Originally Posted by
armybikerider
I've been averaging 5,700 miles a year for the last 6 years. But upon my retirement from Army last year, I've been able to increase my mileage quite a bit. I'm now riding 700 - 800 miles per month. Mostly 30 - 50 mile rides, but almost every day.
So, I've been a fan of Performance Elite bibs for several years now. I like the fit and quality is OK - especially when you can get them on sale for less than $50 per pair. And I was getting maybe a year's worth of wear.
But now with my increased mileage, I'm wondering if there are bib shorts that don't cost an arm and a leg - say <$100 (I'm on an Army pension), but might last more than a year (8,000 miles)??? I'm not brand loyal at all.
Hi armybikerider,
Cycling shorts are not designed to last 8,000 miles. It sounds like the Performance Elite bibs that you're using now are lasting quite well. As your miles increase, you simply need to replaced them more frequently.
A misconception that some amateur cyclists have is that high-priced pro shorts and bibs will last longer than their medium-priced counterparts and this is not necessarily the case. The pro shorts and bibs may be made from more expensive materials to promote better breathability, compression, moisture wicking/evaporation, wind drag reduction, etc., but they are also designed to weigh less and the lighter fabrics don't last as long.
For example, my favorite cycling clothing (in my budget range) is Pearl Izumi. I like the Pearl Izumi shorts primarily for one reason: they use some of the best chamois (pads). They are often more comfortable for long rides than much more expensive competitors. They have three lines, each for a different market: "Select" for beginners and casual cyclists (no or mild compression in shorts and bibs), "Elite" for intermediate cyclists (better fabrics and medium compression in shorts and bibs), and "Pro" (best fabrics, lighter weight, full compression in shorts and bibs). When you ask Pearl Izumi which shorts and bibs will last the longest, they say the "Elite" ones will. But the chamois in the "Pro" shorts and bibs is the best I have ever used and is highly prized for long distance.
So I use Pearl Izumi "Elite" shorts and bibs for the bulk of my training rides which are usually 35 miles each and I use their "Pro" shorts and bibs for my longer rides, including 100-mile centuries. In fact, I just did a century last Saturday---the last 30 miles in the rain---and the "Pro" bibs were super-comfortable. The full compression fit was a big help to my muscles and the pad never created even a hint of chafing. Plus I beat my 2015 time.
As others have advised, I recommend that you stay with what you like---you're getting good wear out of them---and just replace them more often as needed to keep pace with your higher mileage.
Kind regards, RoadLight