Who spends the money? Is it worth it? They have one at the $150 mark now with the FI uno S5 chamois...how is that chamy? How is their sizing? I'm 5' 9", 145-150 lbs wich puts me between M and L on thier chart.
How about Desoto?
I've been using Boure Elite bibs and putting Elite chamois in my team kits for 10 years and I'm pretty happy with that but the Elite chamois doesn't last as long as I would like (less than a year in a 5-6 bib rotation).
Not I, that's crazy talk. Spend the money on parts not clothing!!
Hi,
I have the Desoto bibs and really like them.
The sizing seemed off. I ordered off their size chart two years ago and and they were too small. I returned them for a large.
I am 5 10" 155-150 lbs and usually wear medium in most short brands.
Not sure you could wear the medium, the legs were tight.
Never tried the Assos but people seem to like them.
I do have a 12-13 year old Assos air wind block jacket that has held up well and has a nice fit and feel to it.
Sometimes when I get the Colorado Cyclist catalog I like to piece together an entire Assos wardrobe to see how much I can spend, then buy my powerball ticket.
i have a 10 yr old pair of assos bibs and a 2 yr old pair. I am almost exactly the same hisght and weight as you. The short answer is that they are the best bibs i have ever worn -- the chamois is the best. I havent tried all the bibs out there of course, but I have tried a lot. The ten year old chamois is as comfy as the 2 yr old one. Some of the lycra above the chamois on the backside is wearing out on the 10 yr old pair so I only use it on my indorr trainer. The lycra is a little heavy for the hottest days and the size small is abit short in the leg - the medium is just right. And btw the bibs I bought were around $150 -- they were not the top of the line which I suspect has lighter and higher quality lycra. But the chamois is the bomb!
I have a pair of Assos knickers that I got (on sale) a couple years ago. I'm 6' 160 lbs. and a large fits fine. The chamois is the great.
Wow! When I was a bike racer, I was poor, bibs barely existed and nobody wore them and our guru (John Allis) wore suspenders. I did too. Still do. Now I could afford $150 bibs, but $90 shorts and $15 dollar clip on suspenders work really well and every time I have the need to do business I appreciate those suspenders one more time. (And I have bought one pair of quality bibs. When they were new, they had all the advantages of good shorts and suspenders, my jerseys looked a little better and #2 meant undressing, sometimes in so not so clean and nice places. Don't miss that at all.)
Oh, once those bibs got a little old, the straps stretched and the chamois fit (and goods retention) was no longer up to par. I know someone here sews a fold in his straps but shortening suspenders is a lot easier.
Not trying to stop anyone from wearing bibs, but I will probably always shake my head at the thought that anyone who is not paid to wear them would by choice.
Ben
They are very good but very expensive. Got my bib knikers on sale though and the tights too. There are other bib shorts out there that cost less and are also very good like the various Sugoi models.
Really Ben? Now I am all for spending wisely, but arguing that a nice pair of bibs is out done by shorts with clip on suspenders is funny. But shit I'm the guy with the whacked out saddle position so what the fook do I know? Why not just borrow some panty hose and duct tape a dish sponge to the crotch and call it a day?
Seriously -- discovering bib shorts was one of the quantum leaps I experienced in finding physical comfort on the bike - especially in less binding around the waist and ease of breathing -- but if the shorts and suspenders work for you go get em!
Jm, I have a pair of M Assos shorts that are OK when I am at race weight (150 - 155), but snug if my weight goes above that. I am 5'9" for reference.
DeSoto stuff, as noted, is SNUG. I just got a pair of their tri bib shorts and I can barely squeeze into them. Length wise they are fine, but damn they are tight. Almost compression-like.
Italian/euro sizing tends to run small.
I am 5'7" and 145 and I am a euro M for most stuff.
I am from the suspender generation (just :-), used them for close to 2 decades; bibs are indeed a quantum leap forward. Butt wear is a heck of a lot faster than stretch. By the time the bibs stretch to the extent that they no longer fit properly you are likely already in violation of Rule # 53.
Varying sizing is another reason to check things out physically before you buy.
ck,
Would you get a large in desoto next time?
I dunno, jm. As I said, the length is good and the shoulder straps are about perfect. They said I was in their sweet spot for a medium, but damn they are tight. I have actually noticed my HR is a few beats higher when I wear them vs. my normal bibs.
I'm pretty skinny when I am at race weight...can't imagine anyone heavier than me getting into them. But you are a few lbs below me, so I would think they would be OK for you as is. Plus they have a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. Lots of people REALLY like their 400 Mile Bibs.
Every pair of high-quality bibs I buy wears out first where the legs rub the sides of the saddle. The lycra pills there, which wears the saddle faster too. Eventually (may take a few seasons between 10 pr of bibs)it gets so bad I start tossing out the worst ones. I have 1 pr of Assos bib knickers, really thin material, kinda weird since if I want knickers I could probably use heavier lycra too... I would say they have been long-wearing, and fit well, but for half the price I have found sufficiently high-quality materials and fit in Castelli and Garneau offerings.
Yes I had many sets of tiny Sergal suspenders. Rusted at least one set a season. Ben, clothing has progressed a ton since the days of saggy wool shorts and real chamois that after several Washington felt like sitting on an over toasted waffle until you sweat on it enough.
But, Andy, our body functions haven't changed much to adopt. At least mine haven't. And every time I go to sit on a john in riding clothes, I am quite happy to have suspenders. I even find them nice doing my business standing.
And those old chamois? I'd take them now over the diapers installed in a lot of shorts nowadays. Yeah you have to grease them. No biggie.
Ben
I learned to pee with my bibs on. The other job before I leave the house. Non issues. I know some people need to undo their belt and their fly to pee but i learned to use my fly. Now girls do have a lot more trouble and I appreciate that they might prefer shorts and suspenders but it seems they still buy bib shorts.
I went from suspenders to bibs and I don't get suspenders.
I have some assos but nothing with an insert so I have never owned their shorts. I have a pair of airblock tights, gloves and a Bonka Jacket.
Love their stuff as very well made but they are about %30 too expensive even considering their very high quality. At their priceing I thnk they should be 3 times as long lasting but their shorts are only better but hardly twice as good yet they are often 3 times as much money. I love the Assos but only when I get a fabulous price.I also like their fit. At 5'10" i wear a large.
You must log in to post.
