Bib Shorts recommendation.

I recently got some Howies
I recently got some Howies Sh34rts and although they are comfy, I still find my Decathlon B’Twin 700 bibs comfier over long distances (the same pad as in the 900’s so I assume the same pad the FDJ team ride in). This is despite the pad being less substantial than the howies pad, they just seem to fit me better. The review on here did say it will break in, so maybe in a month or two I won’t be able to tell the difference.

I’m not saying don’t buy Howies, they are decent shorts and are comfy enough to have seen me through a 9-hour ride on their first outing, but just not the comfiest shorts (for me) that I have.

I’d go with KiwiMike’s advice and get out to a shop and try a few different shorts on, the fit for you may not necessarily be the top of the range or the most respected brands, I could get embarrassed wearing decathlon kit, but at least its whats comfy (and cheap!) for me.

My bibs came from China via
My bibs came from China via eBay. I can’t find the same ones anymore but these seem almost identical:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2015-New-Fashion-Road-Bike-Cycling-Jersey-Bib-Shorts-Kits-Shirt-Pants-Mesh-Cool-/331500407166?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item4d2ef6c97e

I’m told that the ones with the white tops are the ones to go for.

I knew it was a bit of gamble but I’ve found them to be great and they fitted well. You need to trust the sizing advice provided as they are very often Asian sizes. I thought that there was no way I would be and XL but they fit great. A big pro is that as, long as they work for you, you could order 2 or 3 sets for the same price as one shop-bought set; useful if you do multiple rides each week. The con, of course, is that you’re not going to be sending them back if they don’t fit.

ABANDON HOPE OF ANY SENSIBLE
ABANDON HOPE OF ANY SENSIBLE CORRELATION BETWEEN PRICE, COMFORT AND SIZE, INDICATED OR ACTUAL.

I have at last count probably a dozen pairs of bib shorts – one of the ‘perks’ of being a Road.CC reviewer along with doing summer clothing reviews in sub-zero temperatures. I don’t think a single one of them is the same indicated size. Some say I should be a Small but I need an Extra Large to be comfy whilst others say I should be Large, I fit Large, but the pad is simply wrong. Some brands use the UK ‘complimentary / flattering’ sizing system that sees jeans labelled 3-4″ tighter than they actually are, whilst others use ridiculously optimistic Italian sizings.

It’s a crapshoot. My advice? Buy in a shop, asking to sit on a bike to try them (BYO speedos for H&S reasons). Turn them inside out and try them back on, so you can get a friend/spouse to see if the pad actually covers the whole arse/seat interface, when in the drops or sitting up. You might get a good online retailer who is happy to take returns, but be prepared to prove to International War Crimes Tribunal levels of evidence that they are ‘unused’.

Then accept that even having done all that, you might do a 40-mile ride to find they feel like you’re riding on rolled-up socks.

+1 for Howies, their 3/4 bibs
+1 for Howies, their 3/4 bibs are firmly my go to bibs since purchase, excellent padding, stretchy yet supportive material, and inexpensive (I brought mine in a bundle with a jersey can’t go wrong price wise)… AND a British brand to boot!

I’ve just picked up some
I’ve just picked up some Castelli Evoluzione bibs from Evans for £64 (with a discount code), similar thinking to you of wanting to move on from the supposedly lower-end DHB and B’Twin stuff.

Although these seem to be their entry level shorts, the pad is decent (and looks to be the same one they use in their shorts at the next price point of £100), and my backside has been perfectly comfortable on a recent couple of 3hr+ rides.

Would certainly recommend those, plus they’re a bit more subtle than some of Castelli’s other offerings, which is a plus in my book.

I use Sportful Total Comfort,
I use Sportful Total Comfort, get about two years good use out of each pair. Own a couple pairs now , not cheap but I find they work for me, might be worth a try for you.