Bib shorts: Raffa basic, Castelli mid or DHB top level?

Rapha only has 28 reviews on Trustpilot, one of those is your 1 star effort. 

Few people ever go to Trustpilot unless it's to complain, or have some incentive to go there. Rapha doesn't direct customers it to. If they did I bet they'd have a 4.x/5 rating easily, no debate there. Their fans are feverish about the kit and service. 

The delivery issues aren't anything to do with Rapha. That was the postman, who is not a Rapha employee. There was no-one at home to take the parcel so you're left to the whims of a random busy guy trying to make an on the spot decision of what to do, who may or may not have seen your message. Rapha's fault? You ordered something to an address where there was no-one to receive it. Why do consumers not understand that's not the retailer's responsibility.

This is why I hate selling my stuff on eBay, people are so immeasurably dense and entitled that it feels like a jackpot if you sell something and don't get a complaint. 

To prove my point about the mindset of consumer today, look at the OP's 3 reviews. All extreme. Either 1 star or 5 star. A mind that can either be giddy as a child or fully outraged. 

SigmaSport.co.uk

Published 27 minutes agoUpdated 24 minutes ago

wrong size recommended, trolled on instagram

Recommended to go up a size in cycling shoes, and bought some at £200. Shoes too big. Tried different insoles, couldn't return them. After one week of no reply, I pressured them into a response by pressing on social media. Sigma sports advice: sell them on ebay and buy some more at the same price I already paid! Then they trolled me on instagram! Amateur and rude
 

Rapha

Published 30 minutes ago

Poor quality clothing & service

Poor quality clothing (bum pain from £100 core bib shorts), delivered and left at a random address, regardless of my 'instructions to the courier', and minimal communication from rapha. Not even any style over the lack of substance
 

momondo.co.uk

Published 07 February 2017

Good site

I've only booked with them twice, but that's 50% of the flights i've booked with since i discovered momondo. I always cross-reference this site with the one that scans skies, and the two flights i've booked have been at least 10% cheaper.. pretty cool

I've had various half decent shorts from DHB, ProVision, Vermarc and Decathlon and not found much to complain about. Currently using Kalas PRO shorts and they have the Elastic Interface endurance pad which are slightly more expensive. Most decent shorts use Elastic Interface pads. Sizing and bike set up is also very important though, bibs won't mask a poorly positioned seat.

I have the Rapha basic ones - they're good but no better (subtle logos apart) than these others I have...

www.decathlon.co.uk/900-cycling-bib-shorts-black-white--id_8354169.html

Road.cc agrees!

these are brilliant

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Lusso-Pro-Gel-Bib-Shorts-SS16_65060.htm

you get £5 off too, so a real bargain. you could get two pairs of these for the cost of one of the other overpriced Italian brands...

This is where Wiggle/CRC (and maybe some others) do well. You can order and try on as many pairs as you like and return them for no cost until you find a pair that fits (at home, if not on the bike).

Probably don't provide the service internationally though...

Makes no difference where you are, you've just got to try something to see if it fits you. Same as me or anyone else does. 

There's more to it that just pad quality, I've had extremely uncomfortable high end shorts that I've had to get rid of. Pad too far forward, legs that ride up etc, it all depends on your shape and riding position. asking for recommendations from others is useless. 

Sportful Total Comfort/Super Total Comfort all the way. Castelli's top end pad is poor IMO can't comment on the Rapha shorts as I can't seem to get a size to fit me proper and end up sending them back. I'm 75kg and 172cm tall and a large in the Sportful fits fine. ASSOS also do a pair for £100 and they're pretty spot on too. I too was 100m runner/sprinter and have larger than the average cyclist thighs.

Avoid castelli as their quality and sizing is Awful.

DHB Aeron have been good for me - I've done lots of century rides in them with no problems. Not needed to try their expensive version.

Getting the wrong size has always been my downfall. I've had mediums so loose the legs ride up, and large so tight, the crutch pulls down. I ought to stick with the same make, but that's not foolproof.

There ought to be some sizing standards that all the manufacturers have to abide by... 

I would suggest Sportful, they come from the same factory as Castelli but are usually not as expensive.

I have a mix of Sportful, Castelli and DHB shorts.

I pretty much stopped buying DHB shorts, as the pads don't tend to be that good.

My favourites are Sportful Bodyfit Pro, Sportful Norain (for when it is cold or wet) and Super Total Comfort (for very long rides).

Castelli Inferno are also nice for hot days, but they don't last very long as they rip very easy.

Switched to Castelli (free aero race bib) a couple of years ago and love them. You can usually find them on sale somehwere for c.£80. 183cm, 74kgs. I can get into small but medium is more comfortable (I don't have to stay in riding position when I dismount).