Doomrider74

I guess I must have skinny legs because my new Castelli Competizione shorts like to flap a bit at the leg opening. They're fine when my legs are bent at 90 degrees, like at the top of the pedalstroke, but I can feel them flapping about in any other position, and its annoying.

Are there any bibshorts that are good for skinny thighed people?

VicBC_Biker

What's the circumference of your thigh where the bottom of the shorts lie?
What size shorts do you normally wear?
Do you have other brand shorts that fit better?
I definitely don't have 'biker thighs' but my shorts all seem to fit pretty well.

A good sewer with a serger could probably take in the seam to tighten up the bottom of the shorts legs.
I looked at a couple of my bibshorts and the cheaper ones look a bit easier to alter.

Doomrider74

I might have to try Assos again as my Half Mille shorts that are about 10 years old don't do this. I just find it a little weird they don't put any elastic around the leg openings, only silicon grippers, at least on the Competizione.

canklecat

If you don't mind spending less than $100, Cerotipolar are very good values. Best fit I've found so far. My thighs are 20.5" at largest, and 17" just above the knee where the grippers usually fall. I got the long inseam version because my upper legs are a bit disproportionately longer for my height.

The Cerotipolar black are very standard, generic looking black shorts and bibs, no visible logos, brand names or odd stitching. Like the Black Bibs but better, IMO. Comfortable pad too, comparable to the popular DuPont CoolMax chamois used by other makers. No complaints or problems after several rides up to 2 hours the past few weeks, and several washings (I usually handwash and air dry, though).

Przewalski's latest bibs also fit well, no flapping around the thigh, but run slightly shorter than the Cerotipolar. I'm not fond of the lighter colored stitching that emphasizes the different panels of Lycra/Spandex, but for around $35 it's hard to complain.

terrymorse 

I just tried some Voler Velocity bibs, and they fit my chicken legs like a glove.

My quads are 21” at their biggest, and the medium bibs fit great.

“This bib is a great choice for competitive cyclists of all ages looking for our most compressive bib.”

https://www.voler.com/browse/product/li/1110857

Sy Reene

I imagine there are scenarios where waist size drive bib size, but also drives bib and inseam length and diameter changes? So a large waist could mean the inseam grows, and the thigh opening increases. So a potbelly becomes disproportionate to leg size from the target design standpoint?

Doomrider74

Possibly, but I'm 178cm tall, 67kg, and have a 32 waist, so no pot belly here. My problem is I have disproportionately long thighs.

Doomrider74

I'm 21/17, so similar. Ive tried The Black Bibs and they are crap so I'm reluctant to try cheapo shorts again.

79pmooney

I've been trying on shorts for years before buying. My issues aren't quite yours, but not far off. I'm skinny and long. 155 pounds or less, 32 waist, 34 (street pants) inseam. I generally have to buy small shorts to get the opening into the top of the leg small enough that important stuff stay where they belong. Bike shops with changing rooms - maybe a gift to be withdrawn. I hope not.

I did race back in the dark ages when all shorts were shorter than any today, so I find that adoptation not too hard to grasp.

Lazyass

I got those exact bibs last week and they're very tight but I do have big thighs I guess. Unless you have stick legs you may have a defective pair. Castelli isn't known for their quality control. I has some new ones a couple of years ago that I had to exchange because the crotch became see through after a couple of rides.

VicBC_Biker

20" quads with 16.5" at the grippers/hem and Medium RedWhite, Hincapie,Garneau all fit me OK. Even the M 'Falconi' bibs from Love2Pedal fit my legs fine.
So as Lazyass suggests, maybe those Castellis are defective?

Doomrider74

Perhaps they are but I'm outside the return window, and I've used them for the last few months, so returning them isn't an option. I'm also not sure I have enough to say if they are defective or whether they just don't suit my anatomy, so I doubt a warranty replacement would be accepted. Either way, I'll look at some alternatives.

mstateglfr 

Voler seems to have redundant bibs. Their black label is almost identical to the velocity. The big difference is strap color, really.
Same fabric, same pad, same compression claim, same inseam length same leg band, same flat lock construction, same price.

I like their black label bibs.

BCDrums

Cat, I too am a frugal fella, but I would be reluctant to go with a low bidder for shorts ‘n’ bibs. Beyond comfort, a wardrobe malfunction could be embarrassing. I like Boure. They will definitely CYA.

BCDrums

I should mention for the original poster that Boure is a company that makes clothes more or less to order. You can reach Drew Boure by email and get just what you need.

Good luck!

canklecat

I understand the reluctance to waste money on cheapie shorts and bibs, but Cerotipolar and Przewalski shorts and bibs punch way above their weight. I've ridden the Przewalskis for going on three years and a lot of miles, no signs of wearing through the fabric, no stitching or hems coming lose, no problems at all. And while I've had the Cerotipolars for only a few weeks and a few hundred miles, they appear to be at least equal to the Przewalski and probably better.

When I compared the Cerotipolar to the Black Bibs, I meant that only in terms of totally generic looks, sans any identifying marks, logos, brands, etc. But for me the Cerotipolar are much more comfortable -- better compression without needing to buy a size smaller, good stretch where needed, much better chamois pad, better thigh hems.

The only nit I'd pick with Przewalski is the reflective script logo/name wears off after awhile. And, as I mentioned above, I'm not a fan of two-tone stuff, or stitching that's lighter than the fabric and draws attention to itself by making all the panels obvious. Yeah, well designed shorts and bibs should be made of various panels to stretch where needed, and compress in other places. But I don't want the stitching to emphasize the fact that most shorts and bibs are a mish-mash of oddly cut panels. Just keep it all basic black, which the Cerotipolar does.

Doomrider74

I ordered the Assos Mille GT bibs and they do exactly the same thing so I think I'm resigned to just having crap legs. They were much better if I pulled the legs up higher so it may just be a symptom of the fact I have disproportionately long thighs.

One thing about the Assos is the pad seems much better than the Castelli Comps, so I'm debating whether to take them our for a ride or not.

PeteHski

The Mille GT bibs are a fairly relaxed fit compared to their race models and don’t have much compression. So probably not the best choice for skinny thighs. The tightest fitting bibs I have around the leg openings are Rapha Core, which are the same price as the GTs. The pad is very good too, at least on a par with the GT pad, which I also like.

Doomrider74

Ive just taken the Assos out for a 60km ride and actually they're great. Before I went out I tried them on again and spent more time getting the legs in the right place and they actually fit, without being flappy. They're a little shorter than I would like, ideally, but otherwise they fit well and are very comfy. Good thing because I can't return them now

I think one of the issues with the Castelli Competizione bibs is the grippers: they run vertically, at about 1-2cm spacing, and its the bits between the grippers that seem to move around, resulting in a poorer fit.

woodcraft

Disturbing thread title...

https://www.amazon.com/Ladkingq-Caul.../dp/B07QJ4YN6B

Dean V

Unusual, as Castelli is usually small/tight fitting. I am your height and 70kg and use size Large Castelli bib shorts. They are still quite tight.
I don't usually wear a large size in any clothing.

PeteHski

Sounds like a good result. I agree Assos are a little shorter in the leg than average, but doesn't bother me. I really like the material and pad on the Mille GT and also the minimal seams. I've had mine for a about a year now and worn them several times a week in rotation with a few other bibs and they are still like new after countless washes. My Rapha Core bibs are my favourites, but mainly because they have pockets at the back and sides (Core Cargo), which is great for long haul rides. The GTs run a little cooler and are great for hot sweaty rides. I'm tempted to try the new GTS version next season, but they are a fair bit more expensive.

There's a 30% off sale on Mille GT (blue only) at the moment, which makes them great value for money at about £80 in the UK.

Sy Reene

It all makes sense if you start with the largest size offered and then work downwards
Since Castelli offers 3XL, you wear their 4th largest size, out of a total 6 available sizes.

Doomrider74

One thing I find weird about the Assos is that the pad isn't stitched all the way around: the sides are partially open. At first I thought they're defective but then I watched a few reviews and they all seem to be like it. Time will tell if its a design flaw or not.

PeteHski

It's a design feature, not a flaw. The idea is that the pad doesn't move around as your legs articulate and actually works pretty well. 7Mesh bibs also have a similar "floating" pad design.