dstroebel

Hi, I'm looking for recommendations on a high-end road cycling shorts. The last pair I bought cost about $30 but now I'm doing more riding and want more comfort.

Thanks all
Dave

guadzilla

High end: Assos, La Passione
Mid to high end (depending on model): Castelli, Giordana, Sportful

Then there are plenty of boutique offerings as well

fietsbob

Rapha?

datlas 

I have not tried them but “The Black Bibs” have been well reviewed and are a reasonable price.

I like Assos but pricey.

Gundo

Just finished my first ride with Assos bibs. They are the best shorts I've ever had, worth every penny. It will be hard to go back to my Pearl Izumi shorts.

Sy Reene

Not Bibs? You want higher end shorts?

Gundo

This was my first pair of bibs and today was my first ride in them. The Bibs are fantastic. Wish I had bought them sooner. I'm saying it will be hard to continue to wear the PI shorts, as I'm not going to throw them away.

guadzilla

I'd get Rapha jerseys but not their bibs. Heard too many stories about their bibs not lasting as long or being worth it to risk it.

Also, a completely illogical thing but I see Rapha as being more style-oriented and Assos as being more technical-oriented, purely from how they market themselves. The Assos approach resonates more with me. And i have hope that if I buy enough Assos, the Assos Girl will deliver the next one to me in person.

guadzilla

Ha, yeah... EVERYONE who starts out is told to get the Good Stuff and everyone looks at the prices and goes "F- Off, I am not paying that". But once you get the nicer stuff, you realize how much you love your taint. The second one is always easier to justify.

That said, I save my expensive bib for longer weekdend rides. Weekday rides are on the mid-end Castelli and Giordanas. I've actually been very pleasantly surprised by a $30 bib I got off Ali Express too - good enough for 60-90 min rides.

lesterburnham

I bought 2 pairs of Specialized SL shorts on clearance a while back. Retailed new for $165, I think I paid $65 for them. Compared to PI elite, they were leaps and bounds better. Paying for PI elite is hard to swallow as it is. However, after wearing the Spec shorts, $165 plus wouldn't have seemed all that bad had I paid that much. I have not bought new in long time, I'll most likely go for the good stuff next time.

upthywazzoo 

How did sizing work out? Assos seems to size their bibs by rider height, which I'm not used to.

jpescatore

I went from $30 shorts to $60 shorts (I don't like bibs) and could tell the difference in comfort and longevity.

Three or so years ago, $149 Garneau CB2 shorts were on sale somewhere for $69 and I bought a pair - very noticeable increase in comfort and longevity. I still couldn't bring myself to pay $149, but another sale happened and I bought another pair. During this pandemic-driven cycling craze, sales seem to have stopped but the now 3 year old shorts with lots of mileage on them are still in great shape.

Gundo

I'm a XL on their sizing guide in all except height. I bought a L based on the fact that I had bought a pair of Assos Mille GT shorts in XL and sent them back because there were too big. The large is perfect for me I'm 5-10 190.

JerryZ

If you look in the fall timeframe, you can find Assos for halfway decent clearance prices. I always just look for the older models. I have got several different models of Assos and they are all super comfy in a class by itself. Once you spring for that 1st pair, you won't want to go back.

bruce19

Exactly my experience. Now I only buy Assos gear. On deep sale of course.

Clipped_in

I'm 6'-3" tall and 210#. The Assos XL size in the Equipe series fit me like they are custom made. I have worn a lot of different mid/high-end bibs over the years. Two years ago I bought 3 sets of Assos bibs and I won't look back.

jimmyodonnell

The Mille GT line use a cut that's slightly more relaxed and the inseams on the legs are longer than their other lines -- I bought Mille GTs and sent them back because the cuffs were down to my knees .
The Equipe models have a shorter inseam which fits me better. I have 2 pairs each of the RS line and the Evo line.

I'm 5'6" and weigh 145, I wear a medium in Equipes.

assos website has sale prices under the ARCHIVE section, select PAST SEASONS STYLES and see if the sale items are available in your size

upthywazzoo 

Much appreciated info, guys!

NoWhammies

Are you on mailing list? How do you find out about the sales? Thank you.

bruce19

After much trial and error I have settled on dealing with Competitive Cyclist. I periodically check their sales on the website. I can also recommend the Assos Outlet site. Although, very often the sales there are on smaller or larger sizes. If you're in the medium to Large range it can be tough. But, with patience sales can be found.

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/?...AP1A&gclsrc=ds

https://www.swissiconic.com/?utm_cam...m_medium=email

Gundo

Yes, I bought Assos T Equip EVO on sale for $159.00. It was the last large size and I just happened to click on their site at the right time.

jimmyodonnell

I'm on the mailing list for the Assos USA site, and yes they announce sales there when they update the sale stock.
But even when there is no special sale, the US site always has stuff on sale prices in the ARCHIVE section under the link PAST SEASONS STYLES.
Availability and sizing will vary of course because it's not current merch, but sometimes the stuff is half off so it's worth checking frequently.

They have a separate registration for the Assos global site, and a separate mailing list.
I used to get the global site's circulation too but I killed it when I figured out they will not ship to a US address any product sold on the global site.
The global site has more sale inventory than the US site and you can pay in US dollars, but just be aware they won't ship ithat stuff to the US.

thenewjs

Funny because i have quite few Rapha stuff and you're ABSOUTELY CORRECT! Jersey's and base layers are top notch but the bibs last about a year. Then treads begin to unravel.

randallr

Thank you Thank you Thank you. My wife is past retirement age, riding on PI shorts, having troubles that were keeping her off the bike, she went and got some Assos shorts because of this post, problems solved, back on the road again!!

Gundo

You're welcome