Chop bibtights down to three quarters?

keef66
keef66 Posts: 13,123
edited May 2013 in Road general
I have some DHB Roubaix bibtights which are splendid apart from the infuriatingly unreliable ankle zips, which are popping open with increasing frequency. (They were Ok for the first 2 years so I can't really complain to Wiggle) Would there be any point in having them chopped down to 3/4 length? Or at the times of year when 3/4's are worn, would it be too warm for a Roubaix fabric?

Welcome!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

Comments

  • goonz
    goonz Posts: 3,106
    Bad idea surely?

    How would you fit the silicon grippers to keep the hems in place? It would be a loose fit not to mention loose threads around...
    Scott Speedster S20 Roadie for Speed
    Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
    Specialized Langster SS for Ease
    Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
    n+1 is well and truly on track
    Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    I'm sure a good seamstress could do this, good idea ..
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Does a 3/4 length need a silicone gripper? I'd thought about using the grippers currently at the ankle and relocating them, but thought they'd be a bit too short (my calves are marginally fatter than my ankles)

    Plus, any recommendations for Roubaix bibtights with functional zips or stirrups?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    I got some Campagnolo ones cheap on CRC. They have stirrups, which I now much prefer to zips.
  • freddiegrubb
    freddiegrubb Posts: 448
    Why not put your socks over the zips, it works for me.
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    Should work. Just don't take them so high that they slip up over the tops of the calf muscles and end up bunching up around your knees...

    As far as the warmth goes, it depends on you really. Some people are OK with a bit of exposed skin on the legs even if it's very cold as long as they are otherwise warm and covered.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Carbonator wrote:
    I got some Campagnolo ones cheap on CRC. They have stirrups, which I now much prefer to zips.

    Planet X are flogging some end of line Campag clothing, bibtights included. What's the sizing like? Their chart only mentions waist size and based on that I'd be a small.
  • goonz
    goonz Posts: 3,106
    keef66 wrote:

    Planet X are flogging some end of line Campag clothing, bibtights included. What's the sizing like? Their chart only mentions waist size and based on that I'd be a small.

    Definitely size up at least one.
    Scott Speedster S20 Roadie for Speed
    Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
    Specialized Langster SS for Ease
    Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
    n+1 is well and truly on track
    Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    goonz wrote:
    Definitely size up at least one.
    I really wish people would stop saying this about Italian brands / assos etc. :wink:

    The truth is that these brands size their clothes correctly, as opposed to some of the U.K. and American brands who have artificially sized up in recent years to match expanding waist lines and vanity... If you buy a pair of jeans or a t-shirt these days they are actually at least a size bigger than specified, and because people have got used to that they now expect sports clothes to be sized the same and say that you need to "size up" with the Italian brans etc, while the truth is that you need to "size down" with the U.K./U.S. ones.

    I'm 5' 9" and take a small or medium in Campagnolo, as you would expect from my height, which is just slightly below average. In some of the U.S. brands the small size is actually too baggy, so genuinely small people must have a real problem, as while there are "XL", "XXL" sizes etc, there often aren't any "XS" ones.

    Try measuring the actual waistline of a pair of jeans - these days they are always at least 2 inches more than the measurement actually printed on the label.
  • goonz
    goonz Posts: 3,106
    neeb wrote:
    I really wish people would stop saying this about Italian brands / assos etc. :wink:

    I dont say this about Assos as for me they come up true. Both Castelli and Campag however I would suggest sizing up.

    I am 5'6 38 chest and 30 waist so not fat but athletic build. I bought a M in campag jersey heritage range thinking this would fit, its my tightest fitting jersey I have, L would have easily fitted correctly. You must be extremely slim to fit a S/M in campag. I have some Campag full fingered gloves in M which again are just about bearable but an L would have been perfect and I wear a M in my Spesh mitts.

    I bought a Castelli l/s jersey off ebay thinking it was a M and when it arrived it was a L and it fit me perfectly. M would have been too small.

    From MY experience (sorry should have added this in my first post) I would suggest sizing up.
    Scott Speedster S20 Roadie for Speed
    Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
    Specialized Langster SS for Ease
    Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
    n+1 is well and truly on track
    Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    goonz wrote:

    I dont say this about Assos as for me they come up true. Both Castelli and Campag however I would suggest sizing up.

    I am 5'6 38 chest and 30 waist so not fat but athletic build. I bought a M in campag jersey heritage range thinking this would fit, its my tightest fitting jersey I have, L would have easily fitted correctly. You must be extremely slim to fit a S/M in campag. I have some Campag full fingered gloves in M which again are just about bearable but an L would have been perfect and I wear a M in my Spesh mitts.

    I bought a Castelli l/s jersey off ebay thinking it was a M and when it arrived it was a L and it fit me perfectly. M would have been too small.

    From MY experience (sorry should have added this in my first post) I would suggest sizing up.
    I have quite a lot of Campagnolo stuff and the actual sizing does vary a bit between garments, maybe the heritage ones are on the small side..

    I find with the Campagnolo tops I am usually in-between small and medium, and mostly wear small because I like a tight fit. The only problem I have is that they are very slightly shorter than ideal, but I'd rather have that than bagginess. I do find I need a medium in the Campagnolo shorts however, and having just looked at the official Campagnolo sizing guide it is clear that their waist measurements are way off, so based on that at least, up-sizing in the shorts might be a good idea. But for me the shorts at least fit about the same as assos.

    I guess we are all different shapes, irrespective of weight and measurements!
  • goonz
    goonz Posts: 3,106
    Think we have totally confused the feck out of the OP who asked the question! :)
    Scott Speedster S20 Roadie for Speed
    Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
    Specialized Langster SS for Ease
    Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
    n+1 is well and truly on track
    Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    goonz wrote:
    Think we have totally confused the feck out of the OP who asked the question! :)
    Possibly...

    In partial reparation - that waist size guide on the Ribble website that the OP was looking at is certainly a complete joke.

    I have a 30" waist but I wear a medium in Campagnolo bib shorts, which are supposedly for waist size 34" - 36"... :shock: :)
  • goonz
    goonz Posts: 3,106
    OP just look at Campag's own sizing charts...
    Scott Speedster S20 Roadie for Speed
    Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
    Specialized Langster SS for Ease
    Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
    n+1 is well and truly on track
    Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    goonz wrote:
    OP just look at Campag's own sizing charts...

    I think they are just as bad though...
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    You're right, I'm now thoroughly bewildered. :D

    I'm 5'6" and a 32" waist, 31" inside leg. The allegedly Campag sizing chart for the bibtights on Planet X suggests a small based only on waist size. Tempted to take a punt on the mediums though.
  • mbthegreat
    mbthegreat Posts: 179
    Love my gore stuff, tights and shorts.
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    neeb wrote:
    I really wish people would stop saying this about Italian brands / assos etc. :wink:

    +1

    The sizing is almost always right, it's just people's perceptions of how big/small they are that's off.
    More problems but still living....
  • crikey
    crikey Posts: 362
    How do you think 3/4 tights were invented?
    One minor innovation in cycling credited to Van Hooydonk are three quarter length bibshorts. After he had aggravated a knee problem during the 1989 Tour of Flanders, he had cycling shorts made that stretched below the knee, as an alternative to bandaging the knee

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwig_Van_Hooydonck

    I understood the story was related to his height and a lack of tights that fit him, but just cut them off.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Just in case anyone was following this, I ordered the small size first, but they were almost impossible to get on. Ordered the mediums and sent the small back. Mediums a snug fit; shoulder straps feel a bit tight when standing but comfy on the bike. Quality garment. No zips to annoy me.

    So in this particular case the advice to go up a size from the Camapag chart was sound.

Welcome!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.