Rapha or Assos Bibs for around £120ish

Churchill123
Churchill123 Posts: 341
edited May 2013 in Road buying advice
Anyone got any comments on whether a pair of Rapha or Assos bibs are better than one or the other in the £120 region...

Comments

  • Now you have opened a can of worms...;0)

    For what it's worth, I have tried both, can't remember the Assos type, but my Rapha ones fit better, but that is purely personal, both are excellent, and you wouldn't be disappointed with either brand. Would be interested to know where you are getting Rapha shorts from for £120?
    “Faster, Faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.” Hunter S Thompson
  • £140 even :P
  • gaddster
    gaddster Posts: 401
    consider etxeondo too..love mine
    ARTHUR
    "Hello oh great one"
    LARRY
    "Are you talking to me or my ass?"
  • RDB66
    RDB66 Posts: 492
    Castelli Aero Team....All the shorts you'll ever need !!

    Never tried Rapha so cant comment, but Assos are not for me, the pad is like a nappy and not worth the money imo!!
    A Brother of the Wheel. http://www.boxfordbikeclub.co.uk

    09 Canyon Ultimate CF for the Road.
    2011 Carbon Spesh Stumpy FSR.
  • RDB66 wrote:
    Castelli Aero Team....All the shorts you'll ever need !!

    Never tried Rapha so cant comment, but Assos are not for me, the pad is like a nappy and not worth the money imo!!



    Ok - Interesting... Read some reviews on the Assos bibs at around £120 and all have been brilliant giving nothing but great feedback.... Interesting and appreciate your feedback bud
  • Brian B
    Brian B Posts: 2,071
    Assos gets my vote and I have 5 pairs of varying Assos bibs/tights and I do a lot of miles and I used to use castelli/specialised BG shorts but found Assos far more comfier and longer lasting. I have never tried Rapha bibs but I imagine that you cannot go far wrong with them as I own some Rapha kit and it performs well (just not a well as Assos IMO).

    As mentioned above a lot comes down to how good the fit is and for me Assos just fits me better than Rapha.
    Brian B.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    you just need Assos, mate (eh, Brian?)
  • Used Rapha pro bib and Assos Uno - not quite comparable but the Assos are tough and very comfortable whereas the Rapha were not suited to extended use (shoulder seams and high-wear areas a weak point).

    Rapha (again, the "pro" range) came up slightly smaller than Assos.

    Perhaps the regular Rapha bibs are better all round; the pro stuff, although great to look at and lovely to wear, didn't seem built to last (over a year ago, may have changed since then).
  • on-yer-bike
    on-yer-bike Posts: 2,974
    I have two pairs of Assos and they've both gone grey despite careful washing. Rapha pro are the best and are supposed to be tight (compressive). You have to put them on carefully otherwise the bibs can rip. Once they are on they are every bit as tough as Assos. Im talking about the 2nd generation, there may have been problems with the first. Rapha classic are completely different and also very comfy. I find the bib straps on Castelli Free Aero are too far apart but they are good otherwise.
    Pegoretti
    Colnago
    Cervelo
    Campagnolo
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,802
    Here's a quick comparison from the Rapha and Assos bibs that I currently own:

    Rapha Classic Bibs - A more 'relaxed' comfort fit with a good pad. Well made and they look good.
    Rapha Pro Team Bibs (latest generation) - Fantastic quality, excellent 'compression' fit but they wont work for a short rider with thick legs. It might sound like a cliche, but these are all-day riding bibs.
    Assos F1 Uno - Pretty much the same level as the Rapha Classic but without the looks.
    Assos t607 - On a par with the Pro Teams in both fit, pad and ride-ability. The addition of a roubaix type lining makes them ideal for UK weather. I also like the 'stealth black' look.

    Of the four the Pro Team bibs are my faves but the t607 is a very close second. Worth every penny IMO.
  • Here's a quick comparison from the Rapha and Assos bibs that I currently own:

    Rapha Classic Bibs - A more 'relaxed' comfort fit with a good pad. Well made and they look good.
    Rapha Pro Team Bibs (latest generation) - Fantastic quality, excellent 'compression' fit but they wont work for a short rider with thick legs. It might sound like a cliche, but these are all-day riding bibs.
    Assos F1 Uno - Pretty much the same level as the Rapha Classic but without the looks.
    Assos t607 - On a par with the Pro Teams in both fit, pad and ride-ability. The addition of a roubaix type lining makes them ideal for UK weather. I also like the 'stealth black' look.

    Of the four the Pro Team bibs are my faves but the t607 is a very close second. Worth every penny IMO.


    Top man! - That's exactly what i was after... Just slightly concerned about people who talk of Assos bibs going grey.. even if you wash them with halo sports wash?
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,802
    I just wash mine inside out in the wee bag they come with at 30C in the machine using Tesco non bio concentrated liquid. My F1's are in their third year of wear and have seen countless washes. They still look black to me!
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    I own several pairs of Assos tights, 3/4 knicks and bib shorts and none of them have ever gone grey. And some of them are over five years old. It's down to how you wash them imo.
  • bjl
    bjl Posts: 353
    I love my Assos F1 Uno's to bits , but the Lycra has gone see through at the back , got loads of life still in the pad and the rest of the shorts , just seems the rear is wearing thinner.
  • bjl wrote:
    I love my Assos F1 Uno's to bits , but the Lycra has gone see through at the back , got loads of life still in the pad and the rest of the shorts , just seems the rear is wearing thinner.


    How long have you had them?
  • on-yer-bike
    on-yer-bike Posts: 2,974
    bjl wrote:
    I love my Assos F1 Uno's to bits , but the Lycra has gone see through at the back , got loads of life still in the pad and the rest of the shorts , just seems the rear is wearing thinner.
    Yep that happens too. Always seemed to end up behind someone on sportives with see through Assos shorts showing off their crack.
    Pegoretti
    Colnago
    Cervelo
    Campagnolo
  • bjl
    bjl Posts: 353
    They are about two years old.
  • robbo2011
    robbo2011 Posts: 1,017
    The see through rear end or greying hasn't happened to my Unos which are in their third season and have been washed countless times. I hand wash mine after every ride, maybe that has something to do with it.
  • Churchill123
    Churchill123 Posts: 341
    went with Assos and by god are they amazing! - Won't be buying anything else other than Assos now
  • pilot_pete
    pilot_pete Posts: 2,120
    Assos have a free repair service. If you send them back through your retailer they will repair them. If not repairable they offer you a new pair at half price - I told a club mate who was showing his crack off and he got the 50% option.... :lol:

    PP
  • ajb72
    ajb72 Posts: 1,178
    At that price point I think you made the right decision. My favourite shorts are a pair of Rapha Pro Team, the fit and comfort are sublime for me. They cost crazy money unless you get a decent discount code though. I found the standard Rapha Classic shorts pretty average for fit and comfort, whereas my Assos Uno's cost under £100 but were my 'everyday' shorts for 3 years and served me really well. Sadly I worn several decent holes in them now, but they still manage a spin class.
  • Peejay56
    Peejay56 Posts: 41
    +1 for Assos - not cheap, but spot on!

    Pete.