Rapha Pro Bib Shorts Or Castelli Free Aero

skinnydog1973

Hi Im after a bit help I'm doing the c2c2c in 10 weeks 240 miles in a day, yesterday i did 115 miles and when i got home by backside is red raw, don't think i could even get on the bike today, I'm going to treat myself to a pair of decent bib shorts but i am not sure on which ones, i know that many people will give there opinions on them but any help would be great coz i need a good pair that will last on long rides or i am going to be knackered, cheers

TheHound

Never used Rapha.

But have used those Castelli shorts extensively and they're superb. The Body Paint shorts are even better.

From what I've read elsewhere you can't really go wrong with either option though. So just chose which you like the look of best.

andrewjoseph

the progetto pad is the best i've used. not tried raphia though.

my wife tried mine and ordered 3 pairs of the womens equivalent and threw out her assos shorts.

ddraver

This is difficult for you I know but the honest answer is whichever pair fit you best. May be a case of taking the hit and ordering both to try them on. I have the Rapha Pro Team bibs and Thermal bibs (and probably will get the normal shorts for my bday) and they are noticable more comfy than any other short I ve owned (Sportful, Gore, Endura Equipe). I don't fit in Castelli.

skinnydog1973

thanks for the replies i know everyone has a different opinion and prefer different ones i think that the castelli are the ones i might go for even the body paint if shmbo lets me lol

andrewjoseph

well the pad is the same in different shorts i.e. body paint, pro aero etc. I'm going for the cheapest bib short with the progetto pad next time. I think that's the endurance x2. £55 cheaper than the body paint from http://www.castellicafe.co.uk/mens/castelli-cycling-shorts-bibshorts

napoleond

The castellis were my favourite shorts until the new Assos S7 and Rapha Pro Team arrived. Both of those are amazing!

TheHound

The pad is the same in Castelli Body Paint and the Aero Race.

But somehow the Body Paint just sits so flush all over. Hard to explain.

sloppyschleckonds

I'd rate Assos over Castelli for comfort but the Assos will wear out quicker.
Rapha behind the above.

HTH

MattFT

Assos then Castelli then Rapha, but that's down to my fickle comfort issues rather than quality. Best pad is probably Assos. Best construction, Assos and Rapha are on a par. Best value is the Castelli.

lancew

The Rapha shorts do their "if you're not happy you can send them back" deal.

Get them, try them? I have Free Aero's (the tour of Dubai ones) and I think they're excellent. So much for comfortable than my Cuore ones which were far more expensive.

But I would say that the stiching on the pad of the Castelli ones has now gone after a years use, whereas a lot of my other shorts have the top layer of the pad as one piece which would avoid that issue.

mrushton

Latest Assos S7 are imo the best out there but are expensive. The Rapha deal is the best out there as you get 30 days (might only be on classic shorts tho'). Castelli are excellent.

FatTed

All the Rapha shorts have the same pad, the shorts may not fit exactly the same. The Rapha Classic bibs you can try for a month, and if your not happy then send them back at no cost.
For me Assos S7 are the best by a country mile, then Rapha (I sent mine back) and lastly Castelli.
Your Arse may differ.
So try Rapha first since they have the money back deal.

marcusjb

I've used both Rapha and Castelli (but the prowhatsit pad in sanremo 3.0), but, in long distance riding, shorts are often not the magic bullet that you are looking for.

Your positioning will make more of a difference than shorts in my experience. On my main distance bike, I have ridden big daily distances in shorts costing £50 and shorts costing £200 - neither will cause me any arse troubles. I could happily wear cheap shorts for all of my distance, but, well, stuff like my rapha pro team etc. is nicer to look at etc.

If you get your saddle and positioning correct, it really doesn't make much difference what you wear.

bernithebiker

I'm normally a Castelli chap - have Aero Race and Body Paint, excellent.

Coughed up quite a bit extra for the Assos S7 Equipe to see what all the fuss was about....meh...

Not overwhelmed - good, but nothing amazing, and the pad feels quite big. All feels a bit overkill to me.

nferrar

@OP - what's your usual mileage and are you using chamois cream. Sounds like chafing you're getting which whilst it can be down to the shorts/pad it could also be just getting used to higher mileage/more frequent riding and decent chamois cream can also help a lot. Also, what make of shorts were you using?

As for shorts recommendations, I have Castelli Free Race Aero's and they're good, along with some older model Assos (S1 Unos I think), which are OK. I still mostly ride on DHB Aeron Pros though (and whatever the predecessor model was). Not saying Assos aren't worth it (I have their jackets etc.) but they might not be the solution to your problem (or if they are then maybe something a lot cheaper could also be the solution).

gimpl

I've got both - bought the Free Aeros first and thought I would struggle to beat them until I got a pair of the Pro Bibs in an end of season sale and they are much, much better - IMO

flasher

marcusjb wrote:

I've used both Rapha and Castelli (but the prowhatsit pad in sanremo 3.0), but, in long distance riding, shorts are often not the magic bullet that you are looking for.

Your positioning will make more of a difference than shorts in my experience. On my main distance bike, I have ridden big daily distances in shorts costing £50 and shorts costing £200 - neither will cause me any ars* troubles. I could happily wear cheap shorts for all of my distance, but, well, stuff like my rapha pro team etc. is nicer to look at etc.

If you get your saddle and positioning correct, it really doesn't make much difference what you wear.

Wise words.

KnightOfTheLongTights

I'm not *so* keen on Castelli Aero Race cos of the fit. Was forced to go up to size L for first time ever (rather than S or M), and they are still v tight on the thigh / crush my nads while the pad seems a bit big and loose...
Just not my shape I guess! Agree with comment that fit is v important ...

il_principe

nferrar wrote:

@OP - are you using chamois cream.

Seconded. Slather on the Chammy Cream. Assos is the best.

Oh and Castelli all the way. New bibs every day if possible, wash them if not.

itboffin

I never thought I'd find a better pad than the castelli kiss until I tried the aero version, the fact that I don't notice it vs rapha classic which is most likely to big, I went for large in rapha because I'm large in castelli and I believe that is important for a snug fit for long ride comfort.

Cycling Caesar

Can anyone who owns/tried both give me hint as to sizing?

Most of my kit is Castelli/Sportful and bibs I go XXL (6'4" and 12.5 stone), biggest issue is length of the straps. Going by Rapha's size guide I'd say Large but It just doesn't sound right.

gimpl

Cycling Caesar wrote:

Can anyone who owns/tried both give me hint as to sizing?

Most of my kit is Castelli/Sportful and bibs I go XXL (6'4" and 12.5 stone), biggest issue is length of the straps. Going by Rapha's size guide I'd say Large but It just doesn't sound right.

So we're the same height but I haven't been 12.5 stone since I was at school over 30 years ago :oops:

I have XXL in both and find the Rapha fit is better. As you say the straps on the Castelli are too long and don't keep them snug in the undercarriage area. When I first put the Rapha's on it initially felt like they were too small but once on the bike they felt much better and they don't 'loosen off' underneath like the Castelli's do.

thegreatdivide

Gimpl wrote:

Cycling Caesar wrote:

Can anyone who owns/tried both give me hint as to sizing?

Most of my kit is Castelli/Sportful and bibs I go XXL (6'4" and 12.5 stone), biggest issue is length of the straps. Going by Rapha's size guide I'd say Large but It just doesn't sound right.

So we're the same height but I haven't been 12.5 stone since I was at school over 30 years ago :oops:

I have XXL in both and find the Rapha fit is better. As you say the straps on the Castelli are too long and don't keep them snug in the undercarriage area. When I first put the Rapha's on it initially felt like they were too small but once on the bike they felt much better and they don't 'loosen off' underneath like the Castelli's do.

Are you guys talking about Pro Team or Classic bibs here?

The former are VERY tight due to the compression – as they should be. Although I’m at the other end of the spectrum at 170cm and 65kg, putting on a pair of PT bibs in size small requires a bit of squeezing and sliding to get them to fit and on the first try I was worried I was going to break them. Once they’re in place however, they’re like a second skin! But if it’s the Classics they have a lot more ‘give’ so should be fine sizing wise.

thegreatdivide

[Edit] at 12.5 stone I reckon an XL in the PT bibs will work - but you could get both L and XL and try them.

Cycling Caesar

Thanks for the responses.

My comment on strap length was more that I have to go XXL otherwise I struggle to get them on my shoulders!

I was looking at both the Pro Team and Lightweights (it was 24 degrees here yesterday!), I could order multiple sizes but I find that a real PITA and quite a drawn out process with Guernsey post adding a day or two on either end.