Another cycle short question: ANYONE wear Castelli shorts?

[Batbike]

I am in constant search for new cycle shorts and wonder about Castelli's. Anyone wear them? If so, what chamosis -- KISS or YPRO -- and do you LIKE them?!

Thanks!

[massbikebabe]

In the days before children I swore by Castelli's and would not wear anything else. Now I have one in college and a 15 year old son that eats like pac-man so I wear the cheapo Performance and find them just as good.





karen
hope that helps

[SadieKate]

My, my, Karen. Pac-man? Aren't you dating yourself? I guess I am also since I recognized the reference.

Batbike - I like the Castelli ypro3 pad. For roadriding, my favorite is Assos, but the ypro3 is a less expensive alternative (horrible to think of what that comparison means). I have never tried the Kiss pad but from what I have seen it is slightly thinner. I personally would probably like it for mountainbiking but not for longdistance roadriding, however I probably wouldn't wear Castelli for mtbiking because of the expense and the lighter fabric (I land in the manzanita too much).

Yes, I have champagne tastes when it comes to my tookas.

[spokewench]

I bought 2 pairs of Castelli Amore Donna shorts last year. I wore them a lot for road riding and they did quite well for me. They are a little thinner pad than say the pearlizumi comparable short (eg. the $80 some dollar shorts). I like this, but whether you like that is probably up to the individual.

I rode in these shorts to prepare and to do the Bicycle Tour of Colorado. about 450 miles in 6 days. So that was a lot of riding and a lot of riding to get ready. The only complaint I have about them is that the fabric pilled rather quickly where my legs (BIG THIGHS) rubbed the saddle. I noticed that these pilled more quickly than other shorts that I have bought.

I would buy them again, however, I like the chamois.

[mimitabby]

I have two pairs of Castelli shorts, they both fit really well. One pair has a much thinner pad. I will have to check them when I get home I don't know the names of the chamois.

[Trekhawk]

I am in constant search for new cycle shorts and wonder about Castelli's. Anyone wear them? If so, what chamosis -- KISS or YPRO -- and do you LIKE them?!

Thanks!

I love the Castelli Donna short with the YPRO chamois. My Sugoi RS flex shorts use to be my long distance favourites but now that honour definitely goes to my Donna shorts.

[Bluetree]

I have both the KISS and YPRO shorts. The KISS chamois is okay, but the YPRO is much better for longer rides. I always swore by them, esp, since Castelli's sizes can accommodate smaller pelvises (er, pelvi?).

HOWEVER... ever since I purchased a pair of Specialized BG Pro womens shorts, I won't wear anything else. Specialized makes three levels of shorts and their Pro is the top of the line. Their inseam is a bit shorter than most, and they're a bit pricey ($150) but my girly bits think they're worth every penny. Plus, they come in XS.

P.S. Specialized's jersey line is not nearly so special. I still prefer Castelli on top.

[Bluetree]

For roadriding, my favorite is Assos...Yes, I have champagne tastes when it comes to my tookas.

SadieKate - How do Assos compare to Castelli on their sizing?
I see the Assos shorts online but they always choose some amazon model with toothpick legs to wear them.

[Batbike]

SadieKate - How do Assos compare to Castelli on their sizing?
I see the Assos shorts online but they always choose some amazon model with toothpick legs to wear them.

YES, I too am interested in what you have to say about Assos! I am familiar with PI sizing, that is mainly what I wear, so wondering if you can compare to PI's? THANKS!

[Batbike]

I love the Castelli Donna short with the YPRO chamois. My Sugoi RS flex shorts use to be my long distance favourites but now that honour definitely goes to my Donna shorts.

Are Castelli's pretty true to size? Anyway to compare to PI sizing, since that is what I am most familiar? THANKS!

[SadieKate]

I find that in shorts Castelli and PI are similar in sizing. Not so in their jerseys. I have to go up a size in Castelli jerseys.

For Assos, well . . . . well . . . in the lady half shorts and lycra knickers go up one size over Castelli and PI. If you are looking at the Roubaix knickers/tights (fondly known as the Splitter), forgitaboutit. A size XL might fit a 2 year old.

[koala]

I have Assos, Castelli & PI's. They are all very different. Assos has the best chamois for long-distance riding, hands down. It is thick to protect, but is soft & flexible and doesn't have any seams to chafe. Downside -- length. It is a short, short, inseam might be 5 inches. The fabric is comfortable but doesn't offer any leg compression, so I find my legs get more tired wearing Assos shorts on long rides. Also, the grippers have a seam, which might bother on long rides as well.

The Castelli Y-Pro is a stiff, thin chamois. It bothers me up front on long rides, and the seams chafe on the inner leg horribly. It is not my favorite chamois. Castelli doesn't fit me either. The body fit is small, but the length is huge. I don't mean long inseams, just overall length of garments. It is designed for a tall person with long arms & legs. I have not tried the Kiss chamois, but met someone wearing one on a charity ride complaining bitterly. She said it was too thin & called it "just a sponge".

I don't care for PI's much either. I wear their good short, which doesn't have a seam in the chamois, but I find the chamois too stiff & hard for long rides. Fit-wise PI is what I would call true to size. The small sizes are small overall, height, width & length. Assos is smaller than PI in the small sizes, but if you go up a size it might feel baggy -- best to try before you buy. The Castelli size chart I find to be way off & their small sizes in shorts are much bigger than PI. Again, try first if you can. You might like them if you are tall.

Why not try some other brands? If you have had good luck with PI, Descente makes a good chamois called Strata. I also like Louis Garneau in the high-end shorts. They make a thick chamois without seams (ErgoZone, I think), and a soft chamois with 4-way stretch, too.

[Bluetree]

Thanks for the info, SK, Koala.

Personally, I find the PIs much larger on the sizing scale. The PI chamois is bulky and always feels 'diaper-like' to me. I liked the Descente shorts and bib shorts I tried on, but also found them a tad large, so I didn't buy 'em.

As for the Castelli lengths, I find their tights and knickers are very long, but I'm 5-1 and have no problem with the length of their shorts. My only issue with them are the leg grippers. While I find the YPRO shorts comfortable, the leg grippers aren't very successful holding up my knee warmers... they keep falling down on a ride. Grr! and yes, I have felt the inside seam, but it has not caused me any problems yet.

Castelli tops, yes, are a bit longer in length but I have a longer torso so I am happy with that. Conversely, I find PI tops are too short, so it comes down to matter of preference.

In short (pun!) I can wear a size Small in Castelli, and XS in all other brands. Haven't tried Assos yet, but soon!

P.S. I can't imagine someone on a long ride with the KISS shorts... owie!