Castelli Run Small?
#3
Let your bike be the tool


Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 699
From: NC/SC border
Bikes: '66 Raleigh Carlton, '70 Ron Cooper, '95 Bianchi CD'I, "Bottecchia" Zonal Frame with Xenon gruppo, "Bottecchia"Carbon Frame with Record Gruppo, Columbia Twosome, Terry Classic, Bianchi SX, Gravity SS/FG, Titanium "Motobecane" with Ultegra DI2
That's been my experience but I really like their bibbs.
__________________
Never try to teach a pig to sing...
Never try to teach a pig to sing...
#4
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 161
Likes: 92
From: Florida
Bikes: Basso Diamante SV (2021), Trek Speed Concept SLR7 (2023), Time Alpe D'Huez (2023), Trek Madone SLR7 (2024)
^ That's what everybody says, but it's not been my experience. The first time I purchased a Castelli jersey I sized up and it was too big. IME the sizing chart for jerseys is correct. And although I haven't ordered their bibs or tights, I'd have to assume the sizing chart is generally correct. Plus, with bibs and tights you don't have to worry about the "cut" like you do for jerseys (i.e. race cut, club cut, etc.).
#8
Facts just confuse people




Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 19,341
Likes: 7,059
From: Mississippi
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
On their website for Castelli, they have a sizing guide for most every piece of clothing. Get one of these

https://www.amazon.com/Measuring-Mea...dp/B0B7CVK2CV/ and learn how to use it for the measurements they ask you to enter.

https://www.amazon.com/Measuring-Mea...dp/B0B7CVK2CV/ and learn how to use it for the measurements they ask you to enter.
Last edited by Iride01; 01-11-24 at 10:02 AM.
#10
Senior Member




Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 3,845
Likes: 1,461
From: UK
#11
I don't know.

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,370
Likes: 1,233
From: South Meriden, CT
Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '08 Windsor Tourist, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night, '89 Marinoni
with my dad bod I have to go two sizes up when it's Castelli.
#12
Zoom zoom zoom zoom bonk

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,922
Likes: 979
From: New Zealand
Bikes: Giant Defy, Trek 1.7c, BMC GF02, Trek Marlin 6, Scott Sub 35, Kona Rove, Trek Verve+2
#14
Advocatus Diaboli

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 9,143
Likes: 1,736
From: Wherever I am
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Yeah, typically you read a review that says that whatever was too small, it turns out they didn't read the manufacturers size chart, so their basis is compared to a completely different brand. It comes down to how each company labels their sizes. Castelli starts at S, and goes to 3XL. Another brand will start at XS and go to 2XL.
#15
Method to My Madness

Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 4,731
Likes: 2,069
From: Orange County, California
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse x2, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata 3
#16
Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 810
From: Seattle
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Obed Boundary, Canyon Inflite AL SLX, Ibis Ripley AF, Priority Continuum Onyx, Santana Vision, Kent Dual-Drive Tandem
In my experience Castelli is for short people, at least their bottoms. I have one aero jersey (small) that fits exactly as the size chart indicates but two totally different-fitting bibs and tights in size medium, neither of which fit well because they're designed for shorter people (I'm not exactly tall - 5'9”). On the bibs, the straps are way too short. On the bib tights, the straps are fine but the legs are simultaneously too short and yet the calves are too loose. I'm very unimpressed with Castelli bottoms (don't like their chamois either).
Love their aero jersey, though.
Love their aero jersey, though.
#17
Newbie

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 53
Likes: 39
From: Middle Tennessee
Bikes: Obed RVR, BMC Roadmachine, Obed Baseline
This has been my experience with their shorts. Disclaimer: I'm not rail thin but I'm not large, either (5'10" and 170 lb.). When I decided to purchase them, I read where everyone said to size up since they ran small. Well, it depends on how you define size up. In all other shorts that I have worn, I am a medium based on their size charts. In Castelli, their size chart put me at large which turned out to be the correct size for their shorts. Snug but correct. I guess, technically speaking, that I sized up compared to what I usually get. However, I think some folks believe that it means to use their size chart and then size up which would have been wrong in my case.
Last edited by TennBent; 01-14-24 at 06:53 AM.
#18
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 9,158
Likes: 1,743
From: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Bikes: Canyon Aeroad, CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX, Guru steel & Guru Photon
I really like Castelli kit. And, yes, it all runs small. I have to order XXL in a jersey and in US sizing I'm between L and XL. 43-44" chest actually.
#19
Full Member

Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 313
Likes: 139
From: Framingham, MA
Bikes: 2022 Pinarello Paris w/Ultegra Di2, 2016 Orbea Avant w/Ultegra mechanical mounted on a Wahoo Kickr Core
I found the same thing. I have a number of Assos jerseys and the XL fit well, even though my US size is L. I bought a Castelli XL and it was too tight. I returned it and exchanged it for another XL Assos.
#20
Advocatus Diaboli

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 9,143
Likes: 1,736
From: Wherever I am
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
#21
Senior Member




Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 3,845
Likes: 1,461
From: UK
#22
Method to My Madness

Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 4,731
Likes: 2,069
From: Orange County, California
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse x2, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata 3
I had to explain the same to wife when she opened my first few Castelli packages and said: "I thought cycling was supposed to help you lose weight, but you now have to buy XXL?"
#23
Advocatus Diaboli

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 9,143
Likes: 1,736
From: Wherever I am
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX






