Castelli bibshort range

ben@31
ben@31 Posts: 2,327
edited May 2017 in Road buying advice
Hello, does anyone know the difference between the Free Aero, Volo, Evoluzione and Nanoflex Bibshorts ?

Is there any noticeable difference for the price?

Thanks

Ben.
"The Prince of Wales is now the King of France" - Calton Kirby

Comments

  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Free aero were really badly finished for me and oddly sized. You can do better elsewhere
  • src1
    src1 Posts: 301
    Free Aero are a light weight aero race short that seem size smaller than other castelli shorts, mine ripped at the back between the shoulders and I don't like the slightly see through leg gripper. The pad is nice tho.

    Nanoflex shorts are thicker, warmer and longer than normal bib-shorts and have a water repellent finish that wears off after a few washes. They're comfy and good in spring/autumn with knee/leg warmers. Unfortunately, the leg grippers are a bit too loose on my skinny legs.
  • fudgey
    fudgey Posts: 854
    edited May 2017
    I have 2 pairs of free aero bibs with the progetto x2 air pad, the very first pair i bought the stitching came undone on the leg on the very first ride, so they went back.

    For me they are comfy so i bought a second pair, paid £115 each for them.
    Just over a year old now and between they 2 pairs i have done 5000 miles. Around xmas time both pads started to ruffle a bit in the middle after a wash, but when on they stretched out and were ok.

    Now this weekend one pair was really lumpy in the middle so i stuck my finger in the hole at the back of the pad to flatten it out and hooked out a silicon pad from the left arse cheek... So thats 13months of fairly light use they lasted - i wont be buying any more.

    Kind of looking into rapha classics but at £165 a pair, it would wound me to pay that for cycling shorts.
    My winter bike is exactly the same as my summer bike,,, but dirty...
  • kajjal
    kajjal Posts: 3,380
    I just bought the cheapest ones when they were less than half price in a sale. They have worked well for me.
  • Vslowpace
    Vslowpace Posts: 189
    Free aero are their race cut shorts and come up smaller than their other options. Volo are their team cut and are slightly roomier. The other two, no idea i'm afraid. However more info here:

    https://issuu.com/castelli-cycling/docs ... ummer_2017
  • apreading
    apreading Posts: 4,535
    Free Aero used to be the de-facto choice. They were fantastic. then they changed the design about 18 months/2 years ago to the current one with the see through leg grippers. At that time they made the cut smaller, the material less stretchy and th bib straps less comfortable/shorter. Basically, they ruined them... I bought up loads of the earlier stock before it dissappeared.

    I have just tried the new Premio bibshorts and they are better - more stretchy material makes the biggest difference. The leg grippers are gone, there are none, just rubber bits on the inside at the bottom of the legs - they are soo sticky that this does make them more fiddly to get on and pull up to position but they are not bad once on. The legs are REALLY long though, and they are still fractionally smaller than the OLD Free Aero. They are alot more expensive than the new free aero though.

    The Volo, Evoluzione and Velocissimo all use the inferior KISS pad - I would definately go for the Progetto pad over that, there is a huge difference.

    If you want a more relaxed fit, I would look at the 'Endurance', which also uses the proper pad.
  • fudgey
    fudgey Posts: 854
    I found a 25% discount for Rapha if you take an online survey, so just ordered the Core and Classic 2 in a M and L, ill send back the ones that dont fit. With the 25% off it makes them £75 and £123.75 respectively.
    My winter bike is exactly the same as my summer bike,,, but dirty...
  • philbar72
    philbar72 Posts: 2,229
    I'm moving away from Castelli to ALe bibs. the pad is infinitely better than the x2. I used the race fit shorts at liege for 3 years and was utterly destroyed downstairs after 180k... with the ALe's I feel so much better.
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,814
    Fudgey wrote:
    I found a 25% discount for Rapha if you take an online survey, so just ordered the Core and Classic 2 in a M and L, ill send back the ones that dont fit. With the 25% off it makes them £75 and £123.75 respectively.

    Core Bundle is £105 with that code so you'd be getting the jersey too for £30 extra.
  • fudgey
    fudgey Posts: 854
    MrB123 wrote:
    Fudgey wrote:
    I found a 25% discount for Rapha if you take an online survey, so just ordered the Core and Classic 2 in a M and L, ill send back the ones that dont fit. With the 25% off it makes them £75 and £123.75 respectively.

    Core Bundle is £105 with that code so you'd be getting the jersey too for £30 extra.

    I did see the offer, but only really need shorts.
    Edit: just had a look at the jerseys and i dont like any of them.
    My winter bike is exactly the same as my summer bike,,, but dirty...
  • src1
    src1 Posts: 301
    philbar72 wrote:
    I'm moving away from Castelli to ALe bibs. the pad is infinitely better than the x2. I used the race fit shorts at liege for 3 years and was utterly destroyed downstairs after 180k... with the ALe's I feel so much better.

    Which Alé shorts did you get? I find the range a bit bewildering...

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