[Closed] Bibs like Rapha under £100 - or just get shorts?

Or just get Rapha. Core Bibs, white straps £85 https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/core-bib-shorts/product/COB01XXBWT. Job done, I have them and find they're great.

Endura pro sl of you can find some reduced. Come in different leg lengths and pad widths so easy to get good fit. Bibs much nicer to wear than shorts

Or just get Rapha. Core Bibs, white straps £85 https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/core-bib-shorts/product/COB01XXBWT. Job done, I have them and find they’re great.

Good idea - unfortunately all sold out.

Endura pro sl

Looks good, and you can get the correct pad width from knowing your sitbone spacing presumably?

Definitely buy bibs,  roadie jersey's have a habit of riding up on shorts exposing your back.  Also the bib helps to keep the shorts pulled up tight.

The rapha core cargo shorts are awesome. Never had an issue with exposed back or them not staying in place. And they have pockets on the thighs.

Pad fitting

Found the Endura Pro SL Bib II in medium with medium pad (194 cm, 90 kg, 33" waist, 143 mm saddle so Endura recs medium) for £109 so far, hard to find the right size.

HUUB Core 2

Morvelo ones are nice.

another vote for morvelo. super comfy

+2 for Morvelo. Good bibs.

Morvelo smells like private labeled Chinese bibs to me (what to expect from a company started by two mates and £500 in 2008) and doesn't look as good as Endura or Rapha but cost the same? Not sold.

Granted, Rapha has a similar story.

Pactimo are my favourite bibs. They do different leg lengths.

Also good in the sub £100 bracket are Galibier and Lusso.

Defo bibs. I really like Sportful. Same parent company as Castelli.

FYI The majority of manufacturers all use the same company for the pads you just assume they make their own.

Decathlon, the top tier models. They’re cut a touch shorter than most others and are super comfortable.
And bibs, they just work. In fact they work for MTB as well.

Also good in the sub £100 bracket are Galibier and Lusso.

Galibier doesn't have a plain one, Lusso looks good but not that short!.

The majority of manufacturers all use the same company for the pads

Yes both bids and pads are AFAIK all made in Asia, but you typically see older brand like Endura have the better designs and tech than newer brands that just started private labeling existing products.

Sportful seems like a good value option but like rapha sold out, didn't Sagan wear those ;p

Shorts/pads are a bit of a personal fit thing. I would always choose a bib.

Mostly these days I wear DHB, they're cheap and I happen to have a DHB shaped arse, but they are a little bit looked down on as a "brand for newbies" I think...

I have a pair of Sportful Gruppetto that probably meet the more minimal pad/shorter leg requirement and can be had for £60-70ish depending on the logo/lack thereof, they do have a great big 'S' on the arse though, sizing is a bit on the 'Italian' side...

I did have some really nice Assos years ago if you can find those in budget the branding tends not to be too in your face and I found them fit good...

Come in different leg lengths and pad widths

well that is Endura’s reputation with sizing 🙂

A lot of the Morvelo kit is made by Bioracer in Belgium, and Bioracer make a lot of kit for other brand names too. It’s good kit and they’re good people to deal with.

Morvelo smells like private labeled Chinese bibs to me (what to expect from a company started by two mates and £500 in 2008) and doesn’t look as good as Endura or Rapha but cost the same? Not sold.

Made in Poland according to the label 🙂

I've found Madison's own brand "sportive" bibs are great and around £60 retail I think

Made in Poland according to the label 🙂

You're right, all their bibs are made in Poland.

Dechatlon has a seemingly decent one for £25 and are in stock, might as well try it as they pay for return shipping.

If I'm brutally honest unless you increase the length of your rides its all pretty irrelevant. It's only once you are riding for a couple of hours plus that the nuance between different brands makes any difference and quality shines through.

Fair point. I'm not too fuzzy as long as it looks good and fits - see how this one works out.

Nobody has said Castelli, so I will say Castelli because they are good and options under 100

Personally I rate Morvelo over Endura for the road stuff I've bought in the last few years on longevity, performance, and looks. Although looks wise it depends what you like; the Morvelo stuff can be a little loud but I prefer that over the boring.

Well I would say Castelli (they do have some under £100) but their current range doesn't have any with white bibs! Shop around online though and you may well get lucky. I have several pairs which I got at well below RRP - and I mean well below.

Anybody tried the rivelo bibs? Looking at the honisters on sport pursuit. Either those or dhb classics.

This lock down has turned me roadie.

I have some Morvelo Stormshield tights, they have the worst cut of any I’ve tried.

I’ve just bought some Rivelo bibs on SP. very comfy and seem nicely made. I reckon they come up on the small side. I’m usually at the top end of medium and large is a good fit in these.

as they pay for return shipping

On bibs?

I might be wrong but I assume that they won't take them back once you've unwrapped them for the same reason durex aren't big on returns.

Or just get the Aussiegrit bibs so you can use them for mtb. Normally £180, but currently 50% off everything. I’ve got the non bib version and they’re very good, but I’d rather have the bib version

Dechatlon has a seemingly decent one for £25

Those bottom of the range Decathlons are nowhere near as nice as the top of the range ones that lunge recommended.

Those bottom of the range Decathlons are nowhere near as nice as the top of the range ones that lunge recommended.

Go for the 500s minimum. If you want stuff that looks great though, whilst it's perfectly useable stuff it doesn't have the same finish as more expensive brands. The Decathlon design department was clearly transported into the future via time machines from the early 90s too.

Most stuff is probably longer in the leg than what you want to be honest.

Following with interest!

I'd love my Castelli Volos, the saddle genuinely seems to disappear underneath them, but the fit is wierd, one of the seams makes a determined effort to saw through my inner thigh ☹ It's as if the pad is just too narrow and puts the seam in the worst place.

Tempted by Assos, had read on here I think that the pad was wider?

Tempted by Assos, had read on here I think that the pad was wider?

The ones I have - I bought them years ago to solo 24/12 - have a wider, softer (though it's probably softened up with age) pad than anything else I've used, mostly Rapha Pro Team, DHB Aeron Pro, Gore Bike Wear, Morvelo. I don't know if current versions are the same though and it's comfortable in big, comfy sofa sort of way. Otherwise they're really well made and have lasted brilliantly.

I've not used Castelli shorts though. And I don't know how consistent Assos is with their pad dimensions. The ones I grab for proper long days are the Rapha Pro Team.

as they pay for return shipping

On bibs?

I believe so, plus they refund the shipping you paid so doesn't hurt to try.

The Decathlon design department was clearly transported into the future via time machines from the early 90s too.

Most stuff is probably longer in the leg than what you want to be honest.

Looks fine to me and people are happy with them, we shall see.

Assos on swissiconic clearance website, castelli also great... morvelo do a 30 day trial money back if you ain't happy so worth a punt? Just had a Jersey from them and am impressed 😊

I've got some Decathlon winter bib tights and the stitching around the pad can be quite irritating TBH, I end up smearing the stitching with chamois cream before a ride. I'm not sure if they were the top end ones though, around £40?

Chapeau! bibs work well for me on road and MTB. Depending on your size they have some on sale at the moment (L, XXL) for £51, or the newer versions for £90

Morvelo do 30 day no questions asked returns including worn items. Assume this means their shorts are immense (I love mine) and/or their markup is several hundred percent.

Would highly recommend their stealth classic shorts.

Have invested in the rivelo honisters. Will see how they go.

Are white suspenders are more aero than black?

Rapha core from post 2 now back in stock...

D'oh! Just ordered some Endura FS260 instead...

How is Rapha sizing? According to their size guide I'm between a medium and large...

I fall between L and XL in Rapha, definitely XL in tops but shorts I can wear the L, according to their sitting I should be L. If in-between they generally suggest size up, Raphas returns have been very good if you order one of each and send the wrong one back.

Excellent, well since I can now painfully attest to the effects of wearing bibs that are a little too small it makes sense to compensate in the opposite direction!

Edit: So now that I have two new pairs of bibs winging their way to me, how would I go about selling two relatively fresh sets of Castelli Volos during the time of Coronavirus? Launder them twice then seal in a plastic bag for 3 weeks?

kynasf

.....Or just get the Aussiegrit bibs so you can use them for mtb. Normally £180, but currently 50% off everything. I’ve got the non bib version and they’re very good, but I’d rather have the bib version

@kynasf useful PSA cheers not a bib fan but just picked up a pair of shorts at more than 50% off (limited sizes/no returns)

Are white suspenders are more aero than black?

But of course. Mind you if the OP was serious he'd go for a speed suit. Oh hang on...

Uh-oh, just received my new Endura FS260s, they look lovely but feel pretty snug despite me falling slap bang in their 'medium' (33" waist, 85kg, 6ft). Granted there's a pair of thin boxer shorts to mentally subtract from the equation.

Are Endura normally true to size?

Uh-oh, just received my new Endura FS260s, they look lovely but feel pretty snug despite me falling slap bang in their ‘medium’ (33″ waist, 85kg, 6ft). Granted there’s a pair of thin boxer shorts to mentally subtract from the equation.

Are Endura normally true to size?

I was slap bang in the middle of a medium on the chart and all the reviews said true to size on the pair I ordered. Despite all that the straps felt really tight and made me hunch over! Gonna size up.

A sneeze over budget, Gore C5 Bib+ are truly excellent.

I really like Mavic Cosmic Elite shorts.

I don’t get on with bibs at all.

How wide/thick is the chamois pad in the rapha cores, Monvelos or Gore C5s? I'm allergic to big ones, feels like you're wearing a diaper - don't have a ton of crotch space lol.

Maybe an endura bib with a narrow pad is the way to go?

Just got the Dechathlon Triban RC100 and the pad feels way too big for me

But leg length is spot on

Yep, too wide and thick

Compared to a much more reasonable, thinner and narrower Adidas pad (also a size M bib, but legs went over! the knees so I have to return it).

For some of the people commenting on the straps of shorts feeling tight (a few posts up) I have a couple of pairs that feel tight when standing, but once you get on the bike they feel good. Assos and Endura bibs are like that for me.

(Sorry, wasn’t sure how to quote/reply directly to someone).

BTW dechatlon does allow returns and refund both shipping costs plus pay for return shipping - pretty sweet.

PSA those bibs recommended by @CaptainFlashheart are currently £66 at Bike Inn

I'd try the Endura Pro SL II in medium with narrow pads, but they are nowhere to be found so giving a Rapha core in medium a shot.

I just sent back some Rapha classic bibs because they have a stitched seam right down/through the middle of the pad. Seems like utter madness and definitely wasn’t comfy after a couple of hours. Shame because the actual pad bit either side was lovely.

Got some Assos instead which are excellent.

Got some Assos instead which are excellent.

How big is the assos pad compared to the rapha? (width, thiccness)

AND WHY DON'T ASSOS MAKE BIBS WITH WHITE SUSPENDERS?!

The Rapha Core Pad in medium measures 200mm at its widest. I can also vouch for the crash repair service, they fixed mine for free when they could easily have gone in the bin.

AND WHY DON’T ASSOS MAKE BIBS WITH WHITE SUSPENDERS?!

More to the point, why have they stopped doing the little Swiss flag/Assos logos on the leg grippers??

I read that Assos pads were a little wider than most, but they also float? e.g. are only stitched front and back, sounds interesting.

Have some Rapha Core on the way and some (larger) Endura FS260s also.

For some of the people commenting on the straps of shorts feeling tight (a few posts up) I have a couple of pairs that feel tight when standing, but once you get on the bike they feel good. Assos and Endura bibs are like that for me.

I'm nervous of tight feeling straps now as I think the problem with my Castelli shorts (which were otherwise luxuriantly comfortable) was that the tightness of the strap was hoiking the pad tight into the fold betwixt crotch and thigh, leaving it quite raw within half an hour. I don't know if this was just the design of the pad, or because the tight strap was pulling it up too much.

I noticed on the Enduras that I sent back that their 600 series CVP pad doesn't appear to have changed much in the 5 or 6 years since I last bought a pair. Hope that's not a bad sign...

Hmm... Useful thread this as I'm slowly replacing my ageing wardrobe of shorts, hence all the posts!

My new Enduras arrived, I wore them straight out the box on a 2.5hr ride as I didn't expect them to be much different from my old MT500s, the pad looks identical.

Possibly the most uncomfortable I've been in a pair of shorts for a while! Pressure points were fine but just lots of rubbing and chafing. I'm actually now worried they're too big and the chamois is moving about underneath me too much, which would be ironic as I was worried about them being too small...

Can chamois just be a bit rough or abrasive to begin with, e.g. will a few rides and washes soften it up? Will also try with chamois cream if necessary but this seems like a cop out as I've never needed it in the past.

Frustrating that buying shorts can be such a Russian Roulete, £85 for a pair of shorts which right now might only be good enough for short commuting duties... grrrrr

How big is the assos pad compared to the rapha? (width, thiccness)

It's not as thick as the Rapha pads, doesn't feel quite as much like you are sitting on a mattress, but the front area is much better and for me the lack of a central seems makes all the difference to extended comfort.

The pad is only sewn in at the front and back so can move a bit more than a fully sewn in one I guess, not sure if it actually helps or is just a gimmick.

Do Howies still make bibs. Mine are superb.

Still waiting for the Rapha's, arriving the 11th, hope it's not too diaper-y

Dug mine out today (Decathlon). Wore under thin shorts for a touring bike ride.

Feel a sigh of relief when riding in them. Nothing better IMO.

I remember liking Lusso more. But that was decades back. Anyone know if they still make good bibshorts?