Very impressed with the overall material and fit quality of these bibs. Especially for the price. I appreciate that the inseam is long enough and the shoulder straps are also long enough compared to several other brands.
The chamois has also proven to be very comfortable. I've used these for about 10 rides or so this far and love them.
The only possible negative is the shoulder strap material is the same as the rest of the bibs, so can be a little warmer than others that might use a lighter mesh material in this area.
I've been using these Castelli arm sleeves for years. I am happy to minimize the amount of sunscreen I use on my body while maintaining good UVA protection. In addition, I am able to use these even in the hottest weather as the sweat on them wicks off at speed and has a decent cooling effect. The only think about them is the price and the fit - it's tough getting the upper arm attachment flat and comfortable at tiimes and the wrist area can sometimes be loose.
PI definitely hit the mark with these shorts compared to previous iterations, with similarly cushy chamois that's now more fitted and less compressive than older versions. It does a nice job of cushioning on long rides ensuring my perineum doesn't get sore like it does with other brands. I also like how it extends further forward to a bit beyond the perineum, to cushion my man parts just enough to avoid numbness and damp down hard road vibrations, without those parts feeling like they're being stuffed up into my intestines.
The main body fabric is a wonderful blend of stretchy, while being form-fitting and compressive, and it breathes well and doesn't heat up excessively in 90+ degree temps. At 6'3" and having a moderately long torso, these are one of the few bib shorts in a L that have long enough straps I can wear them and not end up with stiff shoulders, neck and upper back from the straps digging in, especially on long and/or vigorous rides.
These are definitely pricey, but well worth the sale price cost. Hoping they last for many years of use and I bought a few at a time to have plenty to rotate.
Essentially the same bib as the Equipe RS Bib Shorts S11, but with a few differences. The RS has bit more room up from than the R, but it's tolerable. The RS has a very thin seam running up the center of the codpiece, and the R does not, so it lays flat much easier despite having less room. On the underside, the front of the chamois of the RS has 24 holes which provide fantastic ventilation. The R does not have these, so it's a better bib overall for cooler rides.
The leg length and S11 compression is exactly the same, as is the strap design / bib attachment. On the underside of the leg openings on the side/back, the R uses a row of 4mm u-shaped grippers, while the RS uses four rows of smaller, 1cm coin-shaped grippers. Both work great and are of course a personal preference.
Other than that, the bibs are almost exactly the same - with the R being slightly less expensive.
This is mainly due to the RS utilizing a more technical, lighter, and breathable strap material than the R.
Can't go wrong with either one.
