George great coverage! There’s So much more to consider with bibs other than pad: material, fit/sizing (length, low cut/high cut, shoulder strap width/thickness, seam finishing, etc), breath ability. I’ve tried lots but for me PI Pro bibs hit all the marks! Got my 2021 bibs on sale…now I know why 😉 Can’t wait to try the new ones with levitate pad. BTW, Giordana FR-C are my #2 bibs.
Thanks for the review! I have loved the old Pearl Pro bibs. I'm going to try the new Pro w/ Levitate chamois. On a side note. As a tall guy, I appreciate not having to get my Pearl bib straps lengthened like I have had to do with Rapha, Endura, Pactimo, and Eliel bibs.
Good choice! Let me know what you think. I just did my longest ride ever in the PI with Pro Levitate chamois 400km 250 miles ... 16 plus hours in them.
nice to see the pad. amazed at how few companies show a pic of the pad! PI expedition are really convenient with the double material-like pocket. Careful, some of the PI shorts are super short at the belly....the quest....and i'm not fat.
George, on our Rev Biemme bibs my pad got twisted around itself so bad I had to cut from the inside and unwind it. I wonder if that is a floating pad? It was a panic situation, last bathroom visit before The Rock Cobbler race
I myself am going with as many brand's as I can afford. Trying to diversify my portfolio so to speak, so I can get a feel (pun intended) for a specific brand and models, that I enjoy the most.
I got a pair of black bibs, not the $40 ones, but the more expensive ones, but still very cheap, and the quality does seem good, but the chamoix just does not agree with my bottom. It's way too thick and bulky imho.
Hello Ric this is direct from the product description Luxurious Italian PRO Transfer fabric balances compression for ultimate comfort New Men's Levitate™ PRO Chamois pad with triple-density design delivers unmatched support Seven-panel design minimizes seams and optimizes body-contouring fit Laser-cut raw edge leg hem construction for seamless transition to skin BioViz® reflective elements for low-light visibility 10.5” inseam
Everybody learns different things about clothing on the bike over time. Nobody can recommend a brand of bib for someone else. If someone were to ask me what bibs to buy I would say some brands are more race fitted like Castelli and some brands are more for the common built body forms which is why I like Rapha. Their Core line is priced fairly and fits me well. Years ago when I was a thin racer I used Giordana mostly. But that said, the chamois is a part of the bib that really takes a trial and error experience to work out. I have thrown away a lot of perfectly good bibs because they ruined a ride and gave me saddle sores. Speaking of saddle sores I am one of those guys that can't ride without chamois cream. Even those creams are a tough item to get sorted and find one that works the way I like. I only use ASSOS chamois cream. That Butt Butter and other cheap stuff is just greasy garbage. But I can't spend more than an hour in the saddle without using chamois cream. So your analogy of the chamois forming to your butt the way it does and working to provide that comfort doesn't make sense to me. If the chamois was stuck to me I would surely have a problem, but then again maybe some other people wouldn't have a problem. I'm not too keen on talking about bibs because I've never really had those conversations with many riders but I would just tell people you are going to have to figure out what bibs you like best by trying different brands. People like Pearl Izumi for the price mostly. I tried one set of their highest model bibs and didn't like them because the inseam was to short and the chamois caused fire in my cheeks from the pressure after an hour in the saddle. You were right about one thing, this is a topic that one could go on and on about, I'll shut up now. 😁
Most high end bibs now use a floating chamois. I challenge you to ride the Pearl Izumi Levitate chamois and stop being dependent on chamois cream. Once you’re riding you don’t even think about the chamois being wrapped around your bum making you all happy and comfy 😂 Do you put chamois cream on your feet every day when you put on your socks? No of course not. Trust me get a pair and throw away the Chamois cream or at least only use it for your centuries rides. The chronic use of chamois cream indicates an issue/s with the different “components” in the system - your bibs, your saddle or your fit. You shouldn’t need chamois cream to ride a bike.
@@SeeYouUpTheRoad Actually I do use Vicks Vapor Rub on my feet every day after the morning shower. Eliminates stinky feet after wearing shoes all day. 😉 I used to really have a problem with saddle sores and even had to have surgery twice because whatever the lump is it's like sitting on a nail and was very painful. When they get to that point they don't go away. I think it is some kind of damaged nerve or something. But that was back in the days I would put in about 50 miles a day. I used to ride mountainbike mostly and that is what I raced. Even was on Keith Bontrager's 4 man team once for a 24 hour event. I raced against Tinker, I know you know who that is. It took a lot of training to ride at that level and I did a lot of it riding on what felt like nails in my bottom. I don't get the sores now, maybe because I don't ride MTB anymore, but out of habits developed I still use chamois cream for a several hour ride, if it's just 1 to 1.5 hours I usually don't use it. The road bike I have now was custom made for me so it fits perfectly and never gives me any issues.
Just reading your posts over morning coffee & couldn’t help myself from responding. A lot of the issues you’ve described - using loads of chamois cream; scary-looking sores; limited ride times etc we’re just what I was dealing with for a few years post a crash that resulted in pelvic asymmetry complete with bone spur-type thing adjacent to my left sit bone. After trying a custom saddle, which did offer some relief perhaps a 35% improvement which I was thrilled with, I finally got a saddle… non-custom mind you… that blew my mind in fact my exact words were, “it’s as if my pelvis were never broken.” If you haven’t already entertained the idea that your issue may be improved through saddle therapy perhaps it is worth a go:). The saddle I am in is SQ Lab 612. I wouldn’t be able to ride more than an hour or two without this saddle:)
@@jessicacheck179 I've got a closet full of saddles. Expensive saddles too. The one I use on both bikes now is the Specialized S-Works Phenom. It's been pretty good.
George great coverage! There’s So much more to consider with bibs other than pad: material, fit/sizing (length, low cut/high cut, shoulder strap width/thickness, seam finishing, etc), breath ability. I’ve tried lots but for me PI Pro bibs hit all the marks! Got my 2021 bibs on sale…now I know why 😉 Can’t wait to try the new ones with levitate pad. BTW, Giordana FR-C are my #2 bibs.
Thank you David! Giordana makes really nice stuff too!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the review! I have loved the old Pearl Pro bibs. I'm going to try the new Pro w/ Levitate chamois. On a side note. As a tall guy, I appreciate not having to get my Pearl bib straps lengthened like I have had to do with Rapha, Endura, Pactimo, and Eliel bibs.
Good choice! Let me know what you think. I just did my longest ride ever in the PI with Pro Levitate chamois 400km 250 miles ... 16 plus hours in them.
"You did not plan your caffeine right" ... IYKYK 😆
#IfYouKnowYouKnow 😉
I laughed out loud on that one because it's so true!
nice to see the pad. amazed at how few companies show a pic of the pad! PI expedition are really convenient with the double material-like pocket. Careful, some of the PI shorts are super short at the belly....the quest....and i'm not fat.
Ha ha I love the screen name 😂
George, on our Rev Biemme bibs my pad got twisted around itself so bad I had to cut from the inside and unwind it. I wonder if that is a floating pad?
It was a panic situation, last bathroom visit before The Rock Cobbler race
Ha ha no that bib was not designed to be a floating chamois 😂
Sorry for your troubles sir!
Thanks for watching!!
Thanks for the info George. I’ll be getting some of these bibs.
Let us know how they work out for you!
Thanks for watching!
Awesome content and review sir!
Thanks for watching
Q36.5 bibs. the next level. founder is the ex-designer for assos when assos was the sh*** .
I myself am going with as many brand's as I can afford. Trying to diversify my portfolio so to speak, so I can get a feel (pun intended) for a specific brand and models, that I enjoy the most.
Good plan!
I just did a 400km (250 miles) Brevet event recap. I wore the Pearl bibs check out the report
ruclips.net/video/3JAoraT7hVI/видео.html
I got a pair of black bibs, not the $40 ones, but the more expensive ones, but still very cheap, and the quality does seem good, but the chamoix just does not agree with my bottom. It's way too thick and bulky imho.
Thanks for watching please consider subscribing
Any chance of getting an inseem measurement? I'm always looking for bibs at least 11" (28cm) long
Hello Ric this is direct from the product description
Luxurious Italian PRO Transfer fabric balances compression for ultimate comfort
New Men's Levitate™ PRO Chamois pad with triple-density design delivers unmatched support
Seven-panel design minimizes seams and optimizes body-contouring fit
Laser-cut raw edge leg hem construction for seamless transition to skin
BioViz® reflective elements for low-light visibility
10.5” inseam
@@SeeYouUpTheRoad thanks very much👍
@@WowRixter You’re Welcome it was good exercise for me to research it and know for myself.
Everybody learns different things about clothing on the bike over time. Nobody can recommend a brand of bib for someone else. If someone were to ask me what bibs to buy I would say some brands are more race fitted like Castelli and some brands are more for the common built body forms which is why I like Rapha. Their Core line is priced fairly and fits me well. Years ago when I was a thin racer I used Giordana mostly. But that said, the chamois is a part of the bib that really takes a trial and error experience to work out. I have thrown away a lot of perfectly good bibs because they ruined a ride and gave me saddle sores. Speaking of saddle sores I am one of those guys that can't ride without chamois cream. Even those creams are a tough item to get sorted and find one that works the way I like. I only use ASSOS chamois cream. That Butt Butter and other cheap stuff is just greasy garbage. But I can't spend more than an hour in the saddle without using chamois cream. So your analogy of the chamois forming to your butt the way it does and working to provide that comfort doesn't make sense to me. If the chamois was stuck to me I would surely have a problem, but then again maybe some other people wouldn't have a problem. I'm not too keen on talking about bibs because I've never really had those conversations with many riders but I would just tell people you are going to have to figure out what bibs you like best by trying different brands. People like Pearl Izumi for the price mostly. I tried one set of their highest model bibs and didn't like them because the inseam was to short and the chamois caused fire in my cheeks from the pressure after an hour in the saddle. You were right about one thing, this is a topic that one could go on and on about, I'll shut up now. 😁
Most high end bibs now use a floating chamois. I challenge you to ride the Pearl Izumi Levitate chamois and stop being dependent on chamois cream. Once you’re riding you don’t even think about the chamois being wrapped around your bum making you all happy and comfy 😂
Do you put chamois cream on your feet every day when you put on your socks? No of course not.
Trust me get a pair and throw away the Chamois cream or at least only use it for your centuries rides. The chronic use of chamois cream indicates an issue/s with the different “components” in the system - your bibs, your saddle or your fit. You shouldn’t need chamois cream to ride a bike.
@@SeeYouUpTheRoad Actually I do use Vicks Vapor Rub on my feet every day after the morning shower. Eliminates stinky feet after wearing shoes all day. 😉
I used to really have a problem with saddle sores and even had to have surgery twice because whatever the lump is it's like sitting on a nail and was very painful. When they get to that point they don't go away. I think it is some kind of damaged nerve or something. But that was back in the days I would put in about 50 miles a day. I used to ride mountainbike mostly and that is what I raced. Even was on Keith Bontrager's 4 man team once for a 24 hour event. I raced against Tinker, I know you know who that is. It took a lot of training to ride at that level and I did a lot of it riding on what felt like nails in my bottom. I don't get the sores now, maybe because I don't ride MTB anymore, but out of habits developed I still use chamois cream for a several hour ride, if it's just 1 to 1.5 hours I usually don't use it. The road bike I have now was custom made for me so it fits perfectly and never gives me any issues.
Just reading your posts over morning coffee & couldn’t help myself from responding. A lot of the issues you’ve described - using loads of chamois cream; scary-looking sores; limited ride times etc we’re just what I was dealing with for a few years post a crash that resulted in pelvic asymmetry complete with bone spur-type thing adjacent to my left sit bone.
After trying a custom saddle, which did offer some relief perhaps a 35% improvement which I was thrilled with, I finally got a saddle… non-custom mind you… that blew my mind in fact my exact words were, “it’s as if my pelvis were never broken.” If you haven’t already entertained the idea that your issue may be improved through saddle therapy perhaps it is worth a go:). The saddle I am in is SQ Lab 612. I wouldn’t be able to ride more than an hour or two without this saddle:)
@@jessicacheck179 I need to interview you for my channel!
@@jessicacheck179 I've got a closet full of saddles. Expensive saddles too. The one I use on both bikes now is the Specialized S-Works Phenom. It's been pretty good.
This guy tells it like it is.
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