Yeah core is their cheapest stuff. I think I have a pretty resilient backside so I haven’t had many bibs that I didn’t get along with. But the actual bibs are very comfortable and the chamois is also good. It feels a bit large off the bike but once on the bike I never notice it.
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I got S9 bibs 30% off. Keep watching for sales like this:
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I’ve been pretty happy with them. Just did a 3 hour trainer session on Sunday and no issues.
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Mtb and road are totally different for me. I can wear cheap shorts on a mtb for hours because I’m constantly in and out of the saddle. Cheap bibs for 30 minutes can be absolute torture on a trainer.
Assos T.Equipe evo chamois on top
Rapha Classic bib shorts II chamois on bottom.
The Assos is a bit thinner and narrower. The Rapha is thicker and wider. I prefer both of these “wide one piece per side” style chamois to the ones from other brands that have more sections of various density inserts. Note: the Rapha Core shorts have the same chamois as the Classic, but the rest of the bib is quite different. Even though the chamois are the same, I don’t find the Core to be nearly as comfortable. I admit I can’t explain why, but for me it’s a pretty big difference.
Apologies for posting pictures of used bibs!
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This is great, thanks for the pics! Of the two, which do you prefer, Assos or Rapha? Do you have any experience with the Rapha Pro Team II or the Explore/Cargo bibs?
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So 4 days left, how are the bibs? I’m not sure if I should buy the Raphas or stick to Castelli. Did you buy a jersey, too? Which one if so?
Never had that issue, I use all my bibs/shorts on both MTB, Road and trainer. I do have favourites of course 
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I was a dedicated Assos guy for years, but recently switched to Rapha. They have a thicker and wider pad, and I prefer that. That said, you can get Assos at the outlet for half price. Comfort on the bike is important for me, so I spend the money on the Classic II from Rapha, but if you’re on a tight budget, it would be hard for me to argue against the cheaper Core or the Assos outlet price on the evo. You just have to be patient and wait for them to come in stock. Either of those, for me, is miles better than your standard PI or other discount priced bib.
I’ve used the Rapha cargo shorts on MTB, but not the bibs. The cargo pouch is nice, but for me not important enough for the extra cash. I have a friend who swears by them though.
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I am pretty much only buy Rapha apparel and the core bibs are my go to. Have a pair of the pros which are really nice but i prefer the cores (x5) because they are very good. The core leg bands after you wash them and hang dry will not be tight around the legs(the band) initially when you put them on but after 5 min they are. Kind of odd but just a fyi.
For jerseys pro line is where it is at. Not too aero but not baggy. Core jerseys from before were a little too baggy and not as long vs pro.
I am also a RCC member which you would think makes me bias but if I did not enjoy the quality I would never have been a member.
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I have three brands of bibs, and I’m fairly new to the game, so stay with me.
The Black Bibs Plus - Best bang for the buck of the ones I own. Pad is 2nd best, material 2nd best. Relatively inexpensive. I like these and will likely get them again.
De Soto 400 mile bibs - I thought these would be my favorite. They feel durable, the pad fit was excellent. But. The pad in these starts to chafe me once I get over 60 miles. That said, I still expect these to be the most durable. The material feels excellent. For the price though, this pad is not my favorite.
Pearl Izumi Pro Bibs - newest to me, but so far the most comfortable. The material is just nicer than the others, and the pad is top notch. I haven’t had these out for anything longer than 30 miles yet, but I’m feeling optimistic at this point. I haven’t noticed them. That’s worth a lot to me.
Honestly, for the price, I’ll stock up on “the black bibs pro”. They’re good enough. I’ll save that one pair of expensive bibs, the pearl izumis, for the longest stuff, but the blackbibs are my workhorse bibs of choice for now.
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Pretty much hate you right now.
On a positive note I will be able to compare these to some pearl pro shorts and see which I like better.
i’d like to hear how those compare
After reading and hearing such positive comments/reviews for ASSOS and their product range, I decided to invest in a pair of their Equipe RS 9 bibs.
When they arrived it was obvious that they were a premium product and the fit and finish was immaculate. The shoulder straps might not be to everyone’s taste but I felt that the wide surface area really stopped bunching.
Then came the all important on-bike test. Set off on a two hour spin and 10 minutes in, I could tell that something just wasn’t right. I didn’t feel like I was in contact with the saddle. This meant I was shuffling around and that’s not good. Towards the end of the ride I was having to take regular standing breaks just to relieve the pressure.
Not to be deterred, I tried another ride and generously applied chamois cream. This didn’t aid the ‘floating’ sensation but it did help with the heat that seemed to be building up.
I’ve tried to resolve my issues with this product but to date, I’ve had little success. The pad seems to fit me well and the bibs fit like a glove, I just can’t get comfortable and anything over two hours is the stuff of nightmares.
Just goes to show that regardless of price point or reputation, products like this are totally individual and what works for one person, might not work for another. I’m gutted to be honest.
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I have a feeling that the lumpy padding in Assos might work well with some saddles better than others.
I just got my first pair of Assos in 25 years and the pad is unique. For me, they took my comfort from 2 hours to 5 hours+.
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@ericallenboyd Just curious on your thoughts concerning being an RCC member. Been debating it.
I’m a member as well, its been pretty good. I mostly use it for the bike rental when I travel.
I’ve had several, from Pearl, to Specialized, to Castelli, LaPassione, Eliel, to Rapha… while bibs are so personalized I’ve tried to look past comfort and into construction and customer service.
I won’t slam any particular company, but I’ve settled on Rapha for comfort, build quality overall, and customer service. They’re pricey af, but I’ll pay it if I can get something that hits all three markers.
Eliel are really well made, with a good fit and equally comfortable. I have athletic thighs and I notice there is an initial slide upwards on the thigh despite the grippers, but once it settles in, that’s it. That’s my only ding so to speak. I don’t have that slide up experience with Rapha or LP tho. I haven’t had to utilize their customer service for anything other than basic Q/A, but they’ve always been very responsive. That’s a plus.
LaPassione’s were my primary bibs after washing thru the first three I mentioned earlier and before biting a towel, ala Jerry Tarktanian style and buying a pair of Rapha pro team bibs (and tights). Their build quality is excellent and the padding is very good. The only time I’ve gotten saddle fatigued is when it was time to buy a new pair. Given how much riding I do/done - and that I rotated a single pair with other LP’s, I’ve literally gone a high two years to almost a mid three before I felt like I needed to replace them. I don’t know what the life span is on the padding but you’re talking about four to six rides a week (six since joining TR). Their customer service is pretty good as well. The only reason I put them third despite how much I like them is their crash replacement program which is only good for six months post purchase. You can stop here or read below on how I found that out.
This past October I was involved in a cycling accident on a group ride that broke my collarbone along with some serious road rash too. I was wearing a Rapha Pro Jersey and some LP bibs that were less than a year old. Both were shredded. I contacted Rapha, who said no problem and requested I fill out the forms online, and submit my photos. The jersey (my fav) was not repairable. Rapha got back to me within a day I think, with credit toward a replacement. When I contacted LP, they said their crash replacement was only good for the first six months of ownership. No credit and no discount - despite being a registered customer with a healthy history of purchases. So instead of purchasing another pair, I went with Rapha. I still will pick a Jersey here and there, but now I try and save my pennies, nickels and dimes and just get Rapha stuff.
I hope this helps. I had no intention on making this that lengthy, but I believe in being aware of what I’m buying and more importantly the service behind it.
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I think it depends on your situation but the $100 vs the previous $200 makes it an easier buy. Below are a couple of items that come to mind:
*I don’t live by a clubhouse so I miss out on visiting the shop and grabbing a coffee or “sponsored” group rides. There is a RCC Atlanta group just not a clubhouse.
*When I travel (or used to) and there is a clubhouse the rental program is amazing. I think it was $25 a day for a top of the line Canyon which cannot be beat when I don’t want to bring my own bike.
*The RCC member exclusive sales are usually good and early access is nice if you are looking for some items. Currently due to Corona some RCC items have been out of stock for a while.
*Been enjoying the RCC only Zwift meetup rides. I like the code they give you for the in game kit but some people care less about it or Zwift.
*The RCC app and RCC members only forum is pretty good just not as active as I thought but more than likely due to our life situation.
*There are a lot of members and know people are very welcoming.
I am enjoying it for sure but the apparel portion and experiences helped my decision along with the fee being much less. I have some core bibs that are 4 years and still look and feel brand new. Hope that helps.
Edit: and sorry to hear about your accident and glad you are ok and Rapha took care of you. Recently I contacted them as i had an older core jersey that is too big for me and took the downsize offer. They let me keep the jersey and sent me a % off coupon for a new one.
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Thank you for responding.
I think I’m more of a heavy lean toward joining after reading your notes. I probably spend (or waste) the membership fee on Starbucks, embarrassingly, in a month - or two. Lol
Thank you for the good wishes. One of my friends who does Crit races told me the hardest part of the recovery wasn’t the injury, it was the psychological part. He wasn’t kidding. The first couple of rides I rode by myself. Then I did a group ride and was pretty jittery. I didn’t want aaaaaanyone near me. Lol. Much better now, but definitely more “aware” of what’s going on in front of me. Lol
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