PI drop-tail bib - leg fit

Finally decided to purchase the PI drop-tail bibs and will break them in this afternoon for my long ride of the week. I had a 25% coupon for one item from one of our LBS for participating in the NITE Ride last month.

I purchased the small because they appeared to fit - but the legs are not quite as compressed as my regular medium PI Elite shorts. Same chamois, both are in their "Elite" line. The difference in leg fit does concern me a little - but should it? I love how they feel, though the bib part will take a little adjusting.

I was also concerned about that clasp, but it is smaller than I thought and falls above the fullest part of my girls. It isn't the problem I thought it might.

Have others noticed a different fit in the legs of their bibs? It doesn't make sense to me that the leg compression in a smaller size should be a little less than in the next size up. The mediums are actually a little large for me (hence the purchase of the small size in bibs) though this is more noticeable in the butt than legs.

I haven't tried the bibs, but I will say that I have noticed pretty major difference in fit between the PI Symphony short and the Symphony Cut short. Same chamois (Elite 3D), but the Cuts feel at least a half size bigger. I prefer the waistband on the Symphony Cut shorts, too--it has a flat panel in front, instead of an elastic band that goes all the way around.

I had to get my bibs a full size smaller than my other PI shorts/knickers... I was surprised to find the fit uncomfortably loose through the hips and thighs in the same size as I had been wearing.. and I am not small, by any means :) I wonder if they are cut looser because you're not relying on the "fit" to keep them up as much.

Do they come in XS? It might be worth trying a pair on to see if they feel better.

I think this is as small as they come - or at least that I could find to try on. I am in them right now as I prepare to go riding and they feel pretty good. The inseam IS a little shorter from my other PI Elite shorts - as evidenced by the mid-thigh tan line that I can now see :) I would suspect an x-small wouldn't fit someone of my...hmm...apple like figure :o

For now I think this size will work. I just hope that they at least last the rest of the season, fit wise, this losing weight thing is expensive! I've already "undergrown" two other pairs of bike shorts and working on a third...in the spring I started in a large and they were TIGHT!

My weight loss as slowed to a snails-pace as time goes on and I add muscle, so I hope/think that future loss will take much longer as I continue with biking and strength training.