Castelli Nero Bibs Sizing Question

[taralon]

So as part of a christmas gift I got two pairs of Castelli Nero bib knickers, one size large, and one size medium. Just for general information at 6' ~175 with a 30-31 inch waist the mediums fit great IMHO, they're a bit tight in the thighs but I actually like that, and once I get them pulled on and adjusted they don't let the, um, boys move around. The larges are loose around my knees (I'm small framed), crotch, and belly area (even with the weight I still need to lose). With the upcoming warming of weather I'm looking at getting some bib shorts for the warm days. The question I have is do the Nero bibs shorts fit the same as the knickers? I'f tried on both bib shorts and bib knickers from PI, and found that in the same "line" there were large differences in fit. I haven't been able to fine a local shop that actually stocks Castelli so I'll need to order them online. I'd like to order the right size straight off the bat without having to worry about returns.

[LC]

You will find the Nero shorts too short and thin in both spandex and padding. I am much shorter and find them too short. I would recommend you look for a good sale and upgrade to higher end Castelli bibs as they are much more comfortable and last longer.

[askmass]

Originally Posted by LC

...I would recommend you look for a good sale and upgrade to higher end Castelli bibs as they are much more comfortable and last longer.

Ditto on this.

You can flat out abuse free aero's and besides the scorpion logo's turning to crap they will hold up near perfectly ride after ride and wash after wash.

Great fit, compression and pad... well worth the extra $$ in the long run.

[taralon]

First of all let me say thanks for the replies. I've actually got four pairs of the Podium Collection bib shorts (bought them off bonktown based on a friend's recommendation), and truthfully I hate the way they fit. The chamois isn't comfortable as I find it is far too thick and stiff for my liking, I rather prefer the KISS3 in the Neros to the AC in the Podiums on longer rides. The low cut front is also not a bonus in my book. Plus, well I've got both a medium and a large in the Podiums, and I find the discrepancy in sizing between the two to be rather ridiculous. The large is visibly loose and sagging in the crotch while the thighs are still tight, and the medium is body paint tight through the hips and crotch area, neither of which help with comfort on longer rides.

I'd love to find a LBS that actually stocks Castelli, but none of them in the area do. I've talked to a few about possibly stocking them but all mentioned issues with overhead and agreements with "local" suppliers that make it uneconomical. One of the problems of living in PI's and Primal's backyard I guess as that is almost all you find around here with the occasion stock of Fox along with store brands.

Anyways it appears that the question on my side is moot as I've been unable to find an online dealer that actually has the mediums in stock. I think I'll take a chance on ordering some mediums of the Presto and Endurance from Amazon.

[jne3]

I'm about your size and have both medium and large in the nero knickers. Both work, but I prefer the large. I also have a pair of the bib shorts in a medium. I like everything about them except that they are a bit shorter than I would like.

Check out Rocky Mountain Cyclery on ebay. They carry alot of the Nero stuff. Their "buy it now" prices are high, but you can get a good deal with the auctions. I think I paid 30-35 for each pair.

[askmass]

Rocky Mountain Cyclery is not one I would personally recommend on eBay due to customer "no-service" after the sale. I had to escalate my complaint to eBay over a badly misrepresented listing I won. They completely ignored my justified complaint for two weeks. I'm not alone as they currently have 432 negative feedbacks and 320 neutrals for the last year.

The best Castelli bibs have the Progetto X2 chamois, IMO.

Their sizing really is hit and miss up and down the line, but the top end stuff fits well and is all Euro standard (go one size bigger when buying) in my experience. Castelli's better bibs can be found discounted in "last years model" sales during the offseason, which is how I can justify and afford their better kit.

[Golfguy]

I do have both the shorts and knickers in the Nero, and they fit pretty much the same. The Nero fits differently than the Velocissimo or Body Paint models, the Nero is a little snugger than the other two. I'm 6', 180 and have size L in all three. Based on your body size, I can see why you don't like the large.

I would suggest you skip the Nero and get the Velocissimo. Better fabric and better fit (for me at least). And I personally like the Kiss3 chamois better than the Progetto X2. I have a pair of the Body Paint shorts, and while they are very nice, I'll stick with the Velocissimo in the future.