Have you compared these to Assos bibs in terms of quality? I’m need a few new pairs and my go to is the Assos Millet GTS. I always remember my bike fitter saying, dont even bother with other bibs. But I do like the look of MAAP.
Price wise they are slightly cheaper.
I’ve only bought a cap from MAAP previously and I thought it was a really poor quality. Colours were going after 2 washes.
No, I have no assos products at all. Rapha Core & Pro / Endura Pro SL / DHB Aeron stuff I prefer MAAP to all of them though.
Not sure about your cap, but colours obviously can’t wash out of lycra garments so that’s a non issue.
Cargo bib-shorts / AKA gravel bib shorts.
I’m good on regular shorts and bib shorts and 3/4 shorts and full length shorts. I’m specifically after cargo bib shorts. Most likely I’ll use for gravel rides which range from 45 mins to 8+ hours.
My ideal, would be a higher end short that I can grab when they’re next on sale (thinking how MAAP, Le Col, Rapha etc had high end shorts for around $120-150 for BlackFriday last year).
Failing that, I’m tempted for these cheapie $32 ones which are probably Rion or BlackBib quality, and fine enough for shorter rides on perhaps when the temperatures aren’t so challengingly hot.
Any advise and comparisons to other shorts you’ve owned is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Right now, I know of:
For a short ride I don’t think cargo bibs are super useful so I’d skip the cheapos.
If I need extra pockets I’d want the good chamois too.
I have a pair from Godandfamous that I really like. Can get them when they’re on sale relatively cheap. Not a top-end chamois but the price is right. I used them at Unbound 200 with no issues or concern,
Have theBlackBibs cargo bibs and I quite like them. But I may be an outlier in that I rarely have issues with most bibs.
Pactmo has updated their cargo bibs. The new pocket design is better than the first gen by a long shot.
Hands down insanely comfortable bibs. The stealth series was designed for Everesting. And for the comfort they’re insanely affordable. I go through a pair a season. Do at least two 4+ hour rides a week. They sell two main pairs, one designed for under 3 hour rides and one designed for 3+. Around $80/$120 pending on which pair you get. Shipping was about 5 days. Coming from Singapore no sales tax.
Check out their reviews, Yuva is a super standup guy, also has crash replacement. I know. 'Cause I crashed. lol.
Has anyone tried the newish Castelli Free Aero RC
I’ve worn Castelli bibs for years, but a little gun-shy after having material consistently tear on the Free Aero Race 4 bibs.
Just took a chance and bought a pair of the cargo bibs from ‘Band of Climbers’ as featured on Ed Laverack’s YouTube channel.
Somewhat of an ‘ironic’ purchase since I’m a fat bast**d so climbing is definitely not my strength 
Anyway, summary below of my initial thoughts:
Price and VFM: pretty reasonable in comparison to Castelli / Rivelo / Rapha / Eliel / Kalas / LeCol etc - just around £100 IIRC with a one off discount code
Quality: good double seamed stitching, decent material and overall I’d say measures up to anything I’ve had previously from aforementioned brands. Shoulder straps are a decent width so don’t dig in.
Fit: ok in the body (length) - I went for XXL as I’m 6’3” (190cm). Good fit in the hips and waist area, not too loose but not super tight either. Leg length is a bit long for my taste (subjective I know) plus I’ve noticed that the gripper band at the bottom of the leg is a bit ‘baggy’ - which upon doing a web search appears to be a common feedback point (almost as if the leg was designed for a rider with super massive quads at the point above the knee).
Chamois: excellent and very comfy on a 90 minute super hot and sweaty indoor workout last week when I gave them a test run. Comfy so far on any outdoor ride and the chamois seems to be reasonably thick without being hard or harsh. Takes chamois cream nicely as well with good absorption but still retaining the dampness you need.
Cargo aspect: this is where it gets a top notch rating from me - a big deep elasticated netting pocket on each leg that holds stuff (gels etc) without them moving around or falling out when pedalling furiously or getting in and out the saddle. Robust design means they look and feel like they are unlikely to tear or come unstitched. Also the two reasonable sized bit smaller pockets in the rear (small of your back area) that feel easy to access even under a jersey.
Breathability: not too bad relative to other brands noted - probably middle of the road which means from my experience that in cold weather they will also be somewhere mid-pack in terms of warmth - so essentially a reasonable compromise position. I have other bibs that are thinner and lighter that would do better in hot weather for breathability and others that are thicker and heavier that would do better in cold and rain.
Overall rating: Very good IMHO for what they are aiming at (comfort and cargo capacity for longer rides) with the fly in the ointment being the baggy leg gripper which tbh I feel like I can overlook given the other more positive aspects noted above. I wouldn’t wear them for Crit racing or indoor workouts as a first choice but they will be my go-to bibs for longer social rides with my friends - regardless of pace of the ride.
Hth
Rapha cargo are nice and lots of pockets. The brevet are more $$ and have a pocket on the right leg.
Sale going on right now and was tempted to get another brevet but I already have 8 bibs so I am set.
It’s similar to the number of bikes question: how many bibs do you need? N+1.
Oooh, look at the new <incremental, cosmetic feature> on those bibs . I need that – I’m sure it will make me faster.
I like to do laundry once a week so that is why. Not sure why it matters to you but thanks for your concern.
Just making a joke. I look at the pile of bibs and jerseys I have and yet I see a sale and it’s like …. Maybe one more is ok.
Ahh did not get the joke part and all good. I have and am to the point I am set on apparel as it lasts so long. Haven’t bought any for a while beside a new aero jersey but had a credit that covered it.
Anyone else dislike a certain bib outdoors but like it on the trainer?
Have found this to be the case with my high end Assos bibs. Hate it outdoors (at least in the summer) chamois doesn’t agree with me.
Wore it for a trainer session last week and forgot I even had bibs on.
Adding here:
Hands down my favorite bibs right now are my Hors Categorie II bibs from Le Col. Nothing else is remotely close.
Did 12+ hr ride time on Saturday in 75-100F (201.5mi), more than 16hrs straight in the bibs… applied Chamois Buttr before the ride and never again. Had ZERO discomfort, numbness practically nil.
Haven’t tried Rapha yet, but thus far the Le Col are a cut above my Eliel, Pactimo, and Assos bibs. The Eliel (El Capitán) are also very Nice. Assos pro chamois doesn’t agree with me. Eliel and Le Col chamois are similar.
FWIW I also have a Hyperthreads kit that’s exceptionally comfortable over 4hrs….
It’s just all so individual.
Individual is right. My 16 hour same pair of bibs double century was five years ago and on Voler bibs - no chamois cream, zero discomfort and no numbness. After our club switched to Pactimo that was any eye opener, the 12 hour chamois is soooooo much better. Then I tried another not-12-hour Pactimo bib and can’t stand it, just doesn’t fit me. Weird.
I’ve tried chamois cream several times over the years and every single time it has the opposite effect - I just can’t use it.
I have never been a regular user until this summer when I started getting out for 4hrs or more regularly in the heat. It’s made a huge difference in in-ride and post-ride comfort. When I first used it back in 2006, I hated it, didn’t see the point. Now I apply it in specific hot-spot or discomfort areas and use it liberally there, and it has made a dramatic difference for me.
It just didn’t help those Assos bibs… 
Anyone here have experience with the Castelli Endurance 3 Bibs and/or the Progetto x2 chamois?
My oldest Rapha Core is just about out of life and I’m looking to try something else. I’d say the chamois is “ok” but certainly never been an all-day thing (though I have done a few 7-ish hour rides with them…).
Been using their stuff for a bit now. Have a few pairs of their chroma men’s bibs and find them to be super comfortable. The chamois is smaller than most but is held well and the paneling is well done and comfortable.
One thing I don’t love with being a bit taller is how short they are in the back, I find that there can be a very narrow margin between the bottom of the jersey and the top of the bibs.
Regarding the jerseys I’m not the biggest fan, materials and for are generally good but I find them a bit thinner than maap/pas normal/assist.
The material also has very visible sweat stains.
Overall I highly recommend their bibs but maybe try the jersey with caution.
