Castelli vs. Assos
 

Alright....

Time to retire the PI Ultrasensors. They've chaffed the living hell out of my crotch for long enough, and it's to the point of preventing me from sitting "properly" on the bike, leading to back pain from having to continually slide forward on the seat.

The contenders are:

Assos F1 Mille Shorts
Assos F1 Uno Bib Shorts
Castelli YPRO Shorts

If anyone has experience with both brands, and can compare the difference in chamois, that would be great. I don't know of any shops around here that have this stuff, so I'd have to order it. I'm currently broke at the moment and can't really afford it, but it's either stop riding or buy new shorts.

If you're broke, try some Ultra short or bibshorts from Performance Bike. Many people on this forum like them (including me) and they are very reasonably priced. They're having an extra 20% off on clothing orders right now. They're not Asos, but they might work just fine for you.

haven't worn castelli's since the early 90s.

Trust me on this one GW - Assos are well worth the price - they are the inovators of bib/chamois technology of the past 25 years.

Assos are nice.... kinda pricey but worth it if you find a deal..... I bought a pair of F1.Uno for 124.99... just keep looking for deals.

Another great bib is Santini Fluid Twist Gel... very comfortable but expensive.......

OP, you say you are on a budget so maybe you should try Giordana Silverline bibs.... or Colorado Cyclist bibs.... I own both and the colorado cyclist bibs have a cheap lycra but have an EXCELLENT chamois.... made by the same company that makes Assos.

http://www.bikesomewhere.com/bikesom.../262/1853/9368
http://www.coloradocyclist.com/commo...61,27340,30882

Hmm....$80...not too bad a price to "try out" for those CC bibs. I think I may have to try that for now. I've never worn bibs before...how the hell do you pee...

I'll get the Assos stuff for next season.

*Edit* Looks like Colorado Cyclist doesn't take AMEX....ah well.

I own all three of the shorts that you mentioned in your initial post. The Castelli YPro is a distant third, in my opinion. The chamois, is okay, but occassionally can chafe at the seams where the "wings" are sewn on. The worst thing about these bibs is the fit. The legs are okay, but the upper, around my waist and lower back, is loose and floppy. If I had gotten a smaller size (mine is a large, and I'm just over 6' tall), there is no way I could have gotten the legs over my thighs). Its as if the bibs were made for someone shaped like Spongebob Squarepants. I used to have a pair of Castelli "Dome" bibs, which were cheaper and preferable to the 2005 YPro bibs I have.

With regard to the Assos, I think its a toss-up between the Uno and the Mille. I actually think that the Mille chamois is slightly less comfortable, due to the extra padding, but it has better frontal coverage with the terry section in the front of the chamois. I've noticed that the saddle I'm using makes a difference. When I used to ride an Aliante, the Mille was preferable. Now that I'm riding a Toupe, I actually like the Uno chamois better. The Mille bibs might be better in the heat, due to the all mesh straps and the little inserts in the front of the legs, but I've never noticed either bib being hot. I basically decided to only buy Assos, as its my favorite with regard to fit and cut (though I've noticed that lately their jerseys have gotten cut a little looser/longer) and even when I only had one pair, I'd forego my other shorts to wear the Assos pair.

Interesting.....was curious to hear of someone using the Uno. I can get two pairs of those bibs for nearly $120 less than the Mille's. I always buy in twos to alternate, as I wash them after every ride....this way I have a pair ready for the next day.

I use a Toupe as well....

As much as I love the lycra Assos uses.... the chamois is so so... I have a pair of the F1.Uno like I stated before... it is nice but rather bulky.

OP, If you go Assos.... be sure to order one size bigger then your P.Is. or they won't fit... Assos and all other Euro clothing come a size smaller then U.S clothing.

I have the castellis and they aren't that good. I would compare them to my $100 CDN Sugoi bibs, which I think are great for the price.

Stay away form Biemme bibs, they have thick itchy tags and stiching right in the spine.

Have you checked out Voler? I hear good things aboout those. velowear.com.

I have both Castelli YPro3 and Assos F1.13 bibs. My personal preference is for the Castellis, I wear size medium in both and the Assos just don't feel as comfortable in the chamois. The Assos are a bit softer but the Castellis fit me better.

It would be ideal to try them all then make a purchase based on fits the best.

are you using chamois cream? that's the first thing i would try. also check out giordano tenax laser bibs. last year they were picked as the best bibs under $150 by someone and at the end of the year they went on sale for $100.

I have spent the last two years using only the PI shorts. I just recently tired on the Assos and the Specialized and decided on the Specialized as I could only buy one pair at the time.

The top of the line Specialized shorts have been working very well with my new 2007 Toupe Gel saddle.

I regretted not getting the Assos and plan to mail order a pair soon.

By the way, I wear a large in the PI and a large in the Specialized. I tired on the Assos and I would have to have an XL.

I just received a pair of Voler by mail from www.velowear.com and the XL were too big and I have returned them for a L. Looking at the pad in the Voler shorts, I am not too confident that it will be sufficient.

Yeah, I use Assos chamois cream from time to time.....

I have a pair of the Assos F1.13 S2, while they are nice shorts, they are not quite as comfy as my Pearl Izumi 3D Aero Sensor shorts. I like the Assos F1's but I find I have to adjust the boys a bit more often, or get up out of the saddle more than when I riding the PI's.

I know you were asking about Castelli vs Assos, I thought I would weigh in on the Assos.

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8610/shortsbe1.jpg

noticed that as well. IMO a swing in the wrong direction. catering to the fatty crowd.

NO NO NO NO NO.

You've got it backwards.

US clothing in larger than Euro bike kit,and runs a size larger than they're labled.

Sounds like marketing BS to me. Proof?

As far as I know the only subcontracting that Assos took on was a line of bibs for Gore. Easily spotted by the bright orange Assos chamois.

Ok, sooooo......if my PI Ultrasensors are a size Medium, and seem to be a bit big (I have a 30-31" waist, and am about 5'7"), should I get a size Medium in Assos? Their chart says 5'5" to 5'8".

Will probably order them today, as I think my century this coming weekend will end up being around 130+ miles.

Yep. Medium should be good for you, maybe even small?

fwiw I'm 5'9" and have a 31" waist, and weigh in at around 158 lbs. I wear mediums in Assos, and just about every other brand, apart from PI, where I wear Small.

+1

if you wear a new pair of bibs on a 130 mi ride you are a brave man.

if they're assos then he's a smart man :)

Botto here's your proof: As you already know Assos Chamois are made by Elastic Interface Technology.. and you are right in saying they are the only company that has a subcontract for their specific chamois (as with Gore)... but other companies use Elastic Interface pads... and that was my point

Assos site:
"Elastic Interface Technology
Developed by ASSOS Engineering & it's technological partner for shorts insert Cytech Srl."
http://www.assos.com/en/technology/e...interface.aspx

Here is Cycling news talking about Elastic interface technology.... more importantly showing the CC Powerline chamois:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/sponsors/...006/cytech.php

And here is Cytech's websited where you can see other Chamois that they make for other companies.
http://www.chamoises.com/


Pics.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...7/HPIM0422.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...7/HPIM0420.jpg


Edit: The chamois in the CC powerline bibs is also used in the Adidas Adistar Elastic Power bib.

You should see my crotch....at this point, I'll try anything.