Rapha Pro Team bib shorts

You can try the Classic Rapha Bib for free, they have the same pad as the Pro shorts. If after using them for a few days you don't like them just send them back. I did they did not "fit" me I prefer My Assos F1 Mille S 5 bibs.

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Have a set of these and love them, by far most comfortable compared to my others ( Shutt and Enduro equipe club kit), understated considering it's in screaming chartreuse and seem pretty bomb proof. Managed to buy them a bit cheaper or else I may not have bought them originally but would now buy them without hesitation at full price.

As for the scores. I make it 41:50 - 82% positive. If you factor in that they will last at beast two years then the price of £150-170 is still cost effective.

As a few people have said - don't knock 'em until you try them. Spending £800 on carbon wheels you don't need and £50 on shorts is always going to be a false economy which you will begin to feel after just 30 miles. ..

I have a pair of Rapha classic shorts and RCS kit. By far the most comfortable shorts and jersey I've ever had and pretty durable. You get what you pay for. The coal black technology I was dubious of but after sitting outside the cafe in hot sunshine for an hour the kit did stay cool to the touch compared with my mates.

My oldest winter jersey is now 6 years old and still going strong. It's wearing a little thin on the inside but still looks brand new on the outside.

Right. That's enough praise for Rapha. It's not as if they're paying me. But then they don't need to - which says something about the quality of their kit.

I'm interested in the durability comments - that's the key thing for me. I've got assos stuff that has survived some serious use, but this talk of the classic bib having a slightly thicker (UK friendly!) more durable fabric and the quality pad is making me consider putting the pennies aside....

The pad is one thing that's held me back on trying these (the other is the fact I like the jerseys and Rapha top+bottom might be a stretch too far aesthetically but I digress), it does seem a bit too thick for me. Nothing wrong with a good strip of leather chamois, thin and firm is more my thing than thick and overly spongy. I suppose I could always try the classic ones with their 30 day no quibble money back guarantee.

Here is my take on these shorts after six months, and I am a qualified Rapha snob. I have the RCS version. They have MUCH more compression than many shorts I have owned, including their classics. They are very comfortable with a great pad, which is much thicker than my Assos and Castelli top level shorts. They only niggle is the medial lower thigh seam that can be felt in the first 20-30 minutes of riding. After that, they melt away. I do think coldblack works when the sun is shining bright. If you want super soft and comfy, I'd go with Castelli's top offerings, but the styling is awful and the pad is not as cushy. I will say that the Rapha pad takes a long time to dry compared to other shorts. Overall, these are my favorite shorts.

I have the pro-team shorts from the Condor-Sharp era, admittedly having only paid £40 for them at a Rapha sample sale. They are really very good.

The trade off between price and quality is an interesting one. There's never going to be a fundamental test which proves a higher price gives rise to better value.

My personal thoughts are that you do get more out of these clothes. Whether it is because you take better care or because they are made better is hard to tell. But I get joy out of wearing designed clothes.

I have an old pair of Gore bibshorts. They have lasted too, but the comfort and fit aren't as good. Sure they do what they should but on a long bike ride the chamois becomes uncomfortable and the grippers start to pinch.

If I am doing 100+ miles I want the good stuff. And to be honest I love the classic stylings of these (which actually look more classic than the 'classic' bibshorts).

I might be tempted to invest in some of their shorts - if they didn't have the logo splatted (tastefully I'm sure ) all over them.

Rapha Classic bibs are the most comfortable I have ever owned - still going strong, as are the various Rapha jerseys I own - they really do wash well and have been used for years already (first one bought in 2007) through summer, autumn, winter and spring, rain come shine. Biased, moi ? Probably, but I will reiterate others' comments ... they may cost more, but they last way longer as well as being comfy.

Everyone's being nice about Rapha; what's going on? Very disappointing...

Eyewateringly expensive but if you value quality products and aftersales service i think they are worth every penny. I have a pair of 3/4 bibs and after wearing them for 2.5 years had a problem with the pad causing discomfort. I contacted Rapha to see if was possible to replace the pad, and they couldn't have been more helpful. A postage label to send them in, a couple of phone calls from the guys there to establish that I hadnt altered anything on the bike etc, and they swapped them for a new pair, explaining they had improved the stitch design for the pad. Got to say customer service like that is a rare thing these days. Save up for them, they are worth it!

A friend I ride with has a pair of these, the logo on the leg started to crack after about 18 months. He contacted Rapha and they sent him a brand new pair. I'd give them 10/10 for VFM.

I got a pair of these in May and they are fantastic IMO. Money well spent as far as I am concerned and they are backed up by the crash repair service as mentioned above.

The pad and compression fabric in these shorts is superb and after their first year of hard use with many centuries ridden they still look as good as new. Moaners can moan all they like but IMO it was cash well spent.

I was almost to scared the read the article after reading the titles and seeing 170 pounds

Any bike shorts at that price simply cannot return 7/10 for value. What logic that would return that?.