Sub £70 Bib Shorts

Coach H
Coach H Posts: 1,092
edited August 2008 in Workshop
Shout them out, what are your favorites and why?
Coach H. (Dont ask me for training advice - 'It's not about the bike')

Comments

  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Assos

    I got my pairs for less than £60

    But it seems they've got the S5s in stock now, so if you stretch your budget slightly you can't go wrong with the S5s

    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productde ... SSOZBBS260
    I like bikes...

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  • portuguese mike
    portuguese mike Posts: 695
    Assos are the best but if they're over your budget i'd also recommend Pearl Izumi ultra sensor shorts (bear in mind that they're american and therefore the sizing comes up bigger compared to most)
    pm
  • Coach H
    Coach H Posts: 1,092
    The thing is reddragon, the budget set by the accounts committee is £40, I have negotiated this up to £50 and £70 as as far as I am prepared to lie.

    The accounts committe also do not believe that new shorts are required and also does the washing so would notice (and has in the past) any unauthorised purchases.

    I have studied, long and hard, the thread in 'Cake Stop' about decieving the wife and am not confident mine would fall for any of them even if I was prepared to commit that amount of deception (it really is a bind to love and respect your wife!). So although I would love a pair of Assos, alas it cannot be now I have missed the sales of non-S5 stuff.
    Coach H. (Dont ask me for training advice - 'It's not about the bike')
  • PeteinSQ
    PeteinSQ Posts: 2,292
    I just got some DHB Finchdean shorts off Wiggle and they're pretty good.
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  • broachboy
    broachboy Posts: 429
    EtxeOndo BiMarke Bib Shorts :D 8)

    http://www.primera-bournemouth.co.uk/Template.aspx?prodID=1097

    The fit & quality is excellent, also they are very hard wearing. These are a top quality short at a bargain price

    :D 8) :wink:
    Regards

    Andy B

    Colnago Active 2004

    Guerciotti Alero 2008

    Cinelli Vigorelli Road 2018

    Colnago C60 PLWH 2018
  • captain_oakley
    captain_oakley Posts: 222
    Up until a couple of weeks ago I would shout Assos from the roof tops, but I
    recently bought a a pair of 'Body Clone' by Giordana in Parker's sale and I think they
    are better, a snip at £49.95


    'Doctor Yes'
  • turkeytickler
    turkeytickler Posts: 640
    DHB finchdeans are pretty hard to beat at £60- best pair of shorts ive ever tried (although never had the good fortune to try assos)...
  • verloren
    verloren Posts: 337
    Another vote for DHB - even the basic ones are very good.
    '09 Enigma Eclipse with SRAM.
    '10 Tifosi CK7 Audax Classic with assorted bits for the wet weather
    '08 Boardman Hybrid Comp for the very wet weather.
  • Billios
    Billios Posts: 96
    Giordana Tenax, only £45 from Ribble. Brilliant.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    verloren wrote:
    Another vote for DHB - even the basic ones are very good.

    You can't compare the basic dhb shorts to Assos.

    I've used a set of dhb shorts for commuting for the last year and they are no where near the same quality. The lycra is really thin and nearly see through and the pad is rubbish. I found the pad to useless for any sort of distance riding.

    They cost me £35(ish) and my Assos Uno cost £55(ish) - the extra £20 is well worth it.
    I like bikes...

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  • verloren
    verloren Posts: 337
    I certainly wouldn't compare the two in absolute quality - that's why I didn't. And I'm sorry you've had such a bad experience with yours. I've found mine (actually 3/4 bib knickers) to be very good, certainly better than the Performance Bike pair I've used previously.

    As to price, it's possible to buy a short and 3/4 knicker Earnley for the same price as the Assos, and that's certainly the way I'd go, but I wouldn't criticize anyone for getting the Assos, or the DHB Finchdeans for that matter.
    '09 Enigma Eclipse with SRAM.
    '10 Tifosi CK7 Audax Classic with assorted bits for the wet weather
    '08 Boardman Hybrid Comp for the very wet weather.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    verloren wrote:
    And I'm sorry you've had such a bad experience with yours. I've found mine (actually 3/4 bib knickers) to be very good, certainly better than the Performance Bike pair I've used previously.

    They've served their purpose well though and perhaps I wouldn't have realised that they weren't the best had I not bought Assos shorts.

    I've got a good few sets of the thicker dhb winter tights and bar the poor pad (I'll wear Assos shorts underneath this winter) have been very good.
    I like bikes...

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  • Lagavulin
    Lagavulin Posts: 1,688
    I recently bought a pair of Campag Heritage and a pair of Castelli Dome Due bibs. The Castelli's were £63 from Wiggle and are really comfy, so much so I've ordered another two pairs. :)
    2010 Cannondale CAAD 9
    2008 Wilier Izoard
  • round-the-bend
    round-the-bend Posts: 8
    Lagavulin wrote:
    I recently bought a pair of Campag Heritage and a pair of Castelli Dome Due bibs. The Castelli's were £63 from Wiggle and are really comfy, so much so I've ordered another two pairs. :)

    Wow that Izoard is a real pimp mobile!
  • Lagavulin
    Lagavulin Posts: 1,688
    Yes, far too much white I think with the DT wheels and white Vreds. I feel less of a birk on it with the Racings 3's.
    2010 Cannondale CAAD 9
    2008 Wilier Izoard
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    +1 For Castelli. Not sure what their cheaper shorts are like but the Free bibs are superb, so good I've got 2 pairs!
  • unclemalc
    unclemalc Posts: 563
    I got a pair of Bianchi team shorts and they are fine. However I got a pair of Pearl Izumi 3D microsensors cheap and they are very good. However, they are bigger than you'd think for a given size. I suppose it depends upon whether you are a skinny piece and are bothered whether you want to look like a racing snake or you are a fat b----d like me and wants a bit of room around his a**e.....
    Spring!
    Singlespeeds in town rule.
  • stjohnswell
    stjohnswell Posts: 482
    +1 for pearl izumi - good structure to the insert

    castelli shorts didn't work out for me. they're beautifully made but i don't get on with the pad, so they're never used.
  • Gazzaputt
    Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    Endura FS260 Pro best shorts I have tried for the money.
  • chriskempton
    chriskempton Posts: 1,245
    Giordana Tenax, of course. They are superb.
  • geoff_ss
    geoff_ss Posts: 1,201
    I wore my bib shorts yesterday on a 100km ride. I didn't notice them at all which is the highest praise as far as I'm concerned. They're made by Polaris and cost me a fiver at York CTC rally in June. No idea what the 'real' price would be but Polaris don't sell rubbish so perhaps £30? I've worn them a lot and they're great. I've never owned any so-called high quality shorts and had no trouble ever, even on rides as long as 400km. Perhaps I have a leather @rse?

    I think there's a lot of hype over cycling kit. A lot of mine has been bought in the bargain tent at York over the years. It's really only shorts that wear out. I've got wearable tops I've had for over 30 years - must have a clear out :)

    Geoff
    Old cyclists never die; they just fit smaller chainrings ... and pedal faster
  • jmcc
    jmcc Posts: 10
    Another vote for Giordana Tenax. I shopped around on the 'net and got mine for around £50 - sorry, can't remember where from.
  • Steveorow
    Steveorow Posts: 162
    De marchi Contour plus .

    http://www.cyclesportsuk.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=5823&cPath=502_653

    or

    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productde ... IORZBBS400

    Not got the Giordana silverlines but uses the same pad as the Gordana Tenax . Got a great review recently by Cycling plus

    Shorts can be like saddles ie whats good for one is not necessarily good for another
  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    I've got a couple of pairs of Castellis: Wicked (KISS pad) and Free (AC pad), both fantastic. I prefer the cheaper Wickeds to my Assos UNOs (s2 not s5). My Campag raytechs are pretty good too.

    Parkers have an 15% extra off on Assos at the moment... just forked out the last of my clothing budget for the decade on some s5 milles ;)
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
    Rides
  • Coach H
    Coach H Posts: 1,092
    After taking advice from this thread and others, I recieved my Giordana Tenax yesterday (closely followed by a tongue lashing from the wife!)

    £46 from Ribble http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productde ... IORZBBS300

    Rode them last night (1hr & 1/4) and they were very comfortable in terms of fit, although there was significant psychological damage from the XXL's being snug!

    I must say though that the pad is thinner and not quite as comfy as my ususal Lusso CoolMax Gel (fancied a change) but didnt move or squish about like the Lusso's can after a bit. After an hour I could feel my sit bones, I do have a non-gel Spesh Toupe, although it wasn't uncomfortable it might be on a longer ride.

    Overall very pleased, thanks for the comments
    Coach H. (Dont ask me for training advice - 'It's not about the bike')

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