Just got the DeMarchi bibs that I got off cheapandsteep.com today. I had been really worried that they would be too small, but they fit fine...a little snug at the shoulders, but only when I stand; they're fine when I'm on the bike. And oh my god...what a difference in quality between the DeMarchis and the Performance Ultra bibs that I have been using up til this point. Clearly I'm going to have to spend some more money on bibs...wish I had bought a couple more while they were still on cheapandsteep...

I got mine a year ago, I love them they have held up great so far.

Sierra Trading Posts also has them once in a while. Not as cheap as SAC, but can still be relatively cheap ($60-$70).

FWIW, one of mine wasn't made that well. One corner of the chamois is a little hard and I sometimes get chafing from it on longer (60+miles) rides.

Nashbar.com sells DeMarchi Race bibs for $40 (limited sizes).

Performance or DeMarchi?

Next, you'll have to try Assos.

Performance Ultras are not bad bibs, I have them and some Nike and some Sugoi. I prefer the fit of the Ultra. What was your issue with the Ultra?

Performance Ultras are great bibs for the price, but some of the "better" bibs are in fact better.

The Performance pads are too wide for me, both Elite and Ultra. They tend to wrap around the saddle where they bunch up. The current Elite shorts are also squeaky against my Fizik saddles.

You're right, they are not bad bibs, but the new bibs are much better, and really point out the deficiencies of the Ultra bibs. Maybe deficiencies is the wrong word...but to sell those bibs at the price point they do, they have to cut some corners. Probably my biggest problem with them is the stitching on the chamois...I have to slather them with chamois cream to keep from getting saddle sores on mid to long rides, but after an hour and a half (!) on the rollers with the De Marchi bibs, I can already tell that isn't going to be a problem.

The Ultras are good, but the De Marchis just do everything better, for me. YMMV.

Oh, and for the guy who said now I have to try Assos, yes, they're next. But let me beat the christmas credit card bills down some, first. Unless some Assos bibs turn up on steep and cheap. ;-)

DeMarchi, they are verry good quality.

DeMarchi has a wide product line. Their best stuff is very good. Their bottom end stuff is pretty mediocre.

More likely than not, those mediocre ones are the $40 ones you mentioned from Nashbar, not the ones we've been talking about.