Bib Brands and Models
 

I've been using a set of Performance Elite bibs for a couple of years now. My saddle bag is (was) a mountain bike bag and was rubbing on the back of my thighs. Today, it rubbed through. So, I guess I need to buy a new pair. For those of you who wear bibs, especially those who have tried recent multiple brands and/or models, what do you like? What's the real-world difference? How has the longevity been? How is the fabric? How is sizing? I'm 6'2" 235 lbs. If you were to buy a new pair now, based on what you've learned, what would you buy? I looked online and, to my great surprise, everyone makes the best bibs! :roflmao2:

Let me help get this started. I lifted this from an older post:

@TrojanHorse You have both. Which would you buy again, if any?

BTW, I bout a new Serfas Survival Bag (Large) today. MUCH thinner and should not rub a hole in my new bibs.

My only bibs are Primal but I find them very comfortable and a good fit for me at 230# and 5'11". They have held up well and don't get any special treatment outside of being washed in cold water and dried on the lowest heat setting (barely warm) until just slightly damp and then laid out to dry the last bit.

I did exactly the same thing with one of my bibs.
Got rid of the bag and got a new one.
With bibs I have two brands that feel are very comfortable and would recommend either of them. All four pairs bought as surplus. Panache and Castelli. The panache has thicker chamois. The panache has a goofy pizza design on the bottom but I got two pairs for $70 when new ones cost 180.
The castelli bib has the kiss chamois and with it being thinner is a little more comfortable.
Allan

I'm interested to hear what everyone things on this, as I've been considering a first pair of bibs (using PI shorts now and like them, aside from waist rolling). Have primarily been thinking about PI and Castelli, not sure on the sizing of the latter though (keep reading their apparel runs small).

My main concern is strap length/comfort. I'm wearing large PI shorts and tights (large LG tights too); medium waist would probably work but the legs are already a bit snug. I'm about 6'2" and 220lbs.

Yup, these are the ones I just destroyed.

I have been using Castelli with the KISS3 chamois for years and it works great.

Oh, and if you know of a good source to save some cash, please include that, too. This was not in the budget! :notamused:

I get mine from this guy. Shorts - Kucharik Decent price, and American made.

I get almost all my bibs from Chainlove.com or Competitive Cyclist. Chainlove used to have a different name, and some really outstanding deals on last season's clothing, overstock, or closeouts. Then, Competitive Cyclist bought them out and the deals are not quite as good. They've also merged two 'closeout' sites, MTB and road, into a single web site, so half the stuff isn't of interest to me. Still, if you watch, good deals show up from time to time. (They run just a single item for about twenty minutes, then switch to a different item).

I like Competitive Cyclist. They really stand behind what they sell. Their prices are not all that great, well . . . they certainly have fair prices. But when their stuff goes on sale...then you can get a real good deal. They seem to have some type of sale all the time.

- - - -

Hanging up in the closet are bibs made by Capo, Castelli, Hincapie, DeMarchi, and Louis Garneau. I think I only have one Capo, maybe two. They are full-length and knickers for cold weather use . . . so they don't get used much out here in the desert. Only one DeMarchi, and only got that because I was able to score two DeMarchi jerseys, so they match. They are 'okay'. Comfortable enough for a 30-mile, casual ride. The Castelli are the sexiest, but also the most uncomfortable. Only comfortable for about 15-20 miles. They are also cut for slim bodies, (no belly fat). Maybe after I slim down some more, they will be more comfortable and fit better.

The Hincapies is pretty good. Fits very well and are good for a 40-50 miler. Just remembered, I do have one Santini. That one is pretty good. Also a Champion, (from the BF Fifty Plus jersey set). That one is a piece of crap. Never fit very well. Loose in the legs. Comfort is okay, but nothing special. The loose fit makes me not want to wear the thing, (unless I'll be riding where other BF 50+ members will be riding).

The Louis Garneau is the best of the best. Have a whole bunch of those, and they all are prefect. They fit very well, are extremely comfortable. They are all-day jerseys! For centuries and double-metric centuries. I like them so much, that when they showed up again on a Chainlove.com listing, I snagged two more. They are still in their bags and will remain there until the day that the others wear out.

I'm 6'3" and bounce around between 215 and 225 pounds. In Louis Garneau, the XL fit well. I think Hincapie are XL too. All the European bibs are XXL, (Castelli, DeMarchi, Capo). The Castelli bibs are cut really low, and with my little gut, that might be why they are not the most comfortable. I can see how the low cut is an advantage when one has to take a nature break on a ride, but otherwise, it's not very comfortable. All the other bibs seem to be cut the same, medium-high front waistline.

- - - - - edit

Just went upstairs to check the sizes. The Garneau, Hincapie, and Santini are XL. The Capo, Castelli, and DeMarchi are XXL. That Santini is actually pretty good, but not as good as the Garneau bibs. The colors match perfectly one of my Hincapie jerseys, (the one my lady friend got for me as a Christmas present one year).

Only one of my bibs have worn out, but is still very usable. It is about three years old, and is a lower-grade 'model' from the company. Heck! I just don't seem to wear them out. I still have some shorts with a leather chamois for a pad. Fits fine, but I've gotten pretty comfortable wearing bibs.


On a seatbag. I found the Specialized the best for me. It is very skinny and parallelogram shaped, so fits under the seat very nicely. I have them on all my bikes. However, they are slightly smallish. Inside I carry one spare tube, three tire irons, a quick link, a multi tool, a chain breaker, a traditional patch kit and a small container of those newer emergency stick-on patches. The thing is pretty full by then, to the point where I can't fit my car keys inside, (just the car key and house key on the ring). If I ride from hone, I can fit the house key (and its small, flattish fob). The Specialized bag is only slightly wider than the seat post, so you won't be rubbing it with the inside of your thighs.

Since I like to take two tubes with me when I ride, I've resorted to carrying the second spare tube in an old camera bag and use a blue REI Velcro strap to attach it to the steering tube, (I have about 20mm of spacers between the headset and stem - enough for a 3/4" Velcro strap). Used to carry that second tube in a back jersey pocket, but I just 'hate' stuff on my body when I'm riding. Too much junk in my pockets as it is.

From now on, whenever I need a new bib, it will be a Louis Garneau bib. Hope this info help a little.

MEC Rouleur bib shorts.
I'm 6'2" 175 lbs had these bibs for a couple of years...no complaints.
And they're a bit cheaper than most...$119 cdn.
I'm wearing a large.

Cyril

Now you've mentioned budget, this suggestion may be ruled out immediately, but in my opinion there is still nothing to touch Assos as far as fit and comfort are concerned. However, they are expensive and they are not always the most durable.

I find Pearl Izumi bibs to offer a pretty good compromise on price, performance and durability.

I used to get my bibs from ATD.
Lately I decided to try out dhb from wiggle and got their aeron bibs, they're cheap (around $30 or so), and the padding is so much better than ATD (IMO). They do require some special attention though (ie: machine wash cold, no tumble dry...) unlike ATD's.
I just followed the sizing chart based on my height and they're fine.

Size matters. I'm 6'1", 240#.

Some brands and style simply don't have bibs that fit. I've used Pearl Izumi, Castelli, Aerotech Design, and a few no name. My favorite, by far is the Louis Garneau Neo Power Bib Short. Not cheap, not expensive, about $100 on amazon.

I've yet to try the really premium bib shorts, like Assos.


[h=1]Louis Garneau Neo Power Bib Short[/h]

I like bib shorts and I've used Aerotech basic and topshelf, Specialized RBX and two different ones from Bontrager. I'm not sure on the style names of the Bontrager. One was around $80 and one was around $125 and I have found the $80 Bontrager pair to be the most comfortable for me. The $80 is solid black where the $125 one has white around the legs. Size XL, 6'1" and 259.

Thank you for all the effort in answering. I do watch Chainlove and have bought some stuff from them. The old site was Bonktown. I agree, it was better. It's interesting that a few people have said LG bibs. I bought one pair of LG bibs and LG one pair of shorts for Bonktown. A seam on the bibs ripped within about 6 months of light use and the shorts just never fit well. I had written them off, but I guess I will look deeper into their offerings.

I guess I should have clarified - I'm looking for value, not cheap. I'm willing to pony up for the good stuff (well, pretty good). I think Assos and Rapha are out. Especially if they're not "that durable".

Also should have put in my OP - INTENT: 50 to 100 mile rides. When I'm doing the 12 mile ride with PhotoJoanne, I'll wear shorts made of sandpaper. It's not that big of a deal. But I want 1/2 - all day comfort.

Thanks everyone for the input.

I have found that the washing procedure really goes a long way in determining the longevity of bibs/jerseys. I will wash my cycling stuff by itself, (socks, headsweat bennie cap, bibs, and jersey - gloves get washed separately due to velcro straps). This makes for a small load, so I usually wash several days ride jerseys at a time. Always in cold water with liquid detergent - the stuff designed for fragile fabrics. Always on the gentle cycle. Then immediately remove and hang up to drip dry. Unless you've crashed, it just sweat on the things that has to be washed out.

Oh, zip up the jersey all the way before throwing into the machine. The zipper, if left unzipped could possible snag against the fabric of the jersey. Main reason gloves are washed separately also. The velcro could snag on a jersey. The Garneau jersey fabric has a tendency to snag easily, resulting in little pills. I wash the stuff inside-out. That's where most of the dried sweat is.

They have the black/black listed right now at $69 ?? I tried on some Performance XXL and they fit (5'8" 232lbs), I'm really trying to hold off til spring when my sizes should be closer to "final" :-).

Bill

I own two pairs of Assos FI.Mille bibs. They're a bit over-rated in my book. Yes, they're very nice! Everything "just works" and you almost never notice that you're wearing them. Still, I don't think their price is justified (and I was effectively paying 20% less that MSRP when I purchased)...

My closet, on the other hand, is filled with inexpensive Falconi Deluxe bibs from Love2Pedal.com. For 95% of what I do on a bike, the $36.95 Falconi Deluxe bibs are all that I need. For the remaining 5% anything with an E.I.T. chamois probably works just as well as the Assos FI.Mille for a bit less money.

OK, since you directed the first question at me... :) I'm about 6'2", 220# these days.

I actually did buy another set of Castelli Free Race Aero. They were on sale and they're the team edition so the graphics are a little heavy even for Castelli. I really dislike the straps on the body paint bibs and like the rest of you, I basically only buy these things on sale somewhere. The chamois on Castelli is absolutely my favorite for centuries and the like. I wear the XL and they're definitely snug.

I also really like my Giordana Laser bibs and I have a set of the FormaRed Carbon shorts and they feel essentially the same to me - very comfortable shoulder straps, they come up a little higher in front and the legs are nice and long. Very compressive lycra. I got them all on sale at chainlove for about $100 and just noticed competitive cyclist has them for $200. wtf. The durability seems to be excellent on these. Also XL.

I'm not that fond of Pearl Izumi shorts anymore and that's all I have are shorts from them. The pro line fits much more like European sizing, so my XL pro shorts fit well and seem to be well made (but again, shorts, and I don't really like wearing shorts for anything over 10 miles). They're lower line stuff fits much more loosely to the point where I think XL is too large. Craft - same story, XL is too loose IMO. I also have a very inexpensive pair of descente bibs shorts that I bought way back when I wanted to just see what the fuss was about and oddly enough, I like them but they do primary duty for short rides of 30 miles or less. The pad is a little thick feeling but they work well. I ALSO have a pair of Sugoi bibs and they are more american sized so my XL shorts fit too loosely.

I've heard good things about the performance ultra bibs too though, so if you liked those, see if you can find a pair on sale at Performance this weekend. :)

I think it's one of your Castelli's that has a unique texture to the lycra. Is that the Free Race Aero? Not a deal breaker. Just curious.

Probably - I doubt you've ever seen me wearing the body paint ones. :p

So does Love2Pedal sell stuff out near this time of year and restock in the spring ?? I see all that have in those bibs right now is Medium and 4X ??

I use the Performance Ultras, and love them. Have two pair, which I alternate.

The Performance Ultra bibs are made by Primal. Or, at least mine were.

Most of my everyday bibs are Aero Tech. Great value for the dollar. My century bibs are DeMarchi.