Team BKool CycleChat

[Soarerv8]

I really rate the two pairs of Assos bibs I have. As well as being super comfy, even after 6 or 7 hours, you get great customer service. I crashed in a pair that I had for two years, ripped the Lycra, sent them off and they were back with me fully repaired in 3 weeks, at no charge at all. I believe Rapha also offer free crash repair but they just don't seem to fit me quite right and if I'm spending that much on a pair they need to fit me very well.

I'll take a look at the louviers.

Gel pad?

 

[Roleur1]

Wow. Buy BIBS is the result
Think I have found a way to spend more dosh esp. as I need to protect my tackle - thats all my wife needs to know.
Going to try a few of the suggestions and see what happens.

Now what do I need next?

1- dont tell her.... doesnt every cyclist have 'its the weekly tea fund pool' love.....????
2 - if you really have to.... its Personal Protective Equipment so therefore essential spending.

 

[Add]

Cant stop buying new kit / parts. Wife going mad. Any way.

What s the view on shorts v bibs - never had a problem with shorts but need a reason to buy more stuff and never tried bibs. Obviously the aero reason is of no use and I will not be looking in the mirror.

Any comments ?

I can't do bibs! I am 6"4' and 80kg, so lanky describes me fairly accurately. I bought a set of large bib shorts in order to get the height, and the shorts fitted fine. However, 1 hour into a bike ride, I swear to God I was just about castrated. I returned from that ride a Eunuch.
Took me several hours to get any feeling back in my nether regions. Not for one moment suggesting you should avoid them, but just sharing a cheery groin based anecdote with my Cyclechat buddies.

 

[Roleur1]

Kipster - they only have them in XL....they fit me just as I would like....36'' waist/ 85kg/6ft 2. I have a pair of castelli bodypaints and these are equivalent, but at less than half the cost

http://www.probikekit.co.uk/sports-...iers-pro-bib-shorts-black/white/11050243.html

 

[Roleur1]

I can't do bibs! I am 6"4' and 80kg, so lanky describes me fairly accurately. I bought a set of large bib shorts in order to get the height, and the shorts fitted fine. However, 1 hour into a bike ride, I swear to God I was just about castrated. I returned from that ride a Eunuch.
Took me several hours to get any feeling back in my nether regions. Not for one moment suggesting you should avoid them, but just sharing a cheery groin based anecdote with my Cyclechat buddies.

like I said...fit is really important. there are bibs to suit your frame. I am only 50mm shorter than you...

 

[Insomina]

I can't do bibs! I am 6"4' and 80kg, so lanky describes me fairly accurately. I bought a set of large bib shorts in order to get the height, and the shorts fitted fine. However, 1 hour into a bike ride, I swear to God I was just about castrated. I returned from that ride a Eunuch.
Took me several hours to get any feeling back in my nether regions. Not for one moment suggesting you should avoid them, but just sharing a cheery groin based anecdote with my Cyclechat buddies.

Thanks. I feel a lot better for that.

 

[GuySJ]

I can't do bibs! I am 6"4' and 80kg, so lanky describes me fairly accurately. I bought a set of large bib shorts in order to get the height, and the shorts fitted fine. However, 1 hour into a bike ride, I swear to God I was just about castrated. I returned from that ride a Eunuch.
Took me several hours to get any feeling back in my nether regions. Not for one moment suggesting you should avoid them, but just sharing a cheery groin based anecdote with my Cyclechat buddies.

I'm 6'3" and my lad is 6'9" I find the straps on Rapha give enough for me, really comfortable for hours on end. Jack uses Castelli usually and has no problem although some of his bibs look a bit like short shorts! Watching him trying to get into a skin suit, now that is comical

 

[Add]

I'm 6'3" and my lad is 6'9" I find the straps on Rapha give enough for me, really comfortable for hours on end. Jack uses Castelli usually and has no problem although some of his bibs look a bit like short shorts! Watching him trying to get into a skin suit, now that is comical

I might have to conquer my fear, and possibly try another pair then. After all, I've been married long enough now to manage without the twig and two berries if the worst comes to the worst anyway!

 

[GuySJ]

Guy - is Rapha and Castelli worth the differnce £.

Rapha is dear but so comfortable. I use Castelli waterproof kit in winter because it just works. They used to sell the Gabba jacket with a black marker pen as a nod to the fact so many pro teams use them even if they are sponsored by another company and need to black out the Castelli name! I ride on the road every day rain or shine and good kit is the difference between being freezing wet and miserable or warm, dry and comfortable. To be honest on the turbo I throw on any pair of shorts and a top of some sort. The top often comes off after a couple of minutes anyway! I have some Gore kit that is also good and an old pair of Santini bibs that I am happy to use. I also have some Aldi specials.... They do some wool based base layers every now and then for about a fiver that are great for the money.

 

[GuySJ]

I might have to conquer my fear, and possibly try another pair then. After all, I've been married long enough now to manage without the twig and two berries if the worst comes to the worst anyway!

Four kids is enough for me!

 

[LBHIFI]

How about a test?

As many as possible schedule a session on Mont Ventoux descend

http://www.bkool.com/profile/detail/1002900?durationType=DISTANCE&lapCount=1

Don't pedal at all!

Compare speeds.

They should pretty much match your weights.

Then try again pedaling like a loony, and see how much faster you can go!

Geofff

I was thinking of a more controlled test with fixed gradients, but I just tried Ventoux with a virtual bike and it seems that to each gradient there's a specific speed. When I ride these gradient in a race, I was under the impression that the speed continued to plummet, but that is probably just me panicking then, seeing those numbers drop rapidly to a level too low for my likings.

 

[kipster]

Gel pad?

I don't think they are gel, more layers of comfy stuff.

 

[Alfie_Gooner]

Kipster - they only have them in XL....they fit me just as I would like....36'' waist/ 85kg/6ft 2. I have a pair of castelli bodypaints and these are equivalent, but at less than half the cost

Being fairly new to this cycling Malarky as well, i have yet to try the Bib Shorts....so after reading the replies about these i thought i would give them a punt, they had them in Small and XL so as i am only 5'7" and 64kg i thought these would be fine for me in Small.

 

[<Tommy>]

Rapha is dear but so comfortable. I use Castelli waterproof kit in winter because it just works. They used to sell the Gabba jacket with a black marker pen as a nod to the fact so many pro teams use them even if they are sponsored by another company and need to black out the Castelli name! I ride on the road every day rain or shine and good kit is the difference between being freezing wet and miserable or warm, dry and comfortable. To be honest on the turbo I throw on any pair of shorts and a top of some sort. The top often comes off after a couple of minutes anyway! I have some Gore kit that is also good and an old pair of Santini bibs that I am happy to use. I also have some Aldi specials.... They do some wool based base layers every now and then for about a fiver that are great for the money.

Seems we have very similar spending habits!

I like Castelli, I use their bib tights for this time of year. But the shoulder straps seem unnecessarily thin and severe to me. I'm just shy of 6'4 and rapha is a superb fit for me. The pad is the best I've tried and its very nicely made kit. Having said that it's an expensive habit to say the least, the sales have come and gone unfortunately, and to say rapha splits opinion is an understatement!

 

[bridgy]

So, just a flat 10 miler tonight - going to be a nice "easy" one then......