonably understated in their design choices as well, which is nice. Can't compare them to Assos, but I own Raphas as well, and the difference is minimal (although Rapha is still more comfortable).
#10
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I've got some pearl izumis that are getting a little frayed around the edges, my non bib shorts have shuffled off this mortal coil, and getting back into the habit of riding after being lazy and fat and parenting I wanted some extra bibs... The assos made me realize that the nicer gear is worth it in terms of comfort and lifespan.
Hoping xl assos matches up well to the xl giordanas, but I guess we'll see.
Slow I may be, but I still feel a need to dress like an idiot with more money than sense.
Hoping xl assos matches up well to the xl giordanas, but I guess we'll see.
Slow I may be, but I still feel a need to dress like an idiot with more money than sense.
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I have a pair of Laser and a pair of FRC. Love them both, but the FRCs are my favorite bibs. As others have said, the sizing is the same as Castelli, but I find the material to be more compressive/supportive. My only complaint about the Lasers is that the legs are long.
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Rode in a pair of Giordana Sport bibs for 107 miles. They're great. And actually made in Italy. Sized similar to Castelli (meaning size up when you buy). The chamois is very comfortable, construction is top notch and they last through rides and wash cycles. I love mine. They're reasonably understated in their design choices as well, which is nice. Can't compare them to Assos, but I own Raphas as well, and the difference is minimal (although Rapha is still more comfortable).
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Rode in a pair of Giordana Sport bibs for 107 miles. They're great. And actually made in Italy. Sized similar to Castelli (meaning size up when you buy). The chamois is very comfortable, construction is top notch and they last through rides and wash cycles. I love mine. They're reasonably understated in their design choices as well, which is nice. Can't compare them to Assos, but I own Raphas as well, and the difference is minimal (although Rapha is still more comfortable).
#14
SuperGimp
That's my favorite part! Well, that and they stand up to regular use and washing. My first pair has to be 2+ years old now and I use 'em weekly. They still look as good as new.
I do not think that word means what you think it means.
(fabric made in italy? assembled in italy? made elsewhere but graphics applied in italy? who knows what their standards are. Good bibs though)
I do not think that word means what you think it means.
(fabric made in italy? assembled in italy? made elsewhere but graphics applied in italy? who knows what their standards are. Good bibs though)
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It may not mean all that much, but compared to Castelli, which is similarly priced, discounted, and valued (if there is such a thing as a value of bibs) - it makes a difference. Both companies charge a fair amount for their brand name, both claim substantial Italian racing heritage, but I've yet to see a pair of Castelli anything that does not say "Made in Bangladesh".
#16
SuperGimp
It may not mean all that much, but compared to Castelli, which is similarly priced, discounted, and valued (if there is such a thing as a value of bibs) - it makes a difference. Both companies charge a fair amount for their brand name, both claim substantial Italian racing heritage, but I've yet to see a pair of Castelli anything that does not say "Made in Bangladesh".
Castelli 1 - Romania
Castelli 2 - El Salvador
Castelli 3 - USA!!!
All three of my giordanas are made in Italy, according to the tag.
No Bangladesh for me.
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The only thing that got me to take the chance even on the discounted Assos at the time was talking to a local guy who rode an annual mileage that was insane to me, and raced, who said that they were more than double the cost of the pearls, but lasted him three times as long... the math made sense to me, and as long as they are built to last in addition to being more comfortable on the general scranal zone, it still does add up... hoping the giordanas work that way as well
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Update: a "test" ride of a few hours and a few miles, pretty hilly for my purposes, on vacation in the mountains, and they're pretty sweet. Not absolutely certain yet, but I'm happy, especially for the money on sale. I'm definitely $140 happy with them, though I don't know that I'd be $200 happy with them at full retail... comfy chamois, leg bands are a tad wide, but not bad, and they aren't garish at all, which I like, they are a pretty classic looking design, and seem well made with good materials. The big open question will be durability, but that's going to just be a matter of time.
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That's my favorite part! Well, that and they stand up to regular use and washing. My first pair has to be 2+ years old now and I use 'em weekly. They still look as good as new.
I do not think that word means what you think it means.
(fabric made in italy? assembled in italy? made elsewhere but graphics applied in italy? who knows what their standards are. Good bibs though)
I do not think that word means what you think it means.
(fabric made in italy? assembled in italy? made elsewhere but graphics applied in italy? who knows what their standards are. Good bibs though)
#20
SuperGimp
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There was a piece I read a few years back about a former military airbase in the former East Germany, which had a large complex of commercial and industrial buildings on site. It had become (post reunification) a major operation for flying in pieces of products that were 90% percent assembled, putting the last two screws on (so to speak) and putting on an "assembled in Germany" sticker. They were apparently doing a very brisk business with planes filled with mostly completed products flying in from every corner of the less developed world to earn their country of origin sticker.
Maybe the label itself for the giordanas is made in Italy? It's a pretty sweet label, I have to be honest.
Most importantly, gentlemen, let's not get into a land war in Asia over this.
Maybe the label itself for the giordanas is made in Italy? It's a pretty sweet label, I have to be honest.
Most importantly, gentlemen, let's not get into a land war in Asia over this.
Last edited by superslomo; 08-22-14 at 04:27 AM. Reason: added detail