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Castelli - Bib shorts

Churchill123Churchill123 Posts: 341
edited August 2012 in Road buying advice
Starting to get some road gear together and next on the list is some bib shorts.. understand they are a MUST!

Obviously like everything in this sport there are cheaper options and more expensive options... For someone who will do some club ridding and a a couple of rides a week on their own etc is it worth shelling out the extra £££££ to buy a pair of Castelli bib shorts over some of the cheaper brands?

Thanks for your help in advance
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Posts

  • GrillGrill Posts: 5,610
    Bib shorts are one if not the most important piece of kit you will buy. You certainly get what you pay for in this market. I've heard good things about the Castelli Body Paint line, but at that price you may as well step up and buy Assos bibs.
    English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg
  • napoleondnapoleond Posts: 5,992
    I have Assos Uno and Mille, I also have Castelli Aero Free Race. I prefer the Castellis.
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  • snoopsmydoggsnoopsmydogg Posts: 1,110
    having used a couple of pairs of cheap shorts and a pair of santini bibs I wish I had just spent the money in the first place. santini are a massive improvement on cheap shorts and my next pair (when funds permit) will be castellis
  • GazzaputtGazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    Castelli fan here but only but buy the free aeros or body paints. Their range below these two are rubbish in my experience. Poor stitch work and the lycra wears quickly.

    Bought some Mavic HC bibs and these are fantastic.
  • CalpolCalpol Posts: 1,039
    I have just bought a pair of the free Aero Race shorts and the pad is a fair bit better than my DHB Aeron Pro's. I rode for a fair while in them on Sunday and found that they were more comfortable than the DHBs. I think from now on I will be investing a bit more in shorts and less on other gear.
  • edhornbyedhornby Posts: 1,780
    I have castelli's with the kiss pad and not that impressed to be honest, the pad has gone thin after not a huge amount of use

    I also have some budget PBK own brand ones that are fine for the money. I would get some santini ones from prendas next, always had good stuff from them.

    ultimately the shape of ones rear and sitbones, the saddle you use and the shape of the pad in the shorts are all variables that you need to discover for yourself...
    "I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
    --Jens Voight
  • davieseedaviesee Posts: 6,386
    snoopsmydogg wrote:
    having used a couple of pairs of cheap shorts and a pair of santini bibs I wish I had just spent the money in the first place. santini are a massive improvement on cheap shorts and my next pair (when funds permit) will be castellis
    Just wait till you try the Castellis. :P
    I got 2 pairs of Santinis (different models) following recommendations and have found that the shape is just off on both. It is like the panels are not correctly cut so the sorts are uneven and not symmetrical. given this, the pad has no chance.
    Unfortunately, when it comes to bibs you do get what you pay for but it pays to keep an eye out for sales. :wink:
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • il_principeil_principe Posts: 9,155
    Castelli all the way. The Velocissimo bibs are mid range and perfectly comfy. I've happily ridden 100 miles in mine. Having said that, the Body Paint shorts are fantastic. Also find Rapha are comfy, although the pad is a little large.
  • ajb72ajb72 Posts: 1,178
    Agree with all the above. Purchased Castelli Free Aero bibs to replace my worn out Assos Uno. Didn't expect to like them as much as I do, thought it would be a compromise on comfort but I got them at a good discounted price. Couldn't have been more wrong, great fit, superb comfort and easily the equal of the Uno's for comfort. Seem really well made too.
  • Churchill123Churchill123 Posts: 341
    Thanks guys! - Looks like i will be investing in a pair of castelli body paint bib shorts then!

    I live by the mantra buy the best you can afford as in most casses the product will be of a better quality and a lot of things are a false economy in that they are cheap to buy but not so cheap when you have to keep replacing them!

    Is it the same for jerseys then? and without wading into the whole jersey etiquette have you earned it debate, is it ok to wear a SKY jersey with black castelli's or is it only ok to wear a matching castelli jersey?

    New to all this so i don't want to turn up to my new cycle club looking like the new boy at school who's mum bought him the wrong school uniform and everyone takes the piss out of!

    Thanks,
  • il_principeil_principe Posts: 9,155
    Weat whatever you want. Personally I'd go for a Castelli top because I like 'em, but no one will care.
  • davieseedaviesee Posts: 6,386
    Wear what you want.
    Jerseys are less important as they are not a contact point so you don't need to spend as much.
    That said, sportswool versions are very comfy and on the bright side, no contact means that they last for years and years so you will get your moneys worth.
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • xscreamsukxscreamsuk Posts: 318
    Does your club not do club kit? We have 3 different bib and jersey qualities available,( Endura) been very happy with the mixture I have of the top and middle ones, the bibs got me round the Etape with no problems down under.
  • on-yer-bikeon-yer-bike Posts: 2,974
    Castelli Free Aero are OK if you dont mind over the top branding and semi see through side panels. If you have any fat round your navel it will hang over the top in these shorts because the bib straps are so far apart. Rapha are the best shorts I have both Pro and Classic. Assos go grey no matter how carefully you wash them. I have some £50 club bibs made by Kalas that are OK too. Santini are too short and not very well engineered although the lycra is pretty good.
    Pegoretti
    Colnago
    Cervelo
    Campagnolo
  • gaddstergaddster Posts: 401
    Got some of these, I find them very comfortable on long rides and the fit is brilliant

    http://www.alwaysriding.co.uk/etxeondo-dicolor-bib-shorts-894.html
    ARTHUR
    "Hello oh great one"
    LARRY
    "Are you talking to me or my censored ?"
  • Churchill123Churchill123 Posts: 341
    Hi xscreamsuk my club does have kit - funnily enough made by Castelli.. Have only just joined and yet to go out on a ride with them as im wanting to get the clipless pedals nailed and make sure i'm fit enough so im not holding anyone up..

    By the sounds of it then castelli is the way to go.. I've seen alot of chamois cream adverts online and in magazines - all cycling related i promise! Is it worth buying some to slap on before a 50miler? or is it more after a long ride when you might be abit red raw?
  • thegreatdividethegreatdivide Posts: 5,795
    on-yer-bike wrote:
    Assos go grey no matter how carefully you wash them.

    I’ve got a pair of 18 month old Uno’s that I wear more than any of my other bibs - at least 3 times a week so washed very regularly - and they’re still as black as the day I bought them.
  • davieseedaviesee Posts: 6,386
    thegreatdivide wrote:
    on-yer-bike wrote:
    Assos go grey no matter how carefully you wash them.

    I’ve got a pair of 18 month old Uno’s that I wear more than any of my other bibs - at least 3 times a week so washed very regularly - and they’re still as black as the day I bought them.
    +1.
    My Unos are 3 years old and get worn, and washed, once a week.
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • richhrichh Posts: 187
    I would avoid the Presto bids though. Whilst the fit is excellent, the pad comfortable and I think they look great, the quality of the lycra material and stitching could definitely be better. On my first ride with them I ended up with bobbling (is that spelt right?) on the inside of my thigh when no other pair of bibs I've got have ever had this problem before or since. Also the scorpion logos are pealing off after only a few wears/washes and some of the stitching is starting to come apart. Not impressed to be honest.

    Maybe I'm just unlucky with this pair, but comments above about the lower range items does agree with this, as do reviews on places like the wiggle and Evans sites.
  • nferrarnferrar Posts: 2,511
    Calpol wrote:
    I have just bought a pair of the free Aero Race shorts and the pad is a fair bit better than my DHB Aeron Pro's. I rode for a fair while in them on Sunday and found that they were more comfortable than the DHBs. I think from now on I will be investing a bit more in shorts and less on other gear.
    Not IME, I have Free Race Aero's, Assos Uno's and a few pairs of DHB Aeron Pro's - I always go with the DHB for the longest rides.
  • on-yer-bikeon-yer-bike Posts: 2,974
    thegreatdivide wrote:
    on-yer-bike wrote:
    Assos go grey no matter how carefully you wash them.

    I’ve got a pair of 18 month old Uno’s that I wear more than any of my other bibs - at least 3 times a week so washed very regularly - and they’re still as black as the day I bought them.

    You're lucky. I have Unos that look like they've been stone washed, and have now gone see through, that I would have sent back had I had the receipt. And Mille that are also going grey. Some of the chaps I ride with also wear Assos that are going grey. And mine are washed carefully in non bio, no conditioner etc.
    Pegoretti
    Colnago
    Cervelo
    Campagnolo
  • BobbinogsBobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    I love my Castelli FARs. The low front is great for comfort breaks too.

    Body Paint v2.0, like the FARs but even better!! Hard to say that a pair of shorts that cost me nearly £140 are worth it...but vfm is very relative anyway. I reckon they are flipping great so that's good enough for me.
  • Churchill123Churchill123 Posts: 341
    richh wrote:
    I would avoid the Presto bids though. Whilst the fit is excellent, the pad comfortable and I think they look great, the quality of the lycra material and stitching could definitely be better. On my first ride with them I ended up with bobbling (is that spelt right?) on the inside of my thigh when no other pair of bibs I've got have ever had this problem before or since. Also the scorpion logos are pealing off after only a few wears/washes and some of the stitching is starting to come apart. Not impressed to be honest.

    Maybe I'm just unlucky with this pair, but comments above about the lower range items does agree with this, as do reviews on places like the wiggle and Evans sites.


    All very good info.. Still they are hardly bargain bucket bib shorts so you would expect something better!
  • Churchill123Churchill123 Posts: 341
    Interesting hearing that some of you have issues with your Asos bibs going grey... Whats the best way to wash your bib shorts then? - last thing i want to happen after buying something for "£140 and it changing colour
  • davieseedaviesee Posts: 6,386
    Churchill123 wrote:
    Interesting hearing that some of you have issues with your Asos bibs going grey... Whats the best way to wash your bib shorts then? - last thing i want to happen after buying something for "£140 and it changing colour
    I simply put mine in the washing basket and it is nice and clean in the drawer by the next weekend. :wink:
    I'd have to ask the wife, but I imagine 40 degrees along with all the other coloured clothing.
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • CalpolCalpol Posts: 1,039
    Churchill123 wrote:
    Interesting hearing that some of you have issues with your Asos bibs going grey... Whats the best way to wash your bib shorts then? - last thing i want to happen after buying something for "£140 and it changing colour
    40 degrees max i would say. Mrs Calpol managed to dye the white bits on my Dhbs so I have said "hand wash only" for lycra now!
  • davieseedaviesee Posts: 6,386
    For how wives do the washing, I refer you to this:-
    Edit:- This
    http://blissdomestique.blogspot.co.uk/2 ... art-1.html
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • SNACK-HEADSNACK-HEAD Posts: 35
    Castelli free aero bibs are great. try Castelli cafe shop for a good range of stuff, or wiggle , or winstanleys.
    Also found Giordana Tenax bibs the best for the money.
    PART TIME WASTER
  • amaferangaamaferanga Posts: 6,789
    I must be unusual in that I've found pretty much every pair of bibshorts I've ever owned to be comfortable. Its a myth that you need to buy expensive Assos or Castelli shorts to be comfortable on a long ride. I did Paris-Brest-Paris (1200km in <72 hours) in a pair of cheapo Nike bibshorts. Perhaps those who NEED Assos just have a really badly fitting bike....
    More problems but still living....
  • thegreatdividethegreatdivide Posts: 5,795
    amaferanga wrote:
    Perhaps those who NEED Assos just have a really badly fitting bike....

    Perhaps those who don't NEED a good pad have got a fat ar$e?
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