High quality bib shorts, jersey's, oh and gloves..

Danny87

Hi guys I wondered if anyone could recomend me some decent bib shorts. I know I know it's personal preference and this type of thread has been done to death. Appollogies.

I bought some Gore Xenon 2.0 bib shorts for about £120 a month ago. I love the pad on them they are fantastically comfy and a massive improvement to the cheapo DHB bib shorts I've got.

However... They are falling apart! The straps of the bibs are like a fish net style webbing and there is a hole in each side just below my chest that has appeared. Also they appear to of some how 'plucked' slightly underneath near the crotch area, although this is only a minor thing it's making me wonder how long they are going to be in one piece!

So can anyone recomend some bib shorts, high end, that will hopefully last? I appreciate nothing lasts forever.


Also as the title suggests - need some new mitts for the end of this season/next season.

Got some Altura Pro Gel mitts at the moment that are coming to the end of there days. They've been ok but after a few hours in the saddle my hands get a bit sore, it's like the padding has gone. Probably has.

Also need a couple of jerseys, nothing to garish, I'm not in to cycling billboards! I want something that will wick away sweat effectively and is breathable. Also would like 3 pockets pretty standard requirement I realise. Suggestions around £40-£50 mark?

Thanks in advance, clothing can be expensive and it can be an expensive experiment if you get it wrong as I may be now finding out

Grill

Assos. Best bib shorts on the market.

Gloves are a more personal thing, but sore hands could have more to do with too tight of grip (happens with narrow bars) or not enough damping from the wheel, fork, or cockpit.

The best jerseys for breathability will be made of merino; however, they'll also be a bit more than you're looking to spend. Endura do one at a reasonable price http://www.rutlandcycling.com/15031/Endura-Baa-Baa-Merino-Tech-Jersey--Various-Colours-.html but I've never used it myself (although their merino socks are good quality). Other than that it's pretty difficult to find a jersey that doesn't breathe, it's just that they'll absorb bacteria and smell much more and sooner.

napoleond

I like the Assos ones (I have a pair of Unos and Milles) but my faves are Castelli Free Race Aero

In fact, I love all Castelli kit.

ctc

I'm very happy with my Torm Jersey and Sugoi RS bibs

Danny87

CTC wrote:

I'm very happy with my Torm Jersey and Sugoi RS bibs

Like the look of the blue T7 jersey

Danny87

NapoleonD wrote:

I like the Assos ones (I have a pair of Unos and Milles) but my faves are Castelli Free Race Aero

In fact, I love all Castelli kit.

I know you get what you pay for but is the difference in comfort/quality that different between the Unos & the Millie's?

Danny87

Grill wrote:

Gloves are a more personal thing, but sore hands could have more to do with too tight of grip (happens with narrow bars) or not enough damping from the wheel, fork, or cockpit.

For sure could be but never had problems in the past. May try replacing the bar tape, my gloves as they are looking pretty tired though. Any suggestions on a good set of comfy really well padded mitts?

daviesee

Danny87 wrote:

I know you get what you pay for but is the difference in comfort/quality that different between the Unos & the Millie's?

Good question.
I got a pair of Unos 3 years ago and love them. So much so that I recently got another 2 pairs while they were on offer.
The new versions are a disappointment The seams are very noticeable and irritating. :evil:
My current favourites are the old Unos and Rapha. (Not tried Castelli as they are never available at an acceptable (to me) price.

Danny87

daviesee wrote:

Danny87 wrote:

I know you get what you pay for but is the difference in comfort/quality that different between the Unos & the Millie's?

Good question.
I got a pair of Unos 3 years ago and love them. So much so that I recently got another 2 pairs while they were on offer.
The new versions are a disappointment The seams are very noticeable and irritating. :evil:
My current favourites are the old Unos and Rapha. (Not tried Castelli as they are never available at an acceptable (to me) price.

This is what annoys me, I don't mind paying a bit but you kind of expect the quality to be better than that. I mean in reality there shorts how hard can it be to design something of quality. Especially when you want £100-£200 for them.. Will probably steer clear of the Unos then thanks.

Anyone any opinions on the Milles? Milles or Rapha? Castelli are not for me I'm not fond of the colour red and it appears in almost everything they make.

Bobbinogs

I'm a Castelli fanboy too. I have some FAR shorts and they are really good (worn them loads and loads and they just keep going) but this year I treated myself to some Body Paint 2.0's (reward for getting back to fitness after injury) and they are just awesome. I paid just under £140 which, when the small packet arrives, does make you wonder about VFM but when you ride in them there is no question that they are just freaking great.

This bloke thinks so too...and him.

The 2.0 version didn't change that much, afaik, mainly the design and the odd tweak here and there.

What's not to like about the colour red, not Stella McCartney are you?

northpole

I have all three of the Assos types - Uno, Mille and F1 13.

The Mille have a slightly more relaxed fit than the other two which both feel very similar - slightly tighter and shorter in the leg.

For me, by far the most comfortable on a long ride are the F1 13's. They are also by far the most robust looking shorts I have come across - the material on the seat is textured and looks extremely hard wearing. They cost a packet but I reckon they are the best bibs Assos offer by a considerable margin.

I haven't tried Rapha bibs but a couple of people I know who did, whilst they liked them, returned to Assos when they bought new shorts.

Peter

Danny87

Bobbinogs wrote:

What's not to like about the colour red, not Stella McCartney are you?

I'm a Man City fan I have always refused to wear red some call me immature, mainly my girlfriend, but 25 years of not wearing red I'm not about to start now! I prefer stubborn to immature..

Danny87

northpole wrote:

I have all three of the Assos types - Uno, Mille and F1 13.

The Mille have a slightly more relaxed fit than the other two which both feel very similar - slightly tighter and shorter in the leg.

For me, by far the most comfortable on a long ride are the F1 13's. They are also by far the most robust looking shorts I have come across - the material on the seat is textured and looks extremely hard wearing. They cost a packet but I reckon they are the best bibs Assos offer by a considerable margin.

I haven't tried Rapha bibs but a couple of people I know who did, whilst they liked them, returned to Assos when they bought new shorts.

Peter

Spot on thanks Peter think I will either go with the Millie or the F1 13's then. If it means they will last then maybe it's a price worth paying and I'll go with the F1 13's.

Monty Dog

Danny87 wrote:

However... They are falling apart! Also they appear to of some how 'plucked' slightly underneath near the crotch area, although this is only a minor thing it's making me wonder how long they are going to be in one piece!

If you using a seatpack with velcro strap then that's your cause - if you want to ruin expensive bike kit, rub it against velcro!

Danny87

Yeah I do have a saddle bag that has Velcro straps an yeah Lycra and Velcro do not mix, the straps are tucked underneath the saddle well out the way. I dunno maybe I'm just unlucky an as long as they don't get worse in the near future.

carrock

Giordana Body Clone Bib Shorts. Very very good quality- almost as good as assos.

And less than £100 from Ribble

Wheelspinner

carrock wrote:

Giordana Body Clone Bib Shorts. Very very good quality- almost as good as assos.

And less than £100 from Ribble

I've got a few pairs of Giordana of various models and find them generally very good VFM. The construction is excellent, and the fabric is high quality in the better ones (Tenax, Body Clone.. ), but I don't find the pads anywhere near as long-ride comfy as Assos. They are fine up to a couple of hours but after that... the padding seems to maybe lose it's effectiveness.

Assos Mille are byootiful. Had some of those, but they ended up in pieces, cut off me by the ambulance officer.. Along with the compression undershirt, and the remains of a shredded jersey. Admittedly they were already looking a bit, um, ordinary after an argument with the tarmac, but still hurt to hear the scissors...

markwb79

Etxeondo Attaque every day for me