Yes. I am a typical T-rex body type. The only purpose of my core and arms is to have something that my head is attached to The M size with long legs was my exact choice in terms of sizing.
My personal preference is www.endless.cc bibs for everything but the coldest of conditions. What I like is that they have a high, compressive waist and wide straps that go over the chest in stead of “around” the chest. This is perfect for guys like me who are challenged with a little extra body fat and want to counteract the gut/moob situation a little
I have used mine on epic 9+hrs wet gravel rides in Iceland without any issues.
I can highly recommend JONA II from Futurum.cc. Same sizing as Assos and DHB, the seat pad is even better than Assos for me. I believe it is a bit firmer and works better on a trainer.
They have a challenge running on Strava where you can get 20€ off.
The Eliel El Capitan bib has been the best bibshort I’ve tried by far. Nice compression fit with a wider mid section on the chamois suits me perfect. I enjoyed castellis high end chamois but just didn’t last. Assos overall cut wasn’t comfortable for me.
Does anyone have recommendations on brands of bib shorts with chamois/pad placed further forward?
I had to get rid of the last two bibs I purchased because the chamois was too far back when I’m in my riding position (on the hoods, drops, or top of the bars). This results in my sit bones being pretty much completely off the chamois. These bibs were the Le Col Hors Categorie Heritage and Castelli Entrata.
So far, only Velocio and Twin Six (made by Voler I believe) bibs fit the criteria above and work well. As far as I know, it’s not fit related since I’ve gotten a professional fitting. Size-wise, the bibs I didn’t keep felt great everywhere else except for the chamois placement.
I’ll likely pick up another pair of Velocios, but would like to explore other brands.
I’ve only ridden one pair of Velocios, the thermal bib tight, but I normally ride the Rapha Classic Bibshorts II, and found the chamois to be almost identical. They don’t make them anymore, and the new replacement is terrible, but they occasionally release a run on the Archive site, here: https://www.rapha.cc/us/en_US/shop/mens-classic-bib-shorts-ii/product/BSS03RGBLK
Assos
Really like the Le Col pro bibs. Their sport version are fine if you have a promo code (through strava) but wouldn’t pay full price for ‘em.
Team bibs are from Pactimo, they’re really good
Have a set of Endura’s that I got on sale, would totally buy again even at full price
I like Rapha on sale. At $150ish, they’re probably the best, but at full price, ill look elsewhere.
I have a pair of Sugoi shorts I bought easily a decade ago and they’re still my go-to shorts on the MTB. The damn things just wont wear out!
Love my Castelli winter tights. I’m sure their bib shorts are equally as good but don’t actually have any currently
I don’t know. I am 190 cm tall and lean (64 kg ). I wear Assos in size S and my first Assos shorts (Neopro) were actually XS. Legs are slightly shorter, I don’t mind. But I don’t even try to get full length bibs. I just go with leg warmers.
Regarding muscle gain, I’ve also gained a kg or 2 when I started a couple of years ago. Since then nothing.
I have Le Col Pro and HC bibs, and the chamois feels way farther forward on the Pro. I know what you mean about the HC bib being too far back. Pro is not like that. Other than both HC and Pro having a thick chamois, they might as well be from different companies.
I was wondering what everyone wears I run they VELO ABSOLUTE BLACKS BIB SHORTS have them 2 week seem good so far vey good material
I moved your post to the long topic with plenty of existing recommendations and discussion.
I am very impressed with Cutaway’s bib shorts. I first got a pair branded through Ridge Supply. Then ended up with 2 more from Cutaway themselves. And they have pockets, which are totally game changing for me (but also available without). Minimally branded.
I have both their Pro4 and Pro3. I need to size up (at their rec) for the Pro4 - much more compression than the Pro3. https://www.cutawayusa.com/collections/bib-shorts
40% off crash replacement. Which I used, unfortunately. Excellent service and relatively local to me.
These are by far my favorite. The best most comfortable chamois I have used. https://www.competitivecyclist.com/castelli-competizione-limited-edition-bib-short-mens
Such a wide range of opinions as you’d expect. I’ve used Assos bibs in their various iterations for 15 y and prefer them over others. And yes I know they are $$. A couple of notes
An older rider told me to have 3 or 4 sets and rotate them frequently and wash them carefully. The bibs last much more than a single season - and I ride 4-5 d per week (and I’m not a skinny rail either). I always use their cleaner, delicate cycle and hang to dry inside out
The Mille GT bibs and tights are the most comfortable for long rides (more than 3 h). The equipe version have a new marker every season it seems and they are the tightest, have the least chafing, and maybe are the least shifty of the versions. The chronosuit requires you to be a contortionist to get into and feels terrible until you get into a lower position on the bike
I’ve tried a few others and keep going back. I know many like Rapha product - they just don’t work as well for me
Velo have great bib shorts
Rapha pro team is my go to about $190 USD.
For knickers I use Assos which fit me better than Rapha.
Assos sunmer bibs don’t feel or last better than Rapha, and they’re much more expensive.
The food stuff lasts and fits do well you don’t feel it at all. Best place to spend money for kit, imo.
Thoughts so far from the ‘memorable’ bibs below. I’ve learned that fit is entirely personal while durability is far more objective.
- Rapha (forget model, the lower-end ones though): decent, but not life changing for me. Comfortable indoors for 1-1.5hrs, outdoors 1.5-2hrs. Held up well so far but hasn’t seen huge amount of use.
- Le Col Pro lightweight: great for comfort, decent for durability. Stitching came apart on first pair within 4-5 washes and was promptly replaced by Le Col service (kept the old pair). Second pair held up better, for a year, but stitching is now fraying too after moderately heavy indoor/outdoor use. Took a spill, put a 1/2" rip in the replacement pair and got a coupon to use towards a third pair (see below).
- Le Col Thermal: low use so far (~10 uses). Can be worn alone down -5C on a road/cross ride, or -15C on a fat bike ride. I’ve noticed some sagging after 1-1.5hrs on a fat bike ride which requires me to stop and re-adjust the bibs (pull towards the front). No such problems existed on a road/cross ride.
- Voler Shift black (have two pairs) - great comfort indoors up to 5hr rides but a failure outdoor. Bibs loosen during a ride and I need to readjust and pull towards the front, which is easy enough indoors but inconvenient, frustrating and unsafe outside. Great durability outdoors.
- Varlo: decent comfort but the elastic tightness and material seem to result in blood blisters. Thin chamois, though can’t speak to comfort on longer rides since I never tired above 1.5hrs. Stopped wearing due to tightness around bottom part of leg. Remainder of bibs seem to fit well, just the bottom elastic is problematic.
- Craft, unknown model: wore them right out! Second best fitting pair of bibs I owned, good up to around 2.5hrs. They’re a little too see-through now, so relegated to basement only.
- Eliel Laguna Seca: just got my second pair and absolutely love them. By far the most comfortable bibs for me. I’ve had them on multiple 4-6hr outdoor rides with minor discomfort (far less than any other bibs I own). They fit perfectly tight and aero without cutting off circulation, don’t slide around, have the chamois placed in just the right spot (for me!) and have just enough support and cushion for my tender rear end. They are far from cheap, especially for us poor Canadians, and are priced on par with other premium brands (Assos, PNS, Rapha, etc.), so discounts are the way to go (full disclosure - I’m an EFT member for the discounts)! I don’t have other premium brands to compare to, but based on fit and durability so far I will be hard pressed to spend $350-400 on another brand just to try it out.
Does anyone know how Pactimo’s sizing compares to Voler’s (for bib shorts)?
My club just moved from Voler to Pactimo and I’m looking for insight on sizing differences. Voler’s Large fits me perfectly, but Pactimo’s size chart puts me in the middle of Medium. I’m coming from the Voler Pro Bibs and looking at either the Pactimo Asent Vector or the Pactimo Summit Raptor.
I just purchased a pair of assos Mille GT bibs…They definitely are well made bib that are comfortable. Have had one ride with them and was very impressed. For me will be interesting to see how they wear.
On the plus side ordering them online worked very well. My size was in stock and in my hands three days later. I find it hard these days to get product in Canada either due to sizing availability or lack of delivery/fees to Canada.
I was using Castelli Free Aero Race 4 Bibshorts but found they dont last well with the trainer. The fit was great but they just breakdown quicker then any other bibs I wear.