Giordana

FR-C Pro Bib 5cm Shorter Short - Men's

Replaced my Assos bibs

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

I have some old Assos bibs that I love but they are starting to wear out. I have been in search of a replacement since I don’t really like the fit of the new Assos bibs. These fit and feel great, quality and attention to detail is first class. They are a bit shorter which I really like, seems like shorts have gotten longer. Like them enough to purchase a second pair and are now my go to short.

Favorite Bibs. Period.

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

I will start by stating the obvious - these are short! It is literally in the name of the garment. If you have long legs or don’t want them higher above your knee then don’t buy them. There should be no reason these get a poor review because of length. With that out of the way…I currently have four pair of FR-C Pro Bibs in my closet, with three of them being the 5cm shorter variation. I suppose I could stop my review there, but I will point out the couple of minor things that could be tweaked later on. I don’t believe that anything can possibly be perfect, but these are so good I have gone for a full 5 stars. Keep in mind that bib fit, style and comfort are all subjective, but these work remarkably well for me. The straps are supremely comfortable whether or not you wear a base layer, the mid-section wrap is super soft and will not cut into your stomach, and the chamois is great. High density, really nice chamois cover, and it stays nicely in place. I have well in excess of 2,000 miles per pair (on the first three) and despite many hours, and many washes, the chamois are all still performing…although starting to get broken down a bit. Additionally, the high durability lycra on the inside of the leg makes a massive difference to the longevity of the bibs. After several thousand miles only my oldest pair is even starting to show signs of wear. The only minor critiques I can offer are as follows. The stitching around the outside of the chamois is for both the cover and the pad, so over time little bits of the edge of the foam will start to pull out and/or separate…but this is after a great many miles. Aside that, the elastic hem at the bottom of the leg requires an extra seam compared to bibs that offer a laser cut leg opening. If those two items were to be addressed I dare say I wouldn’t even look at other brands or models for the foreseeable future.

Perfect for short legs

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

God send in my opinion. I’m 5’4 and most other shorts are too long, so from a sizing much appreciated. Plus one of the higher end garments from the manufacturer. High quality compression, flat stitching, great chamois. Perfect for endurance riding, dirt or road. I have a Leadville buckle wearing these. Honestly good value since they hold up quite well to tough conditions over the years. Since there is good compression in the material may need to size up accordingly to get the feel you want .

My go to bibs

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

I a’ 5”4’ And 62 kg. Medium fits great but they are a bit short even on me. But nothing really else on the market fits me, so here I am. It’s very comfortable and well made They also wear pretty well even after many washes

Literally perfect

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

The negative reviews seem to follow a trend of people not liking the sizing. From my experience, Giordana run perfectly to their size chart. The FR-C is performance/race fit. Sounds like a lot of people didn't use the size chart or understand Giordana's different lines. You'd probably be better off with the Fusion or Silverline. These bibs are light, have a great feel, and have been incredibly comfortable. The shorter length of these give the quads a bit of air and focus compression a bit higher on the legs. The straps also seem to melt away on the bike, and that is the best compliment one gave give to straps in my opinion. These are my go-to for summer training and perfecting the tan. 5'9 185lbs, big quads, size Large are spot on.

Everything is perfect except...

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

before i purchased i read all the reviews and most mention sizing up. im 6' 1.5" 192lbs with a 33 waist, so i bought an M, L and XL intending to return the 2 that dont fit. well the medium fit the best. yeah its a little tight in the legs, but my sit bones are landing right in the middle of the wide part of the chamois. the large felt more comfy in the fit but my sit bones were toward the front of the chamois and the XL my sit bones were on the edge with little padding, with the wide part more higher up on my cheeks. However testing with my black underwear you can see the seam in my underwear running between my cheeks, so they don't pass the butt Crack test. A simple extra layer of fabric for a few inches above the chamois would solve this. I ride on the beach in the sun this is not gonna work

XXL? Maybe in kids' sizes?

Familiarity:

I returned this product before using it

I've worn Pearl XXL as my go to bibs, and bibs from Gore, Castelli, DeMarchi, Specialized & Capo in either XXL or 3XL that matched up size wise. I was eager to try these from Giordana, but I couldn't even pull them on over my thighs because they are so small. The leg openings belong on a size L at best. Big guys who need top level shorts often have huge legs. I don't think I could have gotten these on back when I was an XL sized teen riding 300 miles a week.

Runs small

Familiarity:

I returned this product before using it

Size Bought:

XL

Height:

6' 1"

Weight:

205

These are race sized & meant for holding hoods or drops! Straps: nice n wide & set for racing. Thus when standing they?re tight and hard to get on. Shorter length: Awesome, wish other lines were available in -5 (besides top tiered & priced Giordana lines) Compared to Moda line legs & seating area is also much tighter. I typically wear size XL in Giordana bibs & have a pair of L and these XL felt like M-L.

Be careful about the length.

I am 5'4" and bought this because average bib shorts usually go to my knees. These are the opposite. They are like 'short shorts.' I feel very strange seeing that much of my leg in cycling shorts and so they are going to be a return.

My new favorite bibs

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Comfort? Check. Quality? Check. Right length to maintain proper tan lines? Check. Price? You get what you pay for :-) I switched from Rapha recently and have really enjoyed these. The only thing I don't love about them is the straps (I think they could have made them a bit wider) but it is a non-issue while on the bike. I use these while road and gravel riding, as well as XC mountain biking. The 5 cm shorter length is much appreciated as I don't like bibs that come way down to my knee cap. I used the sizing chart and found the fit to be true to size (using actual measurements and not pants waist measurement).