Addiction 🥲

I have been riding for about two and a half years now and I basically spend all my free time on the bike. Outdoors during the summer and indoors during the winter. In that time I have gone through a bunch of bibs from Rapha, Givelo and Pas Normal.

What surprised me the most is how different the durability is between brands. Comfort does not always match how long the bibs actually last.

Here is my experience so far.

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Rapha Core

These are still the best value in my opinion.
The comfort is good for everyday riding but the durability really is not great.

The flatlock seams rub on the saddle and they tend to break quickly. The chamois is fine for short and medium rides but a bit thin for long days. For the price they are great but they do not last very long.

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Rapha Pro Team Training

Comfort is good but they age fast.

The fabric softens and loses its structure quickly. The printed letters peel off surprisingly fast and I suspect it is because the fabric stretches a lot and eventually fatigues. The seams have the same issue as the Core line and eventually start to come apart. The chamois is acceptable for daily use but nothing special.

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Rapha Pro Team III

This one is hard to judge because the comfort is absolutely incredible.

It genuinely feels like a second skin. The fabric, the fit, the support and the chamois all feel amazing. For comfort alone these are easily the best bibs I have ever worn.

Unfortunately the durability is extremely disappointing. The fabric shows wear very quickly and the seams start failing after only a few rides. For the price it is really frustrating because everything else about the bib is perfect.

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Givelo

Overall very nice bibs with a comfortable feel and good construction.
The only drawback for me is the chamois which is not the best for long days in the saddle. For shorter and medium rides they are really good.

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Pas Normal Studios

This was the biggest surprise for me.

These are by far the most durable bibs out of everything I have tried. The fabric still looks new after months of riding. The seams do not show any weakness and the overall construction feels extremely solid. They are made in Italy and you can tell. They are expensive but the quality actually justifies the price.

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Final thoughts

Comfort champion is Rapha Pro Team III
Best value remains Rapha Core
Most durable is Pas Normal by a huge margin
Givelo sits in the middle with great comfort but a weaker chamois for long rides

If anyone has found bibs with Pas Normal durability but Rapha Pro Team III comfort please let me know because that would be the perfect combination.