You all have far too expensive tastes for the likes of me. £40 Lusso bib, brand new 4 hours on an MTB, no issues. £20 Endura padded shorts, no issues except the pads a little thin so after 2 hours mtb you start to notice the saddle a little. £40 Endura shorts, 6 hour enduro, no issues.
I cannot afford to drop £100+ on a single item!
Can any Rapha guys speak to the chamois design? I thought these were provided by Elastic Interface, but I’ve since been told they’re made in house. I’ve learned that I get along better with a fairly dense pad and I’m curious how the Rapha fits in the mix. Currently in La Passione PSN bibs and seem to be getting along with the chamois okay, but considering giving Rapha a try based on reviews.
I have a pair of the Core bibs and the Core Cargo bibs. I would say the chamois is on the thicker side and maybe mid level density. They are the most comfortable bibs I have ever owned (also one of the most expensive). I did a 100 mile gravel ride in them this past weekend and saddle comfort was never an issue. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.
Good info, thanks. The Core is there entry level offering correct? Pretty encouraging statement if their entry level bibs are keeping you comfortable for 100 miles of gravel.
Frankly, at this point I’ve come to terms with dropping some cash on good bibs, but I’m trying to narrow my choices. Assos and Rapha are top of the list at the moment. The pad in the pair of Assos I’ve looked at was, in my opinion, a little on the low density side but I haven’t gotten my hands on any Rapha gear to compare.
wish assos had a discount on the s9 bibs
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.
I got S9 bibs 30% off. Keep watching for sales like this:
I’ve been pretty happy with them. Just did a 3 hour trainer session on Sunday and no issues.
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!
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?
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 
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.
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.
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.
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.
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+.
